What's On Your 4-Wheel Drive Bucket List?
Maybe this is the vehicle on your bucket list!
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Have you seen the movie, “The Bucket List”? If not, you’ve probably heard about it.
Briefly, it’s the story of two terminally ill men (played by Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman),
who try to atone for their lives by making the best use of their final days.
As they travel the country—ostensibly while terminally ill, though they appear quite healthy—they enjoy all sorts of experiences.
The term “bucket list” stems from that movie, though people don’t feel they need to be dying to create a wish list.
Instead, a bucket list is a collection of goals to be accomplished before the person “kicks the bucket”.
January is a time of resolutions. Buy me a good margarita, and I’ll tell you what I think of resolutions.
I do like the idea of a bucket list, though. I sort of have one. It’s not written down, but I will continue to chip away at the items as time goes on.
As I have mentioned in other articles, it’s good to have a list before hitting the trail.
A bucket list is helpful too, because it helps you plan long term. The list that follows is quite extensive.
You can’t possibly accomplish all of them in one year. Heck, even one decade may be a stretch. The key is to stretch your imagination; go beyond thinking of the typical weekend outing.
A bucket list may seem fanciful, but it can serve a very useful purpose. Without one, you are unlikely to fully experience life. And in the process, you deny yourself a more complete enjoyment of four wheeling.
This list is by no means all inclusive. For example, you won’t see “go four wheeling on the moon.”
For some youngsters, that may be a possibility.
Instead, I tried to make you really think. Of course, you’re welcome to use this list as is, or amend it.
If so, try to end up with at least 30 goals. The more, the merrier. Good luck, and have fun!
- Do the Rubicon trail.
- Go to Moab. Ideally during Easter Safari, but at least get over there.
- Grab the latest, greatest model of 4WD vehicle you’ve had your heart set on.
- Finally create the 4WD vehicle of your dreams. You know: big tires, winch, axle upgrade; the whole enchilada. As you know, even the latest model needs to be reconfigured.
- Participate in an overland expedition. The more challenging the better.
- Attend a SEMA Show at least once. Use your powers of persuasion to get a ticket.
- Get a picture of you, your vehicle—or both—published in a national 4WD magazine.
- Visits the Off Road Hall of Fame
http://www.ormhof.com in Reno, Nev. The Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame honors those individuals and organizations whose lifelong contributions to off-road motorsports have set a standard for others to follow.
- Attend TDS (Terra Del Sol). Weekend event in southern California. See www.tds4x4.com
- Make the Guinness Book of World Records. Attend the 75th Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival,
http://www.bantamjeepfestival.com and participate in the largest parade of Jeep vehicles June 12-14. 2015
- Find a woman who will go 4-wheeling with you, go camping, and can grease the inside fitting on a CV joint. Marry her!
For you women: Find a man who owns a 4WD vehicle that is big enough for 2 car seats.
- Purchase every tool you need to work on your vehicle.
- Race or at least drive the Baja 1000 track.
- Be able to start a fire with primitive methods.
- Drive off road from the border with Mexico to the Canadian border.
- Take an off-road trip in Alaska.
- Take an off-road trip in Colorado.
- Drive the North Rim of the Grand Canyon with your four wheeler.
- Conquer Death Valley.
- Take a 4WD excursion through Iceland.
- Drive the Australia Outback.
- Drive through Chile and Argentina.
- Drive an H1 Hummer. Better yet, buy one!
- Create the time to accomplish your bucket list. Brush up on those time management skills.
- Install bolt-on portal axles.
- Install a hemi or LS7.
- Earn a ham license and add a ham radio to your vehicle
- Learn to weld. And not just steel but other metals, as well. Can you spell aluminum?
- Teach your kids to drive a four wheeler. That’s important for their development and appreciation of this great land.
- Have an obstacle on a trail named after you for something other than the wrong reason.
- Finally get your vehicle’s cockpit in order with all the wiring in its place. All the accessories are organized, wires are loomed, and you’ve installed waterproof plugs.
- Visit Ouray and Imogene Pass, as well as the areas around Telluride, Durango and Cortez.
- Drive through the remote Big Bend, Texas area. Visit the Big Bend National Park and the Big Bend Ranch State Park.
- Four wheel the Flathead Lake area in Montana.
- Retrace the Lewis and Clark trail.
- Earn your 4WD instructor certification (but after I retire!).
Whew! This should give you some great ideas. Note how I included the various aspects of our hobby: vehicle acquisition and development, training/education, and excursions. After completing a bucket list like this, you’ll have some mighty fond memories to recollect while relaxing in your rocking chair.
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Related Articles from Badlands Off-road Adventures
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Did you miss the previous article?
Some Upcoming Events
(click on the link for details)
Small Cabin in Wyman Canyon, White Mountains
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Summary of upcoming events.
Before you do anything else, sign up for the Easter Safari in Moab March 30th to April 3rd.
The trail selection is coming up fast - 3rd week of January.
Sign ASAP - trail selection begins in Jan.
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Metal Masher Trail
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Sign up for Easter Safari March 30 – April 03, 2015
It seems a long ways away, but all the trail rides are assigned on a first come first served basis.
The date to sign up for trail is January 22nd this year.
Hotels, RV parks and camp grounds need to be reserved this month.
They are all close to being sold out.
So if you think you might want to go to the Easter Safari this year with Badlands Off-Road Adventures,
you need to register right away.
http://4x4training.com/calendar/calendar.php#EJS.
Once we have your registration, we can also tell you which trails to sign up for.
A few pictures:
http://4x4training.com/images/Moab/Moabpicture.html
Check out
http://4x4training.com/Adventures/EasterSafari/EJSMain.html
You can register directly at
http://www.4x4training.com/calendar/calendar.php#EJS
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Sand Clinic February 28, 2015
If you have been waiting for the next Sand Driving Clinic, put it on your calendar for February 28st and sign up now.
This day-long clinic will expose you to a variety of driving conditions and levels of difficulty.
Driving on sand is challenging and different than dirt, so we’ll progress slowly as you learn the proper techniques.
As your confidence grows, you will master increasingly more challenging dunes.
Along the way you will be exposed to the beauty of SVRA and the thrill of the windswept dunes.
This is a rare opportunity to cruise the only beach in California open to vehicles.
More details...
Register for the Sand Clinic using this link.
http://4x4training.com/calendar/calendar.php#SandPismo
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This one day clinic starts with the basics.
If you are considering installing a powered winch on your vehicle, or have one already but need training to learn how to get the best from it and do it safely,
you need to take this class. The one day course covers: safety related issues, basic operation of the winch, simple and complex riggings, stuck assessment,
winch capability, and minimizing environmental impact. This is a hands on class.
By the end of the day you will be safely rigging some complex recoveries.
More Details...
You can register directly at
http://www.4x4training.com/calendar/calendar.php#Winch
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Winch Recovery Bandana & Winching DVD
Click for higher resolution image
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We have our new stock with many new colors (Red, Orange, Green, and Blue) on hand.
The Bandana is packed full of useful information and is a quick reference in the field when no DVD player is available."
The Bandana layout follows the “Vehicle Recovery Plan” with pathways to more detail.
A unique section of the Bandana, gives the steps for a “Winch Rigging Check: Walk through” so that you verify every element of the rigging before you commit to the pull.
Stuff this in your recovery kit and you will always be ready!
Pick up or order the Winching DVD too!
There is no substitute for hands on training. If you can, sign up for one of Badlands Off-Road Adventure’s Winching Clinics.
Warning – the Bandana and DVD are not a substitute for proper training and use of quality equipment that is used within the bounds of their safe working load.
We advise you to use the information provided in both the Winching Recovery Bandana and the "Basic to Advanced Winching and Recovery DVD" at your own risk.
We cannot control the quality and specifications of the equipment used and the methods actually employed.
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Winch Recovery Bandana Order Button
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Order a Basic to Advanced Winching & Recovery DVD too!
(Click picture for more details)
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I hope to see you on the trails!
Tom Severin, President
Badlands Off Road Adventures, Inc.
4-Wheel Drive School
310-613-5473
http://www.4x4training.com
Make it Fun. Keep it Safe.
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Want To Use This Article In Your Magazine, E-Zine, Club Newsletter Or Web Site?
You are welcome to use it anytime, just be sure to include the following author/copyright information:
Tom Severin, 4x4 Coach, teaches 4WD owners how to confidently and safely use their vehicles to the fullest extent in difficult
terrain and adverse driving conditions.
Visit www.4x4training.com to develop or improve your driving skill.
Copyright 2014, Badlands Off-Road Adventures, Inc.
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Maybe this is the vehicle on your bucket list!
