2WD Trail Expeditions

Register to hide this ad
I'm 4wd...but I might be up for a little weekend get-away/camping or day trip thing. Cleghorn was a suggestion as it is easy for the 2wd and has some fun stuff for the 4xers too. Not all the trips have to be white knuckle ;) Never run the Holy Jim trail.

When though?
 
I'd be down to go this weekend. A day trip would be the best for me... but I'm open to other options as well. Let me know.
 
thetaxguy said:
I'd be down to go this weekend. A day trip would be the best for me... but I'm open to other options as well. Let me know.
Click to expand...

I can't this weekend...already going camping.
 
Also a good place for 2wd is Hungry Valley SVRA (Gorman)

There is a little bit of everything there.
 
This weekend won't work for me as well...I have to go to a Saltwater Hobby Convention in Pomona.

Will try to free up some weekend time in the next few weeks.
 
Ok... Does anybody here do any trail driving? There is a huge group of FJs that go quite often. We should see if they would not mind a couple of us trailing along.

Anyone interested???
 
thetaxguy said:
Ok... Does anybody here do any trail driving? There is a huge group of FJs that go quite often. We should see if they would not mind a couple of us trailing along.

Anyone interested???
Click to expand...

I was just out last weekend. We didn't decide to go until 9pm friday night or I would have posted a message here. This weekend I am booked. Next time I have enough advanced planning, I'll post a message here (when we plan on doing a non-technical trail).
 
shuly said:
I was just out last weekend. We didn't decide to go until 9pm friday night or I would have posted a message here. This weekend I am booked. Next time I have enough advanced planning, I'll post a message here (when we plan on doing a non-technical trail).
Click to expand...

Sounds good! Keep me in the loop.

-Shawn
 
thetaxguy said:
Sounds good! Keep me in the loop.

-Shawn
Click to expand...

OK Since you have a 2WD ... I would tend to stick with easy (green) rated trails for now. I have a couple in mind. We could easily do a day trip. Nov 1st is potentially open. I am busy the weekend of the 15th. Anyway...see what your schedule is like. We could get a bunch of 4runners together but of course being a 2WD capable trail the hard core people may not be interested in joining us. Anyway I have to get some rest...work tomorrow...You can PM me if you wish.

Evening...
 
shuly said:
OK Since you have a 2WD ... I would tend to stick with easy (green) rated trails for now. I have a couple in mind. We could easily do a day trip. Nov 1st is potentially open. I am busy the weekend of the 15th. Anyway...see what your schedule is like. We could get a bunch of 4runners together but of course being a 2WD capable trail the hard core people may not be interested in joining us. Anyway I have to get some rest...work tomorrow...You can PM me if you wish.

Evening...
Click to expand...

Is there a map that I can purchase that will show the "green rated" trails? If not, what trails do you recommend here in SoCal?

-Shawn
 
thetaxguy said:
Is there a map that I can purchase that will show the "green rated" trails? If not, what trails do you recommend here in SoCal?

-Shawn
Click to expand...

I purchased some books written by Peter Massey called Backcountry Adventures. The trails listed on all the books are rated from 1 to 10, 1 being 2wd friendly. You can look for the books through Amazon
 
thetaxguy said:
Is there a map that I can purchase that will show the "green rated" trails? If not, what trails do you recommend here in SoCal?

-Shawn
Click to expand...

Good question. I don't know of any maps with just "green" trails. However, there are two sets of books I own. I have backcountry adventures for SoCal, NorCal, Utah, and AZ. This book is geared towards those with 4wd that rarely use them. They do have some tough stuff in there but most of those trails are very easy to do with 4wd. Even with 2wd you should be able to do probably 50% of them (if dry). (They rate them 1-10)

Most of their trails are rated 5 or lower and a few are as high as 7. They don't show 8-10 rated trails (...basically this means black)

Straight out of the book by Massey & Wilson
==============
Rating 1: Graded dirt road, for normal passenger vehicle. Gentle grades, fairly wide, very shallow water crossing if any.

Rating 2: High clearance preferred but not required. Dirt roads may have rocks, water crossing or ruts that make clearance a concern in a normal passenger vehicle. Fairly wide, passing possible almost any point of the trail. Mud not a concern under normal weather conditions.

Rating 3: High clearance 4WDs preferred, but any high clearance acceptable. Expect rough road surface, mud and sand are possible but will be easily passable. Rocks up to 6" loose road surface and shelf roads, wide enough for passing or adequate pulls offs.

Rating 4: High clearance 4WDs recommended but most stock SUVs are acceptable. Rough road surface, rocks larger than 6", will be reasonable driving line. Mud possible but easily negotiated; sand may be deep and require lower tire pressures, possible stream crossings 12" deep, substantial sections of shelf road, moderate grades and sections of moderately loose road surface.

Rating 5: High clearance 4WDs required. Rough rutted surface rocks up to 9", mud and sand deep, may be impassible for inexperience drivers, stream crossings up to 18" deep. Certain sections may be steep enough to cause traction problems, very narrow shelf roads with steep drop-offs and tight clearance between rocks or trees.
==============

Essentially this leaves you pretty open to exploring depending on your comfort level. I have seen it at the AAA office (a long time ago) and at REI. Honestly I buy from amazon more often than not.

If you do pick up this book take a look at Burns-Rattlesnake Canyon. This is actually one of my 1st 4x trails I have ever run. It is a very pretty drive, essentially straightforward to navigate. The trail starts out of Pioneertown and takes a couple of hours. Don't confuse this trail with Rattlesnake Canyon though. Rattlesnake would be very bad to run in 2WD unless you are really experienced, and even then I wouldn't do it w/o full skids...really really rocky! Pretty but very technical. Also check out Liebre Mountain. It
 
mangus7175 said:
I purchased some books written by Peter Massey called Backcountry Adventures. The trails listed on all the books are rated from 1 to 10, 1 being 2wd friendly. You can look for the books through Amazon
Click to expand...

Thanks!
 
That's some good info. Thanks!

-Shawn

shuly said:
Good question. I don't know of any maps with just "green" trails. However, there are two sets of books I own. I have backcountry adventures for SoCal, NorCal, Utah, and AZ. This book is geared towards those with 4wd that rarely use them. They do have some tough stuff in there but most of those trails are very easy to do with 4wd. Even with 2wd you should be able to do probably 50% of them (if dry). (They rate them 1-10)

Most of their trails are rated 5 or lower and a few are as high as 7. They don't show 8-10 rated trails (...basically this means black)

Straight out of the book by Massey & Wilson
==============
Rating 1: Graded dirt road, for normal passenger vehicle. Gentle grades, fairly wide, very shallow water crossing if any.

Rating 2: High clearance preferred but not required. Dirt roads may have rocks, water crossing or ruts that make clearance a concern in a normal passenger vehicle. Fairly wide, passing possible almost any point of the trail. Mud not a concern under normal weather conditions.

Rating 3: High clearance 4WDs preferred, but any high clearance acceptable. Expect rough road surface, mud and sand are possible but will be easily passable. Rocks up to 6" loose road surface and shelf roads, wide enough for passing or adequate pulls offs.

Rating 4: High clearance 4WDs recommended but most stock SUVs are acceptable. Rough road surface, rocks larger than 6", will be reasonable driving line. Mud possible but easily negotiated; sand may be deep and require lower tire pressures, possible stream crossings 12" deep, substantial sections of shelf road, moderate grades and sections of moderately loose road surface.

Rating 5: High clearance 4WDs required. Rough rutted surface rocks up to 9", mud and sand deep, may be impassible for inexperience drivers, stream crossings up to 18" deep. Certain sections may be steep enough to cause traction problems, very narrow shelf roads with steep drop-offs and tight clearance between rocks or trees.
==============

Essentially this leaves you pretty open to exploring depending on your comfort level. I have seen it at the AAA office (a long time ago) and at REI. Honestly I buy from amazon more often than not.

If you do pick up this book take a look at Burns-Rattlesnake Canyon. This is actually one of my 1st 4x trails I have ever run. It is a very pretty drive, essentially straightforward to navigate. The trail starts out of Pioneertown and takes a couple of hours. Don't confuse this trail with Rattlesnake Canyon though. Rattlesnake would be very bad to run in 2WD unless you are really experienced, and even then I wouldn't do it w/o full skids...really really rocky! Pretty but very technical. Also check out Liebre Mountain. It
Click to expand...
 
Going to Anza Borrego this weekend for some camping and easy trail riding. Will be joining the TTORA group for this run. Will post pics when we return on Sunday 11/16
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

No members online now.
Total: 367 (members: 0, guests: 367)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,309
Messages
3,554,070
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top