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dejones64

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If they havent groomed and we can drive on it, its probably going to be decently packed down from others.

Forest roads is a good backup plan. If we cant turn around, the traction boards, shovel, and snatch strap will get good use lol you have front recovery points right?
I've read different things on the forest roads (one way and out-and-back). So who knows. But no, I don't have recovery points, front or back. I need about 7.5" of ground clearance, less if I air down. We'll see.
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Julz670

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Thanks for checking. Ok we'll schedule Sunday Jan 23rd (or 22nd if others in the group prefer).

Gandy Dancer should be ok if not groomed and the snow is not too deep. It's a pretty flat road. Though we do need to know where the ditches are. I imagine others will have taken this trail before that weekend, unless we get fresh snow.

Are we supposed to wait for trails to be groomed?
So, got an answer from DNR about Gandy Dancer. They said Gandy is open to all ORVs but that it is groomed. So I specifically asked if we can take Broncos or Jeeps on Gandy even though it's groomed. She said it is open, there is no law against it, but they do request that ATV's stay off because it is groomed. Idk what the hell their rules are lol. Sounds like there is never anything preventing people from driving down that trail, they just try to limit the use in winter, but can't legally keep anyone off of it.

Long story short, we're a go!
 

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I don't have recovery points, front or back. I need about 7.5" of ground clearance, less if I air down. We'll see.
I thought for sure the sport still had a recovery point on the front, but never looked into it. Well, sounds like we won't have any issues anyway since the trail is groomed. I thought that meant we can't drive on it (as per their website), but DNR told me otherwise 🤷‍♂️ so we are good to go!
 
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I thought for sure the sport still had a recovery point on the front, but never looked into it. Well, sounds like we won't have any issues anyway since the trail is groomed. I thought that meant we can't drive on it (as per their website), but DNR told me otherwise 🤷‍♂️ so we are good to go!
Great, thanks for calling them. Still the plan to meet at Hinckley? Time?

I think maybe the BS Badlands has the recovery points…
 

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Great, thanks for calling them. Still the plan to meet at Hinckley? Time?

I think maybe the BS Badlands has the recovery points…
10AM at Grand Casino Hinckley? Should be at the trail by about 11AM. Not sure how long it would take to get through the trail but an 11AM start should leave us plenty of daylight for getting through with some stops along the way.

You might have an accessible rear recovery point, but would need the threaded tow hook to screw in there. Someone else pointed out that it may be in with your spare tire, but wasn't confirmed. See post #8 and #9 here:
https://www.broncosportforum.com/forum/threads/non-badlands-tow-points.2668/
If you do have one, I'll just stay behind you so I can pull you backwards if needed. If not, then traction boards should help accomplish anything we need as long as we don't get stuck deep in a ditch lol. We may get there and realize it's so groomed/packed that we don't have to worry about recovery at all.
 

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10AM at Grand Casino Hinckley? Should be at the trail by about 11AM. Not sure how long it would take to get through the trail but an 11AM start should leave us plenty of daylight for getting through with some stops along the way.

You might have an accessible rear recovery point, but would need the threaded tow hook to screw in there. Someone else pointed out that it may be in with your spare tire, but wasn't confirmed. See post #8 and #9 here:
https://www.broncosportforum.com/forum/threads/non-badlands-tow-points.2668/
If you do have one, I'll just stay behind you so I can pull you backwards if needed. If not, then traction boards should help accomplish anything we need as long as we don't get stuck deep in a ditch lol. We may get there and realize it's so groomed/packed that we don't have to worry about recovery at all.
Sounds good. Thanks, I'll see if I have that stuff. If it's groomed I can't imagine it'll be that deep. Don't think any snow in the forecast.
 
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10AM at Grand Casino Hinckley? Should be at the trail by about 11AM. Not sure how long it would take to get through the trail but an 11AM start should leave us plenty of daylight for getting through with some stops along the way.

You might have an accessible rear recovery point, but would need the threaded tow hook to screw in there. Someone else pointed out that it may be in with your spare tire, but wasn't confirmed. See post #8 and #9 here:
https://www.broncosportforum.com/forum/threads/non-badlands-tow-points.2668/
If you do have one, I'll just stay behind you so I can pull you backwards if needed. If not, then traction boards should help accomplish anything we need as long as we don't get stuck deep in a ditch lol. We may get there and realize it's so groomed/packed that we don't have to worry about recovery at all.
I have the threaded hole but no tow hook. Will have to track one down. You have a tow strap?
Just watch our speed and don’t do anything crazy.
 
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I have the threaded hole but no tow hook. Will have to track one down. You have a tow strap?
Just watch our speed and don’t do anything crazy.
I ordered some traction boards, should be here Saturday.
 
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10AM at Grand Casino Hinckley? Should be at the trail by about 11AM. Not sure how long it would take to get through the trail but an 11AM start should leave us plenty of daylight for getting through with some stops along the way.

You might have an accessible rear recovery point, but would need the threaded tow hook to screw in there. Someone else pointed out that it may be in with your spare tire, but wasn't confirmed. See post #8 and #9 here:
https://www.broncosportforum.com/forum/threads/non-badlands-tow-points.2668/
If you do have one, I'll just stay behind you so I can pull you backwards if needed. If not, then traction boards should help accomplish anything we need as long as we don't get stuck deep in a ditch lol. We may get there and realize it's so groomed/packed that we don't have to worry about recovery at all.
Do we want to go north or south on Gandy Dancer? Once in Hinckley we can head east to Danbury, WI and head north on Gandy (St Croix State Forest). Or Hinckley up 23 and cut across Nemadji somewhere to catch Gandy.
 

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So, got an answer from DNR about Gandy Dancer. They said Gandy is open to all ORVs but that it is groomed. So I specifically asked if we can take Broncos or Jeeps on Gandy even though it's groomed. She said it is open, there is no law against it, but they do request that ATV's stay off because it is groomed. Idk what the hell their rules are lol. Sounds like there is never anything preventing people from driving down that trail, they just try to limit the use in winter, but can't legally keep anyone off of it.

Long story short, we're a go!
And what was the point of driving down a flat stretch of snowmobile trail?
 
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dejones64

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https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ohv/closures.html

1) you'll be pissing off a lot of snowmobilers
2) the trails are clearly closed for ORV use
Thanks. First time for me getting out, better to learn here than out there I guess.
1) good point
2) kind of contradicts what the DNR person said, yes closed but go at your own risk.

We'll maybe have to stick to the forest service roads.

You have your Bronco/4x4 yet? Interested in joining us, any recommendations for ORV trails?
 
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And what was the point of driving down a flat stretch of snowmobile trail?
Just wanted to get out, I'm a beginner, gotta start somewhere. But yea if it's closed to ORV we'll have to find alternatives.
 

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Thanks. First time for me getting out, better to learn here than out there I guess.
1) good point
2) kind of contradicts what the DNR person said, yes closed but go at your own risk.

We'll maybe have to stick to the forest service roads.

You have your Bronco/4x4 yet? Interested in joining us, any recommendations for ORV trails?
2) I wouldn't say contradicts. I can only imagine the DNR employee imagined a 600-800lb ATV not a 5200lb truck on the trail.

There is literally nothing special about the Gandy Dancer. It is a wide groomed trail for snowmobile and ATV/SxS use. You could do the same on any fire road or dirt road. Using a trail to drive your Bronco down is only going to piss off a lot of people that cannot drive their snowmobiles, ATV's and SxS's on the road like you can.

No, it is in transit and should be arriving soon. Possibly by end of week.
 

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2) I wouldn't say contradicts. I can only imagine the DNR employee imagined a 600-800lb ATV not a 5200lb truck on the trail.

There is literally nothing special about the Gandy Dancer. It is a wide groomed trail for snowmobile and ATV/SxS use. You could do the same on any fire road or dirt road. Using a trail to drive your Bronco down is only going to piss off a lot of people that cannot drive their snowmobiles, ATV's and SxS's on the road like you can.

No, it is in transit and should be arriving soon. Possibly by end of week.
I specifically asked the DNR person about Jeeps/Broncos going down that trail and she said it was totally legal and open to regular vehicles even after grooming, not just snowmobiles and ATVs. Actually, she even said they prefer ATVs not use the trail right now, but they are allowed if they want to. She seemed to have no issue at all with SUVs taking that road, and she definitely implied that they can't legally limit the use of that road at all.

So, unless you can point us rookies in a better direction, I cant figure out where else to go and DNR says its fine to take Gandy. I spent last weekend driving around looking for alternatives and when I find roads on maps that look like they may be less used dirt roads through wooded areas that could be fun, I would get there to either find a sign that says "no motorized vehicles" or simply a locked gate. Found a couple very short (but fun) roads to drive on, but they were very short.

SOOOO... if you have any actually helpful advice on where to go, it would be very welcomed.
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