This weekend we went to www.haspinacres.com over in Laurel Indiana. It's only an hour and a half away, which is a short drive for us for a decent wheeling spot. I finally realized that this place is much better suited for small vehicles like Jeeps and Sammis, or ATV's. Too many tight trees, deep ruts, and steep hills for my rig, and no rocks. I'm itchin' to get back down to KY where they are plenty of rocks and wide open trails.

Anyways, on to the pics. This first pic is the group I rode with, 1 Cherokee, 2 Jeeps, 1 Blazer, and my 4Runner. The Cherokee was bone stock, the yellow jeep had 31" TSL's and a rear locker, blazer was stock with 31" mud tires, blue/mud Jeep was stock with ~30 AT's, and then my 4Runner.



Next is the first small mud hole we found. Fun to play around in since the rest of the trails were dry as a bone and dustier than heck.







Next was a nice little rut that sunk your right rear tire causing your left front to catch some air (except me, my rig flexed right through it <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" /> )



Next was a nice short hill climb that passed in between 2 narrow trees. Only the yellow jeep made it since he has TSL's and a locker. The other jeep and the Cherokee tried but since they dont have lockers or aggressive tires they just spun at the top.





Now for my turn. I wasn't really sure if I could make it or not since the 2 trees were very narrow and the other trucks barely fit in between. But they said it looked like I could make it, so I lined it up, held the wheel straight, and gunned it. I got about 3/4 of the way up, hit a rut, bounced to the right, and smacked the tree, HARD. It put a nice dent in my TJM bumper, and ripped my crappy weld job on the bracket attached to the frame. So I had to tie the bumper up and limp back to camp.






Then by buddy got his 78 Jeep stuck in a big hole on the right side. We just rocked him side to side and he made it out, but it was a huge hole that would have swallowed half his truck if he would have went in it completely.






Then, late that night, we noticed a clunking sound coming from by brother's 76 Blazer' front end. I got out and could see the wheel wobbling very bad and the wheel kicked in at the top. So we parked it until the morning, when we took the tire off and realized the wheel bearings were completely gone and the only thing holding the rotor on the truck was the brake caliper and the snap ring on the axle shaft. So we had to call a flat bed to tow it home, and after $176 tow bill and 72 miles back home later, we made it. His truck was pretty muddy after some of the huge mud pits he buried himself in (which I'm still waiting on a buddy to send me pics of)

[img]http://www.toyotaoffroad.net/afertig/haspin/11.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.toyotaoffroad.net/afertig/haspin/12.jpg[/img]


Next trip will be to Livingston KY or Slade.

Nice pics man. Here in FL all wheeling is eventually going to be a thing of the past. Lately these legal "mud holes" that charge $15/truck or person are booming around here. Only 1 spot to really wheel/rock crawl for free and it's pretty tight. So most of these boys that have been out in the sun to long build 1500's or 2500 mud trucks. So all I see is tight trails or mud only. I hate Florida ... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" /> place is crawling with to many people... not enuff wheeling.

Cool pics! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Dented the TJM?! Must have jarred you pretty good too. How's the neck feeling today? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

Yea, the TJM has a nice dent in it right by the turn signal. I hit it pretty hard, but they said the tree diddnt even flinch. It was a pretty solid tree! I'm feeling fine, I kind of bounced off it and rolled back down the hill, no whiplash.

looks like you had some fun adam. Glad you are okay though.

Did you find Stairway? How many people has died on it now? It seamed that that was the big obsticle when we were there and ledgend has it 14 people has died on it.. At leasthe ATV guy said so.

I saved your IFS skid plate, when you wana come and get it? Ned me to weld that bumper back in place? I got a new welder, and I only ran a practice bead. I have been iching to try it out.

I got out to Slade a few weeks back. Only got to run 1 trail, and had to take off work for that. Took te TLCA Pres and Secratary up a trrail we call Damnation Alley, with the obsticle Grandmas Hatbox. It is getting easier, people have been stacking rocks.

Wasn't the Auto parts store open? Taking a few hours to fix it is alot cheaper than towing! I always carry wheel bearings. Even a rear axle without a backing plate that will work on both sides. IH8Mud

Hey Paul. I forgot about that skid plate. I could use it for my buddies truck. I work 2-10 on weekdays and off on weekends, so let me know when to come up. It would be killer if you could re-weld the bumper brackets for me. Just don't laugh too hard at my previous weld job

I really don't know Haspin's different spots all that well. It all looks the same to me, trees and dirt <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" /> I get lost easily.

I do remember what they call "devil's backbone" which is a big steep hill with loose rocks. Lots of rolls down that hill. But I havent been back to that spot in years. Maybe I'll find it next time out

No auto parts stores open. No Uhaul's open to rent a tow dolly. Apparently Laurel is a big church town and everyone is at church on sunday. Go figure. Plus I've never worked on a Chevy front end. And I diddnt have any allen wrenches which is what is needed to take off the caliper. Plus I was hung over. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />

Hey Adam - we hit Haspin alot!!! Not bad to get out and play in!!!

If interested, We're thinking Natural Bridge sometime soon (aug sept), Dying to get back to Livingston...
And end of July (23rd) - Vanceburg, KY - KY Outback

Been here a bunch of times, he recently opened - had a write up both Petersen's and Four Wheeler.....

Where bout in Cincy are ya, I'm in the Westernhills area...

I live in Mt Washington (in between Anderson and Mt Lookout)

Yea, I want to hit all three as well, KY outback, Livingston, and Slade. But I really want to hit Livingston first.

Let me know when you nail down some dates and I'll try to attend. I've got a buddy with a built 4Runner who would go with me as well.

When are you gonna build your runner <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/butwiggle.gif" alt="" />