Update coming soon

Will be adding more pics through my last run on 03-17-2007 with info
Please stay tuned

Progress 07-21-2006

Let's see, since the last post I got the sliders in from JCROffroad.com, got them painted and installed, picked up some Geolander AT+II's in the metric equiv to a 33x11.25x16, and got the cable off the winch and my synthetic line from Columbia River Offroad installed. Soon as I find some steel wheels in a 16x8 or 10 with 4" backspace it'll be time to get 2 more TJ rear flares and chop the wheel wells open

What a day

No pics of mine today just of part of why I left Raven Offroad.

Got some work done at the shop, went out to a friends and got my new jcroffroad sliders painted, but they didn't dry in time to install, got home and found yet more slammage from the club president and her boyfriend from Raven Offroad, so posted up a resignation letter as follows:

I hereby terminate my membership in the "club" known as Raven Offroad.

I can no longer in good concience be a part of a group that claims there is only one club, under one set of rules, when in fact it is obvious to anyone with eyes that there is in fact a double standard, and a huge amount of hypocracy in this organization as it currently exists.

Some examples:
Vehicle requirements: (these were adopted on Feb 15, 2006 after two runs where people continued to not keep in contact even after much discussion about it happening on a previous run where what started as one group got seperated into 2 groups, and some peole in group 2 were put in danger trying to figure out where the lead group went (that didn't have radios), when the road became a sheet of ice), not to mention that when group 1 wandered back to camp they were a vehicle short, and when asked about it the club president said "I have no idea where he is, he went off on his own, but he's been up here enough that I'm sure he's ok"

Mild Run
Any and all tire sizes
Winching points front and rear (accommodate d-ring shackle preferred over hooks)
Straps (looped ends not hooks)
CB/ FRS radio
Vehicle Fluids
Spare tire/jack
Basic tools
First aid kit
Fire Extinguisher
Shovel

Hardcore Run
33” or bigger tires
One locker minimum
Winch (preferred but not mandatory)
Spare parts (for common breakage)
Vehicle specific tools
Winch points must be closed
Food, water, clothes to stay at least one night
Rock protection (recommended if you like your sheet metal)
Cage internal or external (recommended)

Extreme Run
35” or bigger tires
Locked front and rear
Cage required
Spare parts (for any kind of breakage)
Tools, tools, tools
Welding rod, jumper cables
OBA
Food, water, and clothing for couple nights
Survival type gear (fire making, water purifying) dependant on location

It should be noted that to date The group that the club president rides with (since she never seems to be able to wheel her daily driver like the rest of us) has not had a CB or to my knowledge even a FRS onboard (if so it would be nice to have it turned on). The fact that said president is currently dating the owner of one of the radioless vehicles shouldn't preclude him, or the small group of others that the president seems to favor running with from following the rules.

Further, it has been non too subtly mentioned that people are complaining about a lack of club events, not so, some of us just think it would be nice to have not had 2 or 3 of the last 4 proposed events be setup or suggested for places in the Extreme catagory since a fairly small percentage of members have vehicles that meet that level.

I cannot be a member of a club that openly (in private rooms) condones bashing others publicly, and then follows that with an attitude of "get over it and quit whining" Sorry, any club that would condone publicly telling a member to "shut the @$#%@ up" on someone elses forum is not where I want to be, especially when it is the president of the club making statements like that.

Love how in one post she can rag on people to just not read what they don't like, then tells me that on TC and that I "really need to go somewhere else to annoy people" here because I "post too much"
As she said don't like it, don't read it.

Lack of any care regarding public relations: How many clubs do you think have a president that arrives for a State sponsored beach cleanup riding in a trailered non street legal vehicle that they know will be kicked off the beach almost instantly, and when they do, doesn't stay and ride with any of the many vehicles available, but instead decides to abandon her club to go do something related to "other plans already"

Who can respect a club led by one who will stand by a beach access at Sandlake that has been eroded down to a level that an underground stream is destroying it, when asked what happened to it replies "too many people with 44" tires that think they can make it", then watches cheerfully as members of the nonexistant sub-club make so many leadfooted attempts at the same spot that one of them blows a hub, and says nothing to them about it. (That's her current live in running the Zuki, and their best friend in his Yota) That little relationship would have nothing to do with it, lol.

Openly promotes the common sense rule of 3 tries at an obstacle, then take a different line or back away, then watches someone spend 20 minutes tearing up a 8' long section of Little Rubicon, then rags on the person that mentions the 3 attempts rule.

If this is treading lightly I'd hate to see what a wanton lack of any consideration for the environment would look like, but then, who cares as long as Crushers stays open, right?

Frankly Raven, you claim to have one club, but until everyone in it is following the same set of rules, don't expect anyone to respect you or really much care what you have to say, because you are certainly not a leader by example. Your big claim to fame, making every event in 2-1/2 years, so that means you wheel more than me..... Ok, I guess riding passenger is wheeling. That excuse about the CJ being your daily driver gets a little old after you see 90% of the people out there wheeling their daily drivers.

You seem to have gone on a cycle of venting on me about every 28 days, problem is, I'm not one to just suck up and shut up.

You spoke privately about how proud you are to be returning the club forum to a wide open place where anyone can rag on anyone at will, and how when you once tried to tone people down a bunch left and started their own club and you won't go thru that again, well, that's great, except that in the process you have killed the caring club I joined, Frankly, if you are proud of having a place that runs like a elementary school playground feel free, it is your forum after all, and lord knows most of us I am sure have heard the comment before about how you ARE Raven Offroad. Kinda makes me think that maybe you think Raven Offroad will exist even with no one here.

Like I said, feel free to make of the club what you will, me, I won't be part of it as I for one grew up a long time ago.

Oh BTW trainwreck, in response to your question in the club only section, Yes I was at the SAR meetings, the ones that our club liasion bothered to post the info about, maybe if she actually joined the AOL group and READ it she'd know about more of them, but like I said, guess that pizza and beer was more important than getting the club involved in something to save lives.

Anyone that still has a vehicle that looks remotely like the factory shipped and wants to go wheeling in groups that are able to smile at the end of the run and not just before it feel free to contact me, we'll go wheeling in places that most of us can go instead of being offered the golden opportunity to ride along to watch sheet metal being fed to rocks and trees.

Amazing how whenever anyone challenges anything around here with a valid point it gets moved to the non public sections or gets deleted, by the same person that wants the forum to be wide open for people to attack each other at will.

I trully don't expect this post to stay here for long, and it wouldn't surprise me one bit to be banned, so I am going to post this to all the other boards just to be sure everyone knows I refuse to be part of a group that has sunk to this level. I know a lot of you are really nice people, and many of you never say a word (which seems to be the key to survival here), but I just can't watch the double standard that is being imposed around here any more.

I will be delighted to wheel with most of you here anytime. I'm just not cut out to be part of the chosen few that seem to be the core of Raven Offroad nowadays.

Bash me all you want on the other forums, you just won't have me around here anymore to bash on in your hidden little rooms.

Call me a whiner all you want, doesn't change the facts.
No need to resort to verbal or personal abuse or attacks since I won't be here.
Nothing personal, it's just the net.
and we have a serious case of irreconcilable differences.
You wanted me gone, you win, enjoy the 30 bucks, I just wonder, now that I am gone, who the next victim with a midly capable rig will be.

Tillamook State Forest 07-01/02-2006

Had a blast this weekend, took off on Sat morning and camped out overnight with some folks from our club, and some others. Got to meet some more folks from Timbercrawler.com and Lucky 13.

Ran most of what was open, mainly the sections of Firebreak 5, Archers, and Hogsback. Walked around Crushers upper and lower, got to see a guy grenade a birf on his toyota/buggy. Hiking all over loose rocks 4' around uphill at 40 as a 3 pack a day smoker is NOT a good idea on a 95deg day lol.

Dusty as hell up there, but did manage to find one mudhole to blast through.

Never did need to use the new winch, so selling the steel cable and roller fairlead off of it since I have a hawse lead and synthetic rope all set to go on it.

All in all, had a great time again, the XJ performed just beautifully with the new 140amp alternator and the 750cca yellow top optima battery on it. Can't wait to go again, but hopefully it'll sprinkle just enough to knock the dust down, gonna be coughing up TSF for a week, lol.

06/17/2006 TSF run with the JCR crowd

Got together with some of the folks from JCR again. This time to run some trails in Tillamook from Browns Camp to Lyda camp. Ran open sections of Firebreak 5, Hogsback, Saddle Up, and Archers/Rocky Uphill, got about 1/2 to 2/3 of the way up Rocky Uphill before it just got to be too many rocks too big and too muddy/slick for the ole '90 to handle on 31's with open diffs at both ends. First trail I've tried it on that it couldn't quite get there. Can't feel too bad tho when the only rigs that made it were a YK and a Tomb Raider Rubicon on 35's locked front and rear, and a Bronco on 33's locked rear that had to winch due to an uncooperative carb.

Once again had a blast with no carnage other than some rock rash on the rims and a couple slices in the tires. Also was happy for the new short rubber stereo antenae that replaced the old broken power one that was getting bent to hell by every branch in the forest.

06/10/2006 Got Bored Part 2

Yup, sittin here in the ole apartment at the pc and lookin out the window at the Jeep, just couldn't resist doing something to it, anything, so went down, did some sanding and masking, and herculined the rocker panels, ribbed moulding and all. While I was at it, decided I was tired of the standard issue mildew scented air freshener every time it rains and ripped the carpet out of the back all the way to the rear seat floorboards, also got rid of the rear seat base, and the rear seatbelts. Noisier now, but sure smells a whole lot better, also found where all the leaks are in the rear window gaskets and hatch.

05/20/2006 Trask again, but with some new folks

Had a chance to go on a campout to the Trask area this time, hooked up with some people from Jeep Chicks Rock and had a blast, small group, rigs of similar capabilities with just enough differences that everyone could learn from everyone. No probs with large group seperation, and when there was a problem everyone jumped in to help out and were still smiling at the end. Started on the Yamhill side and came out to hiway 6 at Tillamook, almost all on trails. I only stayed one night, the rest stayed over a 2nd night and headed back about 10 minutes ahead of the first big downpour that was supposed to arrive on night 1. Added bonus, compliments of a 5' diameter deadfall RubiGoddess became the first person to have a custom formed 36" HiLift that perfectly matches the lines of her bumper. It was dry and dusty bringing up the drag, but still great as we were able to run the whole thing at hiway pressure.

Had an absolute blast wheeling with friends old and new!

05/13/2006 Got bored

and removed the bows to the roof rack, also continued the chrome removal by masking off, sanding and painting the headlight and hood trim, and the mirrors with trim black. Also got rid of those silly chrome edge protectors on the doors. Still need to paint the rain gutters, windshield trim and roof rack runners.

04/22/2006 Sandlake, Oregon

Made a quickie day trip to the beach again, had a great time running around in the bowls and on the beach. Sandlake sure isn't what it was 20 years ago. Back then you wouldn't go near the back bowl with less than a 'glas body V8 jeep or a 2180cc buggy. Now, even a Cherokee on 31" AT's can get out of the back bowl, all the hillocks on the flats leading from day-use to the front bowl are gone and just one big flat plain now. Even some of the beach access areas are eroding out from too many people trying to chew their way up with 44" boggers, combined with high water table/underground springs.

04/20/2006 1st Triming and New Bumpers

After much ado, and a fair bit of hole reshaping I got the new Stage 2 XJ bumpers from jcroffroad painted with 2 coats of roll-on herculiner and installed. Trimed the front fender tips to match the bumper line, yanked the rear flares, and relocated the vacuum bottle to a space up under the hood. Also traded the old Chrome grill for a plastic one and painted it trim black as the begining of the chrome removal project.

03/25/2006 SOLV Beach Cleanup

Twice a year the club goes down to the Oregon coast and participates in the beach cleanup. Lord knows we do find some unusual things while we are there. Afterwards, we gather at a friends place in Washington to do some wheelin on the beach up their way.

there is always something special about seeing the shipwreck http://www.iredale.de/maritime/peter.htm

02/25/2006 TSF Sheet Metal Lovers Run

Made a club run to Tillamook Forest with some of the club and some folks from other groups who didn't want to go on a run up to Washington that was advertised as "If you have any windows left in your rig you won't after this" Had an awesome time tho things got a bit rocky when the group got seperated thru a lack of communications and the difference in vehicle capabilities combined with the group turnout being much larger than expected. The '90 is still doing great though and going everywhere I point it. New stuff: Pulled front bumper end caps, front flares, air dam for clearance, CB, threw away front swaybar, (not recommended for everyone), replaced door logos with photo-paper printeds in rear windows.

01/21/2006 1st Run, Trask Area Tillamook Forest

Got to take the '90 on its first run with the club, good sized turnout. We went to check out the Trask area in the Tillamook State Forest with some folks from the local area showing us the way as the club had never wheeled that area before. The 2nd shot is the first hill the '90 got to play on where as one member put it, I "learned how to settle a lifted coil setup"

Had a great time, even tho we were parked for a while to tow a couple of stock rigs out of some gumbo, and had one near disaster when a Zuki almost backed off a cliff where there wasn't as much road available on a backdown as he had thought. All in all the '90 performed awesome, though I can see a serious need for some tow points. New for this run were the 31x10.5-15 Yokohama geloander AT+II's on the factory rims off my '98 XJ that I swapped over "for the run".

01/15/2006 Winter weather passed, now it begins

Having waited for the worst or Oregon winter to clear the area it didn't take me long to get the interior cleaned up and have a lift put in. I went with a Rubicon Express 4.5" Superflex kit with adjustable track bar, full leafs, Slip Yoke Eliminator and CV Driveline. Since I'm not the most mechanically inclined person on Earth, yet, Steve and his crew at Precision Four Wheel Drive in Clackamas, Oregon did an awesome job on it for me. Also didn't take long to get my decals for the club I joined, http://www.ravenoffroad.com attached to some magnets for the doors. Sadly they promptly blew off when i forgot to remove them for the drive home after a windy, rainy run.


Here it sits on a set of 30x9.5-15 Dominators with the factory rims before the decals left the doors.

11/20/2005 The Humble Beginings

Having made my first offroading trip in a basically stock 1998 Jeep Cherokee I decided I was in need of something far less pretty to take into the rocks and trees. Having aquired my Fathers 1995 Grand Cherokee I traded it to my long time gf Chrissy for the 1990 Cherokee my father had given her for Christmas 5 years earlier.

This is what I got.