AOAA Offroad Trails for a newbie?

[JimR1998]

I have an R1S with 20" AT tires and thus far the only off-roading has been the grassy parking lots at soccer games.

I have never off-roaded before but would like to do something fun as long as I can wash it off. Nothing unsafe and nothing technical requiring winching, rigging, etc. Just a drive through some roughish rocks that won't wreck the underside and some water crossings. I plan to bring my 4 kids along, ages 10 - 15.

I was travelling in PA coal country and saw AOAA trails. Looked like fun but there were a lot of serious off-road vehicles, dune-buggies and high wheeled trucks completely covered in mud and battle scars.

I only had a few hours and didn't have anything planned. And I didn't want to call and sound like an idiot. Would the AOAA be for me or is it next level? Any other tips on places for me to try?

Thanks.

Sponsored

 

[Audiotek]

I have an R1S with 20" AT tires and thus far the only off-roading has been the grassy parking lots at soccer games.

I have never off-roaded before but would like to do something fun as long as I can wash it off. Nothing unsafe and nothing technical requiring winching, rigging, etc. Just a drive through some roughish rocks that won't wreck the underside and some water crossings. I plan to bring my 4 kids along, ages 10 - 15.

I was travelling in PA coal country and saw AOAA trails. Looked like fun but there were a lot of serious off-road vehicles, dune-buggies and high wheeled trucks completely covered in mud and battle scars.

I only had a few hours and didn't have anything planned. And I didn't want to call and sound like an idiot. Would the AOAA be for me or is it next level? Any other tips on places for me to try?

Thanks.

The northeast rivian club uses this location. I attended the last event on November 18, 2023.

We had more than ~34 Rivians in attendance.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/northe...-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

 

[VC_Rivian]

Be prepared for your windshield cracking.

 

[KBabione]

It's probably at the edge of your range (I'm in Lancaster PA), but there's an AOAA Park near Pine Grove PA. Raush Creek Off Road Park may also be an option. I had a friend who took his jeep to the AOAA for his first off roading experience and was able to hire a guide and took their 101 class. Here's a photo:

Your biggest challenge, from what I've seen, is that all of the off road parks require a full-sized spare. Maybe when our R1S is 10 years old my wife (then driving a 2033 Gen 5 Ascend Trim Quad) will let me take our 2023 Gen 1 on a trail and I'll buy a spare to take along.

 

[ads75]

You can use https://offroad-consulting.com/ . They do private classes as well, meaning just you, or you and some friends can go for a lesson, on a particular day. They do classes at AOAA and Rausch Creek. I have used their 101 and 201 classes before in my Jeep. Its been awhile, but one of my Jeep friends at the time said Rausch Creek was better for Jeeps because the trails there were a little wider, and therefore, scratched/pinstriped less. AOAA was fine, but their were a lot of side by side ATVs there. I don't think (or remember) ATVs at Rausch Creek. If I remember correctly, the owner of Off Road Consulting was a former manager at Rausch Creek.

Again, its been awhile, but I did do a 101 course at AOAA with my Jeep, and a 201 at Rausch Creek in my Jeep. I think on Facebook, some Rivian specific groups have done rides with them at either park.
https://offroad-consulting.com/

 

[R1Thor]

Firstly, congrats and welcome. Off-roading with these vehicles is incredible. You'll find your limits well before you'll ever find the vehicle's limits.

Secondly, I agree with everyone here recommending Offroad-Consulting and NERC's hosting Rivian Off-Roading at AOAA. Jazzy and his team have been hosting them at least twice a year. We already went out once in April this year, so I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't another one scheduled this fall. But that said, I don't know NERCs priorities now that all of Rivian Clubs of America are properly 501c filed and chaptered with memberships.


As to your concerns of difficulty: AOAA has marked routes, and using apps such as OnX or AllTrails helps a lot to plan your trip. BLUE routes are your friends. Don't do anything beyond those. These are the least-technical but still properly challenging trails.

AOAA and Rausch Creek both require a minimum 2 vehicles in your party. I'm POSITIVE you'll find tons of Rivian Friends (on these forums, myself included) willing to head up with you.

IF you decide to go with Off-Road Consulting (do it, ask for Peter--trust me, he's awesome) on your own, you're all set for the day. IF you decide to try it out on your own the first go round (obviously with a friend--and if you don't like other Rivian people or calling strangers and have some Jeep friends, they can be in your party as well): make sure you have a MINIMUM of the following: 1- spare tire, 2-way radios, 2-recovery boards, an appropriate jack and gloves, a shovel. Not required, but HIGHLY recommended: a system to help you air down (tire deflators or something like the Morrflate system). They DO have air available at AOAA, so you don't have to rely on your onboard compressor (works fine, but just takes quite some time). You want to air down to 25 psi.

The last bit of advice would be: as slow as possible, as fast as you have to. There's ZERO reason to ever use speed to help you over an obstacle. ESPECIALLY on these vehicles. They're extraordinarily capable. Maintaining constant (low) throttle while using off-road mode (and rock crawling mode) the vehicle figures it out and starts moving again. So, even if you're sitting there thinking "truck isn't moving, I should give it more throttle": Don't. You'll be amazed at how it sorts out the terrain and just goes. Also don't be afraid to back up and try again

Anything else? Just ask! And if you haven't yet, get on NERCs mailing list: https://www.northeastrivianclub.org/

 

[tplociniak]

AOAA is a good place to go, lots of beginner trails there you can wheel on. I did the first event that the Northeast Rivian club had in 2023 and it was a lot of fun. Video edit of some of the riding over the 2 days that we did there.

Rivian AOAA video

 

[technerd]

As others have said, join the NERC mailing list, they've done 2 events at AOAA now with Off Road Consulting. I'm a newby to off roading, having only been once before, in a vehicle I didn't own, so I was scared to take my expensive Rivian off road. Kyle knows those trails very well, and knows the capability of Rivians, even on 22"s. I'd highly recommend waiting for the next event.

Sponsored