Hi Everyone

[FocusSTGuy]

Hello there.. im new to this forum and just wanted to take the time to introduce myself to fellow Socal X owners. Also i wanted to see if anyone could recommend a trail somewhere in the LA or OC area. as you can see in my sig i dont have much on my X and i doubt its posi trac, so if theres trail that it would't be to hard on a 2wd X with no lift, thinking of hitting it this weekend. this will be my first time hitting the trails and im excited, my Friend will be joining me but he has a 02 4x4 no lift he's just waiting for his rims that should be arriving fri-sat so we can try them out on sunday together... and maybe my coworker with his Nismo Frontier 2wd.. i think i read somewhere about a trail that connects the 39hwy to the 2hwy thinking of checking that one out but would like some feedback..

thank you

 

[mounty71]

First of all, welcome. My 2wd 5.0 mountaineer came with the limited slip so it's likely yours did too. Check the tag on your drivers door for the axle code, there will be a number and letter code that you can determine what you have in your rear axle.

As far as the trail connecting Hwy 2 and 39, called the Rincon trail, you are probably referring to one of the two following threads:

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums//showthread.php?t=222036&page=2

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums//showthread.php?t=219509

The second thread has a few places you could check out, but the rincon trail was closed to OHVs when i went up there a few weeks ago. I'm not sure if it is permanently closed to vehicles or just during summer (fire season). But in the first thread posted above, read post #25, i included some pictures and trail names/road names to get you to a place i went a few weeks ago. I made it ok alone with 2wd and a posi-rear, but it's not recommended to try anything alone. I also recommend using Google Earth to look at where the trails go before you actually get there, it at least helps me to get an image of it in my head.

 

[FocusSTGuy]

Ok thanks i downloaded Google earth to get a idea i think i found the Rincon trail but it called rincon red box truck trail maybe you guys just called it rincon trail for short and its next to the MT wilson red box rd trail...

^ can u help me find the road that you took look pretty cool

 

[mounty71]

Ya it is actually called rincon red box truck trail, right by mt. wilson, and the observatory. I don't remember the exact trail name of the one i went on, but it was ________ gulch i think, and there was actually a sign at the beginning of it designating it as an open trail. To get there continue up the 2 past the turnoff for rincon and mt. wilson, and turn left onto Upper Big Tujunga Cyn. Rd., go maybe 2 or 3 miles and it's on the right. Just know that for a 2wd you can really only go one direction; at one point there's a fairly steep hill that is really rutted that you most likely wouldn't be able to make it up. Going down the hill i lifted a rear tire in the air, but never felt nervous about tipping over. Just go slow downhill, i think this is a good trail to get first timers acquainted with offroad driving. Also, i think 2 times we came across other trails taking off to the right, but you can only get to the end if you stay left both times. The picture in my avatar was taken on one of the turnoffs to the right, and you can see the hill i had to come down in the background, but that one you can make it up easily. Good luck and have fun, and take pictures!

 

[FocusSTGuy]

i think i found it here are the point from google earth
34°17'40.35"N
118° 3'10.53"W

 

[mounty71]

Ya

 

[FocusSTGuy]

ok thanks i saw your registry for your mounty and its the same thing i want to go to my X, Maybe we shoud get together one of these days and hit a trail... i would like to check out your mounty in person how did you like ur MAC intake and Exhaust im thinking of getting them by the end of the year.

 

[mounty71]

If i ever have a free weekend to offroad ill let you know. The mac intake is a nice piece, i never noticed a difference in power or mileage, it sounds a little bit better than stock IMO but not very noticeable. The exhaust i don't recommend, mine at least was a very poor quality product that i had problems with. If i were to do exhaust again i'd go to a local muffler shop and have them make something for me. There is someone on here that sells Mac products, he and other members might have had better luck with the mac exhaust than i did, but that's my experience.

 

[FocusSTGuy]

do anyone of you guys know about a trail in Santa monica, malibu area, i being checking out google earth.. and some of them lok pretty cool, but i just dont want to drive out there and watch them be private roads or be closed. or even MTB trails