Attending a 4x4 club meeting next week.

[CaddyStrophic]

There is a 4x4 club about an hour south of me, here in Ohio. They have meetings once a month and I've wanted to attend, but have always had to work.

Well, I'm off for this month's meeting and want to attend. Are any of you guys members of an off-road club? Any tips on what I am to expect? I don't know much about 4x4, so I feel a club would be a good way for me to learn, I just don't want to look like a fool right out of the gate.

Does your club have dues?

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[Babyjohn460]

Not in a club myself, but have considered. Where about in Ohio are you??


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CaddyStrophic]

Not in a club myself, but have considered. Where about in Ohio are you??


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I live in Kettering, but the club is in Cincinnati. Apparently, they meet next Thursday at Quaker Steak & Lube. Website says they have outings, help each other build and learn, and also don't discriminate when it comes to vehicles. (Which is a big deal to me because of all the Hummer hate.)

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[Babyjohn460]

Ah, that's about 4 hours from me. I'm towards Chardon area,closer to the lake. Saw you were from Ohio, thought you may have been local. Not so much. Haha!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[3Hummers]

I am not a member of a club. Finding a group without brand snobs is key. There is a group local to me but I have met several members and would never hang with some of them.

 

[Babyjohn460]

I've heard. The only thing by us is "Jeep School" and like you said, being a Hummer not sure that would go over well. Haha! Heard there's a park or two in PA, about 2 hours or so away.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[sonicstage]

I was in a club for a while and eventually ended up leaving, some of these guys especially in Los Angeles are so Stuck up that if you don't have a jeep they don't help you dig out of you get stuck or break down... they literally go around you! Talk about messed up...however I've experienced a jeep club that actually drives the trails in mammoth Yosemite and big bear and clear roads of debris... so there are good ones and bad ones just use good judgment and you should be fine


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CaddyStrophic]

Smh. I don't get people. I was worried about stuff like this. But hey, if nothing, it's more motivation go build something to outperform a Jeep.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[awalsh]

I don't know about other places, but I actually choke up sometimes when I see local jeeps by me in nj. All of the jeep owners give me nothing but dirty looks, and little to none of them wheel their trucks nor know much about what actually went into the rig their driving. some of the builds I see are pretty decent, if the owner actually built it himself. The rest have snorkels and winches with stock wheels and suspension smh, but nobody realizes how hard much work goes into building your h3, our aftermarket world is slim to none compared to other vehicles, and that's why I love it! Standing out


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Vdawg1115]

I am in a club, as a guest....you have to earn your membership. I have been to their monthly meetings and several of their events. It's all in good fun. Fellow forum member Cowboy is actually president of the club this year. We're the only two Hummers. I remember on my very first meeting when stating what rig I drive, a fellow member said to me "Don't worry, if you get stuck there are a lot of jeeps to pull you out." All in good fun though. They plan a lot of expeditions to Ghost Towns and such as well as getting involved in charitable events like Wheelers for The Wounded. Sierra Trek and all that stuff. We also volunteer at 4WheelParts Truckfest every year.

 

[alrock]

Not been a part of any clubs, but I did a run with a large Jeep club once. Lots of great people in that club, and a few jerks. That's pretty much universal in any large group. As long as you have some people welcoming you, just gravitate towards them and leave the infantile ones behind.

 

[Vdawg1115]

I would love to go on a H4O event, that'll officially make me a member of THIS club also!

 

[alrock]

I would love to go on a H4O event, that'll officially make me a member of THIS club also!

If we could just get Zach, 06 H3 or cbetts to go wheeling:wink:, that could happen

 

[LagunaH1]

To me, it's more about the people than about the make / type of vehicle.

 

[Kurt]

To me, it's more about the people than about the make / type of vehicle.

Pretty much.

Dad and I picked up a really cheap 09 JK Wrangler to go wheelin' in when he retires soon. The plan eventually is to get another H1 [nothing crazy, a 92-95 NA truck, basic basic in good mechanical condition] but that's down the road. I like the idea of having an extra 4x4 since I can loan it out to friends and family who may not be into wheeling [yet].

H4O has been one of the best groups I've wheeled with so far.

 

[rsc]

Some clubs have dues, some don't. One of the clubs I am in is an all-makes club with no dues, as long as you want to get off the road whether in a 4x4 Dodge p.u. or a quad or a Jeep, doesn't matter. It is rather casual, but as such we don't get a lot of participation for the number of members in the club- armchair, web-wheelers mostly. There is a dues paying Jeep-only club here that is out to wheel and make a profit. Not saying that is wrong or right, just keep in mind what you are joining a club for. If you go to a few meetings and it's not feeling right for you, find another or make your own. They may not all want to go wheel the type of terrain you do, but if you can find a group that does, even a "Jeep" group, then hang in there and show them what you can do. I have to put up with hearing a lot of smack about owning the Hummer, but by now the other experienced guys will jump up and defend the H3 after seeing what I've led them through around here. They may not be converts, but I've earned the respect. Just don't show up and be a know-it-all trying to get them to like you, let your abilities talk for you (and newbie abilities are fine as long as you don't say you are Shannon Campbell but drive like my mom.)

 

[Woodtick]

True off road guys aren't brand loyalty idiots. I have learned to stay away from the Jeep only groups.

 

[3Hummers]

Lots of great Jeepers. Unfortunately because there are so many of them there are more Jeepholes also.

 

[sonicstage]

I would love to go to an H4O meet and make it official as well, if not a meet then a day of wheeling with you all would be great! I do live in SoCal so it would be the SoCal guys from the forum


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[3Hummers]

Lots of SoCal members. Craig or Chris should be able to put something together. All of my off road vehicles are in Texas or AZ at the moment.

 

[sonicstage]

Road trip to AZ and Texas? My wife is from Texas so she is dying for a reason to travel down there


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Vdawg1115]

I always felt that Toyota guys were harshest on our Hummers. They have a reputation to instill

 

[Cowboy]

I'm telling Tim at the meeting tonight


Can't make it through the day? Back up, and get a run at it!

 

[Vdawg1115]

I'm telling Tim at the meeting tonight


Can't make it through the day? Back up, and get a run at it!

As as far as social media goes. Haven't been out there enough to experience any sort brand hate, just the friendly banter within the club

 

[4speedfunk]

Are any of you guys members of an off-road club? Any tips on what I am to expect?

Uh, no disrespect but you're pretty much going to be a Gay-Jewish-Black guy at a KKK rally. Leave your H3 idling, so you can shoot your way out of the club-house should the rope come out. That entire area (from Haspin Acres to Harlan Co) is sort of known among the off-road community as being...well...lets just say...

"Have you ever seen Deliverance?"

If you show up at the meeting and the club president looks like this...

...you should probably exit as soon as possible.