Last minute flagpole knob va trip

[GHARP57]

Clay thanks for the heads up and it's nice to know another fellow Hokie is on this forum . I am running a 2016 SR5 4runner stock but will be accompanied by my brother who has a Frontier Pro-4X that has been rigged up (ARB Bull Bar, Warn 12k Winch, ARB Compressor etc. etc.). We are also bringing tools and recovery gear with us. As for off-roading, I am somewhat of a novice and have not done anything serious. Could a stock 5th gen do the trail based on the directions Greg provided without damage? I will have a spotter but I really don't want to bash my truck as it is my DD as well.

Well I think if you look in that thread I posted. I believe [MENTION=77471]kevinpt[/MENTION] is going this weekend. I am strongly considering doing a quick run with him. We should think of all meeting up if we will all be on the trail at the same time

 

[Hokie4Life]

Greg,

It seems as though the weather won't be good Saturday. My brother and I are thinking of cancelling and heading out with you and the rest of the group once the date is finalized. We'll be looking for the official date once everyone has agreed to it.

 

[GHARP57]

Greg,

It seems as though the weather won't be good Saturday. My brother and I are thinking of cancelling and heading out with you and the rest of the group once the date is finalized. We'll be looking for the official date once everyone has agreed to it.

Dont let a little rain stop you

 

[Hokie4Life]

Dont let a little rain stop you

HAHA no way I love the rain, the only thing is my wife and kids are coming as well and we were thinking of having a picnic at the knob hence the reason for rescheduling. As for the trip you are planning, wife and kids allowed or is it strictly a guys trip?

 

[kevinpt]

Dont let a little rain stop you

still not sure if im going but the rva rock crawlers facebook group is meeting at
1925 E Market St, Harrisonburg, VA 22801 at 10 am

 

[GHARP57]

HAHA no way I love the rain, the only thing is my wife and kids are coming as well and we were thinking of having a picnic at the knob hence the reason for rescheduling. As for the trip you are planning, wife and kids allowed or is it strictly a guys trip?

Bring them along this is Family friendly!!

 

[kevinpt]

Most of the day trips I have been on kids and dogs were there

 

[sovat4r]

Clay thanks for the heads up and it's nice to know another fellow Hokie is on this forum . I am running a 2016 SR5 4runner stock but will be accompanied by my brother who has a Frontier Pro-4X that has been rigged up (ARB Bull Bar, Warn 12k Winch, ARB Compressor etc. etc.). We are also bringing tools and recovery gear with us. As for off-roading, I am somewhat of a novice and have not done anything serious. Could a stock 5th gen do the trail based on the directions Greg provided without damage? I will have a spotter but I really don't want to bash my truck as it is my DD as well.

Do you have the stock Bridgestone Duellers? If so, air way down and stay away from sharp rocks which may puncture sidewall. You would probably make it up eventually, but you're gonna burn away a bunch of that stock rubber spinning for momentum up some of those rock ledges. Also, your skids will see lots of use being at stock height, so don't expect to keep them pristine.

Look at it this way....tear them up now and it will be your excuse for new tires and skids in the near future.

Your rig is more than capable for that route with current conditions...the only limiting factors being ground clearance and crappy tires.

Good luck!

 

[kevinpt]

I had a stock 5th Gen follow me up union Springs, he had aftermarket skids and hit them a few times on the way up but he made it without a problem

 

[kevinpt]

Do you have the stock Bridgestone Duellers? If so, air way down and stay away from sharp rocks which may puncture sidewall. You would probably make it up eventually, but you're gonna burn away a bunch of that stock rubber spinning for momentum up some of those rock ledges. Also, your skids will see lots of use being at stock height, so don't expect to keep them pristine.

Look at it this way....tear them up now and it will be your excuse for new tires and skids in the near future.

Your rig is more than capable for that route with current conditions...the only limiting factors being ground clearance and crappy tires.

Good luck!

How bad is the water up there?

 

[Hokie4Life]

Thank you all for the advice and tips. Greg I will be shifting over to the Central VA thread now and will be watching out for the date that is picked and will let you know if I can make it down.

I will air down as much as I can and just to mention I do have the stock duelers. I'm looking forward to the trip and I don't mind get the skid plates scraped up... that all part of the fun. Should be exciting I can't wait.

 

[kevinpt]

Thank you all for the advice and tips. Greg I will be shifting over to the Central VA thread now and will be watching out for the date that is picked and will let you know if I can make it down.

I will air down as much as I can and just to mention I do have the stock duelers. I'm looking forward to the trip and I don't mind get the skid plates scraped up... that all part of the fun. Should be exciting I can't wait.

i went to flag pole stock in the snow and did not air down so its not that bad

 

[kittyhawksurf]

I took a bunch of go pro video driving the trail. I just never actually put a video together. I'm not sure if I can find the time before yalls trip, but if you really want it I can at least upload something that is unedited. Once again I'm just not sure if I can do it before you guys leave. Let me know if you need it.

 

[Hokie4Life]

I took a bunch of go pro video driving the trail. I just never actually put a video together. I'm not sure if I can find the time before yalls trip, but if you really want it I can at least upload something that is unedited. Once again I'm just not sure if I can do it before you guys leave. Let me know if you need it.

That would be great. Did you go up via the Union Springs Trail?

 

[kittyhawksurf]

I turned off of 33 and drove right by the lake. I have a bunch of 4k video. Even the stream crossings. I just looked for it and I was going to try to upload something really quick, but I already put it on my external HD. I will have to go grab it. I don't remember if that is Union Springs, but it was easy to drive with the TRD Pro. I left the stock nerf bars on and had no problems. I mean people need to know how to drive 4x4, but it wasn't hard at all. Just time consuming. A lot of the trip was 15-20 MPH. Loved it though. I will try to get that video done as soon as I can.

 

[kittyhawksurf]

I'm almost positive this is the path I took:

 

[GHARP57]

We come more from the south I be leave that is dunkel hollow? Union springs is more south

 

[sovat4r]

I'm almost positive this is the path I took:

That route there is via Switzer Lake / Dunkle Hollow Road. It T-intersects up top (under the Oaks) with Union Springs (going down on the left) and Flagpole Trail (going up on the right).

Reaching Flagpole via Dunkle Hollow is much, much easier than Union Springs.

 

[kittyhawksurf]

In a mad scramble this morning I looked everywhere for my 2 TB HD with the GoPro footage from that trail. I am pretty organized so I a little pissed I can't find it. I need that HD, so it can't be far, but it wasn't in the normal spots. I am going to need a little time for that video. I will try to find it again tonight.

 

[kittyhawksurf]

Soooooo... I found my hard drive. Now I just need to put the video together. I haven't forgotten.