Michigan Tacomas

Vast majority of trails around here are fairly tame and can be done in a stock taco; but are a few spots here and there where a little lift an a slightly more aggressive tire come in handy.

Nothing around the Clarkston area, thought there is a new ORV park in the works just north of Clarkston (Holly area), no solid ETA on its opening yet (2020 I believe is the current target).

Near Gladwin and Gaylord (kind of sandwiched in between the two) is the Huron National Forest - plenty of forest roads and ORV routes throughout. You can view trail maps from the Michigan DNR website, or you can get free maps from the Avenza app on Iphone or Android (search the map store for MVUM and you should see some free trail maps come up). St Helen area is a popular place, with some fun spots around the scramble area (sandy areas, some hills, a few man made rock crawls); also some good trails around Grayling, mainly in the area surrounding the Army base there, and north of M72. Just the first few spots I could think of mentioning right off hand for this side of the state.

There is also the Mounds ORV park in Flint... but I'm not a fan; lot's of mud, and the trails that are fun are largely overgrown.
Then there is Rocks and Valleys ORV park in Harrison (just north of Claire)... by far the best ORV park in Michigan. Plenty of trails, and a little something for everyone.

 

Rocks and Valleys in Harrison would be perfect. I could stay at my buddy’s in Gladwin and easily make that trip and back same day.

I’m going to check in to the others as well. Do you guys get together and camp near trails or do multi-day trail rides, that type of thing?

 

Second for Victory 4x4, I bought my sliders from them and they gave a discount for local pickup. It's only about an hour from Lansing, in Portage.

I met up with @kbp810 and a few other people in Grayling this past summer and we did a short day trip on some trails. It was a good time and I would be up for doing some more wheeling with the fellow Tacos!

 

Sounds good man, I guess now we just have wait 8 months until summer hahaha!

 

You don’t need summer to wheel or be outside, its just usually more fun.

I usually start camping around Nov-Dec and keep going probably once or twice a month thru Mar-April. Challenge yourself to see if you can not die outdoors with the proper gear/equipment, plus you really appreciate things like the fire and the clear skies or a rare snowstorm.

It might not be a wheeling trip, but maybe a winter camping night would be possible if enough people were interested. My routine usually involves a nice dinner at a restaurant near the campground with good food and plenty of drinks, then camping. I have a favorite spot in either Muskegon or Augusta MI but have done many others.

 

Our local offroad group usually does a winter /snow run; either towards the end of December, or January. I'll post up in here when we set a location and date. See if we can improve the taco to jeep ratio some, lol.

 

Yes of course, living in Michigan we can’t afford to live only part of the year. I appreciate the winter for what it is, but it does make me jealous of those on here from the west coast who don’t have weather restricting what they want to do and when.

I grew up here, but have lived in North Carolina and California. I still keep coming back here, so a bit of cold can’t keep me away.

I look forward to hearing from you guys. Winter is a busy time for me at work, but I may be able to sneak away for a day or two.

 

Definitely in for a winter wheeling/camping trip.

 

I have those fabrication tools needed to make those items you listed. Find specific examples of what you like and post them up.

 

The link below is to another member’s DIY Prinsu roof rack for his bed cap, which is what I am looking to do. I have a long bed and my cap already has the track rails for the rack to be mounted to. The only difference would be that he has L track rails to mount it to and I have Thule/Yakima style track rails.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/diy-prinsu-style-shell-rack.521186/
Basically he just fabricated the 1/4” x 3” side rails and mounting feet (1.5” square tubing) of the rack and purchased the crossbars and hardware already complete. Cost him under $200 and looks great.

All that would need to be fabricated are the two side rails and mounting feet as shown in his picture below. Prinsu makes cut outs in the side rails to save weight and look cooler, but for under $200 I think it’s a worthwhile venture.

 

Does your rack need to be made out of those extruded pieces? That style is really not something a fabricator uses. We would rather weld the parts together. The material is cheaper, too.

 

You guys still run meets in west Michigan
I'm from grand Rapids

 

Can anyone recommend a shop in sw mich for 4.88 gears? Thx

 

I have used Drivetrain Specialists (DTS) for axles gears, and driveshafts on various projects but they are on the eastside.

 

I might be interested in this. With deer season and the holidays i wouldnt be able till Jan. But i will not be sleepin in a tent..lol. I will bring my flyer.

 

Confirmed today that you can fit a face cord of firewood into the bed. Ran down the road fine @ 65 mph. Red oak.

 

Just bumping the thread so I can find it easier.

 

Thanks for thinking of us!
Black Friday deals are actually live right now. 15% off or $19.95 powder coat upgrades.

I won't be at the shop tomorrow, but if anyone ever wants to swing by for a shop tour and to say hey, please do!

https://www.victory4x4.com/

 

I am starting up my winter camping this weekend, not quite the same without snow in the southern part of the lower.

If anyone would be interested in a winter camping meetup in late January, let me know if either Augusta, Muskegon, or Bay City would work best. Probably just a dinner and good opportunity to get out doors and burn stuff for heat vs a wheeling trip until I can scout out some better trails for winter use.

 

I am in grand rapids. We are avid backpackers and campers, however, we don't have much for winter gear. Our coldest bags are 35s. We would be down for some snow wheeling though and maybe like cooking dinner out there. Pretty open to locations but Muskegon is closest.