**OHIO WHEELIN' & MEET-UP THREAD**

I believe Rob (Doc, maybe?) was talking about the TAT? Here's a list of top 5 4WD trips and it is on there:

https://adventure-journal.com/2015/08/americas-5-best-overland-routes/

I'm going to do a little of the Continental Divide in Sept.

 

Nope wasn't me lol. I have heard about the continental divide but not the TAT. One day I'll have my ride ready for something like that. I have been watching this series on youtube called expedition overland. They talk about all those places that you listed I'm pretty sure. I read the one about TAT... that's a ton of distance for off road/ overland.

 

So what's the plan for the next meetup?

 

So far no plans set for another offroad, although there is a tentative wrenching that our good man Todd has kindly asked his wife to allow us to organize. Currently the date hasn't been set as far as I know so put your bid in for what works best for you, the 15th or the 23rd of August, or potentially a weekend in September.

I just got a job opportunity that I believe will be keeping me in Ohio for the next few months so I will put myself to work organizing another wheelin meet after my new suspension is installed ..guessing there is some interest for this? I believe we all had a good enough time and if I promise to be less of a picture whore I'm sure we could drag the crew back out for some horsin around!

 

Make sure you file a trip plan with tacogirl so she can validate it

 

I'm working on a wheeling day just have to get more trails ready and get the ok from my buddy. I'll keep you guys updated. It will definitely be late sept early October

 

Yea that was me. I wanna try to do some of this in a couple years once I get my rig up to par.

Also my lift came today and I really want to get it on the truck. I'll be in Florida this weekend to do a job so the 23 is the best weekend for me.

 

UCAs leaf packs and shocks are here just waiting on a few more things. Rounded a nut on a header stud yesterday so that's a Dremel job. Headed up to Wills today to float in the river with beer and cute girl. LMAO trip plan, yep gotta have at least a few fire exits marked on the site map. That's all for now diary. Oh wait, Micah you're a lazy sack of shit... Early October? More like never. Why don't you duck tape a metal trashcan to the back of your cat, then you'll be as cool as all these Hondas I see fartin around.

 

Bahaha well we have to have it after the wrench fest and give people enough notice so we can get more trucks out next time!! Oh wait, I'll shit on your hood Gavin.

 

You guys must've lost the chance to hit it off after the first date night...

 

My sources?? ODNR and AEP. MWCD around Wills creek is still managed by ODNR. This isn't a state park,so no rangers. Its a state wildlife area. We(residents of OHIO) have only one state wildlife officer per county. And they are the ones to ask about wildlife areas. Contact info is online. AEP Conesville coal lands you do need your permit,also online along with contact info. You are allowed on State Rt's, County Rd's and Township Rd's. No off roading. Oil and gas well access rd's are a "no" . I'm sure running over rock in drain run offs isn't allowed. There isn't any public off roading areas around here. And yes maybe you can call me a local, I'm less than 30 min. from Wills Creek area. And other AEP areas 15-20 min. away. You have to go to pay to play places. Like I said before you need to find a farmer that have their own trails. I know someone who used to, but not now. And if I find anyone else I'll let you know with contact info. It only takes a few to ruin it for others.... Open areas have been closed before because of abuse of the land. I just don't others showing up thinking there's off road trails when there's not.

 

Been going to AEP for 15 yrs
Never had a problem
There are plenty of trails gated and marked for no riding.
Always carry the free permit w me
There are plenty of trails to ride that take you through the recreation lands. Im sure some of the !&&$,!.!@'s ride off the well beaten paths and get carried away.
But stay on the trails and all is well.

 

Yeah, your sources. Like, post a link that validates what you are saying.

I'm about done disagreeing with you because it's pointless to gnash my teeth over this shit. The area is huge, clearly well used, mostly not posted, and the (unmarked) township roads flit in and out of trails to the point that you'd have to be born and raised on site to know for sure what is a road and what isn't.

Furthermore...

ODNR doesn't manage Wills Creek.

MWCD doesn't manage Wills Creek.

AEP - which is a private entity and has no governmental authority anyway - doesn't manage Wills Creek.

No one "manages" Wills Creek, it is basically left alone. "Manages" connotes that there are improvements to the land and some degree of maintenance, of which there is none at Wills Creek. Other areas you reference DO have improvements (southern AEP lands, for example, have designated horse trails, campgrounds, parks, picnic areas, etc., and you are correct that a permit is needed for those areas because they are improved lands and AEP wants to be able to show the government overlords how many people are getting recreational opportunities from the premises - that's the only reason there is a permit system in place at all).

Additionally, Wills Creek is not part of the Conesville Coal Lands. Those are north of Wills Creek.

It does fall under the purview of ODNR in the sense that the wildlife areas contained within Wills Creek are state "preserves", for lack of a better word. The area is under the law enforcement authority of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, which has their own sworn and armed law enforcement rangers; and the sheriff's offices in the two counties that encompass Wills Creek. I suppose if someone poached a deer and butt raped it's corpse on premises then the wildlife officer would give a shit, but otherwise he has no interest in the area - though you are correct, he does have jurisdiction since the area is in the state of Ohio.

As Gavin stated in an earlier post, I / we can appreciate your concern about getting access taken away and being good ambassadors for the sport; but you are wrong about the legality of this area and you are wrong about your perceptions of what we are doing on site.

 

Just as a reminder to those with a low post count and the tendency to try and destroy this group..this sectin of the forum is for discussing meet ups, fun times, wrenching and trips that we have been on or will go on together. It is also for people wanting to get to know other Ohio Taco owners. Discussing the legality of trails and any other concerns should be posted in the off-roading section or in the Michigan forum on TW
https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/off-roading-trails.22/

Please keep our little section more fun and less BS.

Thanks!

 

Damn @bluewaters182 always got me laughin till the tears start to pour.. you are just locked n loaded with those pics!

Had a nice relaxing day on the Muskingum River yesterday. Unfortunately, I now owe someone a new tire since I borrowed their car for the trip and all..
Started out the day by doing some exploration in Dillon State Park. The roads in the park were a mix of mud grass and gravel, not a lot to work with. Found a sweet little access off one of the unpaved roads just East of Dresden that led to a secluded beach on the river where we lazed the day away. Met some cool country-folk/river-rats that were in a boat convoy, they had been on the river for a week! Started at least an hour drive up river and spent 4-5 days fishing and paddling down to Dresden.
I've got a pretty sweet Pano of the river spot I'll find and put up later, place was idyllic.






Also, looks like I've got some work to do boys:

 

Here she is! What a day grillin dawgs.. paddlin around.. sunshine.. plenty of cold ones.. (at least until TG showed up and told us beer wasn't allowed here)

 

Looks fun! Time to put on that lift!