Tuttle Trip 2012

[Jrob80]

samualsmith is organizing a trip to Tuttle this spring... below are some details. If you are interested in going post up and let us know. Looks like we are looking at the weekends of either April 28th or May 12th.

EDIT: TRIP IS SET FOR MAY 12th. below is a list of people going
1. samualsmith (our fearless leader)
2. Grench? Maybe
3. 2 E L O
4. jbob56
5. corn man
[STRIKE]6. Jrob80[/STRIKE]

Let me know if you want to be added to the list or deleted from the list.


My vote was for May 12th.

If you're organizing it, and by default you are - pick a date that YOU can make, announce it and let the rest of us move our worlds accordingly.

I'd be up for a day or 1-2 night overnight trip. April is warm enough I might just bring my 10 year old twins with me if they'd be welcome.

It sounds like mild rigs are fine - but may have less to do (of course). Here are some considerations/questions that you may as well answer up front:

Kids OK?
Dont' see why not. I see lots of families down there and the kids always look like they're having fun. The wife goes with me occasionally and enjoys it.
Camping or no?
I've never camped out there. Its only about a hour and a half drive from my house so I've never felt the need. If others are interested though staying and camping out Saturday night wouldn't be a problem.
Do reservations need to be made at a campground?
Unsure on that, I can ask a friend though.
What are the costs beyond gas? Permits/parkstickers/other?
No other fees or stickers. I can make it there, wheel all day and back on a tank of gas. I usually fill up in Kansas though just to support the local gas station.
What time do we leave?
I usually leave Lincoln between 7:00-7:30. I can leave later though since its a bit of a drive from Lincoln to Omaha. There is a gas station at Hwy 77 and Satillo which works as a good meeting place for the Lincoln and Omaha folks. My preference would be to meet there at 8:00 or a little bit after and convoy down to Kansas together.
What time do we get back?
I can stay as long as people want but typically leave the park around 3:00 - 4:00 and head to the gas station to air up my tires and fuel up.

I'm looking forward to this - I haven't been on a spring trip in a long time.

Since I was somehow nominated to pick a date my vote is either April 28th or May 12th. Any preferences?

I went down there many times with stock suspension and 265 75R16's and never had a problem. Just be careful and take it slow. I would recommend taking the running boards off with no lift and stock tires. I do have some pinstriping but that was more from following a friends jeep on the narrower trails, I stay to the wider trails now. I still don't have sliders and have never had a problem with body damage or breakage.
Any other questions? Who all is interested?
Lastly this is offroading. Body damage, scratches and breakage can happen. I put my old CJ7 on its side not being careful years ago. See lots of jeeps with broken axle shafts, driveshafts etc. 99% of the time when something does break its from a driver being heavy on the gas or trying something too challenging. Besides some minor pinstripes and chewed up tires from spinning them on the rocks you would never know I offroad my FJ80 and I intend to keep it that way.

Hopefully we get a good group of people to go. Just so everyone is aware I am 100% wheeling newb I have never taking my truck out to more then the hills around my home town or the Platte River.

 

[Grench]

April 28th weekend works better for me. I could make May 12th work - but I'll

Wife and I are going to a late running show on May 11th.

Google Maps says it's 2.5 hours one way from Lincoln and 3.5 hours one way from Omaha. Do you have a shortcut that gets you there in 90 minutes or drive 90mph or is Google Maps bonkers again?

 

[samuelsmith]

Mapquest is showing 101 miles from the gas station at Hwy 77 and Satillo to Randolph Kansas. I've found it a little quicker and easier to take NE 112 over Hwy 77. Speed limit is 65 in Kansas and also from Lincoln to Beatrice. In other words Google Maps is bonkers. With stock gears and 35's I've found my FJ80's sweet spot for cruising is right around 70mph. I'll time it again when I go there tomorrow and also get some pictures to post up. I'm up for either weekend still. The more people that can make it the better.

 

[samuelsmith]

Looks like we have one vote for April 28th and one for May 12th, what about May 5th?

 

[2 E L O]

I'll have to check on these dates...

I know that the is OOT the weekend of the 28th...but I think some of my family was planning on coming to Omaha from out west to visit... I'll have to confirm whether or not that's still happening.

I'm not sure about those first two weekends in May... I can't think of anything I have going on right now but I can only keep things straight when they're a week or two out...

I'm with Jrob on the (lack of) offroading experience. I used to take my little '88 Ranger down on the beaches at McConaughy when I was in HS, but that's about the extent of my offroading. I've also got a couple of birfs that are a bit warn and the truck is my DD so I won't be flogging on her too hard...but it'd be fun to get in a little action!

 

[jbob56]

I am game for whichever, but you can count on me and my LC being there. I, as well, am a first time wheeling newb, but am willing to try my skill and watch a little.

 

[Jrob80]

I can't May 5th I will actually be in Omaha that weekend for a bachelor party. I just found out that we have a wedding on April 28th so that won't work for me either.

 

[samuelsmith]

Sounds like the May 12th is the date then? Can you make that work Grench, I know you said April 28th was better for you. Looks like we are up to 4 people interested so far. Went this weekend and had a good time. I timed it from the gas station on Hwy 77 and Satillo to Randolph. Took me exactly 1:33.

Here's a few pictures from Saturday. I thought I'd try the mud puddle. It was much thicker than I thought it would be. Pulled out easily though.

 

[Grench]

That is some pretty thick stuff. That lead up to it looks like inverse railroad tracks too.

 

[Jrob80]

Looks like a lot of fun!

Thought I would post up a link to Tuttle - Tuttle Creek ORV Area - Kansas Motorcycle and ATV Trails

 

[samuelsmith]

I usually stay out of the mud but knew there was a bottom to the puddle and there was very little standing water so I wasn't as worried about getting water in the mechanicals.

 

[BADM]

Tuttle skuttle-but

Hi. Way late intro. Ben. SW of Papillion. 96LX just turned 170K. OME shocks and 285's. Bent factory trailer hitch from Pearl Pass, CO couple of years ago. Just did PHH this last weekend.

Rode along with Jeep girls last year to Tuttle. Well over 100F. Camped across the lake at the "Horse Friendly" state campground. We were the ONLY ones in the entire park. Almost the only ones on the trails. Water was high. I would love to go when water levels and temps are moderate. AND TAKE THE LC. Some stuff requires armor. My goal was sliders before next trip down and go over THE TUBE! I know it will do it, but it's going to hurt. Couldn't talk the Jeep pansies into trying. They took some photos with the front wheels on it......yay.

Memories= Hot. sh**loads of wasps. Hot. Open air showers. Wasps. Hot. T storms. Beer. Jeep pansies.

Would love to try and make it. Won't know til about then.

 

[corn man]

Man the way Ben describes it I would be an idiot to miss it....with that said I'll probably be a game time decision. The 12th is a possibility as wife is working that weekend. Would bring boys if I do, but not sure if we would spend night or not.

1:30 sounds right to get down there. I travel to Manhattan, KS quite a bit and it is 2:15 to get there...

Would also serve as "recovery vehicle" with 2ELO as no sliders yet (matching recovery vehicles of course), but sure we can find some bunny slopes somewhere...

 

[BADM]

My schedule just in

Work weekends of Apr14/15, 28/29, May12/13, 19/20.
In KCK Apr21/22.
May have to catch next trip.

 

[Chapman]

I can't make it, no spare tire yet.

samualsmith, probably pulled out easy but Ill bet you personally got muddy? Unless you have a dedicated winch cable puller.
I live here in Lincoln also and don't think I have seen your 80.
Here is a pic of my locked '93 with OME heavy/med on it and 315 KM2s. Thought maybe I was the only one in town set-up like that but yours looks similar. I like it! Wanna Race?

-Chapman

 

[ne715]

So is May 12th the official date? If so I I'll try and make sure I am not on call that weekend, so we might be able to go. Been a few years since we have been down there. Hard to believe we use to go at least twice a year.

Pam

 

[samuelsmith]

The 12th seems to be the date when the most people can make it and its not like we can't go again in the future. Official then?

Chapman - looks like we have nearly identical 80's. I couldn't decide between the BFG's and the Mickey Thompson's when I got new tires this year. Yours looks sharp. Unless you've done something to yours the only outcome I can see from racing two lifted FJ80's is to see who has the slowest vehicle in town. I was able to jump to dry ground so didn't get to muddy, now hooking the strap up to my friend's was a different story.

 

[Jrob80]

Work weekends of Apr14/15, 28/29, May12/13, 19/20.
In KCK Apr21/22.

Looks like you need to trade someone weekends You know you want to!

 

[jrcruiser]

we'll be there if we can work our schedules out. would bring our 2 boys

 

[Jrob80]

So I believe we are planning on May 12? I put a list of people going in my first post. I put ? where I wasn't sure if someone was going or not.

I am trying to figure out my route/time frame for making it out to Tuttle, I was thinking about either making it to Lincoln Friday night or maybe even going south and straight to Tuttle Friday night, not sure.