My first wheelin....

[imma honky]

Well, today I finally had my first wheeling experience....while I was at the wheel. Me and two buddies decided to check out some backwoods between two neighborhoods. It was friggin awsome! I gotta say, it looks much prettier covered in mud. We messed around for about an hour before our first incident....which was mine
I was unfamiliar with the "trail" and didn;t know where all the manholes were......yes, I said that. There are about 1.5 foot tall manholes scattered throughout the area. You may say, "how could I not miss it? Well, winshield was covered in mud, and there are 2 foot weeds everywhere covering it.
Well.....I eneded up running right into one, which popped me up and I got stuck with only 1 wheel in complete contact with the ground. Luckily my friend had a winch....a hand winch! and pulled me off with ease. Now I have I nicely dented front bumper which also bent my left fender.
Not even a minute after my incident, my friend charles hit another one when he was sliding and almost flipped. He hit it so hard he knocked off the top of the manhole + 6 inches of concrete. He broke his front right ball joint??(it is whatever turns the tires in unisen), but with a little driving, finagle, 20$ for a new part, and good ole GA smarts, we hunted down a new one, and it was fixed on site in a total of 2 hours.
All in all I haven't had that much fun in a long time. I could really get used it
P.S : do you think I have any major frame dmg since it nocked the bumper back which caused the left fender to fold out a little?
I will try to get pics of what we hit....

 

[YELLAHEEP]

Well, I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying your XJ!

I am, however a bit concerned about where you decided to go "off road" and the manner in which you conducted yourselves.

I know I'm gonna sound like a big party pooper here but that's not my intention. I just want you and other new Jeepers to understand a few things about our hobby.

Without knowing the area where you said you went, I can only assume a few things- and others probably would assume the same. You called it an area in the "back woods". I have never experienced manholes in the back woods. Because you say this area is between two neighborhoods, I'm gonna step out on a ledge here and predict that the land on which you and your friends were bashing around on was partially developed privately owned land. Probably not signed as such but realistically speaking, I don't see how it could not have been. And even if there were tracks from other vehicles that have bashed around there before you, it doesn't make it permissible. You very well may have been tresspassing and there just wasn't anyone there to report it.

Herein lies my concern. It sounds like you guys were having a ball, but it involved some out of control driving to some degree. Yes, your conduct cost you a bumper and fender and another some broken parts to his vehicle, but you admit that some substantial damage was done to a manhole and concrete.

Now, yes, you're gonna have to pay for the damage done to your vehicle but who's gonna pay to repair the manhole and base? Someone will eventually and it certainly won't be you or your friend.

My intention with this little "scolding" is to hopefully open your eyes to what this kind of conduct does to the entire realm of off road motor sports.

When you are seen driving like that in an area not far removed from suburbia, people get the wrong impression of what 'wheeling is all about. They get all uptight and fight against us when we want to keep public lands open - because all they see in their minds eye is reckless tearing around and mud flinging and general destruction of vegetation.

Sorry for the soap box session! Please don't take this as anything other than some constructive criticism that will hopefully encourage you to develop into a respectful and responsible Jeeper!

 

[Safari Ary]

imma, I couldn't agree more with what Yella said, and I don't think he could have put it in much kinder words. His point is valid, and though we're all out to have fun, it's wise in the long run to really consider where we're doing what we do. I'm really not trying to beat you over the head with this, just reinforce what yella said. Anyway, sux about the damage, to the Jeep and the property. Better luck next time.

Ary

 

[PAXJRUNNER]

imma, I couldn't agree more with what Yella said, and I don't think he could have put it in much kinder words. His point is valid, and though we're all out to have fun, it's wise in the long run to really consider where we're doing what we do. I'm really not trying to beat you over the head with this, just reinforce what yella said. Anyway, sux about the damage, to the Jeep and the property. Better luck next time.

Ary

Ary, are there any cool places to wheel anymore in VB?
I grew up there and ended up in college here in Pa. but used
to offroad in some not so good places. :angel:

I remember someplace near Princessanne park and a few south of Chesapeake.

 

[imma honky]

Hella, you are absolutely right, but please let me tell you now which I forget to mention before, that the land was owned by another friend who was there. It is about 20 acres of land that sits between two neighborhoods (his house is the last house in one of the neighborhoods). The only reason I got the damage is because I did not know the area, and they forgot to tell me everything, but it is no big deal. anyways, I think that will be the only time I will be able to do it for a while because of the lack of free time. Thanks again for the input Hella, now that I think about it, we were a bit roudy....

 

[Safari Ary]

Ary, are there any cool places to wheel anymore in VB?
I grew up there and ended up in college here in Pa. but used
to offroad in some not so good places. :angel:

I remember someplace near Princessanne park and a few south of Chesapeake.

Anymore?? There never were You gotta head west of Richmond to get anything worth a crap. I love it out here at VT, plenty of trails and Tellico and Uwharrie aren't too far for a weekend trip.

Imma, glad to hear you not take offense to the wisdom offered by Yella, takes a good man to do that. Good luck with the repairs.

Ary