'New' member from Hampshire
Discussion
Hi all,
Been on Pistonheads for quite a while but rather embarrassingly hadn't spotted that there was an offroading section until it was pointed out to me!
After having VX220s for the last 5.5 years, in June I went to the complete opposite extreme and bought a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee in 'drug-dealer black'.
I'm looking to have some fun offroad with it, although I fear I might be too precious about it -- I went green-laning with a friend from work a few weeks ago and had a great time, but when I got home I was a little upset with all the scratches on the paintwork from the overgrown bushes -- although they do polish out.
However, if anyone is doing a run suitable for a beginner with road tyres and not much of a clue to tag along, I'd be very interested in joining you guys!
A few photos for you to check out, obviously it's totally stock, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if I was the first person to put it into low-range!
Been on Pistonheads for quite a while but rather embarrassingly hadn't spotted that there was an offroading section until it was pointed out to me!
After having VX220s for the last 5.5 years, in June I went to the complete opposite extreme and bought a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee in 'drug-dealer black'.
I'm looking to have some fun offroad with it, although I fear I might be too precious about it -- I went green-laning with a friend from work a few weeks ago and had a great time, but when I got home I was a little upset with all the scratches on the paintwork from the overgrown bushes -- although they do polish out.
However, if anyone is doing a run suitable for a beginner with road tyres and not much of a clue to tag along, I'd be very interested in joining you guys!
A few photos for you to check out, obviously it's totally stock, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if I was the first person to put it into low-range!
Edited by snoopstah on Sunday 29th August 22:12
Edited by snoopstah on Sunday 29th August 22:20
One of three things is now going to happen....
1. You'll get hooked on mud, but will torment yourself about scratches.
2. You'll get hooked on mud, lift the suspension, change the tyres and start enjoying the fact that if Greenies key it in a carpark, you won't notice!
3. You'll get hooked on mud, decide you want to keep the Jeep pristine, and be back on here within months starting a "what cheap off-road toy" thread.
Have fun!
1. You'll get hooked on mud, but will torment yourself about scratches.
2. You'll get hooked on mud, lift the suspension, change the tyres and start enjoying the fact that if Greenies key it in a carpark, you won't notice!
3. You'll get hooked on mud, decide you want to keep the Jeep pristine, and be back on here within months starting a "what cheap off-road toy" thread.
Have fun!
Kermit power said:
One of three things is now going to happen....
1. You'll get hooked on mud, but will torment yourself about scratches.
2. You'll get hooked on mud, lift the suspension, change the tyres and start enjoying the fact that if Greenies key it in a carpark, you won't notice!
3. You'll get hooked on mud, decide you want to keep the Jeep pristine, and be back on here within months starting a "what cheap off-road toy" thread.
Have fun!
Go for number 31. You'll get hooked on mud, but will torment yourself about scratches.
2. You'll get hooked on mud, lift the suspension, change the tyres and start enjoying the fact that if Greenies key it in a carpark, you won't notice!
3. You'll get hooked on mud, decide you want to keep the Jeep pristine, and be back on here within months starting a "what cheap off-road toy" thread.
Have fun!
were usually out on Salisbury Plain on Sundays when the weather turns a little more challenging.
Always happy to have others tag along. Most routes have the option of avoiding scratchy bushes, plus if the mud is too difficult for you, we have plenty of vehicles equipped to recover / pull you through
Jason
Always happy to have others tag along. Most routes have the option of avoiding scratchy bushes, plus if the mud is too difficult for you, we have plenty of vehicles equipped to recover / pull you through
Jason
If it's a scratch free environment you're after Salisbury Plain is your friend as it's all fairly open and there are some interesting bits to see like this, or this or this although the last one is only open to public traffic at certain times of year.
Just don't assume you can go where you like - you still have to stick to the public ROWs despite the presence of plenty of range roads, and the bit where Clarkson took on a Chally 2 is strictly off limits and can get a bit A-level anyway. Then there was the Isuzu owner who thought it'd be clever to go wading backwards and forwards through a SSSI full of rare newts (and tell everyone who tried to advise him otherwise to "just f*** off") The £20,000 fine was hilarious.
There are a lot of by-ways that run alongside the gravel range roads put in by the MOD. Make sure you're on the right one.
It's a great place for a gentle day out.....just tread carefully as the MOD has had a skinful of bob-tailed V8 Range Rover types wrecking the place.
ETA: There's a thread on here somewhere about Abingdon 4x4 Festival in a couple of weeks too. Worth a look.
Just don't assume you can go where you like - you still have to stick to the public ROWs despite the presence of plenty of range roads, and the bit where Clarkson took on a Chally 2 is strictly off limits and can get a bit A-level anyway. Then there was the Isuzu owner who thought it'd be clever to go wading backwards and forwards through a SSSI full of rare newts (and tell everyone who tried to advise him otherwise to "just f*** off") The £20,000 fine was hilarious.
There are a lot of by-ways that run alongside the gravel range roads put in by the MOD. Make sure you're on the right one.
It's a great place for a gentle day out.....just tread carefully as the MOD has had a skinful of bob-tailed V8 Range Rover types wrecking the place.
ETA: There's a thread on here somewhere about Abingdon 4x4 Festival in a couple of weeks too. Worth a look.
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 4th September 09:35
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 4th September 09:54
Thanks for the warm welcome everyone!
Having someone to show me the ropes would be ideal, so I'd be interested in taking you up on your offer, Jason.
Regarding being pulled out when I get stuck, I'm trying to figure out whether the Jeep currently has 'recovery' points or 'tie-down' points. Some suggestions on the US forums are that some Grand Cherokees at least only have tie-down points at the front which are unsuitable for being towed with, so I need to confirm what I have. At the rear, I assume that the tow-bar would be a sufficiently strong point to be towed from?
Kermit power said:
One of three things is now going to happen....
1. You'll get hooked on mud, but will torment yourself about scratches.
2. You'll get hooked on mud, lift the suspension, change the tyres and start enjoying the fact that if Greenies key it in a carpark, you won't notice!
3. You'll get hooked on mud, decide you want to keep the Jeep pristine, and be back on here within months starting a "what cheap off-road toy" thread.
Have fun!
Any of those are quite possible! 1. You'll get hooked on mud, but will torment yourself about scratches.
2. You'll get hooked on mud, lift the suspension, change the tyres and start enjoying the fact that if Greenies key it in a carpark, you won't notice!
3. You'll get hooked on mud, decide you want to keep the Jeep pristine, and be back on here within months starting a "what cheap off-road toy" thread.
Have fun!
pugwash4x4 said:
whereabouts are you snoopstah?
I'm in Bishop's Waltham in the Meon Valley, I think there's a few places around here, but obviously don't want to do anything too challenging alone in case(!) I get stuck!JVaughan said:
were usually out on Salisbury Plain on Sundays when the weather turns a little more challenging.
Always happy to have others tag along. Most routes have the option of avoiding scratchy bushes, plus if the mud is too difficult for you, we have plenty of vehicles equipped to recover / pull you through
Jason
Always happy to have others tag along. Most routes have the option of avoiding scratchy bushes, plus if the mud is too difficult for you, we have plenty of vehicles equipped to recover / pull you through
Jason
Crossflow Kid said:
If it's a scratch free environment you're after Salisbury Plain is your friend as it's all fairly open and there are some interesting bits to see like this, or this or this although the last one is only open to public traffic at certain times of year.
Just don't assume you can go where you like - you still have to stick to the public ROWs despite the presence of plenty of range roads, and the bit where Clarkson took on a Chally 2 is strictly off limits and can get a bit A-level anyway. Then there was the Isuzu owner who thought it'd be clever to go wading backwards and forwards through a SSSI full of rare newts (and tell everyone who tried to advise him otherwise to "just f*** off") The £20,000 fine was hilarious.
There are a lot of by-ways that run alongside the gravel range roads put in by the MOD. Make sure you're on the right one.
It's a great place for a gentle day out.....just tread carefully as the MOD has had a skinful of bob-tailed V8 Range Rover types wrecking the place.
Thanks guys, Salisbury Plain looks perfect but I've heard that you need to be very careful about where you go, fines of any amount (let alone £20,000!!) are not part of my plan!Just don't assume you can go where you like - you still have to stick to the public ROWs despite the presence of plenty of range roads, and the bit where Clarkson took on a Chally 2 is strictly off limits and can get a bit A-level anyway. Then there was the Isuzu owner who thought it'd be clever to go wading backwards and forwards through a SSSI full of rare newts (and tell everyone who tried to advise him otherwise to "just f*** off") The £20,000 fine was hilarious.
There are a lot of by-ways that run alongside the gravel range roads put in by the MOD. Make sure you're on the right one.
It's a great place for a gentle day out.....just tread carefully as the MOD has had a skinful of bob-tailed V8 Range Rover types wrecking the place.
Having someone to show me the ropes would be ideal, so I'd be interested in taking you up on your offer, Jason.
Regarding being pulled out when I get stuck, I'm trying to figure out whether the Jeep currently has 'recovery' points or 'tie-down' points. Some suggestions on the US forums are that some Grand Cherokees at least only have tie-down points at the front which are unsuitable for being towed with, so I need to confirm what I have. At the rear, I assume that the tow-bar would be a sufficiently strong point to be towed from?
Edited by snoopstah on Saturday 4th September 10:54
snoopstah said:
At the rear, I assume that the tow-bar would be a sufficiently strong point to be towed from?
Although lots of people do use it, apparently you shouldn't, as they can shatter under really strong pulls. Whether this has actually ever happened or is merely theoretical, I don't know.I'd love to join this too.. Also in Hampshire and would love to put my Defender with mud tyres through its paces.
I've already been through stage 1 last year when I went offroading close to home and accidentally went through a huge field full of brambles and scratched the b****cks out of the paintwork. Felt SO bad afterwards - SO had them all polished out for £80! LOL
Can't wait for it to get wet so I can cake it again
Dave
I've already been through stage 1 last year when I went offroading close to home and accidentally went through a huge field full of brambles and scratched the b****cks out of the paintwork. Felt SO bad afterwards - SO had them all polished out for £80! LOL
Can't wait for it to get wet so I can cake it again
Dave
J5 said:
Another newbie to hants here, been wanting to try off roading a while now, would anyone be up for taking me for a passenger ride next time a group go out?
Why not try and get your butt down to one of the Pay and Play sites to get a feel for what it is about.You will almost certainly get a ride out with a member of Joe Public or if not the marshalls will always give you a go ( they love to show you how skilled they are...)A chum of mine runs a small site at Southbourne, just west of Chichester. It is a small site but can be very tricky and challenging.It is open next weekend on the Sunday.A very friendly family affair with toilets and a roach coach.
www.core4x4.co.uk.
I will probably be there, and was there yesterday for a charity day, the site is VERY wet but huge fun.
Edited by normalbloke on Monday 4th October 11:29
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