P.I.N.S. group run Apr 12-14th, 2013 (1 Viewer)

[SWITAWI]

Previously posted this over in the Trails/Events/Expeditions section - https://forum.ih8mud.com/trails-events-expeditions/695420-tx-p-i-n-s-group-run-april-12th.html Please direct any replies to THAT thread!

This started as an idea for a Mar/Apr weekend run with a few people over on the FJ Forum - http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/foru...group-p-i-n-s-run-late-march-early-april.html

Eventually we settled on the date of April 12th 2013. I then suggested we open this up to inviting anyone on MUD and ExPo that wants to come along and so here we are.

Staying two nights, not sure how far down we plan to go. Some will bring dogs, and this is definitely a family-friendly thing. I will post up more details as I have them.

In the meantime, get a pencil and flip your calendar a couple of pages...

[URL="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy13/switawi/P1010930.jpg"][URL="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy13/switawi/P1010930.jpg"][URL="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy13/switawi/P1010930.jpg"] [/URL][/URL][/URL]
[URL="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy13/switawi/Weekends/map_padre_island_towns.gif"][URL="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy13/switawi/Weekends/map_padre_island_towns.gif"][URL="http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy13/switawi/Weekends/map_padre_island_towns.gif"] [/URL][/URL][/URL]

The current head count from the combined responses on MUD, ExPo, and the FJ Forum looks like this...

1. Banana Boat
2. SWITAWI - Maybe on Saturday
3. SHFD739
4. soslo
5. Tnk diver
6. Fendric
7. Brettv - Strong maybe
8. tlcntx
9. ripper1600 - Maybe
10. fl4031003
11. 1997 FZJ80 40th
12. SouthTexasCruiser - Maybe
13. Landy
14. ElRob
15. FJhawkdriver - Maybe
16. TxAggie
17. cogswell
18. Hodges
19. HunterK
20. Green Grass Hopper
21. LexusAllTerrain
22. El Diablo
23. BrettinSanAntonio

 

[shfd739]

We are in!

 

[SWITAWI]

Commentary from the gentleman who started this whole thing on the FJ Forum - http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/foru...hore-weekend-april-12th-14th-2013-thread.html

Hey everybody, the plan is to head out Friday April 12th to P.I.N.S. @ 10 AM. We will be meeting up at the H-E-B on SE Military dr and Goliad.(3323 SE Military Dr, San Antonio, TX 78223-3814) @ 10 AM to gas up and grab the last few things that we need before we head out.
I know we're going to have stragglers, and I know there is no way we're going to leave on time if we have a good sized group. So I'm just ballparking,and hopefully we're on the road by 10:45/11 at the latest so we can beat the traffic.

We'll be right off 37, and have a straight shot to Padre.
Ideally most people will have a CB or some type of handheld that we can communicate with, as cell phones will not work at PINS once we get down a ways.
We can run the standard channel 19, unless otherwise specified, or to minimize cross chatter we can pick a different one later.

Please make sure to bring the proper amount of supplies for yourself and whoever you choose to bring, food, gas, and water are not easy to come by once you get a couple hours down the beach. It would be useful if anyone that can, please bring firewood as that is the one thing we always seem to run out of.
I will bring some, but its hard to pack a lot of wood into the FJ, so my supply will be limited.

This is a TREAD LIGHTLY run, there will be NO littering or trashing of the beaches while we are out there. Everyone is expected to be responsible for their own waste and respectful of those around them. Please pick up after yourself, your children, and your pets.
Remember this is a family friendly event. If you want to bring alcohol, please be respectful of those that will have their children with them.

I will be bringing some fishing poles and doing a bit of fishing, if you plan on doing the same I strongly recommend having your up to date fishing license. The Rangers ride ATV's down the beachfront and are not shy about asking people for their license.

I hope to see some familiar faces out there, and definitely hope to meet some new ones. I know the other thread has been posted on a few different forums, so if someone could kindly link this one, I would greatly appreciate it:wave:

If you have any questions about the beach campground here is a contact number, and the website.
P.I.N.S #361-949-8068
Padre Island National Seashore - Padre Island National Seashore

 

[1997 FZJ80 40th]

Definitely in for this one! Warning - I am bringing my 3 kids (10, 7 and 4) and my lab. Its a circus when they all get in the roof top tent (not the dog of course she can't climb the ladder). Should be a great weekend.

 

[fl4031003]

I'm in for this one!

Might bring my dog or one kid

 

[SWITAWI]

Head Count!

I've updated the top of the thread with a head count!

 

[BrettinSanAntonio]

Count me in. I already took off the 12th.

 

[SWITAWI]

Count me in. I already took off the 12th.

Got you added to the head count!

 

[1997 FZJ80 40th]

Quick question - I have only been to PINS once, and based on another vehicle with us, we did not venture past the first 5-10 miles. I have 2 sets of wheels that I run on my 80 - 285 mud terrains AND the stock Michellen LTX in 270/70/16. I would prefer not to run my mud terrains for this trip. Will I have any issues negotiating the full distance from Mile 1 to the Mansfield Channel and back on the factory size LTXs.

FWIW, I have a 2 inch lift and step sliders. I will also air down tires as necessary and have a compressor to re-inflate. I will have all my recovery gear (Masterpull Kinetic snatch/pull rope, appropriate recovery points front and rear, shovel, hi Lift blah blah blah)

 

[SWITAWI]

I have taken my stock FJC on the OE tires past 35-40mi several times with no issues. The highway-biased tires seem to give more flotation than mud-terrains, and they move forward easier instead of trying to dig into the sand. Of course a light, steady throttle is always a big help when you don't want to let your tires dig down. Knowing the traction capabilities of the 80-Series easily exceeds my FJC, I'd say you'll be fine unless you run into some hidden debris that a heavier M/T might shrug off. Not really a problem if you're watching where you're going and not traveling too fast.

 

[1997 FZJ80 40th]

Excellent - thanks for the detailed response. That's what I needed to know.

 

[BrettinSanAntonio]

I'm am ready. I've got all my gear gathered and rigging my gear for shark and reds. I'll probably drive down Thursday night or very early Friday morning to visit an old friend so I'll meet y'all at the headquarters.

 

[shfd739]

I'm am ready. I've got all my gear gathered and rigging my gear for shark and reds. I'll probably drive down Thursday night or very early Friday morning to visit an old friend so I'll meet y'all at the headquarters.

You want me to give you a call as we get closer so you'll have an idea of what time to meet the group?

 

[BrettinSanAntonio]

You want me to give you a call as we get closer so you'll have an idea of what time to meet the group?

Sounds good. I may meet you guys on the island.

 

[shfd739]

Well due an idiot defendant that wont take a plea I may have to be in court friday morning as a prosecution witness. If that happens we'll head south as soon as I get done and catch everyone on the beach.

 

[BrettinSanAntonio]

I'll be heading down very early Friday morning. I just realized I may not know anyone else going. Who should I look for? I was thinking about meeting people at the headquarters before heading down island.

 

[shfd739]

I know the leader Friday will be in a yellow FJ Cruiser with a Metaltech tube bumper. Should be a large group of FJCs.

Looks like they plan to be at Snoopys around 1330ish for gas top off and any last minute needs.

If todays change in court stuff holds out we'll make the Friday morning convoy from SA.

 

[shfd739]

Yeah so I have to be back at court in the morning and no idea when I'll be let go.

We'll catch everybody on the beach. I'm so mad about all of this.

 

[SWITAWI]

Well it seems a good time was had by all. As I may have mentioned before my buddy Matt & I had to attend a mandatory company meeting in Houston on Saturday, the end result being we didn't find the group until we reached 34-35mi down the beach about 9:30pm that night. We didn't get to spend anytime fishing really, just setting up the tent in the dark. After one 'adult beverage' we were wiped out, lol. Come Sunday morning I was surprised and delighted by the number of kids running around, though that made finding a place in the dunes for the morning ablutions an adventure all its own! Matt and I had a quick moment to set up a 20ft antenna mast with a 75W HAM radio and were able to pickup the Kingsville repeater, although no one ever responding to a monitoring call. I only got a couple of cellphone pics myself as everyone starting breaking up and heading out...

Here's some more media contributions from various FJ/MUD/ExPo Forum members...

Fendric's Picasa Album - http://api.***.com/api/click?format...be6bLL2eHwSA&jsonp=vglnk_jsonp_13661191072707

Videos from ElDiablo - North Padre Island mile marker 60 trail - YouTube & North Padre 2 - YouTube

Pictures from shfd739...

Pictures from Dragunov54...

Pictures from tlcntx...

Thanks to everyone from all the forums who came out. Hopefully we can do this again in the fall, and hopefully I get to be on the beach for more than 12hrs next time, lol.