[Jeffro06]

On Sunday April 27th, I joined the Jeeps Gone Wild Offroad Club for my fourth trip to the Badlands, but it was my first trip as a member of the club.

I took a buddy of mine along, who had just bought and built a 2003 TJ and was ready to take it out for a run.

We started our day by leaving Rochelle IL at 6am. I brought my wife (it was our 12th wedding anniversary) and my buddy, Jay, brought his son. We headed south on I-39 until we hit Hwy 24 at El Paso IL. From there we headed east, crossing into Indiana...where we lost an hour, that bites.

We stopped in Kentland IN, fueled up and headed south on Hwy 41 to Attica, home of the Badlands. It would be about another 40 miles from Kentland. The total trip was 178 miles...on my odometer anyway. I belive it's actually 200 miles...oh well.

Once in Attica you are only 5 or 6 blocks from the park. There is a McDonalds and a couple of gas stations available, in case you need fuel for your vehicle or your self.

The Badlands is a 700 acre park and offers great riding for quads, bikes, and Jeeps. They even offer atv rentals, camping, and service. For more just visit their webpage.

When you arrive you need to sign in. It's $20 per Jeep and $5 per passenger. You should bring an ID with you too.

After siging in we headed over to the upper lot to meet up with the other members of Jeeps Gone Wild, and invited guest. This was an open event so all Jeepers were welcome.

Everyone seemed to arrive within a half hour window.




In the two shots above the Jeeps lined up to prepare for the day.

Once we aired down, disconnected swaybars, removed tops, and made last minute "pit stops" if was off to the quary for some rock climbing fun.


Steve seemed to try anything and everything.

After a little play time it was off to the trails.


This was my first time on this trail, which the club called Kevin's Trail. Here Zach and Chris give it a go.




Jay gets his new ride dirty.

Kevin's Trail (as seen above) was a quick little loop through the woods and back to the quarry. Nothing really difficult about it. A few mud holes and such. A nice little warm up to the day.


Next we convoyed to the creek trail.

This time we did it backwards. Which was kind of cool. A simple change in direction makes old things new.


James and his "Paper Plate Avenger" heads up the creek, while Jay follows him in.

In case you didn't see the explanation of the "Paper Plate Avenger" name, it has to do with the Jeep having it's applied for paper registration still applied.


Things came to a stop when someone got high centered on rock.


Jeff makes the climb out of the creek.

[Jeffro06]

After the creek we made our way to the upper lot for a little lunch break.






That's the wife, who appears to be praying that everything goes good on the Orange Trail.


Mike, the Club President, lead the way on the Orange trail.

We had a little down time on the Organe Trail, while one of the Grand Cherokees put a coil spring back in, so a little playing in the mud took place.


You can't really see it all that well, but there was a tree laying in the mud with a deep hole in front of it, making it very hard to get over.


He didn't make it, this time. It wasn't worth breaking anything over. Lockers or a little bigger tire probably would have gotten him over.


Mikes "Disney" Jeep.


What would a trail report be without my Jeep?

Zach couldn't sit still for long, so he ventured out to find a mud hole.


He found one.

The hole was worse than it looked. He wanted to keep going, but we talked him out of it.


It took a little tug to get him out.

[Jeffro06]

Once the coil spring was replaced, the rest of the group started to arrive. Oh, did I mention there were 15 rigs? Now I have.


The "Paper Plate Avenger" started to get some miss direction, and needed a little help out of it.

As we made our way through the Orange Trail we found a couple of spots where you had a choice of sections, both with different challenges.


Zach makes his way through a little rocky rutted section.


Jeff took a slightly different line through this section.

Just to the side of the above section was a drop off into a mud hole. The drop was like 2 1/2 feet or so. It took a toll on Mikes license plate this time and had bit one of my fender flares on my last visit. I opted for the rocky section this time.


Eddie takes the drop off section, as did many others.

Everyone made it the end of the trail in one piece. Since I was the second one out I decided to grab some shots as others climbed out.

[Jeffro06]

The crowd grew as each member made it out, and then grabbed a spot to watch the next rig climb out.


The Grand Cherokee's did well all day, but their longer wheel base actually hurt them on the exit...even though it looks like he was about to pop out, he didn't.


He got high centered on the lip, smashing the transfer case skid. He got out, but the skid had to come off.


Kevin was the last guy out.

Kevin decided he needed a challenge and started looking around. There was large area of wet cement...well that's what it looked like...and Kevin decided he needed to drive through it.


He got hung up before he got in.

After a quick tug he was out and ready for a second attempt.


This stuff was nasty.

Once Kevin made it through, others decided they needed to try it too. That's despite the fact Kevin's Jeep looked like it weighed 400lbs more, and was about to harden into a lawn ornament.


Lots of skinny pedal here.

[Jeffro06]

There was still a little over an hour before the park closed, so we headed back to the quarry. We thought about doing the creek again...the correct way, but decided we better not press our luck on time.


Just about everyone tried this rock wall....some needed more skinny pedal than others. I did it for the first time too.




This line loioked sick. I'm not sure who did more work, the driver of the spotters. He made it.

We all headed back to the upper lot just after 4:30pm. We didn't have time for a group shot this time, since we had so many that needed to air up and put their rigs back together.

Several of us stopped at McDonalds for a quick bite before hitting the rode home.

The day was great. The weather cooperated all day. We ran into a little sprinkle on the way home, but it wasn't even enough to wash the Jeep...that was too bad, because I could have used a free wash.


My Jeep home safe and sound.

I have all the pictures posted on my webpage. I have some video too, but that will take a little longer to get posted. For all my jeep pictures click the link in my sig.

It was tough multi-tasking all day. I was driving, taking picutes, and running a video camera from time to time. I'd do it all again tomorrow though.

Once again I had a great time. I'm looking forward to the next outing on May 17th. If you see yourself here and I didn't get your name right..sorry, just pm me, I'll change it, or add it.

Damage Report: Just the tail pipe. It came out of the clamp at the muffler. I need a new muffler so this just gives me more of a reason to do it.

I only got hung up one time, on a big rock in the creek. I have gone over it many times, but this time was backwards. A few Jeeps in front of me went around it...but I had to try it. All was going good until my rear slid to the right and the diff got hung up. If that stupid trac-lock crap actually worked everytime I probably would have walked right over the rock. Should of could of..I know.

Jeff gave me a quick tug off the rock, and I gave it a go one more time. No problem, just needed more left, less right.

[IGotADisneyJeep]

Here's a few shots that my daughter took but, There are none of me wheeling with my jeep I hope you guys and gals took some pictures of my jeep. Enjoy our pictures!

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[IGotADisneyJeep]

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[IGotADisneyJeep]

Jeff,

Awesome pictures and great write up on our run.

It was great day for offroading with our members and the newbies who join us. I cannot wait for our next run

Thanks again,
Michael
Club President

[Jeffro06]

Originally Posted by IGotADisneyJeep

Jeff,

Awesome pictures and great write up on our run.

It was great day for offroading with our members and the newbies who join us. I cannot wait for our next run

Thanks again,
Michael
Club President

Thanks. I'm ready for the next one too....the Jeep isn't yet...need to get that exhaust fixed.

Finally a shot of me!

[Hydro]

Awesome I wish I was there, it makes me jealous.

Great commentary with the pics too.

[Jeffro06]

Originally Posted by Hydro

Awesome I wish I was there, it makes me jealous.

Great commentary with the pics too.

Thanks.

Hey fellow wheelers, I finished my video's, they are now on youtube. Just go to my profile to watch them, they are all linked from there. They aren't the best quality in the world, but they're better than nothing...

[Strizzy]

Here are a few more pics before my battery dies and I realized i forgot my extra one:

[Strizzy]

(Can someone fix them so can be seen? Thanks)

[Acidcold]

Awsome write up Jeff!! great photography skills!! two thumps up!!