There's got to be a couple of us.
Michigan Patriot Owners
nick8581
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I've been out there once, October 2013. Looks like you know your automatic is actually the superior CVT, that's good. Definitely want to air down, and if you can get up the speed you can make it up test hill. Need to be careful though, when I was there I encountered plenty of hard bumps at the bottom that kinda slowed me down. You don't need autostick even, and I didn't know about ESP full off yet, though the ESP off should help(hold traction control button for 10 seconds while stopped). As a matter of fact, why don't you come on out to Blessing of the Jeeps this coming May and meet the Michigan Jeepers? You can buy a dune flag at Twisted Trails while up there and zip-tie it to the Patriot's grille, and zip-tie it on again for the dunes(that's what I do anyways). No need to worry about just sand anyways, the Patriot handled it just fine in my experience. http://cadillacjeepers.com/jeep-blessing/
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I haven't been there, but plenty of the Michigan Jeepers have. There's also Rocks & Valleys offroad park in Harrison, which I have been to. Maybe you could join the group, come to an event or two, etc.
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I'm just visiting my wife's parents for the holidays and happened to find the park while browsing Google maps. I'm headed back the the UP Thursday afternoon.
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Actually, Michigan Jeepers is for anybody in the state, which last I checked still includes the UP. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1472988722932260/ Pretty much everybody's going to Blessing of the Jeeps in May, out near Mesick(not far south of Cadillac). And I think there might be a few others in the U.P., but not sure. http://cadillacjeepers.com/jeep-blessing/
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I'd be up for traveling to events every now and then but no way will I convince the wifey
. Do they ever do events in the UP? I would get excited and disappointed every time I'd see an event posting and then find out it's 10-12 hours away... Lol
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The two biggest events of the year are Blessing of the Jeeps in Mesick every May and Jeep Creep in Gladwin every Halloween. They might occasionally wheel in the UP, but not sure how often. Alot of 'em are from either Grand Rapids or Detroit areas. There are some from near me though.
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Bump!!!! Started looking through this thread again, looks like alot of owners from the Great Lakes state aren't too active on the forums these days. Would be nice to have more Patriots to wheel with, and to show off at the bigger events.
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I'm in the Northern part of the U.P., Marquette(central U.P.) is about 2 hours from me, and the bridge is about 4 1/2 hours. But my hometown in Wisconsin is only 2 hours straight south.
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Yeah, Mike's an islander, up in the Keewanaw, eh.
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I'm going to try to be at the Jeep Creep event this year. First event ever, should be interesting!
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Sweet!!! Here's the link to the facebook event https://www.facebook.com/events/1562250314024022/ and don't forget to call ahead and register. http://riverwalkplace.net/jeep.html
When you register, you'll be asked:
Name/Address
Phone #
E-mail
Official model year of your Jeep(in your case, 2015)
License plate #
Day you'll arrive(Friday, Saturday, or Sunday)
Shirt size(s) (they give you a free shirt when you get there, two if you bring a guest/sig.other)
Participating in Jeep Parade y/n
You'll also want to reserve lodging, Riverwalk Place itself was booked a couple months ago for that weekend, Rivertown Inn(owned by same people) is likely also booked by now, and there's one other place I know of besides camping. It's the White Star Inn, about 3 miles or so out of town, costs $50 per night instead of the $100 per night of the other two. I still need to make a reservation myself, haha.
When you register, you'll be asked:
Name/Address
Phone #
Official model year of your Jeep(in your case, 2015)
License plate #
Day you'll arrive(Friday, Saturday, or Sunday)
Shirt size(s) (they give you a free shirt when you get there, two if you bring a guest/sig.other)
Participating in Jeep Parade y/n
You'll also want to reserve lodging, Riverwalk Place itself was booked a couple months ago for that weekend, Rivertown Inn(owned by same people) is likely also booked by now, and there's one other place I know of besides camping. It's the White Star Inn, about 3 miles or so out of town, costs $50 per night instead of the $100 per night of the other two. I still need to make a reservation myself, haha.
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Awesome! Thanks for the info. I might decide to go camping, is there a good place around there? Also, if I decided to not go the full three days, which day or days would you recommend are the best? Might try to work it so I can leave the little one with my mom, but might have to lose a day for that to work.
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Friday's when alot of folks get there, festivities start a little later as I recall. Mainly just registering and getting settled, maybe tour vendor row for an hour or two, then the judging on your Jeep's appearance, if entered. Saturday is the main event in that parking lot, has the parade around noon or so, and the Challenge Course at the nearby Chevy dealer. Sunday has some of Saturday's events, but is mainly wheeling. The group I went with last year just goes to nearby Rocks and Valleys, but there are trail rides you can sign up for on Friday/Saturday and partake in on Sunday. Which activities are more important to you, there's the days to be there for, if you can't be there all three days. But, as I recall, coming in and getting registered can't be done after a certain point on Saturday. There's a full schedule in that Riverwalk Place link. Forgot to mention earlier, you'll need to come up with $15 cash at the registration desk when you get there. First couple hundred Jeeps to get there and be registered get a goody bag full of stickers and memorabilia.
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Once again thanks! I'll try to do the full three days. Sounds like a fun time! Hope to see a lot of 'Riots!
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There was only one other Patriot there last year that I saw, a white '11 FD2 owned by a nice couple who appeared to be in their 60s or maybe 70s. I'd say Jeep Creep is 70% Wranglers, with some XJ's, a couple SJ's, two GPW's last year, a few MJ's, and whatever prototypes Mopar brings(last year was the orange WK2 Trailhawk and a Cherokar). The wife of the guy with the other Patriot last year was saying, if he had to pay the extra $2k-$3k for a Trail Rated badge, they were dang well gonna use it while at this event. They did pretty well on the challenge course, following me through the first time knowing they could make it through anything and a little more than me. Good time all around.
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Unfortunately, I only have a 4x2. But, I want to try my luck on mild trails if they're available around there. Regardless, I am just interested to see what an event is like!
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You should do ok, but alot of the stuff around there depends mostly on your breakover angle. That was where I had the most trouble last year. If you're really worried about your brand new undercarriage, a set of Rocky Road Supersliders might be a prudent purchase.
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