ONF Campout, October 28-30

[85sfarunner]

Bringing this over from the old forum. For those who don't know, we're having a campout in ONF (Ocala National Forest) scheduled for Oct. 28-30.

I have some good leads on trails in the area. I think we're gonna run into some mud and water crossings so everyone should try to get their rigs sealed up.

I'm still looking into possible campsites, I'll have that nailed down before the end of the week.

Brian

[Phi Kai]

Mud and Water huh? Guess That means I'll be parking at the campsite and riding around with someone...don't think I'll have my tires by then.

O well, should still be a good time,

[Clemsontoy]

How legal is this area? I know not all are exactlly "legal."
Matt

[85sfarunner]

This is how I look at it, all established roads/trails are legit unless marked or posted otherwise. Never blaze new trails, stick to established routes.

I try to stay updated on any forest closures through the FL4WDA (Florida Four Wheel Drive Association). The areas we'll be riding are legit to the best of my knowledge.

[85sfarunner]

Mud and Water huh? Guess That means I'll be parking at the campsite and riding around with someone

Don't sweat it, we'll find some trails for your Tacoma.

[bosco]

This is how I look at it, all established roads/trails are legit unless marked or posted otherwise. Never blaze new trails, stick to established routes.

I try to stay updated on any forest closures through the FL4WDA (Florida Four Wheel Drive Association). The areas we'll be riding are legit to the best of my knowledge.


Well in the words of that awsome forest ranger we ran into last time, "where else are you guys supposed to go? Your just having fun." :D

[J94runner]

I'm coming on the trip. I'm so pumped up for it. Some water/mud and trails sounds good. I've been doing to much rocks lately... So it's a Fri/Sat night deal then? Brian- when you get the agenda for the times/days let us know.
-Jason

[bosco]

Tired of rocks? :stfu: Then send them our way. Neil and I will make good use of them. You suck! :bitchslap:

Bryan

[J94runner]

Hey man, It's been a while since my truck has seen trails and mud. Ever since I finished it, it's only done rocks really.

[85sfarunner]

I'm coming on the trip. I'm so pumped up for it. Some water/mud and trails sounds good. I've been doing to much rocks lately... So it's a Fri/Sat night deal then? Brian- when you get the agenda for the times/days let us know.
-Jason

I'm arriving at the campground early Friday morning to set up and pre-run trails (hopefully, I won't be the only one ;) ). I figure most everyone will arrive Friday evening or Saturday morning. We'll trail ride all day Saturday and maybe Sunday depending on what everyone wants to do.

[85sfarunner]

Found a campground guys! It's called Chisholm Trail Campground, it's a little place (6 acres) right off of SR 19 in Altoona. It's directly across the street from the USFS Welcome Center. Here's a link to google maps,

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=45626+SR+19+altoona,+fl&spn=0.122347,0.233854&hl=en

Their facility has electricity, restrooms and hot showers.

It's $5.00/night per person to camp. However, it's a $10.00/night minimum to pitch a tent. So if your not sharing a tent with someone, it costs $10.00/night. Either way, that's pretty cheap.

:camping:

[J94runner]

what happen to camping in the woods?

[Mikeyk280]

Matt,

All the trails i've ridden down there are established and marked forest roads. The only place I know that is off limits is the "prarie". Big Bend Rd is going to be real fun. Also if Brian knows where it is, there is a really nice spring down there to swim in!

Mike

[85sfarunner]

what happen to camping in the woods?

A couple of members are bringing family and requested that I find a campground with ammenities.

I like to stay at an actual campground, there's less chance of your stuff getting messed with when you leave to go wheeling. Hot showers are nice too :cool: .

[bosco]

Sweet Brian! Way to go. Like I said, I should be there to pre-run with you. I will keep you posted. Later man.

Bryan

[91toyota4x4]

I think I'm in for this one. It was a toss up between this and the Florida/Georgia game, but I would just be going to Jax on friday night to party, I dont have tickets so screw that. Brian I'll come down with you Friday morning to help set up camp and pre-run some.

Kai don't worry about your truck. Mine is a stockish height 91 with mud tires, at least if you have to turn around you won't be the only one :xpfft:

We should look for some good dry firewood to bring down there so we don't have to go on a wood hunt.


:camping: Woo hoo.....

[Phi Kai]

Figured I would ad this over here too...I'm probably the only one that needs it, but just in case...

Beer & Liqour of your choosing!(we are celebrating 2 birthdays and may be having a going away party after all!)

Advil for the next day, lol!
Bugspray
sunscreen
sleeping bag
tent
enough clothing appropriate for the weather
a towel or two
foldable chair
lantern or flashlight
camping stove
lighter
decent size cooler w/ice
enough food & drink for breakfast, lunch and dinner (we usually eat lunch on the trail, keep than in mind)
PLENTY OF WATER!
cooking/eating utensils (can opener, cooking pot and pan, spoons, knives, forks, paper plates, paper towels, cups, etc...

Picking up a first aid kit from Walmart or a local auto store would be a good idea too.

Also if anyone has any other things that I or anyone else should bring, let me know.

Kai


FUCK YEAH!! :camping: :camping: :camping: :camping:

[Nullifier]

Wish I could make it but I am leading a week long canoe trip near pensacola that week. Have fun.

[J94runner]

I always bring my chain saw and lighter fluid ...hehehe.

[85sfarunner]

I went to a Gator4x4 meet last night and talked to some members that were in the south part of the forest over the weekend.

I got the scoop on some more trails and what the conditions are like.

Muddy and wet, I heard a stock TJ hydrolocked out there :eek: .

Don't worry, If it gets too nasty I have no problem turning around but I want to to re-emphasize sealing up your rigs before this run :cool:

I'm bringing extra engine & gear oil too ;)

[J94runner]

looks like suncoast flatlanders are gonna be out there in ONF with us that weekend. they're. they're having a campout even that weekend. they're staying at .... Silver River State Park in Silver Springs. Just figured I'd give everyone a heads up!

[Phi Kai]

I want to emphasize...my truck will be parked if it looks like that...I don't have the tires for mud

[J94runner]

sweet, I love those kinds of trails brian.

[wildcard580]

I don't know if I can get the days off but I'm sure gonna try. The last trip was awesome!

[bosco]

I want to emphasize...my truck will be parked if it looks like that...I don't have the tires for mud


Dont worry about your tires. You will be surprised what some A/T's a locker and a little horsepower will get you through! My 01 taco is still stock and has never had a set of muds on it and it has done everything ONF has to throw at it. Mud water and all! You'll be good to go. :cool:

Bryan

[Phi Kai]

the TRD sport comes with street tires...no bit of all terrain in them at all

check the link in cardomain so you see me stuck...

[Mikeyk280]

Have you bought new tires yet? What size rim does the 05 come with? Check the classifieds... Got my buddies AT's for sale...


Mike

[Phi Kai]

Nah,I haven't gotten new tires yet, Not planning on it right now unless I could just get a steal on some used 17 tires, or a cheap set of wheels and tires.

I haven't found the wheels I want yet so I haven't gotten anything.

Kai

[wwolf]

I'm thinking about going, but I know if I do I'll have to get new tires first.

And I won't be camping since I have family nearby. Any idea when everyone would be leaving for the trails on Saturday and/or Sunday?

Is the water still that bad? I'm tempted to use it as an excuse to buy a snorkel, though I don't really need to spend ~$1k on the truck right now. :)

[85sfarunner]

I'm thinking about going, but I know if I do I'll have to get new tires first.

And I won't be camping since I have family nearby. Any idea when everyone would be leaving for the trails on Saturday and/or Sunday?

Is the water still that bad? I'm tempted to use it as an excuse to buy a snorkel, though I don't really need to spend ~$1k on the truck right now. :)

I'd like to head out no later than 10:00am Sat. morning. Sunday is up in the air.

When we did the ONF run last month, I drove through a hole deep enough to go over my hood and got my air filter a little wet :) . The same hole took out USMCRACING's electric fan. We also ran across a stranded Isuzu Trooper in a different hole. That poor guy hydrolocked his engine.

That was the north end of the forest, but I'm expecting more of the same from what I was told.

If I had $$$ to buy a snorkel right now I'd be all over it :cool: .

[J94runner]

dam dude. I need those 37's ASAP! lol.

[wildcard580]

Damn, ya'll got me a bit worried now with all this talk about water over the hood!

[85sfarunner]

If it gets too deep and I can't find a bypass, I have no problem turning around.

[usmcracing]

If it gets too deep and I can't find a bypass, I have no problem turning around.

It didn't help me that I was behind two Toyota with 36"s and 35", oh don't forget the CJ with the V8 that got stuck in that same hole. It was all fun and lessons learned for me.

I hope to have my Runner up and running by then.

Steven

[twotontoy]

If your going to be exploring the wet (east) side of the forest, I'll stay back, have a coupla brews and put another coat of wax on my rig. :p J/K.

Actually it's looking like I may not make this run--I'm attending another campout the previous weekend, and it depends on how bad it eats into my budget.

Btw, had to reregister to this forum, hence the new handle.

Fred

[85sfarunner]

It didn't help me that I was behind two Toyota with 36"s and 35", oh don't forget the CJ with the V8 that got stuck in that same hole. It was all fun and lessons learned for me.

I hope to have my Runner up and running by then.

Steven

:rolleyes: :D

I got stuck too, when Neil and I made our way back to 19. Nobody saw that though :cool:

[85sfarunner]

Fred,

When we do the prerun on Friday I'm gonna try to find trails everyone can ride on, but it will probably get soupy. I don't know how much use these trails get either, might be a lot of pinstriping.

[J94runner]

that's one thing I hate about ONF. the trails are ATV trails and you'll ruin a paintjob. I used to know some good trails, but they were pin striping trails.

[usmcracing]

I don't care about the scrub on my Runner but I think my friend with the 94 p/u isn't going to like it.

[91toyota4x4]

Scratches give it charachter!! And dents..ok dents suck. All of this water talk is making me nervous :eek: I'll drive through atv trails all day but water is scary.

[wildcard580]

Body damage is cool... except when it's scratches up one side and down the other. I don't like narrow trails. :mad: That's why I like trail riding in winter, everything is dead and not so overgrown.

[J94runner]

I agree adam.

[bosco]

Its all good with me! I will drive anywhere my rig will go! And then some... :D

Bryan

[wildcard580]

Any of ya'll know of any good fishin' up there? I'm kicking around the idea of bringing the boat up to take out one of the days.

[pi]

Hey guys what's up? I am new to the forum, and new to the tacoma world. Just picked up a 05 reg cab 4x4 a few weeks ago. I am interested in making this trip, but I have concerns as my truck is totally stock... not to mention it only has 700 miles on it. Are there going to be trails suitable for a stock vehicle? Also, does anyone know of any legal places in the jacksonville area to go wheeling?
-Mike

[wildcard580]

Hmm, brand new truck+ocala trails= not for me. I personally wouldn't do it. I think the truck needs more break in than 700 miles before beating on it up at Ocala, stuff can get pretty rough up there. If you don't like your paint job and want to add some custom pin stripes then rock on, just be warned, many of the trails are very narrow and brush rubs on yoru truck. Just my :2cents:

[usmcracing]

Will this campout be at Big Scrub? I've rode there alot on my dirt bike and only saw one trail that look like it'd be fun for a 4wd. Thanks
Steven

[bosco]

Hey guys what's up? I am new to the forum, and new to the tacoma world. Just picked up a 05 reg cab 4x4 a few weeks ago. I am interested in making this trip, but I have concerns as my truck is totally stock... not to mention it only has 700 miles on it. Are there going to be trails suitable for a stock vehicle? Also, does anyone know of any legal places in the jacksonville area to go wheeling?
-Mike

Hey man, Welcome and congrats on your new taco (allbeit an 05 but its all good! :p ) I say come and join us. If things get too harry for you then you can always jump in with one of us. I had my 01 for 3 days before I put my first "beauty marks" on it. They give it character!!! The wife wanted to kill me but at least the truck had its fun too! Oh and It only had 150 miles on it at the time!

Bryan

[85sfarunner]

Will this campout be at Big Scrub?

:rolleyes:

http://www.tacomaterritory.com/forum/showpost.php?p=180461&postcount=11

Big Scrub is close by, but I don't plan on going back there. There is a nice little sandpit that way, the newer rides can play in it without tearing anything up.

I'm going to scout the area southeast of camp. A lot of clubs go riding in there so I'm hoping the trails are nice and wide with little to no pinstriping. I won't know for sure until the prerun though :confused: .

[usmcracing]

I know where that camp ground is, its not far from Big Scrub. My wife family that lives about 15 mins from there. That camp ground isn't far from this one trail thats linked to big scrub the trail runs threw whats looks like a small creek/ditch with high banks, I saw some Jeep going threw it. Too much mud/water for a dirt bike so I went around it. I'm planning on do the pre run too, so if you don't know where I'll talking about I'll show you.

Something that sucks about riding out there this time of year, which you already know is the hunters. I've been riding out there during hunting season and they don't like OHVs riding around while they're hunting. I thought I was going to get shot on the dirt bike once.

[85sfarunner]

I looked into hunting season already :cool: . The 28-30 of Oct. is also muzzleloading season, but that's limited to Hopkins Prairie, Lake Delancey and Church Lake units. We won't be riding anywhere near those areas so we should be good to go. I found the info here,

http://myfwc.com/hunting/wma/NE_Region/Ocala-2005-06.pdf

[Mikeyk280]

I think for the trucks that are newer and don't have the height and tires that some guys have... Big Bend Rd (powerlines) with all the sand and whoop dee doos and stuff would be fun for them. I remember that was one of my first runs i went on with my taco on 31's....

[wildcard580]

I'm not too big on the dirt whoop runs. The sand pit we played in was kinda fun for a bit but I preffer trails with mud and stuff. My taco is stock on 31's with jsut a 3" BL and I did fine until I got stuck in Jason's ruts that he made with his g/s's 2wd 4runner :rolleyes:

[J94runner]

sand really sucks. I'm with adam. Trails that have something called "DIRT" and water. Sand is annoying after 15 min.

Adam- if our 1wd made 1 rut, then your 2wd should of powered out! lol. Aren't ruts fun?

[usmcracing]

Yeah I even hate ride my bike out there, the whoops suck and will beat your truck to death. Sand is the worst to wheel it, I hate wheeling in it.

[pi]

Thanks for the welcome... I do appreciate it. As far as body damage and pinstriping go... my truck already has some minor pin striping, and some mild carnage on the tailgate/license plate from a recovery strap that broke (pulled some kid out of a hole that had him sunk up to his windshield.. next time I will only tug if the person provides the strap and has recovery points :eek: ). I'm not too scared of getting stuck or some scratches.
-mike

[Mikeyk280]

Just trying to give the guys with the 05's a place to play and not scare them off. I remember 5 years ago when my truck was 3 months off the lot with some AT tires. After seeing some of the pics of Nate and Scott from years past I was a little worried about sinking my $400 a month toy on a trail run with some people i'd never met. Now that I've been out wheeling quite a bit I'm a lot more comfortable. I'm with you all, sand and whoops do get old quick... but it's 1 of a 50 different trails out there.

Mike

[85sfarunner]

We'll find stuff for everyone, I've already got a few possible routes lined up for the prerun.

[LostSol]

Hey, just saw this thread, sounds kinda fun who can i call for directions if i wanna go?

[85sfarunner]

Hey, just saw this thread, sounds kinda fun who can i call for directions if i wanna go?

Check out this thread for info,

http://www.tacomaterritory.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18684

If you still need directions let us know.

Brian

[91toyota4x4]

Does anyone know of the ONF's policy on discharging firearms in the forest? I think it would be fun to take a break from wheeling for maybe lunch and do a little skeet shooting in a random field out in the middle of the forest, but I don't know of the law about that kind of thing. :confused:

[pi]

Does anyone know of the ONF's policy on discharging firearms in the forest? I think it would be fun to take a break from wheeling for maybe lunch and do a little skeet shooting in a random field out in the middle of the forest, but I don't know of the law about that kind of thing. :confused:


I know that they have a rifle range. Not sure if it is set up for skeet shooting or not.
-mike

[usmcracing]

Its still hunting season and the deer hunters will be out there. I'm sure you could call the Ranger station and ask.

[Neil426]

I've got to step up and say something on this one. It is a good idea, however this is just the thing that put us on the wrong side of the table with the hunters.
We do not want to disrupt the hunters peace and quiet whether it be from WOT runs through the bogs or a little skeet shooting. If we were to do it this trip it would have to be at a local range. With trails being closed left and right we need to be respectful of the other using the forest.

[bosco]

I've got to step up and say something on this one. It is a good idea, however this is just the thing that put us on the wrong side of the table with the hunters.
We do not want to disrupt the hunters peace and quiet whether it be from WOT runs through the bogs or a little skeet shooting. If we were to do it this trip it would have to be at a local range. With trails being closed left and right we need to be respectful of the other using the forest.

I would have to second that. If you have to ask if its legal then it probably isn't. Sorry man. :(

Bryan

[wildcard580]

I have considered this before but after researching it I found that you are not allowed to have firearms anywhere in the forest other than on the main paved roads. I believe the forrest has designated hunting areas where the hunters go and that is why they are allowed to take weapons in there. It has been over a year however since I researched this so I might be a little rusty on the details. The best thing to do so that you are 100% would be to check out the forrest website and call the Ranger station.

[85sfarunner]

Ryan,

There's a rifle range in ONF on our way to the campgrounds. Maybe we can swing by there on our way back to Gainesville. The problem is you'll have to leave your firearms at camp, can't take them on the trailride. I know you plan on taking your truck out so this may not be an option.

[wildcard580]

I personally would not feel safe leaving a weapon at camp ungaurded. Too many variables and too much of a pain in the ass if it were to come up missing.

[85sfarunner]

I have to agree with you, it's probably better to leave the guns at home.

[85sfarunner]

I don't know about the rest of you guys, but the damn mosquitos have been out in force in my area :scared: . I assume it's gonna be the same way at the campgrounds so bring adequate protection! :flamethro

[91toyota4x4]

Hopefully this cold snap will help control the mosquitos, they are rediculous here. Hopefully it will be cool when we're camping. But not as cold as the campout last Febuary, that was rediculous :rofl: I'm suprised I survived that night.

I'm not bringing a gun that's too much of a hassle.

[Mikeyk280]

This cold snap doesn't look like it's going to last long enough to put down the skeeters... Fri-Sun looks like lows in the 60's - highs in the mid 70's
If the weather channel holds true.

Mike

[85sfarunner]

http://www.mosquitorepellent.com/repellent.html

I know some hunters that swear by this stuff. I picked one up at Walgreens for $20. We'll see....

[twotontoy]

The only way you can discharge a firearm in the forest is if you're a licensed hunter following the reg's in the particular area you are hunting in. NO target practice etc.

The shooting range on Hwy 40 is free and unregulated. It has a 100 yard, and less, distance for pistols and rifles. It also has a seperate area for skeet shooting. You have to provide your own targets etc.

[twotontoy]

The hunters don't like us being there---period!

[twotontoy]

[QUOTE=wildcard580]I have considered this before but after researching it I found that you are not allowed to have firearms anywhere in the forest other than on the main paved roads.


Correct; that is the letter of the law, however, it obviously doesn't apply to hunters who have a current license, so, if you are driving around in the forest with a properly stored gun in you vehicle, you have a hunting license, and it is hunting season, you are not in violation of the law. ;)