Firemothjoe (black), Speedfreak32 (silver), and WWWorth (red), all met up on the 21st of June to discuss the formation of what we hope to be the beginning of a major great lakes region Patriot 4x4 club.

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The conclusion of the meeting is that we intend to be very inclusive. All MK's (Patriot, Compass, Caliber) who live in the Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana are invited. All threads discussing club activities will have the club name in its title.

We all have varied availability. Speedfreak and WWWorth perfer weekends, I perfer weekdays because I work all weekend. Still, we set Tues July 22, 08 as a possible first meetup and trailride. We're still deciding upon where to go. Happy Hollow in Hilsboro Ohio looks interesting, I've been to Haspin Acres, Indiana in the past and didn't care much for it. Anyone who has some ideas is welcome to share them here. We're keeping it novice to start.

It seems most who venture to The Bandlands in Attica, IN have good things to say. Don't know how far you are able/willing to drive, but that might be someplace to consider for future rides. Redbird in Dugger, IN, I believe, is only open the weekends, except for special events. I have not been there.

There is actually a beach along Lake Michigan (Silver Beach????) in Michigan that you can cruise the sand dunes in the state park.

Thanks for the leads, Hosier! Ill look into them. I'm willing to do a little driving to get to the trails. That's what's great about the Patriot, it's good on gas and a pleasure to cruise in.

I'm working on a design to make my patriot into a teenie tiny camper. Gonna use an outdoor lounger mattress. So every trailride will be an overnight for me.

Does anyone know if Natural Bridge SP in KY has any ORV trails? I've always wanted an excuse to go down there.

Here we go boy and girls! GHOST TOWNS! Boooo spooky boo!

There's a whole bunch all around us! Perhaps this should be where we go on the upcoming first trip.

http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/oh/oh.html

Special thanks to HousierMud for posting this link in another thread.

All MK's (Patriot, Compass, Caliber)


Joe, the Dodge Caliber, although essentially the same vehicle as the Patriot and Compass, is not an MK... It's official code is a PM. We don't get too many Caliber owners in here...

Yeah, thought about that, but they're still invited since we're all so closely related.

Jeeps are Jeeps 4X2 4X4 round or rectangular headlights. We love them, we drive them and we talk about them. As for the Caliber do any of you remember the Dodge Power Wagons of the 50's and 60's? They were tough go anywhere trucks. Their add was "we started building 4 wheel drive trucks and than built a 4 wheel drive pickup not like Chev and Ford who built pickup trucks and than put 4 wheel drive under them.
Dodge built its first production four wheel drive trucks in 1940 for the military. These were the 1/2 ton VC series, 1956 was when Dodge introduced the first Power Wagon in basically civilian sheet metal.

It seems most who venture to The Bandlands in Attica, IN have good things to say. Don't know how far you are able/willing to drive, but that might be someplace to consider for future rides. Redbird in Dugger, IN, I believe, is only open the weekends, except for special events. I have not been there.

There is actually a beach along Lake Michigan (Silver Beach????) in Michigan that you can cruise the sand dunes in the state park.

I've heard good things too about Badlands in Attica In. My buddy and his two sons take their 3 Jeeps there often. The place in Michigan is Silver Lakes and it is a State Park with campgrounds and picnic areas. The off road park/dunes portion get pretty crowded on the weekends though. you can google it and see the website for it.

Oh, and I would be interested in joining in on an off road journey if possible.

I've heard good things too about Badlands in Attica In. My buddy and his two sons take their 3 Jeeps there often. The place in Michigan is Silver Lakes and it is a State Park with campgrounds and picnic areas. The off road park/dunes portion get pretty crowded on the weekends though. you can google it and see the website for it.

Oh, and I would be interested in joining in on an off road journey if possible.

Welcome aboard, Will! Be sure to buy yourself a two-way radio. Either a CB or a Talkabout. Either-or is fine since some of us will have both. Our meetup is July 22nd - 10 days away and we need to decide where to go ASAP! Badlands does sound interesting. I'll take a look when I can finally get some time.

No problem with getting a two-way raido. just need to know where to go since I will be comming from N/W Indiana.

Sorry to say I won't make it next weekend. My son has to work and does not have a drivers license yet so I must take him to and from work.

Sorry to say I won't make it next weekend. My son has to work and does not have a drivers license yet so I must take him to and from work.


U sure, WWW? It's Tues July 22, remember? It's cool if you can't. Hear anything from speedfreak latetly? I'm going.... come hell or highwater!


Will, HoosierMud, you guys wanna go to Badlands then? It's on the West side of Indiana, a bit of drive for me but that's what the satellite radio is for. It's $20 per person.
http://www.badlandsoffroad.com/map_hours.asp
and an extra $7 if you camp, which is what I'll be doing.
http://www.atticacamping.com/ratesandhours.html

All I have to do is take a vacation day for then and take the splash guards off. You do have to have a flag mounted on your vehicle while in the park I heard. I think I will mount it to the hitch since there is no bumper to clamp it to. They do have the flags there for rent or use while in the park. Just need a time to meet there at.

Ah yes, the orange safety flag. Must be at least two feet above the highest point of the vehicle. I bet walmart or tractor supply carries them. That's easy enough for me. I'll just binder clip it right to the cb anteanna. I looked over the site and it says there's pleanty of novice trails. Yay! I'll bring my tow rope anyway.


I haven't quite calculated my travel time, but lets say 2p at the main office- area, or something (never been there). That should give us pleanty of time to putter around all day. I'll top off my tank in town. Maybe I should check in at the camp office first. Use ch3.0 on the cb or radio to find eachother.

If this thread doesn't get enough attention, I'll post another in the meet/greets section.

firemothjoe,
Not sure if I'll have a CB for the trip and I think the two-way raidos I can use are a different frequency:confused:. But I can PM you my cell phone number if that will work. I have no problem with 2PM or earlier if you want. Is that 2:00 CST or EST? I hope we get a few more takers.

I'm working on a flag that I can clip to my luggage rack now.

Bring your radio. If its a "family channel" radio, it'll work. If not, I got extra you can use. Ill bring em. When I said channel 3.0 I meant channel 3, privacy code 0(if applicable). No big deal.

I made a flag out of a vinal hunting vest! Looks pretty good if I do say so myself.

PM me with your phone# and Ill reply with mine. Hopefully Tmobile works out there!

Is that 2:00 CST or EST? I hope we get a few more takers.


Hmm, I guess that'll be 2p local time. So 1p my time.

Edit: or is it the other way around? Brain doesn't work at 3am!

Here's the meet/greet thread that I started for the badlands trip.

http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?p=86650#post86650

I ended up with a handheld 40 channel CB so I'm good to go. I like the Idea of hunting vest material (have lots of them). See you there at 1:00PM your time (2:00 mine). I'll PM my cell #.

Sorry boys I won't be able to make this one. I waited to see if I could manage a day off but I can't do it. I expect a full report on how much fun you all had.

hi guys! looks like you're gonna have some fun getting together. maybe I can join in sometime? need to get my Lift Kit and skid plates installed first though.

even though i've had two other Jeeps, i've never really gotten into this stuff but really looks like fun now.....maybe it's old age?

anyway, i'll check in from time to time and see what you're all up to, if that's ok with YOU!

For those of us who live in east bum f*** (NH) Can you take some pics and put them up for us to see?

For those of us who live in east bum f*** (NH) Can you take some pics and put them up for us to see?



ha ha ha ha......i used to live in SOUTH BFE, Indiana so i know what you mean. now i live in the 'Big City'....INDY! :smiley_thumbs_up:

hi guys! looks like you're gonna have some fun getting together. maybe I can join in sometime? need to get my Lift Kit and skid plates installed first though.


Ya know, myself and I think Will both drive FD1's. No skid plates or lifts for me either. I'm going anyway because badlands is supposed to have easy trails for "stock" vehicles. Think about it. It'd be great to have you along.

Sorry you can't make it, Speedfreak. Next time... for sure! Find us a place in Ky!

I'm bringing my camera so there will be pleanty of pics to be taken!

firemothjoe is right they have mild trails for just such vehicles as ours. I plan on taking it easy at first and going from there to see what I can do. Mine is a
FD1 but I do have the skid plates and the hooks installed for good measure.