Badlands Offroad Park December 4th

[woody]

girlfriends are most welcome...this is a rare ride for me in that my wife is NOT attending....

she drives better than I do anyways....

Not positive on pets....I "believe" the Badlands allows them, but it would be worth a call to be sure. We have our cat along most trips, but he never leaves the Lemon.

 

[OGBeno]

girlfriends are most welcome...

Cool--thanks for the info. Woody. Looks like she wants to come and see me get stuck ina mud puddle!!

Well, I just found out that I WILL be able to make this trip for Dec. 4th. YEah!!!

Really psyched for this. I assume all logisitics will be mapped out as time gets closer, right?

This is my first wheeling adventure, so I'm stoked to meet people and really use the rig for what it was made for.

What types of pre-wheeling things should I do? Fluids, etc.? Any help is appreciated.

Best.
-onur
Akron, OH

 

[Gumby]

Arrrrrgh! Just found out I'm supposed to be at a conference on Friday and Saturday in Springfield. maybe I can drive the cruiser to the conference and shoot over Saturday morning early.

 

[patride71]

man that sounds fun, except i'm a little and not used to the cold weather and camping.

actually i'll be working in florida for 3 weeks between Tgiving and Xmas.

gotta hook up with the midwest cruiserheads one day....... other than just stopping by gumby's garage.



-pat

 

[alia176]

Onur,

Leave the dog at home for your first trip out. I don't know about yours, but mine doesn't appreciate going airborn in the cargo area while wheelin! Besides, you'll be tooo busy to have to deal with a pup and a chickie! After this trip, you'll have a good idea whether or not you wanna bring the pup along the next time.

Ali

Seeing as this might be my first Cruiser trip, have a few questions:

I'd be bringing a girlfriend unit--are these allowed?

I'd also be bringing a dog--are these allowed (and/or not allowed/recommended)?


Best.
-onur
Akron, OH

 

[OGBeno]

Thanks Ali for the advice.

I'll leave the dog at home. He'll have to see the carnage after the fact!!

I appreciate it.

Best.
-onur
Akron, OH

 

[woody]

What types of pre-wheeling things should I do? Fluids, etc.? Any help is appreciated.

My rig gets a major run thru after every trip.... Usually, that prevents any issues during the next ride, and gives me a head start on repairs. Additionally, I have a few things I check daily...fluids and knuckle studs are on that list.

If you are comfortable with the rig at 70 down the highway, it should be fine for the trail, but an afternoon with your creeper will be needed afterwards. (and wouldn't hurt before hand, to see what things outta look like PRE- wheelin...lol)

I use an hour-meter on my rig instead of the ODO, and do fluids every 25 hours or so. (25 hours at 60mph would be 1500 miles, but since I only put on a couple hundred light road miles a year, those 60 hours are HARD use)

 

[OGBeno]

Thanks for the advice Woody.

I'm rather overly vigilant (but then again, not as much as others on this board) about the fluids, filters, tire pressure, sounds, and underneath.

We will be driving about five hours to get to Indiana, so on top of that another day of wheeling, and then clean-up and then the ride home, I assume the good ole truck will need a day or two rest!

I'll probably change all of the fluids out before the 4th and come with some new blood. Though I doubt I will be roughing it too hard as this is my first time out and I do want to see the pros at it!!

Thanks again. Till later.

Best.
-onur
Akron, OH

 

[Benji]

Hey beno,

I'm prolly going as well. I live in Bloomington, IN. If you want to leave friday night, you're more than welcome to stay over at my place until staurday moring. We have an extra room with bedding for two. I don't know if your going the high road or the low road from Akron, OH, but if it's not out of your way you could get some good sleep friday, and we could head out early saturday. Might get you there earlier.

By the way, I'm currently getting my Ph.D. so we could discuss the pros and cons over several beers.


Woody, are there still shotgun seats avialable? I prolly won't be wheeling too hard and would like to catch a ride with some of you guys.

I hope to be seeing ya.

ben

 

[woody]

I know I'll have a bitch seat open, and most of the gang that supposed to head down with me will too...

If the list pans out, we'll have one EB, one YJ, one mini, and two FJ's. Possibly a Scout and a CJ7 tossed in there too. (course, last time I planned a run down, I came alone...lol)

 

[Benji]

I know I'll have a bitch seat open, and most of the gang that supposed to head down with me will too...)

Cool woody, I'm 85% sure I'll be there. I'll bring the snorkel and mask .

Good times.

ben

 

[OGBeno]

Benji--

Just PM'ed ya.

Best.
-onur
Akron, OH

 

[alia176]

I'm planning on going. Gumby, let me know the plans for departure if you're leaving on Sat. I'll have to follow you just so I can pick up falling parts from your rigs!!! I invited a stock Rubi to come along with me. I'll be leaving early Sat am from Bolinbrook (I-55 and I-355).

If anyone has a set of Aisin hubs, I'll buy them from you if you bring them down to the park!

Ali

 

[OGBeno]

hey guys--

Looks like we have a really nice sized group going on the 4th.

Since my truch is pretty much stock, I hope you guys don't mind if I get some ideas on what to do to the 80, mod-wise.

I'll also probably have lots o questions now that I have ya in person rather than in e-form.

This is gonna be great. Best to you all.

-onur
Akron, OH

 

[kenton]

Ali, thanks for the heads up on this. I'll be going down as well, in my 4Runner. There's no cheap motel's nearby, so I'll probably go early Sat morning (leaving NW Chicago suburbs at 5am), and return that night. Unless (hint hint) someone has some nice evening dinner plans either Fri or Sat, like sittin' around and shootin' the shiite.

Isn't Attica Campground, and other campgrounds, closed for the season, Brian?

Beno/Onur, remember to have a 0.5" dia hole somewhere for the flag mount, or think seriously about how to firmly attach it. A few poorly-though-out zip ties, and you'll be hopping in and out of your rig all day fixing it. No fun.

Kenton

 

[OGBeno]

Beno/Onur, remember to have a 0.5" dia hole somewhere for the flag mount, or think seriously about how to firmly attach it. A few poorly-though-out zip ties, and you'll be hopping in and out of your rig all day fixing it. No fun.

Kenton:

Thanks for the suggestion. Yeah--I almost forgot about that looking back now. I guess the stock bumpers really don't have too many places for something like this. I might just drill a hole up front before I come and use that. I'll eventually get a bumper/ARB ($$$$$$) but for now a hole will probably do for these one day events.

I think some people in this thread were talking about bar-b-quing afterwards...though I have a feeling it will be cold in central IN by the beginning of December...Maybe there's a decent restaurant nearby where we can all convene and hang...

Any ideaa folks?

bEst.
-onur
Akron, OH

 

[Gumby]

Right now I'm looking at a conference in Springfield Fri and Sat morning. I'll cut out of there as early as possible, possibly early enough to get to Attica before open, probably not. I'll either head back Saturday night, or stay. That part i can keep open. I'll bring a tent, but if i wuss out, I might head back to the hotel, although i could sleep in the 80. This conference kinda puts a kabosh on bringing the 40, but it sounds like I'll have wagons to wheel with and too many folks to really want to deal with field testing a new truck anyway.

there is a fine resturant in downtown Attica to hang out.

Is Badlands campground beer friendly? I had thought not.

 

[OGBeno]

Great avatar--Col. Klink (sp?) is one of my favorite TV charaters ever!!!

Nice.

I guess maybe we should play it by ear (read: play it by weather/campground logistics) for after wheeling activities.

And yeah, a few beers afterwards will be a treat indeed. Good call Gumby.

And yeah, it sounds as if there will indeed be a few (4+) wagons to play with...

Best.
-onur
Akron, oh

 

[woody]

Attica Camping is open year round - but it is stated no alcohol. Sommers is closed this late in the season. More irritatingly, if you aren't camping there, AC will charge you $5 to visit thru....THAT's the pisser....and might be a reason to NOT do a cookout on Sat evening.

On that note, Robies is the downtown hangout...good food, Brandi is the hottie bartender, and it's usually a good time. I'll wager that'll be the spot for Sat festivities.

There are a few hotels in the area, and none are expensive....IIRC, the one downtown is $50 a nite, and they give you a key for the front door so you can get back in....even has a "break" room where you can make your own meals.

I "believe" the gang I'm headed down with wants to wheel Sunday too, but it depends on how stupid we get on Sat, and on weather.

 

[alia176]

I'm trying to talk a co-worker with a motor home to go down Fri night and let me crash in it! He doesn't even have a 4x4! We'll see if he takes the bait. If so, then I'll head down Friday right after work from downtown Chicago. Unfortunately, I have to attend a Xmas party that evening, so I might to bolt out of there a little early.

Ali