Hey guys after looking for a sammi for a few years I finally found and bought one. I'm new to 4wheelin so I was wondering wheres a close and easy trail to test out the rig before I start hitting the big trails. I live in Victoria but I don't mind having to drive a bit to get to a trail if its not too excessively far. Or maybe someone could even show me some simple trails and teach me a thing or 2. Thank guys
Hey Mike, glad to hear you found a truck! If you want to make a trip over the malahat I know a ton of easy but fun trails around the Duncan/Cowichan area. I'm around most days and always up for some wheelin.
Yeah i'd be up for it I just did my timing belt, cam and crank seal and adjusted the carb today at work so shes ready for some light wheelin. I don't want to do anything too big yet too because I currently don't have a spare tire yet either ive only had it for 2 days but im in search for a spare
Hey guys, I too would like to find some easy/intermediate trails around the Victoria region. Me and my family are driving a Jeep Sahara with minimal modifications, and don't have a whole lot of experience. We've checked out all the loging trails and what-not around the Jordan River area, and have played a little around Shawnigan Lake. Are there any good maps or directions to some fun easy/intermediate trails?
Victoria is really limited in trail access unfortunately, Sooke is your closest option but again you'll be facing more difficult trails. Shawnigan is alright too, if you know where to look of course. The main problem is finding someone who knows the best ways in and out. That information is a "closely guarded secret" to many wheelers here on the island as good trails are hard to establish and the fear of overcrowding and eventual shutdown is taken seriously. The Backroads mapbook of the island will give you a good idea of where to start/explore new areas, but the best way to find trails other than logging roads is to find someone who knows already. I would recommend making the trip here to Cowichan and hitting Shane up, or me or any of the others here on the forum, we're always down for a good wheel and have a pretty good knowledge of the local trails/backroads.
Yeah I don't mind the drive up there to do some wheeling with you guys im going out to Jordan river this weekend attempting to go to bear creek
Anyone want to go out today/tomorrow?
I'm going out to Jordan river/bear creek tomorrow
spend the money on old maps. connect the dots. its how we make all those yota trails.
I broke my truck just yesterday going to bear creek reservoir. Those gravel roads were hurting trying to keep up with friends and I hit a dip in the road and snapped my front shock bolt then the shock got jammed up in the leaf spring. Rear shock mount shook loose and rear suspension clunked hard. Then my transfer case got all jammed up too so I can't shift out of 2wd. Im in the process of pulling her apart when I have the time to. And the best part yet my buddies ditched me out in the woods after I broke down... I had to limp her home which took me 3 hours to do so
try extention!
Ah Mike that's lame - who ditches someone out in the woods? Come up here and I'll tow you out when you break down ;) So have you fixed your tcase yet?
Yeah shes all fixed and ready to go out again! and yeah dude my "buddies" wanted to go home for dinner... so that's why they peaced me
im into playing in the hills. lets go. lol 250 709 3992 text please
Mike we're going out tomorrow, you should head up to duncan and come with. I'm thinking we'll be camping somewhere tomorrow night too if you're into it.
I have Sunday Mondays off or I would be so down! :(
MC79 I'm new to wheeling on the island as well. Coincidentally I also have Sun/Mondays off. If you ever want to head out For an afternoon or what ev Send me a line. 2507106501. I'm not looking to do to wild of trails yet as i still need a cage. Plus i'm looking to learn VI areas and wheeling with someone else is always safer. And even better when that person has easy access to a tow truck should shit hit the fan.
Yeah I'd be up to find some trails with you haha. What do you drive? and your in Vic as well? I'm in Saanich.
I have a Mechanically built 83 Toyota. I live near downtown in the gorge area.
Man o man. Have U wheeled with a Sammy haha? If U have U definitely wouldn't be saying what U do. A properly don't samurai will wheel circles around a properly built tracker. IV wheeled both. Samurai does have a rougher ride but way more fun and capable. But yes. All vehicles do have their issues haha. But from my experience cavs are horrible as well. But not as bad as sunfires....
old austin! original 4 wheeler. they invented the transfer case.
anyone want to go up Dumont somtime ??
We are wheeling all day monday around shawnigan area. Stock by passes on all trails. Give me a shout for more info. 2507106501
Sorry I haven't posted on here for a bit I flipped the samurai *puts flame suit on for jokes* but all kidding aside it actually happened it did an endo on the road under hard braking. The police gave me an box 1 vehicle inspection on it now and I have been working weekends and nights trying to get her all back straight and looking good to try and pass inspections on her. She runs perfectly fine and all still so if it doesn't pass I may have to just buy a tow rig and tow her out places.
An endo - you mean like a frontflip? hah that's awesome. Well, it sucks that you have to fix it now, but must have been a crazy ride :) I've never heard of a truck going over forwards!
Yeah it was stopping perfectly straight and the back wheels lifted off the ground. It was on route for landing on the roof and flipping into the car in front of me but I steered it 5 feet to the right lane on the 2 wheels and landed it on the side.
Aside from how sucky the outcome was, I would have liked to have seen that!
Oh god I flipped it on a pretty busy intersection too right at colwood strip. 4 separate groups of my friends ended up driving by and saw my sammi flipped and the previous owners friend saw me too and ended up taking pics of it. Anyways anyone have some samurai parts I can buy. I need a non welded rear diff. and maybe a few other bits once I really get into looking at it closely. Also anyone know where I can bring it to inspect where they aren't as picky on the inspections?
we are up on the hat campin this weekend. oliphant lake. text if ya need directions. mike 250 709 3992
There must be something going around.. hah, another sami flipped around the same time as you apparently: http://monkeycage.island4x4.com/showthread.php/66579-Rolled-Samurai-on-P...
That guy fell asleep at the wheel and he went into a ditch lol I tried to buy that guys vin number off him but his got pretty much written off so his vins were no good
Hello there,
I'm quite new in Vancouver and I'm gonna have some time in Vancouver Island with my son. I have a a jeep TJ 97 2.5L and a 2" lift with 31 tires.
I've never done any off-road before so I was thinking about some easy logging road like gravels or dirt and camping around some nice lakes.
As we go on our own, I need something easy to have a good time with the kid and not place us in any danger with any crazy 4x4 as I have no experience.
I invested in backroad maps on a Garmin GPS and in the paper version. after having a look on the maps I decided to play in the south east part.
After further checking and research on internet, I did find this forum.
The plan would be to go from Nanaimo to Cowichan Lake through the Nanaimo lakes area.
Do you think it's possible? I did find 2 paths I'm interested by but can't decide as I feel there is some contradictions between BRMP and GoogleMaps.... :/
1st option:
the google path
https://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=Nanaimo,+BC&daddr=49.1062374,-124.0019...
2nd option:
BRMP on Garmin GPS
https://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=Nanaimo,+BC&daddr=49.1062374,-124.0019...
After lake Cowichan, the plan is to reach Renfrew but I don't know yet by where I'd like go there. :)
Hope you guys can help. :)
Thanks
Steph the newby
The first option would be the easiest except that the gates in the Nanaimo Lakes area would be locked now for fire concerns.
The second option is probably not what you want to attempt....havent been there for a long time but remember it not being that nice.
If just looking for logging roads and a good round trip....try through from cowichan to port alberni and maybe make a side trip to Nitinat Lake or out to Bamfield and go to Pacheena Beach at the start of west coast trail....there is good lakes out there and spots to get down to river....have to explore a bit.
Thanks Fatty for you quick answer.
I'm not surprised for the 2nd option and I'm sad to here that the gates would be closed for the 1st option.
So what would be the best period for 1st option? Spring? Autumn?
I was looking at the maps based on you suggestion and that might be a good option for us.
Is that what you were thinking about?
https://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=Watts+Rd&daddr=48.8643,-124.605922+to:...
Too many roads called Nitinat. :)
Steph
See if this works
https://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=Watts+Rd&daddr=48.8643,-124.605922+to:...
I would take the route that goes off the very west end of Cowichan Lake to Nitinat Lake (gas at the reserve there)....I have added a route past Nitinat Lake on Rosander Main to the area above Cheewat Lake....look for ribbons on side of road and small sign....this is the trail down to the Cheewat Cedar.....biggest cedar in Canada, its is massive. Can camp by a couple lakes out there or by Nitinat River???
Then head back towards Port Alberni, road will have paved patches, then past Francis and Darlington Lakes is the turnoff to Bamfield at the site of the old Camp B....there used to be a large logging camp there.....drive around in the back and you can see where the old houses used to be and the old hedges in yards. You can keep driving on to Port Alberni or head out to Bamfield and Pacheena Beach....there is a campground right on the ocean run by the local Huu-ay-haht FN....not a bad place.
Just some options if you skip Bamfield I added a side trip to Mount Arrowsmith....road runs up to old ski area....good views.
These routes should not be gated as they are all main lines.
As for your original route 1.... yes spring and fall are definately better....things are just too dry right now and since the land is privately owned they gate off any public access.
Hope this helps.
Dammit the changes I made didnt stick....here is a screenshot of what I mean.
Thank you sir. :)
Just did check on the map with the kid and we both super excited by your suggestions.
Now my main worry will be gas. As you know the TJ 2.5L is not only slow on highways (my son calls it the slow-mobil) but the mileage per tank is not amazing.
Looks like a full tanks gives me around 225km before reserve. I have as well an extra 10L jerry-can and I wonder if you think I need to be more careful and have a 25L instead? I'll check on the Garmin where are the gas stations are but I still prefer to ask.
best
Stephane
Like I was saying there is a gas station in the village of Nitinat that the FN runs, as for store hours....???? Being that it is tourist season and there are a lot of campers and windsurfers on the lake I would suspect they would be open both Saturday and Sunday....a quick phone call to general store would answer that. I dont know if there is fuel in Bamfield, been there many times and cannot picture gas pumps but with a full tank from Nitinat and a 25L jerry as piece of mind you could get there and to Port Alberni no problem.
Post some pics of the trip on here if you go.
Sorry for my late answer, I was finalizing the preparations. :)
Got the extra Jerry, camera is ready with battery fully loaded. will post pics when we'll be back from the trip.
He was looking for a dirt highway kind of trip....sight seeing and low risk with his son so this is a decent loop....especially if he heads up Arrowsmith.
The main gate at Nanaimo Lakes would be open for the campsite but the second lake gate would be closed for sure and if that happens to be open they may be still loading (no falling) any route through to Cowichan would be gated for fire season.
i made a trail that bypasses the gate at lakes that goes north through black jack. the second gate is open on weekdays and it was all open 2 weeks ago on the weekend. all the woods been open for about six months now. roads cleaned by grater too.
I went out to Carmanah Walbran in the fall and the gas station in Nitinat appears to be closed down, Maybe it was just the day I was out there or the time of year but it sure looked like nothing had been going on there for awhile.
Hey everybody I am not that new to the island, have been living here almost 3 years and have wheeled a bit around shawnigan/burnt bridge but I know i am missing out on some really good trails that you guys probably know of... anyone want to meet up on the weekend or something and go hit some cool trails maybe into sooke or around cowi area ?? I like technical stuff, mud, you name it ... free some weekdays too, shoot me a text 250-886-7952
Rowan