mud virgin !!!!!!

hi all
im looking to take my jimny into some mud and water but worry about damaging my little truck as i use it for work and stuff and cant really afford to break it,
i really want to try green laning so if any one knows of anywhere in north wales where can give it a bash let me know.

[attachment:1]Photo-0252.jpg[/attachment]

p.s. iv never done this before.........

many thanks

clunkers

Hi clunkers, if you buy yourself an OS map of the area you want to lane in - I'd start with maps that cover south of Llangollen and Betws-y-Coed. Cheapest to buy them from Dave at www.bits4vits.co.uk, we go laning together and pictures of yesterdays laning trip can be seen here: www.bits4vits.co.uk/store/greenlaning-09/01/11/blog_42.html
If you look at the map you'll see there are 'BOATS' (Byways Open to All Traffic) marked as little crosses which you can legally drive as long as there isnt an A4 notice at the end of the lane saying its closed. Other routes are harder to find and ideally you need to find someone local to you with a similar type of car with similar mods and get some self recovery gear such as strops, ground anchor (stake type is cheap and usefull if slow to use) and a 'Tirfor' hand winch.
You'll find though that people lane with friends and getting into that group of friends is hard to do unless one drops out and gives up laning as they'll stick to 4 or 5 cars maximum in a convoy. I'd hesitate to mark up routes for you on a map in case you go out there and get stuck - but i do know most in the LLangollen area quite well.

Gary

Hi,

Enjoy the jimny, just get some mud tyres onit, do yourself a favour and keep out deepish water, get some axle breathers on and route them high up in the engine bay.

In Wales even greenlaning you can come across deep water, so breathers are handy anyway, then it comes to the snorkle, then the list goes on and the pockets become deeper.

Honest, I'm not trying to put you off,

Best way to avoid any breakages is to make sure the truck is in tip top condition (servicing and lubricamts etc)and then drive with a little mechanical sympathy. Be aware of the size of your truck and that you can't always follow the same route as bigger trucks. IMHO small less powerful 4x4's make you a better driver off road, you learn to read the terrain better. Take your time, theres no harm in getting out and inspecting the route before you drive it. I use mine daily too, i had a few breakages but these were due mainly to my heavy right foot. I got sick of fixing something after every day off road so take more care, i tackle most things but i'm more considered about it now.

4 most important things imho, maintenence, good recovery equipment(shackles/straps) more aggressive tyres (AT's at least) and then friends! Don't go laning alone.

If you're not sure of what your trucks capable of i'd have a crack at a p&p day so that you can tackle a variety of obstacles, spend some time watching others before going out yourself. Most sites there will be plenty of people happy to come round with you and give you a bit of advice. You'll make some good contacts and meet people who can show you the local lanes.


Most of all stay safe and enjoy your truck.

thanks for all the tips and advice one more thing though.........
how do i convince my wife that im not going to destroy my jimny
she wont let me go and play after school eerrrr i mean work..

Find a local pay and play day and take her down, most sites offer non damaging routes and give the oppportunity to spectate. You can't guarantee no damage but if you take care and don't try anything too extreme or beyond yours and the trucks abilities you should be fine. Any breakages or damage i've suffered were as a result of my own stupidity.
Then the only thing after is to check and clean everything when you're home to prevent further problems from mud grinding in bearings and brakes etc... clean, inspect and regrease.

If you are capable of fixing things yourself, then that helps. I just tell her that everything can be fixed easily, it just doesn't go down that well when i have to use her car!

Ive just had my first day offroad, was verrrrrry muddy so tough going but it was a pay play day so take your time, look at what your about to drive over/through and youl be fine. Just do small bits at a time.

Then sit back and watch others, ignore the stupid ones and take note.

Get home and think, oh ive got to clean that?

biggaz wrote: Then sit back and watch others, ignore the stupid ones and take note.

No - you've definitely got to watch the stupid ones as it's funnier

Oh yeh, watch them and do opposite!

Oi !, who you calling stupid