2020 NorCal Camping, Wheeling, & Shenanigans

Thank you!! I was looking for some type of posting like this on Google. I think the wife and I will take a day trip up there to scout it out before we pack everything up for an overnight trip. Most important thing is keeping things on the trail or on designated pull-outs.

 

In my opinion this is the best way to find a campsite.
Just cruise around until you find a good spot.

 

Thinking about Bowman one of these weekends. Never been. Reading a lot of mixed opinions about it. Should I be talked out of Bowman and head somewhere else? Anything else in the area that offers dispersed camping so I can just pull up and pitch my tent?

 

@chilow Bowman is fucking great. Heard it's been a bit crowded this year but head down towards Faucherie and there's so beatiful creek side campsites. Plenty of dispersed campsites all in that area. I highly recommend. Here's a write up I did from a trip there last summer: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/bowman-sawillmil-and-faucherie-lake-trail-report.617297/

 

Thanks! I was checking the Forest Service website and it said there's only 7 camp sites so I was a little confused. Is that a different place? It says "Bowman Campground". I'd rather stay out of an actual campground and be able to pick my own spot.

 

@chilow that's the same place. it's not really a place where you reserve a spot. It's all first come first serve but even if those 7 spots they're referring to are full, there's still plenty of dispersed spots along Bowman Road all the way out to Faucherie

 

Anyone planning on going out tomorrow? Either an out and back or overnight? Running stock. Ventured out to Sawmill a few weeks back, beautiful and weather was awesome, just a little boring hanging out alone! Let me know if you're heading out and willing to let the new guy tag along!

 

Went to Slick rock Friday and Saturday with some Jeep buddies. Man the new section of slick rock gnarly. I had to winch my way up. I guess time for a new driveshaft.

 

Bah. That driveshaft doesn't look too bad.

 

It's not too bad. May be I was being paranoid, but I did feel some vibrations in my way back. They could be coming from wheels, but will be replacing this damn shaft for sure.

 

Wow how crowded was the trail? Or were all those rigs part of your group?

Looks like a good time!


Also that driveline looks ok to me. If your worried about the scratches then sand them down and repaint. Also depending on how hard you came down on it you might have a ujoint problem which is really easy to repair and cheap. Grab the driveline and push it up and down and see if there is any play. Or might even be the carrier bearing also easy to check.

 

Yea. Grab your shaft and pull up and down. Tell me how that feels.





DS looks fine bro

 

It was very crowded. We tried to camp on Utica side and it was a shiet show. We had about 9 rigs in the group. I am not worried about the scratches, but the strength of that paper thin sheet metal. Don't want to be stranded on a trail. Plus, it is a trail limo so having a stronger drive shaft wouldn't hurt.

Hahaha....fucking Fernie! May be you show me how it is done next time we camp! lol

On a side note, that new entrance is tough though. One of the Jeeps (in another group) broke his rear pinion and front left side axel there and that Jeep was built like a tank or at least looked like it was. Good thing he had a winch otherwise there was no freaking way he was getting out of there. First time ever I regretted buy a trail limo and wanted to trade it in for a Jeep lol.

 

Yea that shit is knarly.

 

So I recently upgraded my stock '95 T4R to a lifted '05 T4R and since I'm going out more and getting deeper into the mountains, I'm starting to use the forums more. Eventually, I need to plan a trip instead of just leaving in the morning so I'm not the only rig there if I get in trouble. I'm don't surf the forums much, so I would prefer to just use one. Living in Roseville with a 4Runner, is this the one forum I should follow, or should I stay at t4r.org? I'm more into going places and meeting people than I am into mods.

 

I am new-ish to this forum and I was excited to find this thread. I am also the same with wanting to go more places and do cool things rather than building my truck to look cool lol. I went up near Spicer Reservoir this past week by looking at a map and photos posted a week or so ago. Had I not seen this thread, I likely wouldn't have ventured out. What I'm trying to say is, even though this thread is slow, there is some gold in it. Photo is from right near the dispersed camping spot my wife and I intend to stay at in the coming weeks.

 

I vote here. More active group, more trail runs, and overall better community in my opinion. I’ve been in the area for just over a year and I’ve met far more people on here than t4r. I’d consider some to be friends too. Not hard either, considering I haven’t met anyone locally through t4r.
You might get a friendly beating about owning a van every so often but who cares.

 

If you think this thread is slow, you should check out the other forum he was talking about. That’s painful. This thread is somewhat dependent on people going out and doing stuff, and it’s been a little hard to do a lot with some of the closures

 

There are some pretty sweet vans out there so I can live with that.

 

Spent 4 nights at Butte Lake in Lassen. So damn peaceful and plenty of service roads to explore.