Click for Coverage

131 1106 Off Roading In A Maine 4x4 Area - gmc Jimmy Front Shot - Photo 30757238

Back to Article

Our lone fullsize in the group was Matt Wyatt’s ’85 GMC Jimmy with a 6-inch Rough Country lift. The 37-inch Humvee tires made quick work of the rocks, but still had a tough time or two in the mud.

131 1106 01 o+131 1106 off roading in a maine 4x4 area+front shot hill climb

We showed up to rocky Mountain terrain Park with little notice,but the Maine 4x4 club was happy to have us tag along. trail leader Jareb Dyer showed us the Out of Bounds Trail, which winds up the mountain behind the lodge.

We always love seeing vintage iron on the trail, and Jake Wagg’s Cruiser made us drool. The ’73 has a four-speed swapped in with the stock six-banger. Custom fenders and diamond plate clear the 34x9.50 TSLs, which are needed in this muddy mess of a trail.

Even with front and rear Aussie Lockers, Will House and his ’99 XJ had a rough time with tire issues. Two flats and a blown compressor hose took extra time to fix in the dark, but with help of the whole club the trail was conquered before daylight.

Our lone fullsize in the group was Matt Wyatt’s ’85 GMC Jimmy with a 6-inch Rough Country lift. The 37-inch Humvee tires made quick work of the rocks, but still had a tough time or two in the mud.

The tire bead on Will’s XJ came off both sides of the rim, after a big rock sliced the valve stem off. However, that makes it easier to replace the stem, and since these well-prepared wheelers carried an extra stem and installer, the fix took only a short time. A bit of ether to blow the rim back on and a blast of compressed air helped us make it through the trail.

Matt Barrows loaned me his ’03 TJ for a few hundred feet on the trail. Luckily it’s equipped with 33-inch Hankook MTs and a 4-inch lift, so I didn’t choke while driving. This type of trail is a bunch different from Southwestern rockcrawling but is every bit as challenging and fun. Thanks, Matt!

Jareb Dyer took his ’93 Isuzu Rodeo up the hill with his dog Maliki riding rear shotgun. The rocks and mud make for a slick mess of snotty rocks, and even the 33-inch BFGs couldn’t find much traction.

All our thanks for making it through the trail and back to the cozy park lodge goes to the Maine 4x4 Club and park owner John Steele. (Left to right: Amanda Rich, Matt Barrows, Rick Pw, Josh Cross in background, Matt Wyatt, Jake Wagg kneeling, Jareb Dyer, John Steele).

What can you get in New England for $500? A ’92 Jeep Cherokee, of course! Jason Fournier Outfitted the XJ with a Smittybilt winch and bumper and a 5-inch lift with 33-inch TSLs. Jason’s young son, Quinn, rode all day and night on the trip and was thoroughly enjoying it.