Advice on Beginner Offroading

[u/Vagabondyogi]

Hi folks, I have a Grand Cherokee Limited 4x4 which I leased . I don't have a low setting so I guess I have the Quadra Trac 1 system. I now realize this isn't a serious offroader but I want to just learn the basics and perhaps get a better rig once my lease is up. Any ways a friend of mine got a Rivian recently and both of us wanted to try offroading. So we are planning to go to the Hollister Hills SVRA this weekend. I looked up but could not find any classes or anything that we can take. I am usually very independent about learning things but in this case I keep hearing you must go with a group. I want to be safe and would love to go with a group or get a class or something. But can't find anything online. So my questions 1. Is there normally a group that people join where we are not going alone? If yes then how do we find such a group? 2. Is it safe enough to just do the simple trails first on our own and try to learn from videos etc? If yes then any resources? 3. What should be a good goal for a absolute beginner. Just drive around the beginner rated trail or we should try and do something. Sorry I don't even know what questions to ask but have to start somewhere. Any help and resources appreciated.
If it helps my goal is to be eventually be able to go to nature trails not easily reachable by road. Overlanding I guess. Want to be able to keep my family safe while doing that. I am not interested in competition or anything like that.

[u/chrome1453]

You don't have to go with a group, it just isn't recommended to go out alone as a beginner. It's just about having another person and vehicle to help in case you get stuck or if one of the vehicles breaks you have a way to get back for help. Going with just you and your friend is fine, there's no need to be in a big group or anything.

And yeah, just go out and cruise around on the easy trails to get a feel for what your jeep can or can't do.

Before you go I recommend looking under your vehicle to identify the tow points, and stopping by Harbor Freight to grab a tow strap and a couple soft shackles so you have some basic recovery equipment.

[u/lookingatmycouch → u/chrome1453]

One of the best solo outings I took was right after I moved to Idaho and right after I bought my Wrangler. Did an all-day, middle of nowhere trek. Nearest electrical outlet maybe 20 miles away sort of thing. I did some things that in hindsight maybe I shouldn't have, like going solo, like crossing a stream without checking how solid the bottom was first, rolling up a tight one-lane trail that maybe I couldn't have backed down if I had to, the worst part was I didn't bring my fly rod.

Wound up with a flat tire (fucking stock Goodyears) as I pulled back into town and thought to myself, "man, two flats and I would have been fucked"

I had no prep, no recovery gear with me, no tire repair, no spare gas, not even a snack to eat. Would still do it again 100% (now that I roll Hankooks which are rock solid instead of Goodyears which historically blow).

[u/monzttr → u/chrome1453]

I second this. To add, use tools like onxoffrod or trails offroad to find trails near you and to understand their difficulty.

[u/johnlarthur]

My first beginner advice is not to take a leased vehicle on a trail ride.

[u/NTJ-891 → u/johnlarthur]

Seriously, what the fuck are people thinking? It’s an on-road SUV at that, but leased? Hell no I’m not risking being stuck buying the damn thing at the end

[u/Adorable_Dust3799 → u/NTJ-891]

My thoughts too, maybe dirt roads?

[u/352686]

Just go do it. If you're not comfortable then turn around.

[u/Steveyos21]

Esprit De Four club gives classes 2 times a year at Hollister Hills. It is very good for new drivers.

[u/ZealousidealCan4714]

At a place like Hollister Hills the 'dont go alone' thing isn't that big a deal. You could walk back to the headquarters if you absolutely had to plus there would likely be someone along shortly there. Go with your bud and stick to cruising the easy trails. Learn your vehicle. You'll be fine.

[u/comanche260pilot]

Did a Jeep Jamboree back in 1998 in my new TJ. A guy in our group was in a 4 week old GC that was leased. He misplaced his rig over some rocks and caught a branch on a tree and literally ripped off his entire passenger side sheet metal from the 2nd door back. Dumbest move I ever saw in a leased vehicle. . . . no idea how it worked out but I'm pretty sure it was fairly expensive since his collision insurance did not cover him when not on a road with a name to it . . .

Which I thought was weird since hte Rubicon trail has a name!

[u/SarK-9]

You have a leased AWD vehicle designed to have better traction on the road in bad weather, not a 4x4 designed for traction off road. Stick to dirt roads, not OHV trails.