~"Serious offroading"~

[TEAMSLO]

I didn't read through all the comments but I see this in every industry. Some say people aren't using it for what it's made, etc. To me, there is no "serious" off roading sometimes referred to as "soft-wheeling", you either off road or you don't. Yes, some say fire roads, powerline roads and such don't qualify, but it's still the dirt.

I run all sorts of trails for my group, from newbie & stock friendly to not so much. To me, it's a perception that people have based on experiences. My first trail was a night run and made me beyond nervous, I couldn't wait for it to be over. Now, I run the same and it's boring but not because I'm a more serious off roader, my perception has changed.

I remember a newbie in my group made it up a hill and was jumping for joy afterwards. Another member mentioned "that wasn't sh*t", I removed that member from my group that same day.

Just to add something else, my first year of off roading was all about getting to increasingly difficult trails/obstacles. This is what I thought off roading was about, realized later for me, it wasn't about the tackling of difficult obstacles, it was getting out in the dirt with a great group of people. Not saying I don't enjoy a challenge, but I have also been on great trails with not so great people and been on what many would call a boring trail with great people and had a blast.

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[Windshieldfarmer]

It’s all about perspective. The first off-roading experience of my life was driving a stock JK Rubicon up Mosquito Pass in Colorado. I thought that was incredibly tough and scary. Did that same pass a couple of years ago in my lifted JL and thought it was pretty easy. Experience and rig build influences perspective.

With a 2” lift on 35s I don’t enjoy anything more difficult than a 5, maybe a 6.

Kind of like skiing; an upper end blue run is enough for me.

 

[C.Sco]

For me, it just means you're pushing the limits of what you and your vehicle can do. That varies from person to person, and vehicle to vehicle.

For one person, it might mean they had to navigate their Subaru Crosstrek around rocks and holes on their way to camp, and maybe bottomed out and almost got stuck a few times. For many of us, it might mean we're taking our Jeeps on things that require a fair bit of skill, and that no stock vehicle would ever make it through. For the craziest among us, it means we're driving on a "trail" that most sane people would consider completely undriveable, with very high likelihood of vehicle damage and possible rollovers.

There was a time where I was the guy calling it serious offroading when I bottomed out my Audi a few times on the forest road going to a campground. Nowadays I wouldn't call it serious offroading unless I was driving something like my avatar photo.... but if my buddy with an Outback says he did some serious offroading last weekend, I'll know exactly what he meant; and would even agree with him that in his circumstances, with that vehicle, it probably was serious offroading for him.

It's all good. We don't all need to be doing the Rubicon or Moab every weekend, it's all just about getting outside and having fun.

 

[autotragic]

It’s all about perspective. The first off-roading experience of my life was driving a stock JK Rubicon up Mosquito Pass in Colorado. I thought that was incredibly tough and scary. Did that same pass a couple of years ago in my lifted JL and thought it was pretty easy. Experience and rig build influences perspective.

With a 2” lift on 35s I don’t enjoy anything more difficult than a 5, maybe a 6.

Kind of like skiing; an upper end blue run is enough for me.

That's wild. I have been on trails rated 7-8 with no lift on 35s and looking for something more challenging.

 

[Twisted10]

I've heard rumors that some people do the nookie thing before getting married! Shocking, right?

people still get married? gross

 

[3TV]

That's wild. I have been on trails rated 7-8 with no lift on 35s and looking for something more challenging.

It looks like you're driving a 2-door. That's like cheating. A 2-door on 35s with the lift needed to clear them is equivalent to a 4-door on 37s with the lift needed to clear them, when it comes to "serious off-roading".

 

[autotragic]

people still get married? gross

I'm not saying I'd never do it...but she would have to be 100% reliable. So far the only person I've ever been able to rely on 100% is myself.

 

[yokramer]

It looks like you're driving a 2-door. That's like cheating. A 2-door on 35s with the lift needed to clear them is equivalent to a 4-door on 37s with the lift needed to clear them, when it comes to "serious off-roading".

How is it cheating to have the more Jeepier Jeep?

 

[autotragic]

It looks like you're driving a 2-door. That's like cheating. A 2-door on 35s with the lift needed to clear them is equivalent to a 4-door on 37s with the lift needed to clear them, when it comes to "serious off-roading".

Sometimes it really be like it do.

 

[GrayMatterJeep]

Serious off-roading is when you're not smiling.

I was thinking the same thing... but ...
Unless said person is a little crazy, thus more of a lunatic smile & laugh.

 

[Twisted10]

I'm not saying I'd never do it...but she would have to be 100% reliable. So far the only person I've ever been able to rely on 100% is myself.

I did it once. Never, ever, ever again.

 

[Ratbert]

It looks like you're driving a 2-door. That's like cheating. A 2-door on 35s with the lift needed to clear them is equivalent to a 4-door on 37s with the lift needed to clear them, when it comes to "serious off-roading".

Unless it's a really steep obstacle. That's when a longer wheelbase can make it simple.

 

[GrayMatterJeep]

How about these?

1. If you gotta use both your feet on an automatic transmission rig?

2. If you take the best line possible & still get turtled?

3. The trail leader asks you if you're ready for body damage.

Last but not least:
4. If you are wheeling alone?
If you do that you're asking for "serious" trouble... Remember, "never wheel alone".

 

[Ratbert]

That's wild. I have been on trails rated 7-8 with no lift on 35s and looking for something more challenging.

Those ratings are subjective.

Hell, even a given trail varies drastically based on conditions. Put a couple feet of snow on the trails behind our place and the otherwise boring ones become an incredibly challenging (or even deadly) blast.

Very little about it is objective.

 

[3TV]

How about these.

1. If you gotta use both your feet on an automatic transmission rig?

2. If you take the best line possible & still get turtled?

3. The trail leader asks you if you're ready for body damage.

Last but not least:
4. If you are wheeling alone. If you do that you're asking for trouble. Remember, "never wheel alone".

Perfect! Best description of serious off-roading in this whole thread.

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