St. Helen Trails

[1995moneypit]

Planning on taking my Jeep to St. Helen area in a couple weeks. How are the trails and the scramble areas up there? Worth the trip???

[oz97tj]

It all depends on what your looking for. There are miles and miles of trails to explore and there are quite a few with decent scenery. However, if you are looking for hardcore crawling stuff, you'll be disappointed.

[1995moneypit]

It all depends on what your looking for. There are miles and miles of trails to explore and there are quite a few with decent scenery. However, if you are looking for hardcore crawling stuff, you'll be disappointed.

Nothing hardcore. Just taking my 6 year old up for a fun time. Are most of the trails open to a Jeep with an ORV sticker? I'm a little confused on where I can and can't go with the sticker. I guess it's safe to assume that the cycle only trails are off limits--pretty self explanatory. What about the rest? I just don't want to take the same loop all weekend.

[oz97tj]

There is some ORV Routes up there that you could run and require the ORV sticker. There are also a bunch of two tracks and such that are legal to run. Just keep an eye on the posted signs, stay on existing trails, and don't go on anything that looks iffy and you should be fine.

Do you have a Garmin gps? If so, i can send you boatloads of tracks.

[WhiteRhino]

It's worth spending the money on an ORV and going to the scramble area at the St. Helen Motorsport area.

[sumpter1]

If you don't already have one get a copy of the latest ORV Handbook. There is also one online on the Michigan DNRE site.

[Creative Fab]

There is some ORV Routes up there that you could run and require the ORV sticker.

You do not need an ORV sticker on a SOS licensed vehicle on an ORV route, however you do need one within the Motorsport Area at St. Helen.

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10365_15070-38330--,00.html

[rentalrider]

Do you have a Garmin gps? If so, i can send you boatloads of tracks.

Yeah, you might want to ask OZ which of these "designated trails" are wide enough to allow a jeep through without damage. :lmao: He's like a mouse... if he can fit his nose through, the rest of his (and our) jeep(s) should make it! :bootyshake:

Honestly, for what you've described as your intent... there's a lot of fun to be had there. If at all possible don't go alone, though IMO.

[oz97tj]

Yeah, you might want to ask OZ which of these "designated trails" are wide enough to allow a jeep through without damage. :lmao: He's like a mouse... if he can fit his nose through, the rest of his (and our) jeep(s) should make it! :bootyshake:

Honestly, for what you've described as your intent... there's a lot of fun to be had there. If at all possible don't go alone, though IMO.

Hey, I was leading (breakin trail in the snow even) with my big wide JK and made it through unscathed. Its not my fault the narrower, more agile CJ had a bad driver.:bootyshake: Besides, it shut you up from talking **** about the JK, didn't it? lol

We should go back and run that trail again now that the ground isn't covered in snow and ice. I know of a couple others north of your place that are tight and will twist up your rig too.

[phittie1100]

I'm game, when do we leave?

[rentalrider]

I'm in too! That storm that came through last Friday made a lot of areas north of West Branch interesting. Wheeled more last weekend than i have in a LONG time.

And JR, I don't make fun of your jeep, just you! :flipoff: I like the JK. My CJ is too tall for some of those off camber tree-lined trails but it is a riot nonetheles. I'm in! :woot:

[1995moneypit]

Thanks for all the input. In the process of putting new head/valve gaskets and a new exhaust on now. Heading up weekend of the 26th if everything goes well.

[oz97tj]

My front axle is not exactly in a position to wheel right now so when it's fixed we'll go play. Hopefully, it'll be put back together in a couple weeks. I need to save the money.

It's nothing big. The pinion bearing is sloppy and was causing a vibration with the driveshaft. The driveshaft is currently removed and I'm driving it. I figure seeing as the whole front axle needs to come apart anyway, it's a great time to regear. Which turns a bad $15 part that would be a $175 repair, into a $650 repair. I'm can't explain this jeep math, but it makes sense in my head.:lmao:

[DDS4X4]

J - just
E - empty
E - every
P - pocket

You know how the math works! :wave:

[oz97tj]

J - just
E - empty
E - every
P - pocket

You know how the math works! :wave:

Funny thing is, I even have my better half understanding it!:idea:

[WhiteRhino]

My front axle is not exactly in a position to wheel right now so when it's fixed we'll go play. Hopefully, it'll be put back together in a couple weeks. I need to save the money.

It's nothing big. The pinion bearing is sloppy and was causing a vibration with the driveshaft. The driveshaft is currently removed and I'm driving it. I figure seeing as the whole front axle needs to come apart anyway, it's a great time to regear. Which turns a bad $15 part that would be a $175 repair, into a $650 repair. I'm can't explain this jeep math, but it makes sense in my head.:lmao:

Are you only regearing the front?:idea:

[oz97tj]

Are you only regearing the front?:idea:

Yes, that way the front will be going faster and stay out of my way...











I will be doing both, hence the $650 price. That's dropping off the bare axles at the installer though.

[rentalrider]

The pinion bearing is sloppy and was causing a vibration with the driveshaft.

You need a bunch of '80's era lights mounted like on my old cj. You see they are less for illumination and more for counterbalancing those driveline vibrations. Of course the strategically placed hockey pucks help, too :lmao:

Let me know when you're up and running and we'll hit those St. Helen trails again. :thumb:

[oz97tj]

You need a bunch of '80's era lights mounted like on my old cj. You see they are less for illumination and more for counterbalancing those driveline vibrations. Of course the strategically placed hockey pucks help, too :lmao:

Let me know when you're up and running and we'll hit those St. Helen trails again. :thumb:

Ok, that made me laugh!


I'll let you know. It'll be sometime after car show before I'm up there to play again.