crystal lake, illinois,

CrossBones · **Posted:** Sun Aug 17, 2008 12:21 am

Well I went to Crystal Lake today with a friend who rode along. We drove some of the easy trails off to the right of the Fountain property. It was interesting. Especially all the fire hydrants? We were surprised to see people had dumped stuff out there. Like a couple of old couches and garbage. My friend said, that is the kind of crap that makes us loose places like this to play in. I couldn't agree more. We came upon a old Chevy pickup sitting just over a hill but didn't see anyone around so we laughed that bubba might come out of the woods with a shotgun and kept driving.

Anyway, it got better. We drove just behind the facility where we found a trail going in. We didn't get far and discovered two guys in a lifted / modded Suzuki and a guy and girl in a Wrangler parked atop a hill. When they saw us, they came down to greet us. Turns out they've been wheelin' here for well over two years. After talking for a short while, they offered to lead us through some trails that they figured I could handle. Mind you, my KJ sits stock, I'm running on BFG AT KO LT255/70R-16's, I have a Kilby tank skid, a Poison Spider rear diff Rock Ring, A shackle in the rear hitch, and Mopar front tow hooks I just installed this afternoon. So it was game on! Portions of the trails they led me through had some deep ruts! My left rear wheel slid off one and yep, I was hung up. But that Suzuki pulled me (backwards) right out, and I continued on.

Hey, I'm a noob at this stuff. And they were so cool. Even after I slid into that rut, and got hung up on a steep hill. Steep for a stock height KJ, anyway. I had a great time! These guys told me about their next planned visit and invited me to come out and meet up with them again. Sometime I'd like to meet up with other KJ's too.

So what did I learn?... I need a lift. And from what I've read here on LOST, I'm leaning towards a Frankenlift (w/ OME). Of course I will then need bigger tires and wheels. I'm also considering AllJ's Boulder Bars. My friend commented there aren't too many big rocks in our neck of the woods, but I still think rocker protection would be a good investment. Other than that, I would really like to add some off road lights, but first I need to fab something up since I would prefer to run my lights on the front bumper, and no one makes a light bar for KJ's, not that I am aware of anyway? Or maybe just mount directly to the bumper?

All in all, I dirty'd my Jeep with mud!! ha, ha... Yeah I know, I sound like a dork, but I had a real good time at this place.
I can't wait to go back again!

lionseye640 · **Posted:** Sun Aug 17, 2008 11:43 pm

if you are going to run the fountains (or any other private property) take trash bags & clean-up the crap others leave behind. Don't let others lose the priveledge of off roaring there due to others (and your) irrseponsibility & desire to tread lightly. There aren't enough places to go in northern Illinois. Respect the land & the owners, since it is owned by a development company & has no trespassing signs posted.

lionseye640 · **Posted:** Sun Aug 17, 2008 11:45 pm

posting via iPhone sucks!!!!

CrossBones · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 1:16 am

One needs a garbage truck, not trash bags from what we saw. Meaning the only garbage we came across was large items such as furniture and burnt PVC pipes (in the trails to the south that eventually lead to that closed road near the water tower). We didn't see any garbage in the area behind (to the east) of the fountains building.

We never saw any no trespassing signs, anywhere while entering and exiting from the road at the Fountains.

And for the record, these guys always exit through the grass trail (at the south end of the Fountain property) so we wouldn't leave mud on the road.

lionseye640 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 9:20 am

Wasn't implying that you personally weren't being respectful of the trails and private property. Merely a reminder to all that will browse this section.

lionseye640 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 9:20 am

Wasn't implying that you personally weren't being respectful of the trails and private property. Merely a reminder to all that will browse this section.

CrossBones · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 9:50 am

Posting with the iPhone (again) are we?

lionseye640 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 9:54 am

Yup! This way if they check on my computer screen (I'm at work) they'll see me hard at work, but using the iPhone lets me post stealthily :twisted:

CrossBones · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 3:31 pm

Just a handful of images from inside Crystal Lake

CrossBones · **Posted:** Mon Aug 18, 2008 4:13 pm

Me too, tree that is. We left about 9:45 pm that day make that evening. I have a nice pinstripe from about the lock on my drivers door that goes upwards across the left hand side rear door. Battle scars!

crystal lake, illinois,

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