Northern Illinois 4Runner Group
- Thread starter Decipher
- Start date
Decipher
New member
Damn! I work on Sunday so I won’t be available. I’ve been talking with my friends about getting out early this season. That would have been perfect for me. Stupid work.
Post up pics and let us know how it is out there! Last time I went it was rutted out really bad. I’m dying to get out though and try out the new tires.
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Decipher
New member
pswiss8
New member
Yes we did. Went up there with my buddy in my rig. It was a crap show with the amount of mud everywhere, but still a very fun and beautiful day. Gator Alley on the map was closed, so finding the makeshift bypass was a puzzle. Luckily we weren't the only ones lost so eventually we all found our way.
Here are the few crappy IPhone pics we took...
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Decipher
New member
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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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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pswiss8
New member
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.
Decipher
New member
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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Decipher
New member
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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Decipher
New member
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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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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Sp00ner
New member
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.
Sp00ner
New member
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.
Decipher
New member
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. :shrug:
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.
Sp00ner
New member
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...
Also started watching Expedition Overland on Prime... plotting my Chicago to South America route now... lol...
1100 Remington Man
Member
I'm from Dubuque where do you take your 4Runners off road ?
