Forest Lake trail

[THSDragoon]

hey everyone, so I have a question. this Wednesday (I think its the second or the third of October), I am planning on doing a trail run up American fork canyon to Forest Lake. my Isuzu is mostly stock (got manual locking hubs a while back, and "new" used mud terrains recently), and I am not the most experience wheeler. and I am looking for some advice as to what i should look out for (obviously i know about super sharp rocks that puncture tires, and steep ledges, and drop offs, and about not doing things that i feel too uncomfortable about etc.). so any and all help, and tips for this trail would be appreciated. thanks all! :thumbs::thumbs::busted:

 

[TJDukit]

Bring a friend. At the very least have someone come along who can help spot. Better yet get someone with a rig to tag along with you. Even easy trails like Forest Lake can get you in trouble and trouble is never good by yourself.

 

[Kevin B.]

Bring a friend. At the very least have someone come along who can help spot. Better yet get someone with a rig to tag along with you. Even easy trails like Forest Lake can get you in trouble and trouble is never good by yourself.

This is awesome advice - Forest Lake is just technical enough that a new wheeler can get in trouble. You'd probably be ok, but I probably should have been ok up that canyon on Saturday afternoon.

Post up in the upcoming trips section, there's almost always somebody on the board that has time for American Fork Canyon .

 

[TJDukit]

This is awesome advice - Forest Lake is just technical enough that a new wheeler can get in trouble. You'd probably be ok, but I probably should have been ok up that canyon on Saturday afternoon.

Post up in the upcoming trips section, there's almost always somebody on the board that has time for American Fork Canyon .

I swear my advice had nothing to do with your recent mishap....or at least not completely.

 

[TRD270]

This is awesome advice - Forest Lake is just technical enough that a new wheeler can get in trouble. You'd probably be ok, but I probably should have been ok up that canyon on Saturday afternoon.

Post up in the upcoming trips section, there's almost always somebody on the board that has time for American Fork Canyon .

Also its nice to let Kevin get his shoes dirty to attach your strap, while you keep your floor clean

 

[ZUKEYPR]

Having wheeled Isuzus for a decade I would say you will struggle on the first 100 meters and possibly cause rocker or under carriage damage without rockrails and a 3" lift. After that it's pretty much smooth sailing. Crank up the front torsion bars, get a 3" spring pack from Matt at independent 4x or Joe at Darlingotn Off-road (if he's still in business, stay away from Calmini and you can go just about anywhere with your Izuzu. Oh, and buy or reinforce your tie-rods. They are most definitely the weak link in the system.

 

[Tonkaman]

We came down that road on the motorcycles yesterday. Be ready for lots of sticky mud and several stretches of road completely covered in water

 

[THSDragoon]

thanks for all the help. I will be having three other people with me in the car. I wish I could have a 3" lift. heck, I wish I could have a 1"lift!!! but right now, school takes priority with the money. and i'll make sure that it's posted up on the upcoming rides. and I'm not too worried about rocker damage, my dad has already jacked up my rockers when he went out to soap stone (which is how I got my manual locking hubs..... the auto hubs froze on him while he was on the hill...... not good.....)

 

[TurboMinivan]

thanks for all the help. I will be having three other people with me in the car.

I'm glad to hear you won't be completely alone. However, I will say that one friend in a separate vehicle is better than three friends riding with you. Find somebody with another vehicle to go along on the trip!

 

[THSDragoon]

I'm glad to hear you won't be completely alone. However, I will say that one friend in a separate vehicle is better than three friends riding with you. Find somebody with another vehicle to go along on the trip!

I might be able to convince my sister to take her Honda passport. though to be honest that thing is a POS. nearly 300,000 on the odometer. the engine has blown up on her once, and the engine has a nasty habit of leaking oil. on the same note, we could possibly convince my mom to let us use her sidekick. though it is 100% stock and has been run into a cow, and i'm not sure if it would be up to a mud run that i'm expecting it to be. so hopefully someone else will want to come. I posted up in the upcoming trial rides forum. so we'll see what happens.

 

[mesha]

If you take your time you should be fine. It is a pretty popular trail someone will show up eventually just don't drive in the lake.

 

[Stephen]

As others have said, post in the Upcoming Trips section and I'm sure someone will be willing to go with you. Forest Lake is an easy trail, the first section is a little technical, but a stock Trooper will have no problem with it if you take your time and watch your lines. There is an off camber spot closer to the lake that can be interesting if is been raining. Otherwise, it's just a nice, scenic drive.

Having wheeled Isuzus for a decade I would say you will struggle on the first 100 meters and possibly cause rocker or under carriage damage without rockrails and a 3" lift.

IMHO I think that this is a bit of an exaggeration. Three inches of lift is quite a bit, and there is nothing on that trail (or up AF at all) that needs that much clearance unless you are going for the hardest line. Rock rails are always a good idea on a vehicle with the wheelbase of a Trooper, but I wouldn't say that its required.
Forest Lake is a great trail to get an idea of how a stock vehicle will handle things and learn how to drive it. Always a good idea to do that before you start modifying a vehicle.

 

[TurboMinivan]

If you take your time you should be fine.

That's what Kevin thought on Saturday.

I have lost count of how many times I* have come along a lone vehicle in trouble on Forest Lake/Mineral Basin/Cascade Springs trails (in other words, very easy trails) and had to rescue them. Don't be that guy--bring a friend in another vehicle.

*: when I say I, I mean myself and the friend(s) that were with me. I've never gone 'wheeling alone.

 

[THSDragoon]

just don't drive in the lake.

ha ha, I don't plan on driving into the lake. though I am kinda worried about the predicted rain. it's not supposed to be super heavy, but if there is one thing that I have learned about the woods, and anywhere like the back side of Timp, is that anything, and I mean anything can happen weather wise. so I do plan on taking it easy, and slow, and not going for the hard lines (intentionally that is).

 

[THSDragoon]

well, I just got through viewing some pictures of Forest Lake, and to be quite honest, I think that the Snakes out in the west desert by 5 mile was tougher. but, before I officially leave that be, I need to wheel it first. and when I get back, I will post pics.

 

[ZUKEYPR]

Snakes are tougher. I only mentioend the 3" lift because, unless things have changed in the past few years, that was the only size lift that you can get.

 

[Stephen]

Snakes are tougher. I only mentioend the 3" lift because, unless things have changed in the past few years, that was the only size lift that you can get.

OME has made ~1" lift springs since the Gen 2 Trooper came out. Coil spring part #2919 & 2929 depending on the weight that you are carrying in the rear. I've got 2019's because I don't tow and I don't carry 400+ additional pounds in the rear regularly. You can get them from Cruiser Outfitters here in Sandy.

 

[mesha]

That's what Kevin thought on Saturday.

I have lost count of how many times I* have come along a lone vehicle in trouble on Forest Lake/Mineral Basin/Cascade Springs trails (in other words, very easy trails) and had to rescue them. Don't be that guy--bring a friend in another vehicle.

*: when I say I, I mean myself and the friend(s) that were with me. I've never gone 'wheeling alone.

Kevin is fine

I have also rescued a few people in my day that have had troubles on the trail. It doesn't bother me, but it seems to bother some people.

I agree it is better in some ways to go out with a friend, especially if you are going off the beaten path. I don't consider forest lake one of those places.

My life doesn't allow me to never go wheeling alone. I love the solitude. I have broken down before and I learned a lot from it. I guess I am one of those people that need to experience things to learn.

 

[THSDragoon]

well, the trail run up to forest lake yesterday went really well. very uneventful, aside from the two times I got high centered (both in the exact same spot). I would upload pics, but right now my computer thinks it's smart, and so I'll have to upload them later when my computer is dumb again.