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TWAT trip and cheap recovery boards

Discussion in 'Mid West' started by Spankomatik, Jul 10, 2022.

  1. Jul 10, 2022 at 10:34 AM
    #1
    Spankomatik

    Spankomatik [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I just got back from a week-long trip to north Wisconsin via the TWAT. Every time I go I explore as many trails as possible, and I find most of them are easy. I cleared a few trees on half a dozen trails but some are plain impassable (looks like nobody drives on them for years).

    So... I decide that I'm almost out of time, timing didn't work out, and I couldn't stop by the Delta Diner before they closed, and my fuel budget was about to go into the red, so I decided to skip the last leg of the adventure trail, and drive directly towards the finish using highways instead of trails, but.... I was going to hit one last trail before I that.

    I got stuck. In a very, very narrow, deep, sandy trail. The sides came up past the doors, impeding me from opening them to even get out of the truck. I had to climb out the window. This trail was pretty easy for the most part, but near the end (going westward) there is a valley. You go down, and that's where the sand starts (it was pleasantly easy grass, and dirt before that), and the sides come up past the door. There is room to turn around at the bottom of the valley, but the peaks on either side are all lose sand, and there is a significant dip and a bump right before you reach the peaks, causing me to not be able to reach the top. I tried a couple of times going west, then decided that I wasn't going to make it, backed up down the hill, and turned around at the bottom, only to find that I couldn't get out the way I came in due to the same reason (lose sand near the top, no room to maneuver, and a dip and bump before the top.)

    Things were looking pretty grim. I tried digging, filling in the dips with rocks and sand and whatever I could find. Nothing was working, but I wasn't panicking due to the fact that this trail is very close to a highway and I would be able to walk out there and summon help (no cell reception in that area, either)

    So after climbing out the window, I busted out the cheap traction boards that I bought last year for $70 off Amazon, placed them in front of both driver side wheels (the truck was leaning to that side... I had to dig under the rear of the truck to give me room to crawl under there to get in front of the rear tire because of the stupid super tall trail walls) backed up a few inches, and let her rip.

    I made it out!! I got 30k on my stock tires (I have a utility SR 4x4) and that might be the reason I couldn't make it to either peak in that valley. Has anyone driven that trail and had the same experience?

    46.54056, -91.27258

    Screenshot_2022-07-10-12-30-41-68_230b892c6a27d1e843d5530dbb39d1b4~2.jpg
     
    Thatbassguy likes this.
  2. Jul 10, 2022 at 7:05 PM
    #2
    Shellshock

    Shellshock King Shit of Turd Island

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    A bunch of us did like 80% of the trail a couple years ago. I don’t know of anyone that’s been on that sandy trail

    in sand, airing down will make a huge difference. I usually go around 15 psi but have been under 10 a couple of times

    Usually on any trip I have these at minimum
    Communication (garmin inreach and ham radio)
    Compressor
    Shovel
    Recovery boards
     
  3. Jul 10, 2022 at 7:39 PM
    #3
    Spankomatik

    Spankomatik [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I had all that, except the ham radio. I do have a couple of small walkies just in case. I was hoping anyone in here had tried that little trail. If I hadn't brought traction boards, getting out of there would've probably turned into an expensive ordeal.
     
  4. Jul 10, 2022 at 7:42 PM
    #4
    Shellshock

    Shellshock King Shit of Turd Island

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    naw. just hit up the Wisconsin crew and someone would come to the rescue. @Thatbassguy went on a recovery trip last year to save someone.

    just keep some cold beers and someone will be there lol
     
    BookieBob and Thatbassguy like this.
  5. Jul 10, 2022 at 8:15 PM
    #5
    Spankomatik

    Spankomatik [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I figured I could do as much, however, I had no cell phone coverage. It was a hot, humid day, and a cold beer would've been awesome. I had to settle for a bottle of cold water, and a few moments of "holyfuckmanthatwasclose."
     
    Thatbassguy likes this.
  6. Jul 10, 2022 at 8:27 PM
    #6
    Thatbassguy

    Thatbassguy Sweet or sour?

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    @Spankomatik , I can't find that trail on a map. I can see it on satellite images, but it doesn't seem to be on the MVUM. was there a sign where it split off of FR234?

    As @Shellshock mentioned, lower tire pressure helps a ton in sand. Did you air down?
     
  7. Jul 10, 2022 at 8:30 PM
    #7
    Thatbassguy

    Thatbassguy Sweet or sour?

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    There's an off-road recovery group on Facebook as well. I believe the guy I went to help last spring posted in there, and a 4Runner group. I was just lucky someone had relayed the message to Tacomaworld, as I wasn't on Facebook then.
     
  8. Jul 10, 2022 at 8:52 PM
    #8
    Spankomatik

    Spankomatik [OP] Well-Known Member

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    IMG_20220707_144749.jpg
    I honestly can't recall. It's an unimproved trail, and all I saw was tire tracks, and Gaia telling me I could go in there, and come out on highway 2 in order to get on the road. I guess I didn't see the 100ft altitude change in the valley on the topography map.

    Speaking of airing down. I aired down for about a whole minute, only to find that the psi were, after deflation, at the proper stock pressure. I've never put air on these tires, so the dealership had to have pumped them up way past the recommended pressure. I aired down to 20psi, and no cigar. You can tell where people spin their tires on both spots because that's where I got stuck, even when I tried to get there with some significant momentum in an attempt to clear the bump after the dips.

    I think it'll finally be time for new tires soon (mine are the stock set. Some destination LE2 or something) and maybe some AT tires would help. I'll give it another try when I get new shoes on the taco.
     
    Last edited: Jul 10, 2022
    Thatbassguy[QUOTED] likes this.
  9. Jul 10, 2022 at 8:55 PM
    #9
    Spankomatik

    Spankomatik [OP] Well-Known Member

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    That is freaking amazing, man.
     
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  10. Jul 10, 2022 at 9:04 PM
    #10
    Thatbassguy

    Thatbassguy Sweet or sour?

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    I'll have to check it out the next time I'm in that area. We're doing a fall colors run up there in October.

    As far as tires, the 4Runners come with total garbage. If the Tacos are the same, a decent set of AT's will help a ton.

    But, in sand, I think airing down is especially important. You might have had better luck at 15, or even 10. But, I wouldn't want to be running around at 10 for very long.
     
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  11. Jul 10, 2022 at 9:06 PM
    #11
    Thatbassguy

    Thatbassguy Sweet or sour?

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    This was one thing that made me feel OK about joining FB. I had avoided it for so long!
     
  12. Jul 10, 2022 at 9:07 PM
    #12
    Spankomatik

    Spankomatik [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I didn't manage to get a picture because once I got stuck, I forgot about everything and started going through the motions to get out, bit this picture shows the trail before it takes a long dive. If you can see that left turn on the picture, the valley is after the turn.
    IMG_20220707_144749.jpg
     
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  13. Jul 10, 2022 at 9:42 PM
    #13
    Spankomatik

    Spankomatik [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, I don't have to air down often, but I'm always afraid I'll lose the bead on the tires, so I never go under 20. I've only had the taco a little over a year, and coupled with an obscene amount of accumulated PTO at work (due to me having to work 18-day stretches with a day off in between during the entire pandemic) I've managed to go on week-long trips every couple of months. I go with the Mrs. once a year, but most of the time is just me, and the truck, and it's all driving, all the time. I only stop to clear trails from trees and debris, check out weird shit in the woods, or to take pictures. Once it gets dark, I continue until I find a campground, or dispersed camping spot anywhere. Light a fire, eat, go to sleep, wake up, make breakfast, and do it again.

    I love my taco. I used to really like my ford sport trac, but the taco is true love.

    It'd be cool if you let me know if you also had trouble on the trail, or if my cheap taco is showing.
     
    Thatbassguy[QUOTED] likes this.
  14. Jul 11, 2022 at 7:49 AM
    #14
    Thatbassguy

    Thatbassguy Sweet or sour?

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    A lot of times I air down just to cushion the ride a little bit, LOL.

    I have done a few solo weekend trips similar to what you describe, but maybe with a bit more stopping. I would stop to fish, just stretch out, take pictures, etc. And, I would try to get camp set up before dark. I could really use a weekend like that right now.

    I'll definitely let you know if I get to that spot. I'm definitely intrigued. It's just a long drive, so I might wait until October.
     

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