Silver Lake, MI - Sand Dunes info??

DiscoWeb Message Board: Trail Information: Silver Lake, MI - Sand Dunes info??
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Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Jeff Kardas on Monday, July 16, 2001 - 10:11 am: Edit

HI, I'm a newbie here and a newbie to the LR off-roading world as well. My wife, 2 dogs, and box-stock 2000 Disco II are heading up to Michigan from Ohio in a couple of weeks. We plan to spend 2 days goofing around on the dunes at Silver Lake Recreation Area there. As far as prepping my Disco goes, I am aware of lowering tire pressure to ~10PSI, the need for a 10' dune flag, etc. but that's about it. What else can I do (for free or nearly) that will enhance the experience? Should I not go at all with stock tires (I have the 16" rim with stock tires)? Is the place a good time for a relative newbie like myself? ANY help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By RVR OVR (Tom) on Monday, July 16, 2001 - 10:56 am: Edit

Jeff,

I just got back from the dunes yesterday. I saw many a stock truck out on the sand doing OK with good drivers. I have a pretty modified Discovery (see my pics under the photo section under Tom Pearson). With all I have done, the most useful thing for the dunes probably was lockers. The lift, swampers, trimming, etc., is all pretty useless there. Any stock 4wd can go about 90% of the places in the dunes with proper driver skill. Mods that make the dunes easier would be a helluva lot more power to the engine (not cheap), or paddle tires (not cheap again). Basically, airing down will be your best friend.

Are you going with anyone else? Have you off-roaded at all before? The key to survival at the dunes is to keep a good deal of momentum going and to keep a clear head. You probably will stop and dig in about 3/4's of the way up the bigger ones. Put it in reverse and back on down. Use the breaks little or not at all. A little gas actually helps keep the truck straight.

Another thing, watch out for all the ATV's and bikes. They were swarming around like flies at 50 miles an hour.

Other tips:

- The only bathrooms exist at the entrance. I went with a group and spent a lot of time driving people (read: the women) back and forth from the beach to go poddy.

- Plan to get there one day in advance to get entry vouchers at the voucher station. You cannot get into the park w/out one without waiting in line. Even it you get them, you will still wait, but not as long. I would recommend the 9-11 am or the late afternoon ones and getting there right prior to the time on the voucher as a line forms to get in.

Tom

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By jeff kardas on Tuesday, July 17, 2001 - 04:42 am: Edit

That is SUPREMELY good info Tom. Thank you so much.

I have a lot of experience racing/riding dirt bikes and all of the fun that goes with getting to/from riding places, like being stuck in the mud and getting un-stuck, picking the right line, etc. with my pickup truck, so I guess I'm not a complete newbie. I've also done some pretty treacherous (read: very rocky, wet and steep) climbs/descents on forest roads in Ontario with my Disco last summer. My guess is I should be smart enough to handle the dunes. I just didn't want to get way out there and then realize I was in way over my head. We are camping at a place called Silver City something or other?? where we can supposedly drive straight from the campgrounds over to Lake Michigan via the dunes. If I'm reading your info correctly, sounds like I need to get a permit first. I'm hoping all of this stuff will make itself evident when we get there.

I didn't catch whether or not I needed a dune flag? Also, once I back off my tire pressure to 10 PSI, how do I go about filling them back up? I don't think I'd want to drive far on the road at that pressure. Is there a gas station nearby?

Thanks again so much for the info.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By EricRat on Tuesday, July 17, 2001 - 12:15 pm: Edit

As for airing back up, I keep an inexpensive cigarette lighter air pump in the back.

Where abouts in ohio?

Eric
Cincinnait, OH

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By RVR OVR (Tom) on Tuesday, July 17, 2001 - 12:37 pm: Edit

Jeff,

You will need a dune flag. I drilled a hole in my front bumper and put it on there. However, having a new Disco II, I could see that not being a good idea for you! They have some things there that you can bolt to your front tow hook for $10 then you can mount your flag to that, or you can fab your mount on the tow hook. By the way, the flag is $20.

I also camped at Silver City. Very close to the dunes. They have a little grocery store, showers, electric sites, etc. A little crowded for my taste, but the weekend wasn't about camping.

I didn't even air back up to drive back to the campground...I just kept it under 25 mph. However, they do have an air compressor at the shop at the dunes, but I don't know if it is free or not. I used my Trial-Air (portable co2 tank) to air back up when all was said and done for the weekend.

Yes, you will need to get an ORV (off road vehicle) pass for the state, and then buy daily passes for the days you wish to go there. Finally, you need entrance vouchers which are free and just state in what 3 hour time block you can enter.

I am assuming you are doing a friday to sunday trip. On friday, get over to the Voucher Station and buy all the passes and get your vouchers for Saturday and Sunday. If you want to go in on Friday, I don't think you need any vouchers.

By the way, I like to do write-ups on these places, but ended up taking very few pictures because we cut the trip short and left early on Sunday which was to be my picture day. If you are taking photos and would like them included in an article on discoweb, let me know. One I did before was http://www.discoweb.org/attica/ to see what I mean.

If you have any more questions, just post them or drop me an email.

Tom

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By jeff kardas on Wednesday, July 18, 2001 - 05:40 am: Edit

Tom, that trip to Badlands looks like it was truly 'bad'. Whereabouts are you located? I'd love to try and hook up with you next time you're getting muddy just to get a taste of what I'll be doing with my Disco once I pay it off and the warranty expires (and my wife lets me have it ;).

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By jeff kardas on Wednesday, July 18, 2001 - 05:40 am: Edit

Great. Thanks again. I wonder if they'd let me just mount that flag to the front of my roof rack with an L-bracket where the light mounting holes are?

I do plan to take a number of digital pics of my ride, so I will post them here for sure. Also, I'm going up there on Wednesday night and staying only until Sat. morning, so I should avoid the crowds (woohoo). From there, we're heading up to Sleeping Bear Dunes for a week of camping. Any good riding up there?

ERIC: I'm located in Delaware, about 20 miles due north of Columbus. I like your idea about the portable compressor, and will probably go with that.

Thanks a lot fellas.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By RVR OVR (Tom) on Wednesday, July 18, 2001 - 07:21 am: Edit

Jeff,

I am about 30 miles southwest of Chicago, and as you saw, the Badlands are in Indiana. Next time I am heading out, I'll drop you an email.

Tom

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By ericrat on Tuesday, July 31, 2001 - 12:44 pm: Edit

Funny, I have been through Delaware 4 times this month to and from MidOhio for the motorcycle races, but that is a write up for a different board...

Between Silver Lake and the Badlands/KKC date I see some opportunities for the Midwest contingent!

Eric

p.s. Someone did mention that is can take a while to air back up with ***Mart compressors didn't they? Mine is slow, cheap and reliable but slow.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Jeff Noordhof (Nordy) on Tuesday, August 21, 2001 - 04:03 pm: Edit

I live in Mid-Michigan and am considering taking my Disco up to Silver Lake in a couple of weeks for a midweek camping excursion. How did your Disco handle the Dunes? Do you recommend it?

Does anyone have any trails in the Lower penninsula that they would recommend?

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By ERIC on Tuesday, August 28, 2001 - 05:40 pm: Edit

Jeff, I was in Silver Lake a few weeks ago in a mostly stock Series One Discovery. It handled great as long as you respect the sand and play it smart. I pulled out a brand new series two disco because the owner was too daring. Make sure your tire pressure is about 15 to get good traction. I hope this helps and hope you have a great time!


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