Who the hell is this!! More bad PR for wheelers!

[Bryanccfshr]

I don't know who is associated with Tough Country Products out of Texas but they should be noted as irresponsible and causing a stir. Here is a link to a thread on a local fishing board concerning it. Associated links can be found within the thread.

http://www.corpusfishing.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=1352

[Bryanccfshr]

The fact that they took there pictures down further incriminates them.

[Oppositeboy]

Where were the pics? Someone said they have them saved... post 'em up here.

[Toyo4x4]

The links within those threads weren't working for me.

[Bryanccfshr]

Where were the pics? Someone said they have them saved... post 'em up here.

I just PMed a guy who says he saved some pics of the trucks in question.

You can get to the homepage of the offenders here http://www.toughcountry.com/

[Oppositeboy]

I looked for the pics there. No dice. Wasn't in the mood to lok for open dirs though.

[Maverick]

The fact that they took there pictures down further incriminates them.

Is this one of the pictures?

http://www.toughcountry.com/Pictures/CHEVY/Pallet2.jpg

[Bryanccfshr]

I don't know? I am trying to track them down, Supposedly they were digging huge ruts as well as driving in the dunes.

[Maverick]

digging huge ruts

Ruts... kinda like this?

http://www.toughcountry.com/Pictures/CHEVY/Brent6.jpg

[Bryanccfshr]

That's could be all that they're talking about. If it's near the tide line it doesn't hurt for more than a tidal cylce as the next high tide will fill in the ruts. If that's as bad as it get's I'll retract this post. I have done my share of donuts in the sand and it could be making the going tougher and rougher for some locals.


But if they were doing the dunes or vegatation or mud flats then they were breaking the law. Not having access to the pictures that were originally refered too I am at a loss if this is irresponsible wheeleres or local blowhards, the effect is the same though.

[Maverick]

What about this one?

http://www.toughcountry.com/Pictures/CHEVY/dudley.jpg

[Dick Foster]

Looks like a bone stock Jeep. That pretty much sums it all up for me.

[Maverick]

Looks like a bone stock Jeep. That pretty much sums it all up for me.

yup.. that would do it

[Oppositeboy]

Looks like a bone stock Jeep. That pretty much sums it all up for me.

That's not stock. The tires look too wide and almost like 32's.

[Dick Foster]

Same as unless you're counting those smile face light covers. LOL

[Oppositeboy]

Those were to add sand horsepower. I guess he needed a setup like this with covers:

http://www.toughcountry.com/customer/images/11_customer_jpg.jpg

[Bryanccfshr]

What about this one?

http://www.toughcountry.com/Pictures/CHEVY/dudley.jpg

That one is not in an area they should be. That is not a trail but fresh ruts in virgin land.

[Bryanccfshr]

Thanks to Ratbastard http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:v6MqvmYvn1sJ:www.toughcountry.com/matagorda.htm+&hl=en in Tx he found this cache

[Mike]

Thanks to Ratbastard http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:v6MqvmYvn1sJ:www.toughcountry.com/matagorda.htm+&hl=en in Tx he found this cache

What are the rules out there? Is it an open area, or do you have to stay on the beach? Is it posted to stay on the beach?

If someone is in a random off-limits area and they don't know any better, then about all you can do is educate them.

If someone drove over a 'stay on the trail' sign and started tearing stuff up, then turn them over to law enforcement.

Later,
....Mike

[Bryanccfshr]

What are the rules out there? Is it an open area, or do you have to stay on the beach? Is it posted to stay on the beach?

If someone is in a random off-limits area and they don't know any better, then about all you can do is educate them.

If someone drove over a 'stay on the trail' sign and started tearing stuff up, then turn them over to law enforcement.

Later,
....Mike

It is illegal and posted not to drive in the dunes, mudflats or grasslands. The beach falls under state highway regulations, their are very limited and marked trails back island aka behind the dunes and verty limited points of entry that are gated and closed when back island conditions are to wet that can cause rutting and vegatatation damage due to users taking bypasses around holes that are wet and deep during wet times of closure. Drivin g on the nasty salt marsh is not only histaricly stupid(hey I have learned too) it is extremely damaging. This group is touting themselves as an offroad adventures club as well as being assosiated with a fabrication shop supplying the aftermarket. More should be expected.

[Mike]

It is illegal and posted not to drive in the dunes, mudflats or grasslands. The beach falls under state highway regulations, their are very limited and marked trails back island aka behind the dunes and verty limited points of entry that are gated and closed when back island conditions are to wet that can cause rutting and vegatatation damage due to users taking bypasses around holes that are wet and deep during wet times of closure. Drivin g on the nasty salt marsh is not only histaricly stupid(hey I have learned too) it is extremely damaging. This group is touting themselves as an offroad adventures club as well as being assosiated with a fabrication shop supplying the aftermarket. More should be expected.

Well, then, fucking fry them!

Later,
....Mike

[Bryanccfshr]

That is my intention. This is to large a group to not know anybetter. an individual or two I can understand.. This is an Asshat crew.

[WoodTRD]

People like that are what gives wheelers bad names. I have been to PINS and it is a very nice place to visit and drive down the beach. If assholes keep tearing up the dunes and flats then that is just more incentive for groups to try to close the beach to vehicles. The signs are very clearly posted, and if I remember correctly you can get a pretty hefty fine for disobeying them. Hopefully the people in the pics will learn to respect the environment, especially in areas where it is not only irresponsible, but also illegal.

[Bryanccfshr]

I have recieved more pics by E-mail and I am starting to believe that this is a case of trying to cut new trails where an existing trail ends (do mostly to the lack of dry non-tidal land). Some of the pics I recieved are on a trail that runs parrellel to the port mansfield channell. The next time (maybe this week or even tommorrow!!) I will head to the jetties and investigate for damage. If these pics are indeed a couple of years old it would be eduactional to see the long term damge of this excursion.

[05'DCTaco]

Go Get Em' Lol :p

[Tough Country]

Hello,
My name is Kurt Pratka and it is my email address (kurt@toughcountry.com)that is linked on the Tough Country website. In response to the threads that are currently circulating regarding the pictures that were posted on our website, I would like to note that any and all of the "offensive" pictures have been removed.
Nearly all of the pictures on the site that depict 4 x 4 activity are contributions from our customers and/or like minded individuals. We at Tough Country apologize for the mistake of posting these contributed pictures, and will screen future contributions much more closely.
With regard to all of the pictures, and since most were contributed, we cannot possibly discern the whereabouts of where all of the pictures were actually taken. Some of the pictures that were actually taken on private property were placed in the pages due to space considerations. The pictures that were actually taken on PINS--specifically the pictures of the jeep that appears to be behind the vegetation line, were on the road/trail that runs alongside of the Port Mansfield Channel. As the vehicles were traveling the road/trail, that one in particular became stuck and had to be pulled out.
It must be noted however, that shortly after the vehicle was pulled out from the road/trail beside the PMC, a park ranger did visit the camp and she explained the error of our ways. From that point forward, the entire group followed her instructions explicitly. In addition to being visited by the Park Ranger, members of the US Coast Guard and US Border Patrol also visited our camp frequently during our stay on the PINS.
Holding a company such as ours responsible or up to boycott for the activities of individuals is ludicrous at best. If you are going to suggest such a course of action, then why not hold JEEP, Ford, Dodge, and General Motors responsible or up to boycott as well? Certainly they do not accept responsibility for the actions of individual drivers of their vehicles, as Tough Country cannot accept responsibility for those same individuals who choose to display a sticker.
Tough Country does not condone or endorse any destructive or detrimental activities. In fact, some of the individual employees are very active in keeping the Texas beaches clean and open. In March of this year, some of our employees and friends participated in Captain Billy Sandifer's Annual Beach Cleanup on PINS. The following weekend, the same individuals conducted a beach cleanup on Matagorda Island. Their efforts on Matagorda Island netted three dump-truck loads of garbage that was picked up starting at the 3 mile cut and extending the next 4 miles. In fact, if you would like to participate in the next Matagorda Beach cleanup effort, please contact myself or Richard (richard@toughcountry.com).
If you have any questions or would like respond directly to me, please feel free to do so.
Thank You,
Kurt Pratka
Tough Country Products

[Bryanccfshr]

I appreciate you coming here to explain your position. Hopefully in this day and time of land closures to public access you can appreciate the effect of the the negative publicity that these type of photographs can produce tou our sport, our rights and to those associated your business. Alot of good can be erased with a few individuals . Take it easy and Tread lightly.



Bryan

[Tough Country]

Bryan,
I appreciate your response, and I hope that the others that post here will share in your understanding. If anyone has any questions or would like to contact me, please send to kurt@toughcountry.com.

Thanks,
Kurt