Amazing weekend at Cove in Gore, Va with 5th Gen

[mook21]

Spent 2 days driving the challenging trails at the Cove in Gore, Va with some good Jeep friends last weekend. I had the least modified vehicle by far with the smallest tires... 275's mounted on FJ steel wheels and 3" lift. Did not have a problem! Take a look at the photos to get a sample of the rocky trails at this great place... very challenging. Did Trickle which is a creek bed and also Cobra which is a huge boulder garden... On Cobra, really played with Crawl Control going up a very steep pitch, worked flawlessly. Also used Crawl Control to regulate speed going down steep stuff because the Jeeps had lower gearing.

 

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Nice. Are those stock skidplates? If so - you're brave to take on rocks with it.

 

[mook21]

yes, stock skid plates!

BUT do have BudBilt sliders. I was very careful in placing my tires on the bigger rocks and relying on the sliders for protection which they did well. Even with that, took some heavy hits on the front skid several times and also on the gas skid. Worst was the rear bumper, particularly the rear mud flap. Came down off a rock and popped the plastic piece of the bumper off, including the black trim piece around the rear wheel... snapped back in but broke a few tabs which I will have to replace.
next steps for me:
1. Steel bumper or some sort of bumper protection on the underside in steel... any suggestions?
2. BudBilt full skid plate
3. 285/70/17 tires