You’re not kidding! It looks like an absolute mess!

Gator alleys was closed when I was there in the fall too. I was alone and there were only ATVs out so I didn’t wanna over commit to much without anyone around to help me recover if I needed it.

They really need to do some grooming out there and yes, mark those trails. I literally got myself out of a bind and drove out the way I came in because I had no idea where I was.

I’m planning a trip to the Badlands in early March with some friends. March 8th I believe. The more the merrier.

Your rig looks great!!! Lift specs???


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Thank you. I'm running a 3" Dobinsons lift. All on 285s.

I will keep you posted on if I can make march 8th.

I promised myself I'd never go back to cliffs as I spend half a day cleaning the clay off my rig and dealing with pissy neighbors complaining about mud in the gutters.

Ive been to badlands and Fox lake offroad and that mud just washes right off. This cliffs clay is some bs.

Haha. I guess I never noticed that. I always have mud coming off my truck for literally weeks after going anywhere.

This will be my first time to badlands so I’m excited to see what it’s about. My friends have spoken pretty highly about it. I’m hoping it’s worth the drive.

That McHenry park is okay if you wanna go get dirty. I guess I just have to accept we live in crap Illinois and not somewhere cool.


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I might be able to swing March 8th, if I can line up some gramma time for my tiny human. My better half always works on Sunday.

I’ll keep you posted as well. It seems like some of my friends who committed before have switched to maybes. If not his date, we can certainly make official plans here with some runner who will commit to the trip. I’ve never been so I’m exited to get down there.


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I’ll be heading out on Sunday (3/8) to the Badlands with a group of friends, some with ATVs. Planning on arriving around 9 am and hitting it early. Any and all are welcome.

We’ll have to plan a dedicated group trip here. Don’t want anyone feeling like they’re just tagging along.

So far we have:

2 5th gen 4Runners
1 new Jeep Rubicon
1 Ram Rebel
And possibly 2 ATVs


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I'll check if I can get some child coverage, my better half always works Sunday evenings. Though I think gramma is off on Sunday. I believe Sunday is supposed to be pretty damn nice for early March.

Made it out to the Badlands today. What a great place! There’s so much to do and so many different levels. Literally something for everyone!


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Super cool!

I ended up stuck with a sick toddler and a sick mommy...

That sucks but we’ll make plans to go!

I saw quite a few Runners out there which was cool and exciting. One Lexus GX470. Literally zero Tacoma’s except for a few who pulled their ATV out there and parked their rig.


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It sucks, the kid complicates the weekends to an extent I didn't really understand till he hit the terrible twos. Saturdays I pretty much have free reign to do whatever, but I need a few days of notice to prep my better half to be solo with him for the 3rd day in a row.

I had free clearance to attend my club racing when I had the Camaro, but I would just give her my schedule in January and say "Here, I'm out all these days", now I feel bad if I drop it on her the day before. She'll never say no, but the look I get at times tells me that I might want to reconsider my plans.

Haha. I get it. I have two little ones of my own and I’m a firefighter/paramedic so I’m literally gone 24-48 hours at a time as it is. Say no more!


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What trails did you run?

I remember back in 2012 I led a group a pretty large group of FJ Cruisers around the park. Well at least in the morning. Ran the green trail which leads to the sand dunes. Unknown to my knowledge the break overs had substantially eroded and we're pretty rough. Then went up the little rock garden. I was in my stock 99 3rd gen and had no issues but an FJ on 33s behind me busted a cv which pretty much killed the day for the rest of the group. Most went home and others played around in the sand. Activity in the FJ forum in the Midwest came to an end after that.

I also saw a guy in his brand new JKU with a hemi upgrade catch on fire on a hill climb. Apparently he didn't know what the transfer case shifter was for. Kept it in 4H overheated the trans. Trans fluid bubble out and caught on fire when it hit his exhausted headers. Truck was able to be salvaged for the most part. There group was able to winch it out and tow it to the parking lot. I heard the guy limped it back home.

Now when I go I mainly hang out in the quarry and run the river. Orange used to be a good trail but I hear it's becoming over grown.

Over the last 60 days I've discovered I love my family, and I'd love them even more if I saw them juuuuuuuuust a tad bit less... Got my sliders and skids, with more on the way, and I'm so ready to use them.

Also started watching Expedition Overland on Prime... plotting my Chicago to South America route now... lol...

I'm from Dubuque where do you take your 4Runners off road ?