First semi-"real" wheeling: Ocala Nat. Forest

Zorba

"The Veiled Male"
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Merritt Island, Fl
It won't be much to the experienced folks here, but wheeled Ocala Nat. Forest a bit last weekend for our 40th anniversary. Learned a LOT!


The BEST thing I did to this Jeep was install a hand throttle!!

What can be done - if anything - about side-to-side rocking? Wife's neck is rather delicate...
 
Disconnect the front sway bar? It reduces the amount of movement transferred to the body from axle movement.

She can lean forward just enough that her back isn't touching the seat back. Then the Jeep can do its thing without whipping her around. I do that often. I would describe it as more like a riding a quad feeling with your back not touching the seat back.

Most trails I run have looooong annoying choppy sections with small boulders and leaning forward a little helps a lot.
 
Disconnect the front sway bar? It reduces the amount of movement transferred to the body from axle movement.

She can lean forward just enough that her back isn't touching the seat back. Then the Jeep can do its thing without whipping her around. I do that often. I would describe it as more like a riding a quad feeling with your back not touching the seat back.

Most trails I run have looooong annoying choppy sections with small boulders and leaning forward a little helps a lot.

Thank you. I was wondering about disconnecting the sway bar, but wasn't sure. Great tip about leaning forward, I'll pass it on to her. I've been working on this thing for 4 years, now finally can start wheeling it a bit. Already have ideas for "next time".
 
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Are you going to Jeeptoberfest in Ocala? They'll have several trails: easy (stock Jeeps), intermediate (moderately modified Jeeps), and extreme (highly modified Jeeps).
 
Are you going to Jeeptoberfest in Ocala? They'll have several trails: easy (stock Jeeps), intermediate (moderately modified Jeeps), and extreme (highly modified Jeeps).

I forgot about jeeptoberfest - I'll have to look into that again. Hopefully, its easier to get a ticket for that than it is for Jeeping with Judd...

EDIT: Crap - no can do. Prior commitment - I'd have several Belly Dancers after my hide if I skipped town that weekend.
 
That's a pretty area. I always love the "tree tunnels"

Not bad in a Florida kind of way - it ain't the high Sierra, but it has its own beauty. Had a hell of a time getting a damn map - the forest service publishes nice ones, but were out of stock when I tried purchasing online - and then, exactly NOBODY knew where I could get one once I arrived in-theatre. Right next to the forest, and people act like it isn't even there! If I were going to, say, Yosemite, every store and gas station within 100 miles could answer questions and sell you maps - these fools didn't even know where a ranger station or visitor's center were located. Finally got online and found a ranger station - that was closed on weekends. Purchased a damn map on my way out on Monday for next time. Thank Goddess the Jeep trails were at least on my GPS, but such a small scale isn't particularly useful for planning purposes. Sigh...
 
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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.
 
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Nice! Way to get out there!

disco sway bar
air down
drive slower OR faster to find the most comfortable speed for the terrain
hold yourself up like you're riding a horse when approaching an obstacle, not slouched back on the couch
Go on frequent, shorter rides. Include similar activities like boating. It is a workout and it helps to ease in and get into shape. I would suggest other neck-strengthening, head-bobbing activities too. "I'm just trying to help you be comfortable and have more fun, honey."
 
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I have not been to Ocala for a while but feel like I know it pretty well and I have plenty of pin striping to show for it. Now that the weather might get cooler in a month or two I hope to get back. It's a little over an hour from home. We usually enter on the North end of the forest near the Rodman campground.
 
I have not been to Ocala for a while but feel like I know it pretty well and I have plenty of pin striping to show for it. Now that the weather might get cooler in a month or two I hope to get back. It's a little over an hour from home. We usually enter on the North end of the forest near the Rodman campground.

Now that I actually have a fucking MAP of the thing...