2nd Annual 4th of July PINS trip

This is what I have generated from past trips / experiences. Raul & Rich if you can think of anything else please add as much as you wish. If anyone has any questions / comments / concerns feel free to call/text me anytime. 830-832-6449 I have a busy schedule so if I dont answer or respond immediately I will as soon as I can.

The Must List

Fuel (10 gallons Minimum, I will be bringing 15 per vehicle)
Water (10 gallons for vehicle, again minimum in my opinion, bring as mush as you can )
Shovel (I also take a garden rake, seaweed is thick this year, rake a clean spot)
Fire extinguisher
Plenty of tools
Tire plugs
Portable Air compressor
Good first aid kit
Bedding
Tents
Lights
Pop Up(ez up)
food/snacks
Ice Chest
Drinks(water/Gatorade)(I don’t consume alcohol, but preferable as much or more water than beer)
Recovery Gear (Tow Strap/Chain and anything else you use for recovery)
Flashlight(s)
Trash Bags



The Extra List

CB Radio (I plan of running on channel 4)
GPS
Dog Food (for those who are bringing their four legged friends)
Fishing gear
Binoculars
Hygiene products
Extra Clothes
Table(s)/Chair(s)



It should be known for those who have never been down PINS. Almost immediately you loose phone service. There are park rangers however they rarely go 30 miles down and nearly never go all the way to the end unless they have to. We will be checking in with the rangers before leaving and letting them know we are making the run. The run is 60 miles, that is all on sand and the majority in unmaintained sand. Depending on the condition of the sand, the run can be really easy like last year to extremely difficult. I would expect anywhere from 4 to 6 hours depending on conditions and problems (Swamprat). The tides will not be in our favor that day so the chances of driving on packed sand will most likely be slim and limited, unless we luck out and head down on the tail end of a hurricane like last year. The further we get down the beach, the more primitive it is. At the end the only people you will run into, (if any at all) are the serious fisherman at the jetties. There is a chance, (very slim) but a chance you can get a phone call or text out by standing on the jetties and pinging a tower from South Padre Island.

Our time last year at the end was short, but was a blast. This year will be even better as we will have an extra night. I look forward to getting with the folks from last year and meeting new ones.

What is everyones plan for top and doors, if the weather is good.

I don't know about my lift but I should have fenders so I can do a little more flexing with my 35s.

I can't wait it's going to be a blast.

Definately a top, I drove down with my top off last year and was a lobster, no doors. and there wont be much flexing to do out there. at least not much legal flexing. you may find a washed up tree to play on but thats about it.

Doors? Top? What are these things you speak of?

shakedown wrote:

Doors? Top? What are these things you speak of?

They protect you from the elements unless you have my jeep.

Oh thats what I thought, until about 30 miles down.

swiber wrote:

shakedown wrote:

Doors? Top? What are these things you speak of?

They protect you from the elements unless you have my jeep.

HAHA!!! Yup, sucks to have a door leak. Guess that's the sacrifice to have that JESUS engine?

shakedown wrote:

swiber wrote:

shakedown wrote:

Doors? Top? What are these things you speak of?

They protect you from the elements unless you have my jeep.

HAHA!!! Yup, sucks to have a door leak. Guess that's the sacrifice to have that JESUS engine?

We will be topless (because I'm always topless unless it rains!) and probably doorless too! Can't wait!!!!

Tams-TJ wrote:

shakedown wrote:

swiber wrote:

shakedown wrote:

Doors? Top? What are these things you speak of?

They protect you from the elements unless you have my jeep.

HAHA!!! Yup, sucks to have a door leak. Guess that's the sacrifice to have that JESUS engine?

We will be topless (because I'm always topless unless it rains!) and probably doorless too! Can't wait!!!!

AWESOME!!!!

Still debating if me and my gf can make it down. Having never been before i got two important questions:

1) Can a stock TJ make it down there?

2) I was planning on taking my Harbor Freight 4' x 4' trailer. Would this be a good/bad idea? i could pack alot more stuff but it's also completely stock with the small tires so scared it might get stuck or cause more problems.

Stock jeep will make it with no problems. depending on conditions the trailer may cause minor problems but nothing we can't overcome. if you need the trailer bring it, if you can do without it leave it.

venum67 wrote:

Still debating if me and my gf can make it down. Having never been before i got two important questions:

1) Can a stock TJ make it down there?

2) I was planning on taking my Harbor Freight 4' x 4' trailer. Would this be a good/bad idea? i could pack alot more stuff but it's also completely stock with the small tires so scared it might get stuck or cause more problems.

Trailer + sand = no bueno. But like he said, there will be plenty of help nearby if a problem should arise. And as for the stock Jeep - NO PROBLEM!

Raul made it all the way last year I believe mostly in two wheel drive. I made it 30 miles earlier this year and only got stuck twice. It depends on how bad you need the trailer. you will probably get stuck a couple of times but no big deal. I got plenty of recovery gear if it takes more then a winch or a strap.

a little trailer like that would not be a good idea. With the small tires, it won't be riding on the sand...you'll be dragging it THROUGH the sand!!!! NOT WORTH IT!!!!

Thanks for the help...i'll have to pack up the jeep nice and tight. Any local shops here in SA that sell 4x4 accessories i.e. gas tanks, hi-lift, racks??

If you want to spend the money, 4 wheel parts.

if you want the same stuff cheaper

Hi lift jacks : harbour freight or tractor supply.
gas tanks : Wal-Mart
Racks : any outdoors place, Academy, bass pro shop has a nice one

amazon.com

shakedown wrote:

amazon.com

I love Amazon my fenders are being delivered to bad I an not in Texas.

Did you go with the ACE ones? How much you want for your stocks?

[quote="shakedown"]Did you go with the ACE ones? How much you want for your stocks?[/quote

Went with bushwacker flat. Did not want to wait for fenders. Don't know on the stock ones yet.

I haven't been running with a top on for a couple weeks now.. I got a little rain in it today but nothing too bad.. I have yet to take my doors off since Ive owned it so I'll prob be running with my doors on.

How important is the CB radio? I have it wired and everything for a cobra but I don't have the antenna and I havnt actually purchased and hooked up the actual radio yet.

I am hoping to get my shimmy/death wobble fixed this following week when I am home in Austin for a week of Leave so my Jeep should be running 100%..

Does anyone lay the back seats down on their 4 door and just sleep in their jeep or does everyone bring a tent?

I have slept in the back a couple times on an air bed. I don't know what my plan yet is for this trip deepening on the bugs I guess. As it looks now the Jeep will be naked.

TxRubiGrl wrote:

I haven't been running with a top on for a couple weeks now.. I got a little rain in it today but nothing too bad.. I have yet to take my doors off since Ive owned it so I'll prob be running with my doors on.

How important is the CB radio? I have it wired and everything for a cobra but I don't have the antenna and I havnt actually purchased and hooked up the actual radio yet.

I am hoping to get my shimmy/death wobble fixed this following week when I am home in Austin for a week of Leave so my Jeep should be running 100%..

Does anyone lay the back seats down on their 4 door and just sleep in their jeep or does everyone bring a tent?

I don't have a cb in my rig either. But there will be plenty of other folks who do have one just in case we have an emergency and need to call the coasties. I have slept in my Jeep many times and the bugs are just to annoying so I will be bringing a tent (learned my lesson when woke up with bites all over).

CB's are an accessary not a necessity. We will make sure the person at the back has one so they can notify the front if some one has stopped for some reason. I've slept in the car before, I didnt have any issues. However you want to plan your sleeping arangements is up to you.

I saw the request for confirmations. We still will not know until the last minute. Both my job and my wife's job can take us out without warning. If it is at all possible, we will be there. If we make the trip, I will bring a Ham Radio for backup communications.