The sun was on the rise and began to peak out from behind the trees. It’s an early August morning in Florida, we are driving up the turnpike heading to Altoona. This August morning was to be a wet ride in the Ocala National Forest. The Jeep Club had gathered and was ready to ride the trails. The Wednesday Wheelers meet on the first Wednesday of each month to different areas in the central Florida area. The day started like any other jeep ride day, get up before the sun, pack the jeep and head down the highway. The forecast was in the low 90s and it was going to rain sometime around 1 PM, so we thought... Ocala National Forest is the world’s largest contiguous pine scrub Forest. The views are beautiful. When we Jeep, we often take the side and back windows off. This will help keep them from getting scratched up and opens us to the environment. The downside to this is that spiders and ticks have free access to the inside. I picked a tick off my belly the next night... YUCK! Always carry bug spray. There are near endless trails winding through the forest providing a variety of Jeep opportunities. From sandy to muddy, tree scratching tight to wide open. Beware some puddles are deep enough to hydro lock the careless Jeeper. We were warned to stay out of any clay pits even if they are open or you might get a ticket for venturing in. There are a few springs in the forest that offer swimming and kayaking. Alexander Springs and Juniper springs provide a relaxing place to visit after a day on the trails. After a stop at the Ranger station, we headed to a gas station in Altoona for a drivers meeting. We had a total of 14 Jeeps to start, a few more then we thought would show. This would be our first time leading a Jeep Club trail. We planned routes and planned alternate routes. The morning run was 16.71 miles. The National forest service has an online interactive map that will show you what roads are for highway registered vehicles and what roads are not. I use the term “roads” loosely. “Stay on names and numbered roads” were the instructions given by the Ranger at the station. The first alternative trail we turned down was so tight that we had to back out after 50 yards. Clearly a goat track. I was not willing to sacrifice the paint jobs of other Jeeps so we picked a little more clear trail... so we thought. We headed north towards the east side of the bombing range. We encountered a few fallen trees and took some time to clear the way. I drove over the tree and then hooked up the tow strap and pulled it out of the way. Thank you, Clay, for always getting out and helping. By late morning we had arrived at the bombing range and took a group shot at the sign. A quick stop at the bathrooms to the East and we headed south to Blue sink our lunch spot. Trail 14 has plenty of big puddles that don’t go too deep, most of the time. One puddle put the 33” tires almost under and the opposite side had a steep walk that stopped most in their tracks. Sean made it through pretty easy with his lockers and 35s. We made it to Blue sink a little after 12. A brief walk down to the pond to have a nice setting for lunch. Some fished, some swam, and we all ate. I attempted to get the drone in the air but was restricted by the nearby bombing range. Most of the drone screen was blocked by a warning screen that would not let me hit the accept button to fly at my own risk. After lunch, we headed south to get around the now-closed portion of road just north of the sink. As we pulled up to the power line road David’s Jeep made a wretched sound in the front drive train. Not wanting to take the chance Sean and David headed out to avoid a trail mishap. We headed back up the goat trail.. more trees blacked the path. Most were fairly easy to move. The last tree was pretty large and I was able to slide under it by less than an inch. We hooked up the tow strap and pulled... nope. This tree was green and must have fallen recently. We took out a hatchet and Jim had a cordless saw. After some work, we were able to take a chunk out and then pull it out of the way and down the trail to a side path. Now the sound of thunder is approaching. The rain was on the way. We put our side windows back on and headed west towards 14 again. The rain came down and made the washout roads into creek beds. It was a cool sight to see small waves of a mini flash flood coming down the road you are driving on. The puddles were getting deeper, the lightning more frequent, and the ride more funner. It was a blast. We finished out the day with getting all tools and radios back in the right Jeeps. The rain continued all the way home. Unfortunately, the ride took over 2 1/2 hours to get home. The turnpike was gridlocked, 441 a mess, and power failure in north Kissimmee made for a long drive home. Would we do it all again? You bet!
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We found Jeep Cave! Yes you heard right there is a cave in Citrus called Jeep cave. Citrus Wildlife Management Area is a large track of land that can be found just south of Inverness Florida. Take Interstate 77 to hwy 44 and head west. There are several campgrounds in the forest that are a good place to base your adventure. Most of the trail travel North and South or East and West forming what they call a grid. There different classes of trail from foot hiking trails, horse trails, and off road vehicles. Like Jeeps and trucks, no side by side, or dirt bikes. This is a favorite for Jeep clubs because of the miles of trails that provide multiple situations and challenges. The trails are peppered with water holes to challenge your skills. Some holes are deeper than you might think so travel with another Jeep. Stay on named and numbered trails and DON’T go off the path to play in a sand pit or you might face a ticket. This applies even if you see areas that have plenty of tire prints. If we respect the area we will continue to be able to use it. If we trash it then Citrus will become like most other WMAs that don’t allow vehicles. NO TRASH! Keep it clean. After a 3 hour tour of the south side we had lunch at "Ants on Candy" a fun area on the West side of trail 14. This area has some pretty deep wash out but that’s about all that’s left of the area. If you need to go around you can, but if you want to do a proper Jeep wave then drive slow and stretch your springs. If it has just rained then the area will provide a very different challenge. You will find sand, water, mud, and caves. Jeep cave has a clam shell entrance and a small hole that leads you to a crevice that looks like Godzilla's eye looking down at you. It’s a short hike down into an area that look like a Jurassic Park movie set. The cave will be off to the right after a small hill area and it stands out pretty good. In the area there are some other small holes that don’t appear to go anywhere. Be sure to point you camera up to take a photo of Godzilla’s eye. There are also caves to be found in the south area too. Park you Jeep, grab a bottle of water and take a hike. Be prepared to get a bit dirty on some of the spots that you can crawl through and a flashlight is helpful. The caves are all small and most have holes that let light in. Some are a tight squeeze and might be too claustrophobic for you. TIME TO TAKE YOUR JEEP OUT! A beginner’s trail ride. You’re driving down the trail following your drone, and then it happens… You start to talk to the camera about what you see and realize the GoPro is not there. Stop, land the drone, go back. Randy I left the GoPro back there on a pole to record the clouds. So we head back knowing no one has passed us on the trail and find the thing sitting just where I left it. Ok, we are good, now let’s get on with the ride. A few Questions: Did you just buy your jeep? Are you visiting the Central Florida area in a Jeep? Could you be a Jeep owner who has never been off road? Are you looking for a Jeep ride that won’t leave you stranded? Then check out Tosohatchee WMA. This Wildlife Management Area (WMA) has an abundance of birds, gators, flowers, trails, creeks, fishing holes, and panoramic views. Bring your camera, because you are going to be treated to repeated opportunities to capture real Florida in its natural setting. A day pass is less than 10 bucks and you can easily spend a half day here just riding around. This is an easy ride, so if you are looking for a trip with more opportunities to challenge your skills try Citrus. At Tosohatchee you will be able to navigate the roads in two wheel drive. Getting stuck would take some work, unless you drive off the road, or where you are not supposed to. Stay on the roads while visiting because it is a sensitive environment. WMAs do have fees and you can check the link below to find out how to get an annual day use pass. During hunting season you need to be aware the hunters may have been sitting in an area for some time. Don’t go wandering off trail on foot too far you could get turned around. Always clean up after yourself and stay on the roads. Remember this is a maintained area with gravel a roadway that can be traversed by most vehicles. Always avoid puddles when you can so you don’t displace the dirt. If you can stop in the Ranger station, they will help you out and you can and ask some questions. There are also some Geocaching spots to provide a cool treasure hunt aspect to your adventure. Pack a lunch and enjoy natural Florida. Till the next ride, get out and enjoy your Jeep, you will be glad you did. Jeep upgrades and equipment: https://www.1995wrangler.com/parts.html WMA Permit: Http://www.GoOutdoorsFlorida.com We broke it, again... That is about how it goes for Jeepers. We love trails, nature, and challenge. Getting out and seeing this is best done in a Jeep. Some trails don’t provide much of a challenge, others are just about seeing what you can go through. I will often go around a mud hole if I can, but sometimes there is no bypass. When you push your Jeep outside of normal conditions, that’s when the opportunity top break stuff come your way. Take it easy and don’t hammer things. Let’s start with the 95 YJ. We pulled the exhaust off and the intake. Put in new 4 hole injectors, a header, new muffler, and tail pipes. We installed a brand new 4.0 throttle body. And installed 4 hole injectors, then took them out and put the originals back in. That was a costly mistake. The injectors were putting too much fuel when you past 2500 rpms. This was causing it to sputter like it was going to stall. We will try to put them back in later. With all that the YJ is out and about but the thrush muffler is pretty noisy. We also have a leak that damaged the CB so that was replaced as well. What’s next for the YJ? Perhaps a new frameless top. We also have some side steps, a windshield seal, and need to fix the seat bolt that has broken off. The 07 JK... it had been popping out of first gear for some time now. The throw out bearing was making noise. The clutch felt weak. We took the Jeep to Best Transmission on Michigan Av right by our house. The diagnosis was grim, the model transmission has known issues. The guy was great, he replaced 1st, 2nd, and reverse gears. Installed a new clutch, throw out bearing, seals, and checked the transfer case. We just completed 500 miles of soft driving. Father’s Day we took the Jeep out to Three lakes for some easy trail rides and had no issues. Other than the top is leaking in the front right. Things on the ToDo list: Install the fuse box, lockers, fender cutting, lock box, 35s … you get the picture. We went out on Saturday to Suburban Estates. We had a blast with the Orlando Jeep Club. Shot plenty of footage, drove in the canal, got a little muddy, and did not find any snakes. But nothing broke. Till next time, see you on the trail. We just finished up Jeepin with Judd and there are a few things I would like to share. First off there were tons of Jeeps this year and I mean 1000s The Judd website was pretty clear as to what was needed to go on the trails and yet somehow people still missed it. This is not a complete list of things needed but it is a good starting point and I would recommend them before trail riding. TOW POINTS: What is NOT a tow point: Bumpers, leaf springs, axles, and most importantly, tow ball hitches. What is a tow point: Bolted D-Ring mounts, not welded, we all know weld break. Most off road bumpers come with D-Ring mounts and a soft shackle will hook into a D-Ring with ease. You should have a minimum of 2 tow points, one in front, and one in the back. If needed there are D-Ring Reese hitch mounts that just slide into the hitch and they work well. See link below. RECOVERY STRAPS WITH LOOPED ENDS: No chains or hooks, why? Because they can kill you when they break and fly into the back of your head or strike an onlooker in the face. The old days of yankin someone out with a chain are done. Tow straps are Cheep and they work to pull someone out of the mud or tow someone back to camp, just NEVER try to snatch with one. The best method to recover is a KINETIC RECOVERY ROPE. Not cheap but they work wonders on pulling people out of a hole. They stretch and then transfer that energy to give you extra power and not stress you hook ups. CB RADIO: Too many people showed up with no CB this week. There are instructions given and useful information when it comes to what side of a hill is a better ride, or a better challenge. It also lets you know where the lead is and when the tail gets past a certain point. If you get hung up you can let others know. If you have to take a break you can ask. When you are clear of a hill you can inform the person behind you it’s safe. There are plenty of options when it comes to CB’s from cheap handhelds to dash mounted less than $50 models. A full setup with everything needed from radio, antenna, mount and antenna wires is less the $100 and money well spent. It’s a Jeep and it gets wet so putting an expensive radio might just be asking for someone to break in. Keep it simple. Learn a bit of radio etiquette before ratchet jawing yourself on the radio. It’s always good to respond when you are given instructions; I can’t tell you how many times I would ask for something and not know if the tail could even hear me. Short waves are the next thing and need some tuning to get the right channels in. FIRE EXTINGUISHER: Pretty simple, have one and learn how to use it. Make it mounted in the right space so in a jam you can get it in a hurry. Second count and a fire will get out of hand very fast. It is not just your jeep, but the environment that can suffer. Make sure it’s the right kind, and service it so it will work when you need it. See the link below for a good guide or what kind to buy. BASIC SET OF TOOLS: Something is better than nothing but a cheap set from walmart is just that, cheap. A good set of select tools will be your best friend when you have to drop a drive shaft off to get home. Vice grips, hammer, screw drivers, wrenches, zip ties, duct tape, electric tape, a breaker bar and anything else yo might need. I had to change the front drive shaft and it took forever to get the 12 small 8mm bolts that would only turn 1 click at a time. I sure wish I had a nut driver that day. It took awhile to find a shallow wall 1 ¼ socket to put the new yoke on too. WORKING SEATBELTS: Seat belts will save your life. ALWAYS have it on when in a moving vehicle. If you fall out, you can get run over. If you roll you can get crushed. If you hit a tree you can smash your face on the windshield. And no a tow strap does not count and you can’t share a seat belt. WINCH: Sometimes you might need more than a light pull, a tug or a push. This is when a winch comes into play. They are not cheap, but the day you need one and don’t have one you will wish you had put one on. This applies triple if you are on a trail alone. See the blog below about that. It is always better to have a wheeling friend along for the ride. You can get a winch with a steal cable or a synthetic rope. The rope cost more but weighs less. If a cable breaks it becomes a deadly whip, if a rope snaps it tends to just fall. Not always so have something draped over the mid section. OTHER THINGS: Spare Tire Full Tank of Gas Health Information Sheet First Aid Kit Seat Belts Automobile Registration Trash Bags This is by no means a complete list but it is a good start to get you out on the trails. TWO MINUTE TUESDAY: FIRST OFF... If you have never taken your doors off there is a nut holding the hinge pin on. Remove that before you spend 30 minutes pulling up on the door. It's a JEEP! Take your doors off. It's hot, it's dusty, it will get muddy.... I have had multiple Jeeps and let me tell you, it a great feeling when you are out there wheeling and the top is down and the doors are off. You are right there in the elements. Try it you will love it. It's better then cutting your Jeep in half.... for a girl. 1- Unfasten door wire under the dash. There is a small clip that has to slide out first. 2- Roll down the window and push your mirror in. 3- Wiggle and pull up on door. Wiggle the door.... 4- Once remove store in a safe place. 5- Put side mirrors on or use a round mirror disk on the AC vent. In Florida you are required to have side mirrors when on the road. I like the side mirrors and used them at Judd this year. They do good. See amazon Link below: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073ZBTSBV/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&psc=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=floridajeepri-20&linkId=e8f395036bd8ae28af6210a49adbc400&language=en_US Florida Jeep rides not responsible for mud, sticks or gators getting in doorless Jeeps. GHOST HILL
Back at the turn of the last century February 23rd there abouts 1919, when the army core of engineers had discovered one of the worlds’s richest deposits of phosphate an unfortunate event took place just South East of town. On a stormy February night Abigail Whitburg was traveling to meet her fiancé through the Peace River watershed. Her horse had thrown a shoe and she decided that best thing to do would be to take a short cut across the river bridge and through the grass lands toward the south part of town. It was going well until a lightning strike spooked the horse and caused it to go off the trail. The buggy was caught on the old rail road track that used to run in from the east into Bartow. She tried in vain to get the buggy free but did not have the strength to push the buggy off the tracks. In exhaustion she climbed into the buggy for shelter from the storm and fell asleep. The tracks were not used often, but on this night Number 2, a wood burning locomotive was on approach from Traverses. The engineer did not see the buggy until it was too late; he struck the buggy at full speed. Abigail was thrown clear of the tacks and managed to craw her way some 3500 feet to a tree for shelter. In the confusion she had gone south away from the tracks. her body was never found, the buggy was thought to be empty. Some time’s they say, that you can still see her under that tree. She is still waiting, wearing that old tattered dress. If you’re unlucky enough to spot her, beware, she is looking for a ride… Every buggy has a story, even if it’s just a campfire story. – Matt Law A few details in researching a background story... #2 is still in use today and has been featured in films like “O brother where art thou.” The distance from where that tracks used to run is around 3500 feet. The event took place on February 23 1919 .... insert spooky music here. Because you never know when a zombie is going to chase you across a river....
There is a general rule to off roading that is clear and simple, don’t wheel alone. There are times that we go out into the woods to scout out an area for trail rides or off looking for snakes. There have been times we broke down way off the grid, or got stuck. We lost our clutch cylinder in Tiger Bay, back in 1987 we got stuck way back in the Strand south of SeaWorld. We do have a winch and recovery equipment, and I have no fear of getting out and walking through a hole to check the depth. But most of the time if the obstacle looks sketchy we just don’t go that way. Recently taking a short cut to the general store in Richloam we came upon just such a hole. I got out and walked forward to check how soft it was. I could have made it but my gut said no. The next day there was a post in Stuck in Florida SOS with a guy stuck in that very spot. So if you like to ride the best thing to do is find some friends or look up your local Jeep club and meet new friends. Here are 5 things to persuade you to ride with a club. Safety: We often ride out to find and photograph wildlife. Sometimes that takes us into areas that if we breakdown or get stuck it could lead to a long walk. Not to mention that some places you just should not go. Insert banjo music here… Experienced Guides: Following someone who has been there before provides a clear rout. They know where they are going and how deep each hole is. They know what to stay clear of and how to pick your line. They often know what areas are good for they level of your Jeep and will be there to encourage you to give it a try. Camaraderie: It’s more funner…. I Know its improper English but that word just fits the jeep life. A good group of people traveling together gives you a chance to meet new friends and old acquaintances. You can see what others have done to their Jeeps and ask about things you have been dealing with. A family friendly club was a big draw for us. Information: Clubs have meetings and that’s where you get to find out what is happening in the Jeep world. We often meet at sponsor locations and usually there are raffles. I have won some good and useful gear. The Orlando Jeep Club is also involved in charities. From fund raisers to raffles financial aid is given to local worthy causes. How to classes and safety lesions are part of meetings. Also planning and upcoming events are announced to you know where to go. Events: Events in the Central Florida area happen throughout the year. Heading out with a group gives you friends to hang with. Some clubs are involved in the event and are part of trail rides and spotting. Each year 100s of club members put time in testing and riding the trails so that when the event comes around they know the trails they lead. Jeepin with Judd is HUGE!!!! Orlando Jeep Club plays a big part in what jeepers do at the event. Trail rides are a big dray and when you get to ride in areas that are clean and diverse, it’s a treat. The Orlando Jeep Club web site has information on how to join up so you can be a part of a good trail ride event. Look them up at http://www.orlandojeepclub.com 1983 June 5th
We traveled south from the Orlando area and headed out for our honeymoon. My Mom had given us a 4 day 3 night stay at the Hilton on Sanibel Island. Young and a full life ahead we made the trip with a little cash and some anticipation of getting to relax and collect shells on the beach. If you ever have been there you know two things, no See ums bite at sunset, and there is a wild life drive called Ding Darling. We had dinner at Timbers and drove through the Island. Lots of shells and a drive down a crush gravel road through a mangrove forest teaming with life, plenty of gators and birds to see. It was open and inviting. Back then things were a bit different. It was natural and had a rough appeal for the enthusiast and not too crowded. 2018 November 2nd While staying at a Wycliffe Summit in Bonita Springs we decided to take the Jeep over to the island for a nostalgic visit. We took the long way through Ft Myers Beach… the road was under construction and thick with traffic. After traveling over the new bridge we headed to the wild life drive. Did I mention I don’t like bridges… tall ones. This bridge is pretty high and has a low rail that my Jeep tires could easily pop over. I continued to quote the verse that says God has not given us the spirit of fear. A short drive through the Island brought us to the gate, the gate that was closed… a big sign said “CLOSED ON FRIDAYS” What? I just drove over an hour to visit this place. Google maps said it was open, but that is just the visitor center. They use that day to allow the wild life to spend a day un disturbed, and maintenance. Friday? Really? The guy on the phone said of course we are closed, its every Friday. We took the quick road back to the hotel and decided that we would return on Saturday. Had I known what I do now I would have probably skipped the trip and headed south to Big Cypress. Saturday November 3rd Loaded up and ready to head out we traveled over that stinkin bridge again. When we arrived, we paid our fee and to my surprise they paved the whole road. There was a lot of people there that day, cars, bikes, hikers, but not too much in the way of wild life. Some pelicans, anhingas, spoon bills, pipers, and egrets. No gators were to be seen. Perhaps it is better in the morning like most places. A pleasant and un eventful ride down a paved road was not what we had remembered. If this is what you are looking for, then enjoy your time, us we are looking for a bit more nature off the beaten path. Make the most of you time by getting out and walking down some of the trails and you will see more. Enjoy the surroundings of the mangroves and know that that’s natural Florida coast line, minus the paved road. LUNCH TIME: We did make a stop at a place on the Island called the Island Cow. They had a mix of foods and it was interesting to see all the décor. I had my first burger in a month, The Yeti. Smothered in cheese and some fries. Randy had two tacos, bang bang shrimp and grouper. The tacos were HUGE. Good price for the amount of food you get. After that it was back to the hotel. Next year we will be ready to head to Big Cypress, but until then we will be heading to Bartow for some off roading fun. Early this year I put 33s on an un-lifted Wrangler and I asked the question, can you put 33s on a wrangler with no lift? Well yes you can and they fit without too many issues, but… I have to ask this question, can we ever learn to leave things alone? When I was a teenager and I had my 71 Nova I put a 4 inch shackle extension on the back so it would lift the back end up. On my 1981 CJ7 I put a body lift made from deck rollers on turf mowers. We also did a spring over on the 82 CJ when we scrapped the 81 due to a very rusted frame and tub. I put new springs on the 95 YJ to make room for the 33” tires. So let’s just say I have done some lifts in the past. I was confident that this would be a task that could be done in around 6-8 hours… 3 days later… I still have to adjust the tie rod to get the steering wheel aligned. Recently we took a trip through Green swamp and some places on the center grade road were way deeper then I have ever seen. Like up to the top of the hood deep. That makes me want a snorkel. Just to be safe. This was a good reason to get the motivation and start the install. Rain has been happening almost every day this summer starting in May. On occasion there would be a sunny day in the forecast, but we took those days to go out and trail ride. The day finally came in October that there was only a 10% chance of rain, it still rained on me while doing the install. The job started off simple enough, jack it up and removes the wheels. Pull this pull that put this here stuff. Half my time was spent figuring out what the instructions were try to tell me and sifting through bags to find the right bolt. It was only at the end that my wife informed that the instructions had paired the bag numbers with the parts. Not to mention all the odd tools needed. Who would have thought that a 18 MM wrench was not common. FIRST: WHY A LIFT? A lift is needed to fit larger tires and keep the tires away from the wheel wells. A lift is needed when driving in uneven areas. A lift is needed when driving through water. Wrenching skills required. 3.5 out of 5 Special tools required. 33mm socket, Pitman puller, 18MM sockets and wrenches. Drill bits. End thoughts: The lift improved the driving experience on and off road. I would suggest that you take the time to pair up the bolt bags with the parts and find images to how they look when mounted. Also double check all tools needed so that you are ready. Have a helper to get the tools needed when you are under the Jeep. Even better have a lift. A lift would make this task 300% easier. If I had all the tools and a mechanically inclined helper it could be done in 4 – 5 hours. Bottom line, I did it myself. I feel as though I accomplished a major upgrade and saved over $1000. If you have any questions ask away. |
Matt N RandyJeep Enthusiast, Pastor, Photographer, Artist, A husband and wife team that loves going out and seeing God's Creations. Archives
June 2021
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