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Cross-posting from the Midwest forum ...

I'm looking for newbie off-roading recommendations in Central/Southern Indiana. I'd like to take my kids out this spring to see if off-roading interests them at all but I don't want to rattle their heads to hard on the first try.

 

Best two places that I know of are redbird state rec area
and badlands off-road park more north west central.

https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/parks-lakes/redbird-state-recreation-area/
https://www.badlandsoffroad.com/

Redbird is fun but not as large, trails can get tight in some locations. I have only gone during the week and there is practically no one so its easy to have fun at your own pace downside is there are less people to help if you get stuck. cant speak to how busy they are on weekends but we came across a group of SxS's and a few jeeps. they have some rocks if you are into crawling but most are flat areas with piles of rocks. The rest are sort of tight trails and mud being mostly forested. The power line section is fun and definitely easy and is a great area to learn your rigs capabilities. There are a few dirtbike/4wheeler areas where SUVs cant go. No requirement for a marker flag

Badlands is gigantic and has tons of different things. Sand, Mud, Rocks, Hills, Trails pretty much everything. Again only gone on a week day but have heard it can get busy on weekends. if you go when its wet out be careful of some of the trail puddles they can get extra deep. Do a stick test before attempting some. one of the guys I wheel with almost sunk his 4runner in a puddle he didnt check. The sand areas are super fun to just rip through the trails are fun and a little more technical, the rock sections get even more technical. They have an SUV area where atv/SxS cant go and some dedicated atv/bike areas where SUVs cant go.

Overall both are super fun, badlands seemed to have more options which is great but you cant go wrong with either. I would suggest taking a friend along or posting up here to see if anyone wants to join you. Then you have a recovery buddy incase you get stuck. There is a guy near redbird who does recoveries but hes an hour drive away and will charge you. the front desk will give you their info if you want it when you enter. If you dont go with a friend get a d-ring hitch, some soft shackles, and a tow rope for yourself. People are more inclined to help you if you already have those things and are hooked up and just need a quick pull.

 

Howdy from Southern Indiana (Bloomington)!

 

Welcome! North side of Indy here. Nice looking truck(access cab FTW!).

 

Thanks! It’s a MT as well. Took a while to find it, but well worth the wait.

 

Sweet! I came from a MT vehicle before I bought my Tacoma and I miss it sometimes(especially when my truck is gear-hunting).

 

Anybody know of a jeep trail maybe with a couple creek crossings near Edinburgh? A friend is coming down with their raptor and wants to go for a short drive. We'll only have three hours or so to check anything out before we have to be back in Edinburgh.

 

What's up Indiana folks? I'm up in Wisconsin and I'll be heading down to Tennessee in August with my family. I was hoping to find some nice gravel or dirt roads off the highways on the way down. We'll be leaving on a Wednesday morning and aren't due to check in at our rented cabin in TN until Thursday, so we're looking to take our time driving through your fine state and maybe find a place for the night in the Lexington area before getting to TN on Thursday.

Can any of you suggest some off the beaten path roads we could explore on the way down? I'll have my wife, daughter and mom in the truck with me and don't want to go wheeling and crawling and get stuck. Just looking for some nice gravel or dirt drives through the woods or near some different scenery off the highway. Maybe through the Hoosier National Forest area?

Let me know if you can help me explore a bit of Indiana with my family. Thanks!

 

I hit some dirt/sand roads near New Harmonie/Evansville this past weekend. The flooding from the Ohio River is still way up and we had to change our route a bit, but I can send you some GPS points for that area if it's not too far out of your way.

 

Thanks! But I think that may be a bit too far west if we plan to get to Lexington for the night.

 

If your going south on 65(which I'm guessing you will be) there's a place I like to camp called Yellowwood State Forest. It's west on SR 46 at the Columbus exit about 25 miles off the highway. Definitely no wheeling to be had(that I know of), but the scenery is pretty, there's gravel roads back in the state forest, and you will pass thru one of my favorite places in the state- Nashville, In. Be sure to get out of your truck and explore this little town!

 

I was reading up a bit on the INBMV site about historic vehicles, and their registrations. Apparently, anything 25 years and older is technically historic. There are additional requirements to qualify the vehicle as collector. As my '99 will be turning 25 around the next time I have to renew, I think I'm either getting a "historic" specialty plate or reusing an actual plate from '99 which I have. It wasn't on my Tacoma which was in CA at the time, but that doesn't seem to matter.

Has anyone else done this? AFAIK, there are no extra fees, like on specialty plates.

 

I am planning to get them for both my 1995s. Just haven't gotten around to it.

Check out the colors on the1980 Historic Plate. Got that old school Toyota paint scheme going on. You can get that on a Historic, but extra fee.

I think @Taco critter should move to Indiana just so he can use this plate:

BMV: Registration & Plates: Indiana Antique License Plates 1980-1989

 

Oh, I didn't know. Bet the new owner is happy!

 

Hi all! I am a brand new tuner with KDMax (although I’ve been doing my own truck for a few years now). I’m trying to get some new tunes done in my area and am offering $50 off for the Month of August!

I offer tuning with KDMAX Performance tunes with AGGRESSIVE THROTTLE RESPONSE/SMOOTH PREDICTABLE SHIFTING/IMPROVED DRIVABILITY
We also upgrade ECU to current versions. We can customize to your trucks needs offering custom AGM voltage settings- Gearing - Larger tires- Gearlock!
Message me @TifosiTuning for more info and scheduling!
Located in South Bend, IN

Dyno results
Stock vs KDMax-Pro-10.0
2016 Tacoma
87 octane
Stock intake
Stock exhaust
Stock gears
33inch tires.
20 HP over stock.
33 lb-ft Torque over stock

TIFOSI TUNING SERVICE PRICING.


KDMAX-Pro-10.0 = $425 - $50 thru August =$375!!!
FREE ECU UPGRADE WITH TUNE PURCHASE.

AGM VOLTAGE UPGRADE =$50

I offer group pricing. PM for details.
I offer to travel to you. For a fee. PM for details.

PLEASE PM WITH QUESTIONS OR SCHEDULING

Let me know if I can help! @TifosiTuning

 

Nice! Im in Lafayette, just a little more west of Kokomo. Thinking of updating to the version 10. I already currently have a KD tune but not sure which version. I think its probably worth updating my tune though to see what difference is from the previous version.

 

pm'd you!

 

1. are you still at Best One in Fishers?
2. does this tech love suspension work on rusty 20+ year old vehicles? I have parts for a suspension overhaul on my 1st gen that have been sitting around for awhile, planned to do it myself with help but that hasn't happened and I'm tired of not getting it done

 

That shop is no longer there. I am now up in Noblesville, and he is working in Broad Ripple I believe, still wrenching. If interested I can see if wants to take a stab at it.

 

that would be great! I'm in Indy just south of Fishers so that's pretty close