Rausch Creek first trip

Took my first trip to Rausch Creek PA yesterday to test out my '16 4Runner Trail and learn some basics with Off-Road Consulting guiding the group. Was a blast of a day. All but 2 vehicles in the group were Jeeps, the other was a stock '15 4Runner Trail. Everyone did a great job and learned a lot. I attached some links for a couple vids of the action of the day. Nothing spectacular, but it was fun...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqWj_Quw82Y (Water Hole Crossing)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ft_UOOcrfM (Hill Decent)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tti_FN4d4wQ (Rapid Hill Ascent)


Stock 4Runner doing the water crossing...



Back to lot for lunch...


Lot is filling up... with Jeeps!

 

This looks like fun man awesome place trying to take my 15TEP there im all stock just got it a few weeks ago would it be able to handle some of the trails?

 

Yeah, you'll be able to handle some of the trails in your stock rig. Just have to be careful with the clearance issues, may end up with a banged up skid plate
But the 4R won't let you down...

 

This is an old thread, but a good one to tag onto. Last Saturday I took the Offroad Consulting 101 Class at Rausch Creek and the buzz still hasn't worn off. I expected it to start mild and stay mild, but it covered a lot of ground and was nearly all hands-on training (OK, tires-on), and while most time was spent on the basics, we did a few obstacles in the upper end of the 4R's capability.

The initial safety and ground rules talk reminded me very much of the standard morning meeting on a military test range. After that, most instruction was given by the leader over the radio on the go, but we did stop for quick talks and inspections before a few of the most challenging obstacles. The second instructor minded the tail, did some spotting, and gave individual instruction before the toughest obstacles.

Here's what I recall of the key obstacles (the photos and videos above capture them better than mine).

• Hilly, rocky trails - full inflation for the first 45 minutes, and then aired down
• Small water crossings
• Big ruts and logs
• Off-camber, passenger lean (25 degrees)
• Ledges
• Off-camber, driver lean (25 degrees) ending in descent off a ledge
• Tall grass
• Sandy soil
• Small hill with descent control or crawl control
• Pond crossing
• Big hill descent (25 degrees)
  
• Fast big hill ascent (25 degrees)
  
• Diagonal hangup and traction control (I used ATRAC)

Here are my key observations

• The biggest benefit was getting my wife comfortable with everything. At first she thought every rock was going to wreck us. By the end, she was completely relaxed and having fun.
• Knowing that what we were doing was part of a vetted course was a big part of her ability to relax, but she also said it was very comforting that we had a female leader. Watching multiple vehicles going through each obstacle helped her relax
• A couple of the ledges were harrowing, especially going down where visibility suffered. It would help to be a spotter and see the angles from a different vantage point
• I used Multi Terrain Monitor in a few spots and after getting used to it, I think I would have used it more. The guidelines are great for putting a tire on something or picking a line where you can't see directly
• Big obstacles will be different in real life, when they aren't instructor-vetted and I haven't watched others cross them.

Now we're ready for a big road trip. We'll be doing some passes in CO that I've done before. There shouldn't be anything as challenging as the class, but my wife won't enjoy the dropoff. (The first riding she did with me was the Alpine Loop in a rented fully-manual Wrangler with huge tires. She really hated Engineer Pass).

 

Nice playground! Everyone surely had a great time

 

Would like to go back someday, good memories.

 

How would a stock ORP fair in Rausch Creek?

I've seen videos of stock 4Runners, Tacos, Wranglers and seems like they do fine in green and some blues. I did go off-roading in the PA Wilds before to look for elk, but mostly open spaces but with tons of mud and deep holes that did put the articulation to the test... and my ORP just chuckled at all of that.

Now one thing's for sure, I wanna keep my ORP as stock as possible, so definitely no lifts or anything, but will definitely get the TRD Pro wheels with Falken WildPeaks A/T3W and Wescott sliders.

 

Stock is fine, at least for green, as long as you have AT tires. There was a Tacoma in my group that had highway tires and he really struggled. The instructor guided him around the obstacles that his tires couldn't handle. He did attempt everything first, but there were a few he couldn't do and he had more wheel spin almost everywhere.

I would pull off Predator steps if you have them.

 

I have the stock Dunlop Grandtreks still, think those will be crap in Rausch Creek?

And yeah nah I'm lucky my ORP didn't come with steps, I'll get sliders soon.

 

I wouldn't, but it may not be a deal killer. I suggest discussing it with Off Road Consulting since they conduct training there and they've seen just about everything.

 

Looks fun!