Trail Etiquette

As a noob, this is a great write up!

 

How do you do this?

 

I think somebody else actually suggested that. But in essence, you can use a ratchet strap, or something similar, to secure the suspension to the frame.
Then when you jack up the truck, the axle/suspension won't have to drop to full droop before it leaves the ground.
Prolly not a big deal on the front IFS as it has limited travel anyway but the rear might be useful to do this.

 

The most important, for me. Nothing ruins everything for everyone quicker than having nature shit on right before their very eyes. If I had a dollar for every beer can, shot up computer monitor, and 2 3/4" birdshot shell I found while camping/wheeling/hiking, I'd have Saudi Arabian royalty money. It's maddening.

Bring a trash bag. Throw things in it. Done.

 

Bumpity, bump bump.

 

I was just about to post both of these. Cannot be reiterated enough in my opinion.

 

How the hell did I miss this!!
Great thread Brett!!

 

excellent

 

To continue this thought, I've even had another TW member drive my vehicle back to the trail head when primal fears kicked in and caused me to lock up on the side of a mountain (damn heights). Sure you'll be ribbed, but it's all in good fun, and way better than spending hours on a costly recovery because you drove past your limits.

 

This is probably the most broken "rule" I see, seems kind of common sense but my experience is 70% think it's the other way around (Downhill vehicle has right of way)

 

Common sense needs to be used with the uphill right of way rule, it's not always going to work that way. It's a general rule kind of thing.
When starting a descent, if possible, look for vehicles coming up. If you see them , wait for them.
However there are trails that this is not possible on, and the easiest party to back up or pull over should comply.

For instance, heading down Engineer Pass....You can't see around that one corner overhang, and I'll be damned if I'm backing up around it.

 

Meanwhile 5% of the other 30% seem to think it's always the rule, like when I was coming down Corkscrew, rounded the last switchback to see a heep coming at me all they way down by the next turn. Half the distance, on his end, was wide enough for someone to park on the side and two cars to still pass side by side while on my end it's one lane and there is no passing. I'm halfway or more to the wide spot... and instead of waiting, he keeps coming. If he'd waited 30 seconds or a minute, we'd have been fine, but instead I have to back all the way up to the switchback which just happens to have a semi-occupied parking spot.

I typically don't even have to fall back to the rule point, you just use common sense and courtesy.

 

Another thing I think gets lost sometimes is general courtesy. I know it can be hard to judge if there are people around when you're somewhere remote. I know it's great to bump some tunes on the trail but if I can hear you coming up the trail from 1/4 mile away it's too loud.

I enjoy my beers as much as the next guy and might bring one or two to enjoy when I stop somewhere along the way but just because you're off the paved road doesn't make it ok for you and your buddies to drive around with cans of Coors in hand.


Supplies I haven't seen mentioned yet:

• Sunscreen
• A pair of shoes (sounds dumb but if you get stuck or break down and have to walk out you don't want to be caught in your sandals)
• Jumper cables
• Basic set of hand tools in common sizes (10/12/13/14/15/17 mm etc)
• 1+ extra quart of motor oil
• 1+ gallon of coolant or distilled water

Jake

 

That alone is reason enough to hate those guys

 

Here is a good read on trail ethics.
http://bb4wa.com/articles/

 

This.

Uphill has the right of way but common sense trumps all, IMO.

 

The problem with "Common Sense" is that it is not Common
Mark Twain

 

Tell me about it.

Old Brett, Viking Brett and Jon probably got sick of me cursing out the UTVs last weekend.

 

Carry a spill kit. Shit breaks and leaving battery acid and petroleum based fluids (buried or not) on the trail isn't treading lightly. They are cheap, compact, and don't expire. Here is just one example.
https://www.polyperformance.com/oil-sponge-off-road-oil-spill-kit-off-road-oil-spill-kit