easy NJ wheeling, August 12th

[whatevah]

I'm getting together a stock-capable ride in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. Specifically, a trip through Wharton State Forest. Anybody who wants to come is welcome as long as you have a legal rig, and meet the usual gear requirements. There are no park access fees, but you must have a street-legal vehicle.

It'll be a pretty easy day since I'll be leading in my stock XJ. Hit the forest around 9:30, drive by a lake or two, drive through a mud pit or two and some flooded trails. Drive over a bunch of wooptie hills and stop at the old fire tower for a little sight seeing if it hasn't been closed off yet (heard some rumors that it would close this summer). Should be out of the forest before 4pm unless somebody breaks down.

More info: http://www.delawareja.com/forum/index.php?topic=10184.0

reply here or on the DEJA board if you wanna go, meeting locations will be sent via PM.

[Rob Mayercik]

Sounds interesting.

I don't know if I'm going to be available that day or not yet, but I'll keep an eye on this thread just in case.

Rob

[whatevah]

k cool, got plenty of time, it's a month away. :)

[steel58ers]

sounds good ..i'll check the date too

[whatevah]

alright cool

[scarface]

could definately be interested... as the date approaches I will know more.
\
I will stay tuned.

[YMMV]

Def interested. If I can get the XJ back together in time, I'll def be in.

[whatevah]

I'm leaving on Friday and won't be back until August 7th... I'll send you all a PM when I get back with the meeting location. it'll be somewhere near the forest. If you're completely unfamiliar with the area, look on a map for Hammonton, NJ. On the west end of town, you should see Rt 206. About 8 miles (guessing) north on 206 is the ranger station and such. In the area are multiple access roads going into the forest on both sides of the road.

for more general info about the forest, check out http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/wharton.html

if you are familiar with the forest and have a spot or two you want to see, even for just sightseeing, let me know. :)

[xj87]

i'll be inrested if i'm still in that area then

[2000Cherokee]

ill go if i can get my lift and stuff installed before that date.

[partsxj]

I just picked up a different Jeep. I have a trailer hitch, but no front hooks. Good enough or no?

[whatevah]

I just picked up a different Jeep. I have a trailer hitch, but no front hooks. Good enough or no?
well, I guess as long as you stay in the middle of the group. some of the trails are too tight for 2 vehicles. some are tight even for 1. just make sure it's a Class 3 hitch and you have a good pin for it.

[JoeShmo]

I know you said its a stock-friendly trip, but would you mind having one on 35's with you? Im going to be down in long beach island all next week and returning home on that saturday, it would be pretty easy to jet across and spend the day in wharton for a nice gentle trail ride and then head home. I'd have to think about the logistics a little bit, but it might be possible. Are there any others that are going for sure?

[whatevah]

I know you said its a stock-friendly trip, but would you mind having one on 35's with you? Im going to be down in long beach island all next week and returning home on that saturday, it would be pretty easy to jet across and spend the day in wharton for a nice gentle trail ride and then head home. I'd have to think about the logistics a little bit, but it might be possible. Are there any others that are going for sure?
well, stock-friendly doesn't always mean modified-unfriendly. :) you're welcome to come along if you can.

last count, it looked like 10, I'll know for sure when I get home and have access to my personal computer. I'll post up on Monday with the numbers.

[JoeShmo]

Looks like im definately interested in going. Im going to be leaving this saturday, so i wont have access to the 'net at all until after the trip is scheduled. I'll PM you my cell number so that you can let me know what the status and meeting place are toward the end of the week, i should probably get yours too so i can call if necessary.

[partsxj]

Count me in. Thanks.

[FrankDV]

Looks like there's going to be alot of jeeps in that area on the 12th. My group from jersey(jersey devil) is advertising a intermediate run. It's a nice area to go through.

[whatevah]

I haven't had a chance to visit the JD site in the past 2 weeks... it's a big forest, I'm sure there won't be any problems.

[steel58ers]

I haven't had a chance to visit the JD site in the past 2 weeks... it's a big forest, I'm sure there won't be any problems.

lol ,,very big forest

[JoeShmo]

Well, unfortunately it looks like i'm out. Apparently we have to make a day-trip to cape may during the week, which i will most definately not do in the XJ, so i've gotta bring the gf's car, Shame... it looked like it was going to be a pretty good run to. I'll have to try and come down next time you fellas come up.

[ybreal210]

over on jerseydevil4x4.com forums they also have a trip planned for wharton on the 12th, its in the intermediate trails section, we over there have about 12 - 13 people going currently, maybe we could all meet up

[FrankDV]

I haven't had a chance to visit the JD site in the past 2 weeks... it's a big forest, I'm sure there won't be any problems.

Yo, I didn't mean it that way :-) Of course there's no problems. The more jeeps...the better

[tighttrailxj]

We're in, sounds like a good shake-down run for the new jeep. It has been driven daily, but not off-road yet. Any info would be great, we are familiar with the area. thanks, John & Aimee

[steel58ers]

i'm hoping to make it.. love an easy run to try out new lift and tires and work out any kinks

[wiretie]

I'd like to attend too if it's not to late. Was wondering if anyone had any objections to me bringing my ZJ instead of the XJ:dunno:

[whatevah]

as long as it's got front/rear tow points and working 4WD. :)

[wiretie]

33's, locked up front, and new 242 TC. And yes. I have tow points front and rear, winch, tow strap, ect.

[whatevah]

alrighty, I just sent the meeting info via PM to everybody (I think) who expressed interest in the trip. let me know if you want to go and didn't get the info.

[sublime600]

Do they let you ride on the trails in Wharton i live pretty close and that would be a dream if they did, ive been dying for a place to go. I was looking at going to Paragon but you need a group of three people and all my other friends have cars, and a liberty :-P. Im new to this so let me know thanks!

[whatevah]

that's where we are going to be going... Wharton State Forest. as long as you have a street-legal vehicle and stay on the established trails... you're good.

[xj87]

looks like I'm not going to make it

[FrankDV]

Good luck...maybe we will see each other on the trails.

[whatevah]

I'm home, I guess all the others should be home by now, too. Nice to see Rob again after wheeling in the stocker group with him at NACFest 06.

wasn't anything too challenging, but since we had some stockers (stock MJ, XJ and TJ), we skipped a couple tougher areas. Spent around 90 minutes getting the MJ, stock XJ and an XJ on 30s un-stuck. in otherwords, a normal day for south-NJ wheeling. oh, and watching the XJ throw mud 20 feet in the air was awesome. seeing it fall through the open sunroof... priceless. :-D

the day just didn't seem to go right for me, straggler made us quite late to the meeting location, forest was dried out, the brush on one trail was tighter than normal... I hope it wasn't too bad for the group from NY and just my stress level exxagerating stuff. Looked like you had fun testing out the red XJ. :)

my brother shot around 500 pictures (I shoulda turned off the burst-mode) so it'll take me a little while to sort through them and get them uploaded.

[wiretie]

I for one had a blast! Even if I did get stuck three times and spent the better half of Sunday afternoon power washing(both exterior and interior). But hey, that's to be exspected when it comes to mud. Especially when you leave your sunroof open :doh:

[whatevah]

hehe... I really messed up my Rustys towhook mount yanking you out. I noticed it later in the day. it's twisted pretty bad. of course, with how hard I was jerking you, I was suprised the bumper didn't come off. :) serves me right for being too lazy to turn around to use my hitch+receiver hook.

[Rob Mayercik]

It was a pretty good day, I thought. I enjoyed it, having not been down that way before.

I spent almost $20 in quarters washing mine before taking it through the drive-through portion - finally got the last of the mud from NACFest off too. I don't envy Wiretie having to clean out that nice ZJ interior though.

I have to say, it's surprising how easy it is to bend those tow hook brackets - they should probably have a plate to run between the two brackets to reinforce for pulls like that. I wonder if the Custom 4x4 and Mopar versions of the brackets suffer from a similar tendency to bend like ours did?

Rob

[whatevah]

the stock brackets I've seen are even thinner than Rustys brackets, but I've heard that the C4x4 brackets are a little thicker, but... I don't think they were made for yanking Jeeps out of mud. hehe

how did your brackets survive? I don't remember how hard you were pulled out.

[egon]

Hey Harry, Ken tells me you and your Jeep got a bit muddy.

--Matt

[wiretie]

Yeah Matt. I got just a tad muddy (and the Jeep too)! Pics to follow if I can figure out how to do it. Jerry, sorry about your bracket. I was stuck pretty good and appreciated your help.:thumbup:

[Rob Mayercik]

the stock brackets I've seen are even thinner than Rustys brackets, but I've heard that the C4x4 brackets are a little thicker, but... I don't think they were made for yanking Jeeps out of mud. hehe

how did your brackets survive? I don't remember how hard you were pulled out.

Mine are pretty out of whack too.

[FrankDV]

I'm glad to hear you guys had a good time in our neck of the woods. That sand and mud can be a pain to clean up...but that's half the fun.

FrankDV

[whatevah]

finally... some pics... http://www.delawareja.com/gallery/showgallery.php?si=&perpage=18&sort=8&cat=859

[Rob Mayercik]

Pics look real sharp - I'll have to download the ones of me.

I haven't looked at mine yet. Maybe tonight.

Rob

[steel58ers]

Hope I can make it with you guys next time..pics look great

[tighttrailxj]

Picks look great Jerry, thank your brother from all of us. Me and Richie(black xj of 33's) went to the race track on the way home and had a blast. Even driving at highway speeds with only 3 shocks was fun. Thanks again for the invite and the trail knowledge.