Texas Wheeling

[Deleted User 38384]

Based on my limited experience...

North Texas Jeep Club mostly wants to meet up and just hang out. They do runs on occasion, but it's more of a social club.

Lone Star Jeep Club is run exceptionally well. Their meetings always have a reason, etc. They organize trail runs frequently. Non-members are welcome.

Softroaders Texas is another group I'm in. Not exclusively Jeep, but also more focused on trail rides. Softroaders also volunteers at Northwest OHV regularly in Bridgeport to help keep the trails clean and well-marked. That's who I went to Hidden Falls / Hill Country run with

There's a smattering of other local clubs, mostly that just do various meetups, charity events, etc.

Depends on what you're looking for.

Lone Star Jeep Club sounds like my kind of place, straight shooters!

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[72Blazer]

Finally got some time to roll into my own bed last night and get some rest. I was beat.

I rolled into town to meet @HydroBlue22 and @cornercanyon to fuel up at HEB before rolling into the Hill Country route at about 1:45 PM. It was a very nice scenic route, paved road, running at about 15-25 mph most of the time. Service was spotty but was able to utilize the map posted by @B_AIRS for the most part. I ended up switching over to the Gaia map I took from the Softroaders FB page. I would definitely say if you’re strapped for time or want to really see what the overland route is about, then run this section of the route.

our group split at about the X, as mentioned they headed back down to Fredricksburg and I headed up north towards Mason. I almost split off to the main road to head into Mason as we had already been on the route for 2 hours. The pinnacle of the route though was the James River crossing and knew I needed to see it. So I pushed forward some more to finish off this section of the route. It was a little intimidating pulling up to the crossing, never running it, not being sure on the line, but I winged it and got across it without any trouble. Definitely, very doable in a stock sport. Also, there’s a few ledges to play around on, but I was ready to head into town. All in, took me 4 hours start to finish with about 4-5 stops for pictures.

I initially thought this was the river crossing until I rolled onto the real crossing

All in all I had a great time putting around and enjoying the scenery with no time constraints. I hope to run it again some time and try the northern section of the route.

 

[72Blazer]

I headed into Mason, grabbed some ice, then made my way to WolfCaves. I set up camp with a tent and canopy since light rain was expected. Pulled up a nearby picnic table and fire ring. Once camp was set up, I headed into town for a beer at THC Brewery, which was pretty tasty and locally brewed by them. Then I headed over Keller’s Store for dinner. It was definitely sensory overload but the food was pretty decent. The fried Calamari was damn good. I then proceeded to head back to WC for a few more beers and get showered up. I stayed up a nice lightning show until it started to sprinkle so I headed into the tent. About an hour later I was awaken by tornado like winds. I dealt with it for about 30 minutes before bailing and heading to the jeep for better coverage. It finally calmed down enough around 5 am to head back to the tent to get a couple more hours of shut eye. The canopy was a lost cause but the tent survived.

Woke up around 8 am to make coffee and breakfast then loaded up drinks and food for the day and hit the trails. There was quite a few buggies and a group of shitbox wheelers filming a YT video. I didn’t fit in with either groups so I just hit the trails on my own. I ran all green trails which were labeled as mild but did have a few hairy moments. Definitely put the belly skidplates and rock rails to use. The JLUR handled the harder sections without a hiccup. I broke for lunch around 130 under a nice cool spot under a tree. All in I was on the trails for 8 hours. It was a good time considering I was wheeling alone.

On my way back to camp, I decided to watch the built Jeeps run a section of Finleys Playground. I’ve ran this section before and could tell their line was a little off as the first two jeeps had a bit of trouble with it but were able to finish it. I walked up there and spoke with the older gentleman up next to run it and gave him the line. He walked the section and was very grateful saying he had never wheeled before and his group had been taking him through red trails all day. They then proceeded to keep running trails and I looped around to keep watching them. I ran into the trail leader and he informed me one of the jeeps had broken. So I made my way down the trail to see what was going on and possibly help if needed. The orange jeep had completely broken the frame at the steering box. As I was observing, I offered to help in some way possible when one of the guys in the group decided to ask who I was and what I was doing there. I responded I was just offering to see if they needed any help to which he said “you can help by moving out of the way.” So I decided to make a remark that I was just trying to help and called him an asshole. He asked me what I said again so I said it to his face again and he went back to being a backseat welder . At this point, I just walked off. Yeah, he was the guy wheeling the Jeep full of Jesus stickers and scriptures. What a douchebag.

I headed back to camp and made dinner. Ribeye with a side of cactus filled with cheese and mushrooms.

Next trip will probably be HF in July, K2 in the fall, and possibly WolfCaves or Big Bend for our annual Turkey Run.

 

[72Blazer]

This the only picture I snapped after doing the crossing. I’d say it was about 4-5” of water going from the O to the X….approximately 150’. I could see the rock bottom.

 

[HydroBlue22]

My wife and I meet up with @cornercanyon and @72Blazer Saturday afternoon and we all went for a very enjoyable drive. As they have said in this thread, we didn't do any "off-roading", but did drive some very scenic back roads.
We had a great time and we got to meet some great people. We hope to meet up with them again and do some more jeeping.

 

[72Blazer]

November 10 is our tentative Turkey Run taking place at WolfCaves. Anyone is welcome to join.

 

[72Blazer]

November 10 is our tentative Turkey Run taking place at WolfCaves. Anyone is welcome to join.

This is pretty much set for a go for our group of 3-4 rigs. We will be camping at WC. They’re anticipating a big turnout with Wheelers for the Wounded happening that weekend…just found out yesterday. My son’s football team has already secured a first round playoff spot so my tentative show up day will depend on that. I hope he plays a Thursday game. Should be a great weekend of wheeling for anyone wanting to join.

 

[72Blazer]

A few pictures from our run this month to WolfCaves. Great weather and company. Hoping to try to get out for another trip in February. My son stayed behind the wheel 99% of the time.

this section is the only one I backed off of. It was inevitable I’d rip off the taillight

 

[grandsrus]

My wife and I meet up with @cornercanyon and @72Blazer Saturday afternoon and we all went for a very enjoyable drive. As they have said in this thread, we didn't do any "off-roading", but did drive some very scenic back roads.
We had a great time and we got to meet some great people. We hope to meet up with them again and do some more jeeping.

Looks like the Perdenales. Good times.

 

[grandsrus]

Wish i found this post sooner.
In Southlake and am always up for a trail ride however i travel 45 weeks a year.....

 

[72Blazer]

Wish i found this post sooner.
In Southlake and am always up for a trail ride however i travel 45 weeks a year.....

Next time. Projecting some Texas runs in February, May, and November. We are headed to the Rubicon in July.

 

[72Blazer]

Guess this can turn into my wheeling and build thread. So the plan is to hit the Rubicon July 2024 with a stop at Sand Hallow for a couple of days on the way home. My son is graduating high school so a Vegas and Lake Tahoe pit stop is on the schedule too.

So it’s time to prep. We got a trail leader joining us off IBB (new pirate BB) we got most of our stops booked except Sand Hallow. Black Friday hit the wallet good. Ordered up Dirty Life beadlocks, Adam’s shafts, rear Dana 4340 chromos, rebuild kit to rebuild the RCVs I got off another member, American Iron balljoint deletes, AAL extinguisher and cut off switch mounts, and CavFab sliders. Pending to order Reid knuckles and Apex steering booster. End goal is to run 40s and drive from south Texas to the rubicon to wheel and drive home. I have some CavFab front inner fenders and diff covers sitting in boxes waiting for paint.

Current build: some 3” RE lift, front RE beefy LCAs, full Steer Smarts steering parts, Synergy brace, 37” Patagonias on stock wheels, front Warn with synthetic line, pillar lights, HikeIt, Evo belly skid, rear CavFab bumper and tire carrier, cargo light hard wired in, rear crappy inner fenders, some Synergy spacers, and corrosion on the door hinges (planning for half doors after Rubicon)


Time to wrench then. Hoping to get everything minus 40s and beadlocks installed next month. Plan is to keep the current lift and limit up travel if needed. I prefer the lower COG is better approach.

 

[BDinTX]

@72Blazer I’m pretty sure @BradyW had the Apex booster on his 392 that was stolen. The last time we wheeled he said hit TJ with PSC wandered less on the road than his JL. On his replacement JL he went with a PSC kit.

 

[72Blazer]

@72Blazer I’m pretty sure @BradyW had the Apex booster on his 392 that was stolen. The last time we wheeled he said hit TJ with PSC wandered less on the road than his JL. On his replacement JL he went with a PSC kit.

I think long term hydro assist will be on the list. For the now the booster should suffice hopefully maybe possibly. ?

 

[BradyW]

@72Blazer & @BDinTX steering setups on the JLs are pretty convoluted between models based on my understanding.

The 392 steering gear doesn't seem to wander as much as the other JL steering gears, but the pump overheats pretty quickly due to the weight and heat of the engine. The Apex kit did improve the steering power of the 392, especially with the front locker engaged, but it did not prevent the electric pump from overheating. The apex fluid cooler does help with the fluid temperatures, but it does not prevent the electric pump from being overworked.

I believe I read somewhere that the diesel JL has a liquid-cooled steering pump. If true, that would help explain why @BDinTX has never seen the same issues the 392 was having.

My new-to-me 2020 wanders more than the 392 and I believe the primary difference is the steering gearbox.

I'm about halfway finished with installing a full ram assist PSC system into the 2020 3.6L, so we'll have another data point soon if it helps as much on the road as some others have stated. At 9-10psi on 37s, my wife would struggle to turn the wheel in a few situations with the 2020, so I'm putting this upgrade on my Jeep "for her"!

I have the electric pump removed, the belt-driven pump installed and am working on removing the stock steering gearbox now. I'm hoping to be finished up this coming weekend.

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