SeniorXJ

Did a bit of reading thru the Mid Atlantic section as i "might" be moving to the Virginia beach area but not sure on any spesific towns or citys so i figured id just ask away & ask for some feedback on where theres good wheeling spots that are legal, any offroad parks, annual events, & jeep clubs anywhere within this are even as far out as an hour or 2 in any direction.

Thanks

PingPong

Major clubs in the are would be

Tidewater4wheelers (vb AREA)
KMA (VB Area)
Middle penisula jeep association (newportnews)
I am sure there are more.. but those are kinda the bigger ones. Tidewater has the most rules about joining. KMA is a wheeling/wrenching club... lot of wheeling. MPJAI is a lil of both. I belong to two of the three.

SeniorXJ

So far the club situation sounds good!

So how is the wheeling around these parts?? Plentiful trails of all levels??

What is Virginias stance on 4x4 usage on state land??

Do they have any state parks that they let u guys use?? Does anyone have private property they use??

I ask these things cause im from NY & the wheeling here SUCKS & they always have beef with us even tho were the only ones that actually take good care of the land, (tread lightly), & there always looking for excuses to shut **** down!! We have to travel to Mass or Penn states to get in any good wheeling & the closest decent trail is 1.5 hrs away!!

PingPong

KInda the same thing.. there is the George washington National forest on Shoe creek, Potts Mountain, and a couple other state ones... But since my rig is a trail rig only I am limited.

I personally go to the Cove Campground when they have events. Off camber crawlers seems to have events there a lot... but they are based out of Maryland/Northern Va area. At the cove it has everything from scenic views to the Va Rock Crawling Championship is held there. So it has a lot to offer.

I wheel on the extreme side of things...

Pretty much everything worth wheeling is 3/4 hours away.

Red82

Virginia Beach, Norfolk and all have no legal public wheeling. It's all only private lands. Virginia has some but you've got to drive like three hours. Hrjc.org is the largest jeep only club on the south side. And they are pretty laid back.

SeniorXJ

I'm no stranger to jeep clubs as i've been a board member here at the Adirondack Jeeps & a long time member.

You say most the wheeling is on private land, (which is the best imo), so if I hooked up with the major clubs & hung around a while till im accepted in, then there's good wheelin to be had within an hour or 2 of the VB/Norfolk area??

Red82

More like three + hours. And most of the wheeling is in national forests so you don't need a club to let you in. The private stuff is just local to Hampton Roads. And most if that is just mud.

Red82

Hrjc is a no dues club. Just a social thing and they plan wheeling trips. As long as you stay somewhat active online or at meetings you're considered a member. They are quite active as are most of the clubs and organizations in the area.

Starr Motors in Suffolk has a small Offroad course. It's fun if you need to get the Jeep dirty. But it's not even really an all day thing unless you're just hanging with a bunch of people like the picnic we just had.

SeniorXJ

Sounds no different then here in upstate NY where all the good wheeling is 2+ hrs out & in Mass or Penn states!

Weird thing tho is on my last visit to VB a few weeks ago, I saw a TON of built jeeps driving everywhere so I assumed it to be a good spot for wheeling!

Red82

Oh yeah they're everywhere. Of course a lot of them are just military guys using their sign on bonus and are mall crawlers.

SeniorXJ

I was thinking the same since its a beach area & I mostly saw TJs with the tops off. So as I past them, I was trying to look under at the front axle for aftermarket stuff.

If u see my XJ coming, u first notice the winch & KCs, then the silver painted 1-ton OTK steering & over the axle panhard bar, the silver SOLID diff cover, the black gloss Chassis Saver painted axle that's fully trussed, etc, & that's how u can tell the mall crawlers from the built to run rigs!!

I just wanna find an area where theres good wheeling if I decide to move down there. It may not be VB/Norfolk area so maybe ill move further in-state to be closer then 3hrs to a decent trail!

PingPong

There are benefits to the paid clubs. Some have access to private lands. Also keeps a lot of riff raff away. Also you get United 4wd and Va4wd memberships which gives you access to certain events.. and cheaper rates at others.


Best wheeling in the state right now is the Cove CampGround. Kinda pricey, but everything from fireroads to the comp course for the VA rock crawling championship. They also have a shooting range, and fishing ponds. Very cool and laid back.

Crozet will be opening up soon as well. should be like the old lease with better obstaccles.

Shoe creek is an Unmaintained state road, and anything off the road to the right or left is tresspassing including the obstacle called slick rock. DOnt believe contact the local ranger or Vawd for more info.

Star Motors when they have events is cool. They have a hand ful of obstacles and a few that if you are not setup right will give you fits. Juggernaut is cool on either side... but that is really the only rock obstacle they have. They have another Hill climb there that I cant remember the name.. and it is tough... you really hae to launch your rig at it.

There are a few other places, but most of them dont warrant spending the fuel to go there especially if your rig is fairly built or trailered (me).

KMA goes to Rausch, Big Dogs, and Crozet a lot, plus have access elsewhere.

Mpjai does Bigdogs, National forrest, and the VA4wda trailride, plus a bunch of charity events if that is your thing.

Tidewater 4 wheelers has access to private land, plus does alll the above listed places. Also they have some strict membership requiremnets, but once you are in your are good. By requirements its a trail ride a couple of meetings, plus a non trail ride event. You have to show them youare committed.

SeniorXJ

Thanks for this awesome reply!!

Like I said before, im no stranger to jeep clubs as I was not only a paying member at Adirondack Jeeps, but I was the club secretary for a bit.

If I moved down there, my 1st goal would be getting into one of those jeep clubs as I only like to wheel with a group, (trail rides), & with experienced drivers, & with people I know!!

PingPong, what city/town do u live in so I can see where that is on a map??

PingPong

I live in Deltaville va.. pretty much an 1.5hr ride north west of norfolk or 1.5 hrs east and south of richmond. Right on the Chesapeake bay. Boat ramp is litereally 4 houses down in my subdivision. The public boat ramp is less then 5 miles DOnt own a boat and never will either



My overview was very general.. but you can kinda figure it out.


It really depends on what kind of wheeling and how much you want to be involved as to what club would be a good fit. I belong to KMA and MPJAI.. tidewaters meetings are just too far away for me to attend.. KMA let me in cause I knew a bunch of the guys from other clubs.. and wheeled with them a few times I have been with MPJAI since 04

SeniorXJ

Wow Deltaville VA is right on the bay... say, since most hurricanes come up the eastern shoreboard, how has Deltaville held up thru past hurricanes??? How long have u lived there?

Thanks!