Swisha Loop 2018

I agree with this statement 100% and im on the same page as joe, I’ve been offroading for only 2 years with say 6-8 weeken trips and im still wondering if my truck, Me and my gear will be good enough for a week long trip. Im not a newb but I’m no professional either. So for someone going as there first or second time to go for something like this is a bit crazy to me.
Ardbeg was my first big group. More than 4 vehicles, boy was it slow and painful at times, but it is also great with the big group, lots of laughs and everyone is there to have fun in the end.

 

I don't camp as much as I would like too but that's because my parents have a trailer that I can go to on weekends to get out of the city. if they didn't have it I would be camping way more often so its hard to justify buying a bunch of camping gear that might get used once a year hahaha I do want to buy a good cooler tho cuz u cant go wrong with having one of those, I ruined my CT cooler so that's for sure on the list hahaha I don't mind spending money on bettering the truck tho, even if I only hit the trails a few times a year, being protected is worth the peace of mind. would not be fun and or cheap dealing with a ruined oil pan that could have been saved by having a set of skid plates hahaha

 

First time Peter and Eugene and I ran Minden I slowed us right down. It was first time with the truck and first time on a trail in 2 years also with a vehicle I actually cared about lol.

Come this year though if it's just the three of us again I'm sure we'll blast through it fast.

Ardbeg was fun but I also hated it. Was just too long. The last few hours felt like it was never going to end and I was getting so drained.

 

I'm not worried about the camping/outdoor part of it. I camp every year and in the early years spent a lot of time at Algonquin. For me it's more can the truck handle the whole thing. I don't have lockers and will rely only on 4Low with TRAC to get me through. From pics looks like there are a lot of trees so having a winch gives me some reassurance in that dept.

 

I think you'd be good without since you could winch or be pulled and I don't think the terrain is that harsh for the most part

 

I don't think this year's Swisha loop will be the last one haha

As you said I live at like 40mins from the "starting point", and I've also seen a few spot already lol I would skip a good part of the beginning to get right to the action tho. For us it would be like a 3 days trip, maybe 4 if you want to sleep before going back home. I can't do it this year because of the dates. The following two weeks are off of work for all construction people, so we are always in a rush to close everything the week before lol next time I want to do it tho! And as I said in a post earlier, this spring I am supposed to go to my buddy hunting cabin somewhere on the loop, I'll track the path with my gps and give you updates about the quality of the trail

 

So with all that being said who is still interested in going so I can update the list.

This won’t be the last one I am sure and additionally if you are in Ontario we have runs all the time through the Ontario meet and greet thread.

make sure you copy and paste this so I don’t have to add everyone.

People still interested
1. @tacoma16

 

People still interested
1. @tacoma16
2. @Tridet167

 

Hey Eric. Definitely need to start somewhere. Not to sure how hard of trails you want to go on or if your just interested in the camping part, but double check the length, and overall rating of the trail. Some of the washouts on this one you may be committed do to gas stops. May not have enough fuel to turn around. At the end of the day it is your vehicle and what you put it through is your decision. However a better first run may be ardbeg as a completely stock 2gen taco completed it and I believe the 4 runners are a better platform when comparing the two stock vehicles (mods can go pretty far...so to say one becomes better after that I cannot say)

We always have runs though so check out the Ontario meet and greet.

 

People still interested
1. @tacoma16
2. @Tridet167
3. @Joe23 (date permitting)
4. @NorilskSever


Added Eugene I'm sure he's still in

 

Im still very interested, I’ve been spending stupid money buying stuff this year for this trip in mind. Got time off work etc. Im just advising people with little experience that this might not be for them. As it was said, you can’t just turn around and head out and be gone in 2-3 hours. Your kind of stuck in a way to finish it.

People still interested
1. @tacoma16
2. @Tridet167
3. @Joe23 (date permitting)
4. @NorilskSever
5. @Ttaco15

 

I have the need to drive my truck in off road places I have never done it before. Just got the ST Maxx's mounted and will see how gas milage goes when I get some 4x4 in. Then I can get the correct size gas cans.

The only thing I am having a hard time with is my medical problem, I am a type 1 diabetic. Which requires me to take insulin. Insulin must be kept cool, but NEVER frozen, if it freezes it is ruined. This is the last problem I have to solve. I have not been away from a fridge for that long with my insulin yet. This is what has me pretty much set on buying an ARB fridge.


People still interested
1. @tacoma16
2. @Tridet167
3. @Joe23 (date permitting)
4. @NorilskSever
5. @Ttaco15
6. @llamasmurf

 

Can always pop it in my fridge man....

 

Nope, can not. It is my life. I need it to live.

I appreciate the gesture, but there is no way I could allow my insulin to be someone else problem, I would NEVER stop thinking about. I have to be in control of my own shit or I get really unpleasant, really fast.

I know @NorilskSever has a fridge for sale, I just fear buying something so expensive used. Is there a warranty transfer? Did he store fish in it because they had no where else to put the fresh fish when they caught it and the cold freezer was best idea?

Buying something like this used, I am unsure of... Just have to figure it out

 

He doesn't anymore as I bought it lol.

I contacted ARB about it and I still technically get some of the warranty.

But that's obviously a big concern because you're also out in isolated places.
Obviously hope it never comes to it but have it ever considered also having one of those emergency gps things like Garmin inreach or SPOT?

I'm considering one just for the fact it could save your life and I'm considering doing much longer farther trips .Besides it also has a check in feature where it will send an email to your chosen contracts to let them know you're at your site safe etc.

 

@llamasmurf see edit above I saw you liked that before post

 

Yep I have looked at SPOT, my buddy who I rode enduro motorcycles with for several years had one. Saved me from getting one because we always went together.

I almost never technically go 'solo' because my wife loves to off road with me, so if something happens she is always there with me. She drove us out of the woods when I cut my hand real bad last year with my small 14" hand saw clearing some small tree's.

With my medical issue, I should have one. You are correct.

 

I would just make a 3 different sources for medications, if primary source fails, move to a back up and if the back up fails - secondary back up is here(for example peters fridge). It's a week long trip, if you properly cool coolers you won't have an issue of quick melting ice. Even my cheap Coleman cooler for $40 lasts 5-days without any preps and I can push it to a 10 day mark if I prep everything right.

 

I will have extra, that will be a thing. And it will drive me crazy thinking 'Did it freeze at any point in his fridge' simply because I can not check it every 10 minutes if I want to. I have some OCD that I just deal with. So I will get the freeze notification things, and put them in with them. Super simple just changes color if it froze at any point.

Its the unknown swing in temp in a cooler with ice is what I am unsure of.

With the fridge, I can just set the temp and it will stay that temp. I can have a cooler with ice in it as well if needed.

 

Well if I come you have two fridges you can keep it in plus your cooler lol.