Offroading Menai

[Daniel.308]

Hey guys

I took my STANDARD JK Wrangler to Menai offroading... It was my first outing offroading and all I can say is I really felt sorry for my car... The rocks were to big and advanced for the ground clearance I had, I pretty much scrapped the shit out of the skid plates underneath and somehow made it through the day...

Just wondering if their are any trails that aren't extremely steep rocks etc that I can take my JK and learn the fundamentals of offroading...

For some reason (I think because the car is new) I feel hurt inside about what I done to it today, I smelt a little clutch burning aswell or maybe it was the tires from the spinning on the rocks =(

I want to perform a lift or bigger/better tires but also don't want it to loose its market value further for when the day comes I do sell it...

Also any procedures I should take after offroading because I cleaned it with a gerny underneath but realised the previous owner had taken it for a little bash aswell as my diffcasing is all with mud that doesnt come off...

Cheers

[bigredtj]

There is some good learner tracks at ourimbah and awaba if you want to travel in that direction.

I take it if you went to menai you are part of a club if so keep an eye on there forums for some easier trips.

Dont worry to much about bashing the skid plates, that is what they are made for.

[Daniel.308]

I think because it is my first car that I have ever owned that is new, and it burns me t know that I done it to it... But ohh Well I cleaned it throurouly still looks good except underneath lol

[Yom]

Bit of chassis black paint and it'll look fine.

Look around for 4wd driver training courses - I don't know any in sydney/surroundings i'm afraid. Start there and work your way up. Honestly though, you need to lift your JK if you want to not scrape the bejesus out of it. I took most of the paint off mine when it had less than 1000km on the clock and hadn't even owned it for more than 4 days. lol

[sbadman]

Just a warning, driving at Menai legally requires having attending a cleanup within the 12 months previous as a member of an affiliated club, notifying the 4WD Association at least 8 days before hand, and submitting a trip report no later than 7 days after the trip. I was there weekend before last on a cleanup and we ran into two dirt bike coppers, they are starting to really crack down on it. Even if the land owners don't press trespass charges, the cops will go over and defect anything they can!

That said Menai is a fantastic training area. Sydney Jeep Club runs trips out there at least once a month for the cleanups, and while we don't have any formal training requirements or programs, one of our members is extremely knowledgeable of the area and a fantastic teacher. We had a bone stock ZJ with us the other week, including stock 27" road tyres, and with the right choice of lines he went almost everywhere the other vehicles did, and learnt a lot about his Jeep in the process.

I know there are those on here that think it's a waste of money, but I do highly recommend joining a club. There are a few Jeep specific clubs in NSW to choose from, I'm quite happy with the one I chose

[glend]

On ya Scott!

[NFI]

Daniel.

I would recommend join a Jeep 4WD club in your local area.
When you go on trips your are with a group of like minded people who can give you guidance on the tracks and obstacles etc.

A lot of the clubs also provide driver training as part of the membership fee.

I learnt the hardway on my first 4WD outing (a number years ago now) Got stick in a rut and then had to walk 2 Kms to a farm house. The farmer snatch me out of the bog hole. Now I always go with a group of cars.