Now you see why many people have stopped going there. All the scratches to your truck.
Those trails are designated fire trails and are supposed to be kept open in case of fire. They need to run the vertical brush cutters through there more often. Also, get yourself a small battery chainsaw- Milwaukee makes a real good one.
If you go on the FWC website you can find a list of WMA's. Most of these are open year round and offer very nice experiences. Most have maintained roads and some have more off-road type roads and some are impassable in your jeep. Overall, they offer a wonderful time and zero cost. Some of them have blackout dates so the hunters are not contending with parades of vehicles.
I have been to about 75% of all of the WMA's with the ones in the pan handle are the ones I have not been to. They are a great drive, pleasant scenery and nice quiet place for a picnic.
As for your wife's neck, try one of those U shaped pillows you typically see people use on airplanes.