Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts

North Carolina List of Carolinian off-roaders

Cold weather with the temp hovering around 32F has been 1/2 of all the camping I've done. The other 1/2 has been summer in south GA and Florida. Nothing but extremes. Maybe I should shoot for the middle sometime and see what 60s at night feel like. :sneaky:
The temps have to be just right.. military camping has ruined it for me both ways. If it’s 50 deg or lower, or 70’s during the night, I probably won’t do it. 🤣. Raining…forget about it! Probably won’t be going out there for awhile. Jeep is under construction. Getting genright hilines.

IMG_3972.jpeg
 
Yeah, for a couple years I didn’t want anything at all to do with camping, the beach or eating chicken after 9 months in the desert during Desert Shield/Storm. 🤣

I don’t really like camping in the heat much anymore. You can only take off so much clothing. LOL
 
I rode Wolf Den, Lake View, Falls Dam and the part of Rocky Mountain Loop back to Wolf Den after dark tonight. I didn’t see any big mud holes. Some small ones but most could be avoided. It must have dried up a good bit.

I love these KC Cyclone V2 rock lights.

IMG_0247.jpeg

IMG_0260.jpeg
 
That deep hole I found would be somewhere here, probably 1/2 mile off of the gravel road. If you go looking for it, and if it's still there, don't sweat it too much, the only problem I had was the ruts going up the hill on the other side. They were deep enough in the middle for me to make contact with my skid. I went through it and turned around to head out. I did have to wait on some Cherokees behind me to struggle up that hill, but it was wet and they weren't exactly ready for it.
1732372395827.png
 
That deep hole I found would be somewhere here, probably 1/2 mile off of the gravel road. If you go looking for it, and if it's still there, don't sweat it too much, the only problem I had was the ruts going up the hill on the other side. They were deep enough in the middle for me to make contact with my skid. I went through it and turned around to head out. I did have to wait on some Cherokees behind me to struggle up that hill, but it was wet and they weren't exactly ready for it.
View attachment 574610

Ahh, ok. I think I know the part you’re talking about. I didn’t ride that part, only the lower half of the loop.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BlueC
@MountaineerTom what did you think about trail conditions? To me it seemed a lot more rutted out these last two times I've been, at least compared to back in the spring. Typically, I rarely make contact on those trails, but I've made contact several times over my last two trips. Maybe that's a sign I need to go up another inch or two. :sneaky:
 
  • Like
Reactions: MountaineerTom
@MountaineerTom what did you think about trail conditions? To me it seemed a lot more rutted out these last two times I've been, at least compared to back in the spring. Typically, I rarely make contact on those trails, but I've made contact several times over my last two trips. Maybe that's a sign I need to go up another inch or two. :sneaky:

Wolf Den and Lakeview seemed the same to me as it always is.

Falls Dam had a couple places that seemed more rutted out than usual.

The lower half of Rocky Mountain Loop that leads to Slab Pile didn’t seem to bad to me, but there were some smaller mud holes on Rocky Mountain Loop.

Dutch John had a really rutted out corner with water/mud standing in it. The trail dropped off into it about 10-12 inches. I was going down so it wasn’t much trouble. There was someone trying to get up it in a
gladiator and it took about three tries to get over that wet, sloppy ledge. This isn’t the best pic because I didn’t realize it focused on my hood more than the trail, but this was the area. Much steeper than the photo seems.
IMG_0334.jpeg


There was an area closer to the big hill climb that was rockier than I’ve ever seen. Not really rutted, just rockier. Shortly after that was the first part of the big hill climb and it was rutted on the right side but not so much on the left. The big climb wasn’t bad at all, or slick, which surprised me.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: BlueC
@MountaineerTom what did you think about trail conditions? To me it seemed a lot more rutted out these last two times I've been, at least compared to back in the spring. Typically, I rarely make contact on those trails, but I've made contact several times over my last two trips. Maybe that's a sign I need to go up another inch or two. :sneaky:

Did you see this guy out there? He was with a group of volunteers doing trail cleanup. I seen it on Dutch John. It was pretty cool.

(Not my pics, taken from the Uwharrie Facebook group.

IMG_0372.jpeg
IMG_0373.jpeg
IMG_0370.jpeg
IMG_0371.jpeg
IMG_0369.jpeg
 
Did you see this guy out there? He was with a group of volunteers doing trail cleanup. I seen it on Dutch John. It was pretty cool.

(Not my pics, taken from the Uwharrie Facebook group.

View attachment 575315View attachment 575316View attachment 575313View attachment 575314View attachment 575312

Nope, sure didn't. Obviously that this is German, at least I think it is. This last time I only came across one interesting vehicle, this '65 GMC sitting on a '01 Dodge 2500 chassis. He was part of that same group.

1732663551908.png



The time before, I passed some guy in a '63 Land Rover that was pretty cool.
 
Planning to be out there Saturday December 7th

Are you still planning for Uwharrie on the 7th? I have some things to do that morning, but there's a decent chance I'll be able to ride some after lunch.
 
Anyone done something like old 105 in Western North Carolina recently? Doesnt have to be in WNC, but looking for something to take Jeep out on a step below Uwharrie to continue shake down of my rig.

Ideally something a little more "offroad" than a highway but not full blown rocks. Planning a day trip one of next few weekends.
 
Anyone done something like old 105 in Western North Carolina recently?

Never heard of it. I'm planning to take my son to Tweetsie Friday or Saturday. I'm thinking about swinging by Brown Mt while we're in the area, but with all this rain, I'm kinda hesitant. I've heard Brown Mt is pretty easy, but I’ve never been.

I've been wanting to run Hurricane Creek, but that's a solid 3.5 hour drive for me, so not really a day trip.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Illiquid
Never heard of it. I'm planning to take my son to Tweetsie Friday or Saturday. I'm thinking about swinging by Brown Mt while we're in the area, but with all this rain, I'm kinda hesitant. I've heard Brown Mt is pretty easy, but I’ve never been.

I've been wanting to run Hurricane Creek, but that's a solid 3.5 hour drive for me, so not really a day trip.

If you do swing by brown mt will you let me know how it is? I’m not doing a trip if it’s pouring but I have another 250 miles or so to break in gears and figured a scenic trip would be a nice change of pace vs driving around Charlotte.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BlueC
Anyone done something like old 105 in Western North Carolina recently? Doesnt have to be in WNC, but looking for something to take Jeep out on a step below Uwharrie to continue shake down of my rig.

Ideally something a little more "offroad" than a highway but not full blown rocks. Planning a day trip one of next few weekends.

I don’t know anything about that area, but in North West SC, there is Caesar’s Head State Park and Table Rock State Park which would be paved, but scenic. Twisty, curved switchback road getting up to Caesars Head State Park.

Not far from there, you can take Horse Pasture Road out to Jumping Off Rock that over looks Lake Joccassee. It’s not paved, not really a trail, just a gravel road. If you can get there before sunset, it’s a really great view. I think Horse Pasture Road may close portions of it sometimes through the year. Maybe hunting season, I don’t know. Might want to check into that first.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/jumping-off-rock-horse-pasture-road-sc.40232/
 
  • Like
Reactions: Illiquid
I don’t know anything about that area, but in North West SC, there is Caesar’s Head State Park and Table Rock State Park which would be paved, but scenic. Twisty, curved switchback road getting up to Caesars Head State Park.

Not far from there, you can take Horse Pasture Road out to Jumping Off Rock that over looks Lake Joccassee. It’s not paved, not really a trail, just a gravel road. If you can get there before sunset, it’s a really great view. I think Horse Pasture Road may close portions of it sometimes through the year. Maybe hunting season, I don’t know. Might want to check into that first.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/jumping-off-rock-horse-pasture-road-sc.40232/

That’ll work. Just need something less boring than stop and go highway traffic. Thanks!
 
  • Like
Reactions: MountaineerTom
If you do swing by brown mt will you let me know how it is?

I'm not going to make it to Brown Mt this week, but I do intend to try it out soon. We did make it to Uwharrie yesterday. Not crowded and wet enough to keep the dust down. There are a few very easy trails there if you're looking to get out and make a last day run tomorrow.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Illiquid
Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts