I know my truck can do it but can I?

[Crashman]

So, I was thought I would try plane crash trail thinking it was easier than it was or is it easy and I am less experienced than I realize? :confused: I don't know
There were three jeeps that came up behind me and helped me a bit but I let them pass and followed them, however when they started up the really rocky section I watched the last guy struggle a bit and don't know if that is what made me nervous or that I realized I had to come back down the same way?
Is it harder to come down or go up?
What gets me is all the guys said my truck should make it

i guess my question is how does one learn there truck and what it,can do without damage?

Sorry if this is a dumb question:erm:

[javaman34]

Not a dumb question. I've been wondering the exact same thing. I will definitely be watching this thread to see all the answers.

[Chris]

Good question I can answer Eric, you can do it! I say that simply because I have and I think your truck is pretty similar to mine. But that's not what you asked, you learn what your truck can do by experience, running with folks that can spot you which helps you get an eye for the line you should take and understanding what your truck can do. Start easy and go a bit harder, etc.

The best way to really get going is join in some runs here, there are a lot of good people here with lots of experience that are happy to help you learn the ropes.

Edit: I just remembered my first snow run with my 4Runner. I had a hell of a time getting anywhere and later found I was over-revving the motor. Once I kept it under 2K I could get through about any snow. Just an example...

[Chris]

Have you read this?

http://www.frontrange4x4.com/forums/showthread.php?11818-NEW-TO-OFF-ROADING-START-HERE! (http://www.frontrange4x4.com/forums/showthread.php?11818-NEW-TO-OFF-ROADING-START-HERE%21)

[Fordguy77]

Pretty much what Chris said.

It takes a lot of time, and trail and error to fully understand what your rig is capable of. It did help me a bit when i first started wheeling that so many people on here were willing to spot me and help me learn lines that my rig could and couldn't go through.

My rig is stock, minus slightly larger tires(stocks are 28" and I am using 31's) I have open differentials both front and rear, and had a gutless motor, and was pretty nervous at first about running the trails. A few times out, and with the help of "Old" Rob (Probably the person I have wheeled with most on a side note) spotting me, trails that seemed hard just kept getting easier and easier, even though many of the times we went out, I had the least developed rig in the group.

Stick with it, get out there, and have fun, And it will all start coming naturally.

[ExplorerTom]

I think it is hader (mentally) to go down. Obviously it's harder physically to go up (gravity being what it is and all).

There have been some obstacles I've come up on and immediately thought: "no way I can make it up that" but then I give it a try anyway and my truck climbs up.

Use traildamage.com and pick some trails with ratings of 3/4 or so and work your way up. Go with experienced people. Ask questions. Watch others- I know I've seen people take lines through something that I wasn't expecting and the result wasn't nearly as bad as I thought initially.

[Squshiee1]

After a couple of trails you will notice that rocks get smaller and inclines get less steep. i am now able to do level 8 trails with a stock rodeo. at first red cone seemed impossible, now i'm looking at doing carnage, indy and patriot, and even the hard moab trails, but now i know that my rig is less capable than i am. It just took some time to get a feel for my rig, now i feel unstoppable... almost.

[The StRanger]

I think it is hader (mentally) to go down. Obviously it's harder physically to go up (gravity being what it is and all).

There have been some obstacles I've come up on and immediately thought: "no way I can make it up that" but then I give it a try anyway and my truck climbs up.

Use traildamage.com and pick some trails with ratings of 3/4 or so and work your way up. Go with experienced people. Ask questions. Watch others- I know I've seen people take lines through something that I wasn't expecting and the result wasn't nearly as bad as I thought initially.

Yes X2.. Its just a matter of getin youre wheels up..
And remember, If one driver can do it. Any driver can do it ...

[Jim]

Two things:

1) The spotter essentially becomes the decision maker (the "driver") while the person behind the wheel, while holding final decision, is mostly taking orders. Thus - you have to trust the spotter with your vehicle / damage to your vehicle.

2) Be a third party (get out and stand trail-side / walk around) where a spotter is coaxing a vehicle through or over an obstacle. This will give you the ability to see how much clearance there is between vehicle and ground/rocks and what "line" the spotter is aiming for (to minimize or control the ground-to-vehicle contact).

EDIT: It's my experience that spotters do not want any damage to another vehicle. They will accept, specifically if in a controlled, slow, movement, vehicle skid plate or slide rail contact with ground rocks as those parts were designed to contact rocks w/o vehicle damage. That sort of contact is acceptable. It can make a terrible sound from inside the cab though - but actually - it's just a rock against designed-for protective steel.

[Crashman]

Thanks guys for the quick responses!
I have been on a few trails but with big groups and much easier trails I need to try with smaller groups I guess
I built my truck to go wheeling I guess I just need to keep going
i was surprised that trail damage gave plane crash a 4/6 I thought it would be like moody hill 3/8
i want to finish plane crash but should I try more easier trails or go back with some others

[The StRanger]

Join the folks on MSV on the 4th
Small group that can give ya tips
St Vrain is a mild trail that can give ya challanges
Fun place to learn !

[Crashman]

I was hoping to go on Saturday I have a big gathering on the 4th every year with family
they might notice if I wasn't there lol
thanks though

[The StRanger]

Ya. Same here. If Im not there for the water fight
Well.... It will not be Purdy !!

[Hypoid]

A lot of good tips in this thread!

About all I can add is to learn where your tires are when you are driving. When you get a good "feel" for your wheelbase, you can plan where your tires will be on a given obstacle. A game I play with myself is to run over trash in the parking lot. I don't just run over that soda can, I run it over with the passenger front tire, or the driver's rear tire. It sounds silly, but when you make it into a mental exercise, you get more out of it.

[Rick]

I think it is hader (mentally) to go down.Ill climb anything..... I hate going down,,,,Brakes will hurt you going down to a point.... you dont want to hit your brakes and have the rear pass you

[glacierpaul]

You can do it...your name is Crashman!! :) X2 on what Hypoid said, knowing where your wheels are at from the drivers seat is where you start, all else falls into place after some runs. Going up is always harder, you are fighting gravity! Going with folks whom are savvy to wheelin is good too!

[xaza]

I prefer going uphill also. The thing about going downhill is if your front tire drops off a rock that is to big, it comes down with momentum and hurts. Then in addition to that you are often dedicated to that line because backing up without assistance is often not an option. The first most improtant part of wheeling is to know where your tires are, you can't avoid rocks otherwise. That is the part my daughter is working on. As we drive down the trail I will tell her to put this tire on that rock, just small rocks but you can feel the bump if you hit it. The next thing is to know your spotters signals, often times voices can't be heard well and especially when you have a bunch of spectators that are chipping in their advice. You need to block out everyone except your spotter. Your spotter if needed can have another dedicated person to watch a blind spot who then reports to spotter who guides you. Unfortunately the only way to truly know the capabilities of your rig is to get stuck. As was said before, over time the rocks just start to seem smaller, the tilt seems less severe and the trails you are comfortable with expand. It does help to run with rigs with a similar capabilities as your rig cause then you can watch an experienced drivers line through obstacles and just follow. Just watch out who you follow, some people like to take extreme lines and would not be good for the beginners nerves.

[Brad]

You can always post up a run and ask to keep it down to 4 or 5 rigs for the exact reasons you stated. When I first started (and a large part of why this group is amazing) is everyone is so helpful with spotting. Rob taught me a lot from the get go but everyone helps out. My first run was solo on Bolam pass, rated green in the Charles wells fun treks book, that gave me the bug. The first thing I learned though is I needed to seek out a good friendly 4 wheeling community to teach me. It has been incredible ever since. I have tackled a lot of difficult and moderate runs with a lot of really great people on here. The 2 Moab trips have been epic!

[Crashman]

i am trying to pay attention and learn what lines to take however when my truck goes on some angles I worry
i have been on china wall a few times before I got my bumpers and didn't try the wall the last time I went I was with a friend that was not experienced and tried the wall there was snow still on the ground in spots and my tires were wet so I slid a bit but the biggest thing was when I was on the wall I had never been on a incline that high so I was nervous plus my friend was trying to spot but had never spotted before I started up the wall be slid a few times then backed down
when I got home I looked it up on line and saw some mostly stock trucks going up the wall this didn't help me much lol

[Andrew]

Your truck should do that trail just fine. There are a few spots where a spotter can be helpful if you aren't as familiar with your truck. The only way you get better is by driving more. Get on a run with a few more experienced guys and watch what they do.

[BLOODBANE]

Lots of good advice here. One thing that really helps me on any trail, is I usually run tail gunner. Now most folks don't want that position, so I take it. I get to watch everyone else (and their mistakes) when going over the different obstacles. I get to see first what works and what doesn't. On the toughest obstacles I have a fantastic spotter (Larry Hull). I trust him. He gets me over things that look like a no go.

Over the years (my first trail was Chinamans way back in 2000) I have learned what each of my vechicles can do and how they react. My Ranger does different than my Explorer and the Samurai is a total different beast all together. I have wheeled all of them during the different stages of up-grading and my driving style has changed with that as well.

Like has been said already, get out on some of the easiest trails and see what you can and can't do, getting in with this group is a great place for people that are willing to help you learn you and your trucks capabilities, ALWAYS GO WITH SOMEONE. Never go alone. The more you go, the more comfortable you will feel. Confidence is a major part of your driving as well. Heck, I still get butterflies on some obstacles (part of the thrill I guess).

Hang in there, it will come. Just don't try to do too much before you or your rig is ready. That will turn you off wheeling faster than anything.

[Rick]

http://youtu.be/VZ2HcRl4wSk

[alexb]

I'm still learning a lot. I keep getting out and checking what my clearance is as I go over different rocks and bumps. Frequent stops, watching others, and trying again. If I successfully do something I thought was difficult, I'll frequently go drive it again to try and learn from it now that I know I can do it.

And by far, my jeep is way more capable than I am. :)

I was actually going to come on here and ask how far can I tilt/lean? I went out and found myself somewhere uncomfortable so I'm coming back to seek opinions. I'll go post a new question in just a minute. :)

[Chris]

Lots of good advice here but nobody mentioned that there's nothing wrong with backing up, turning round, etc if you feel uncomfortable. When I switched from the Land Cruiser to the 4Runner I had to learn how to drive. There's little doubt I can do most of what I did with the old truck but since this is our only vehicle and was much more expensive I will take bypasses, etc any time I'm not sure if I can do an obstacle.

[Brad]

Absolutely right Chris. We wanted to try grizzly lake off the road to Hancock pass and we got to the river crossing and "the obstacle" after the river proved too difficult so we opted to turn around and skip it. Especially since 3 lifted jeeps dragged their rear bumpers coming down the obstacle.

[Heather]

There's no shame in announcing you're wanting to follow someone who can spot you, too, when you meet up for a run. If you have a trusty spotter (like so many others on here, Rob was the one who spotted my husband and I the most, and taught us the most, three seasons ago :bowdown: you can be assured that you'll be guided within your vehicle's capabilities (which might be more than you want to stomach!). You want a good spotter, though. We've had carnage from bad spotting (not anyone here) - no fun for the spotter, or the spottee. Also, getting behind a similarly-equipped rig on a run, and following their lines (which is nice, because you can see how it works before you're faced with doing it yourself) is really helpful for learning. Of course, again, you want to follow someone who can actually drive (I say this based on stuff I've seen others do with other groups on some runs - like a brand-new full-sized Range Rover that almost laid on its on Lefthand - yikes!).

[Chris]

:lmao: Yep, I broke the bumper on my old truck on that obstacle! Never got past that "gatekeeper" or nearby Iron Chest when we were alone and it started to rain. Both of those are off our "to do" list with the 4Runner.

[Cr33p3r]

Eric what I would say is like everyone else time in the seat on trails will build your confidence as well as learn your vehicles capabilities, just spend sometime looking under the vehicle too and make a mental note of where the lowest hanging parts on it are. That will also help you to determine what line to take and builds you confidence even faster. If you don't completely feel comfortable at some point don't push your luck unless you have good people around you helping you. I am having to relearn my truck since I swapped over to solid axles and how different it not only feels but handles too. I have had a few really good spotters get me through some areas I thought about not doing.

[Rick]

I have had a few really good spotters get me through some areas I thought about not doing.and a thank you to cliff(Xaza)

[Jackie]

I think part of the the learning process is to get out and walk the trail a little ways with your intended spotter (Rob Is my favorite)! Let your spotter know what line you think you would pick (or prefer) to take and have a conversation about it before you do it. Rob knows that I hate the "tippy" feeling and respects that. He is also good at pointing out when my idea might be a bad choice for different reasons. So if I pick a line that he knows will give me the creeps, he will tell me and advise something different. If I'm too scared to do what he says to do... I STOP. We talk some more. Your spotter can only advise. You have to make the final decision.

All the folks on this forum will have the same or similar concern for your safety and the safety of your rig. But to get better at it your self, I think it helps to challenge their instructions with your own ideas and see where it goes... They won't let you do anything stupid!

[Rick]

What Jackie said