Monthly Archives: June 2012

Trail Review: Rosita Creek Flats – Amarillo, Texas

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The Texas Panhandle is generally a vast cropland, except for the area carved out by the Canadian River. US Highway 87/287 runs north out of Amarillo, Texas, across this expansive flat land. As it crosses the Canadian River, a small dirt road (aptly named Canadian River Road) turns off to the east into a wide, sandy, staging area surrounded by narrow trail ruts. Welcome to Rosita Creek Flats National Park OHV Recreation Area.

Highway 87/287 crossing the Canadian River and the entrance to the Rosita Creek Flats staging area.

Rosita Creek Flats (also called Rosita Flats) is one of two OHV riding areas at the Lake Meredith National Recreation Area. The Blue Creek Bridge OHV area can be found on the north side of Lake Meredith a few remote miles away. Combined, they provide over 2,000 acres of OHV riding area, 80% of which is at the Rosita Creek location. From the top of the plateaus you can see the dirt playground stretch for miles.

Rosita offers a little of everything in regards to terrain and difficulty. There are wide open roads and sand banks, steep hills, rock climbs and even mud. In fact, you can ride right out into the river itself. Fording the Canadian River is usually easy. It is a dam controlled river that never seemed more than a foot deep and has a pretty solid bottom to it. You can, however, get into some tread-clogging, southern-style mud on the banks and we got a chance to test our winching abilities there.

Rosita offers primitive camping but there are no restrooms or picnic tables as a result of repeat issues with vandalism. There have been threats to close the park, but thanks to the Texas Off-Roaders Association that hasn’t happened yet. TORA works hard with the legislators and corporate sponsors to keep the Canadian River parks available to riders. They also host events like sand drags to help raise funds and awareness.

Park officials do enforce the use of helmets and eye protection and Texas requires an OHV decal while riding on public lands such as this. The decals are $16 and are good through August 31st of the purchase year. When you consider most parks are about $20 per vehicle per day, $16 for a year is great with the many public riding areas offered by Texas. The decal fees are put back into the states OHV program. Decals can be purchased in advance from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department or from retailers throughout the state. We found B&R Motorsports to be the closest retailer and easily obtained our decals there for a same day ride. They also had plenty of riding gear and accessories to serve your needs.

If you are going to be in the Amarillo area and are looking for a place to ride, Rosita Creek Flats is a great stop. You’ll probably never be alone there and we met several local riders on our weekday evening ride. Weekends are even more popular, especially on TORA’s event weekends.

Rosita Creek Flats ORV Area – www.nps.gov/lamr/planyourvisit/ohv-off-highway-vehicles.htm

Texas Off Highway Vehicle Program – www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/ohv/index.phtml

Texas Off-Roaders Association – www.texasoffroaders.com

B&R Motorsports – www.brgokarts.com

Rosita Creek Flats - Amarillo, TX

REVIEW: DU-HA Truck Storage Systems

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Several months ago I switched from an SUV to my Ford F250 Crew Cab truck. The transition has been very well enjoyed but I was quickly reminded of the vast difference in enclosed storage space between an SUV and a truck. I have room for six passengers and as a primary family transportation system I need to keep the seating space available. Sure, you can add a toolbox but that exterior storage isn’t always appropriate. Plus you can lose valuable ATV space in the truck bed by adding a toolbox.

DU-HA stock before photo.

During my search for an alternative I came across DU-HA Inc. and their storage solutions for pickup trucks. DU-HA offers storage systems to fit behind and/or under the seats of most full size trucks. The DU-HA storage boxes are significant upgrades to the stock storage options (or lack thereof) and provide a great deal

DU-HA stock after photo.

of hidden space. The units are even capable of safely carrying rifles and are considered legal gun cases in most states.

The factory behind-the-seat storage versus the DU-HA. DU-HA stock photo.

I picked up both the Underseat and Behind-the-seat models for my Ford F250 Crew Cab. The amount of space added was incredible. The space is secure and out of the sight of prying eyes, removing any temptation that toolboxes and bed covers often give. Peering through the windows the boxes aren’t noticable at all. They do not interfere with the functions of the seats or the passengers in them.

The storage boxes come in several colors to match most interiors. The boxes average about $199 for understeat models and $179 for behind-the-seat models. Boxes are available for full-size trucks from Ford, Chevrolet/GMC, Dodge, Nissan, Toyota and the Honda Ridgeline. They come with a 30 day money-back gurantee and a lifetime warranty. Installation is easy and takes only moments using a couple of tools and existing hardware. Accessories include anti-theft locks and subwoofer boxes for some models. Since my own purchase I have recommended these to others who have bought them and been equally pleased. For more information see www.DU-HA.com.

The storage systems make a great place for my first responder gear. My radio and lighting controls are mounted in the box to keep them safe.

Trail Review: Red River, NM

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Red River, New Mexico, is a quaint, semi-famous ski resort town. The town is void of any recognizable commercialization, instead filled with mom-and-pop shops and gold-mining history. Signs of the snow-life are everywhere, but during the warm months it becomes a totally different outdoor paradise with fishing, hiking, and of course, off-roading. With one long winding road in and one long winding road out, Red River is nestled in the heart of the Carson National Forest.

Red River has eleven off-road trails overseen by the United States Forestry Service and they vary greatly in difficulty. Old Red River Pass is like a fairly well-maintained gravel road that most consumer vehicles could handle, whereas 4th of July Canyon is a tight trail with large loose rocks and deep wash-outs. Trail details, descriptions, directions and maps are available at the town Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center or the USFS Questa Ranger Station.

Red River sits at around 9,000 feet and the trails go as high as about 11,600 feet. Some of our carbureted quads did suffer from altitude sickness at around 11,000 feet and had a noticeable loss of power the entire time. Fuel injected units shouldn’t have this concern and there are products for re-jetting or adjusting carbureted engines to help them breathe more naturally.

In town, you’ll see plenty of horses on the streets as well as the touristy 3-wheeled cars, but keep your ATVs off the asphalt. Red River has a strict regulation against ATVs being on the roads. You can cross the road from staging area to trail but running parallel to the roads will get you a ticket from the town Marshall. This was perhaps my biggest complaint about Red River. In the news it seems to be a debated topic and may change in the near future. Until then no enthusiast likes to see “NO ATVs” signs around.

For those not wanting to haul your ORVs to Red River, there are rentals available in town. Red River Offroad offers custom Kawasaki Teryx units for rent as well as guided Jeep tours. If you are hauling, New Mexico requires registration of ATVs and side-by-sides. $18 per ATV will get you a 3 month out-of-state registration sticker. You can register online and print a temporary permit right away. Your registration fees go back into the state’s ORV program keeping trails like these open. ATV pilots under 18 must pass an ORV safety course. These can be completed online and are well worth the small price for the lessons learned. Our young riders took the ATVCourse.com lessons and I was impressed at the quality of the exam and the riding technique comments made by my daughter in the ride following her taking the exam. As we packed for the trip she named off a full list of emergency survival gear that we should be packing for our rides; all learned through her course. You can see full state requirements and course details at the New Mexico Game and Fish OHV site.

No matter what type of ride you choose or who the owner is, you will see some of the most beautiful views you can reach on four wheels.The riding is great for any level of rider and the panoramic views are spectacular. Red River and all that it offers is a great offroading, family destination.

Red River Chamber of Commerce – www.redrivernewmex.com

Red River Offroad – www.redriveroffroad.com

New Mexico Game & Fish OHV Program – www.b4uride.com

ATV Course – www.ATVCourse.com

PREVIEW: 2013 Yamaha Utility Lineup

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Photo courtesy of Yamaha Motors

Yamaha has released their utility lineup for the 2013 season. This year offers few changes over the 2012 model year, but the lineup will continue to be an industry leader. Most recently, Yamaha released details on the 2013 Grizzly 700 FI Auto 4×4 EPS Special Edition. The change is purely cosmetic; the new edition is a tactical theme with subdued graphics and black aluminum wheels. The 2013 Rhino 700 FI Auto 4×4 Special Edition also gets the same tactical treatment. The pair perfectly suit those preparing for the zombie apocalypse.

2013 Yamaha Grizzly 550 FI EPS in Realtree AP Camo. Courtesy of Yamaha Motors.

The Grizzly 700 continues to offer an EPS and a non-EPS. The Grizzly 450 and 550 also continue to be offered in EPS and non-EPS models. Missing this year is the Big Bear 400. Yamaha has retired the last of the Big Bear series and with its removal has discontinued the last manual transmission utility ATV in their lineup. If you are buying new you’ll be riding an automatic. The 125, 300 and 350 4×4 continue to be available unchanged. The Grizzly 125 and 350 4×4 still have the older body style.

The 2013 Rhino 700 FI Auto 4×4 continues to be the exclusive side by side for Yamaha. There are no major changes for the Rhino beyond the previously mentioned tactical Special Edition.

PREVIEW: 2013 Can-Am ATV & Side-by-Side Lineup

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All new 2013 Can-Am Outlander X mr 1000. Photo Courtesy of BRP.

To the anticipation of many, BRP has released details and pictures of the exciting 2013 lineup. At about 4:10 pm Central time press releases detailing the 2013 ATV and Side-by-Side lines were received via email. Can-Am also posted pictures of the new 2013 Outlander X mr 1000 and other 2013 models on their Facebook page and videos on their YouTube channel. Other big news with the release is the production of 15% more horsepower Can-Am squeezed out of the Rotax 500 engines. This places the class leading engine even further out of the reach of competitors.

2013 Can-Am Outlander MAX. Photo courtesy of BRP.

Highlights for 2013 include the next-generation Outlander MAX family now featuring a second generation Surrounding Spar Technology frame (SST G2). The passenger seat has also been totally redesigned. The Outlander MAX LIMITED is now available in a Pearl White paint.

The aforementioned all-new Outlander X mr 1000 is built on the same new MAX frame. In additional to the traditional Can-Am yellow and black finish the Outlander X mr 1000 is available in an all-new NEXT G-1 Vista camouflage finish. It also benefits from a larger relocated radiator, ITP wheels, restyled dash panel and a rider-adjustable air controlled suspension. The Outlander X mr 1000 is THE mud machine.

2013 Can-Am Outlander XT. Photo courtesy of BRP.

Most of the other Outlander models will see the new SST frame for 2013. Can-Am also has Dynamic Power Steering (DPS) packages available (or standard) for all 500 cc+ models. XT-P packages are now available for the Outlander 800R, 1000 and MAX packages. The sport inspired package adds the new dash, full FOX suspension system, 12-inch aluminum beadlock wheels, exclusive colors and more. The DS450 and Renegade also return but with few changes as of press time.

2013 Can-Am Outlander XT-P. Photo courtesy of BRP.

Can-Am also provided the new DPS package to the Commander Side-by-Side lineup. The DPS package for the Commander includes 27 Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 rubber on 14-inch cast aluminum. The XT and Limited packages include a 4,000 pound WARN winch, half-windshield, premium wheels and an entertainment system with integrated Garmin touchscreen GPS. A couple of new color schemes are also available for 2013. The killer Can-Am Commander setup just keeps getting better.

2013 Can-Am Commander. Photo courtesy of BRP.

Stay tuned for more details as Can-Am releases them or visit the Can-Am Offroad site at http://www.canamoffroad.com/.

September 24, 2012 Update!

2013 Can-Am Outlander 650 X mr. Photo coutesy of BRP.

Can-Am continues the releases with the announcement of the 2013 Can-Am Outlander 650 X mr. A slightly more compact version of the Outlander 1000 X mr, the 650 is not compact on features. Rocketed by a 62 HP Rotax V-Twin engine it’s ready for your challenges. Like the 1000, it features a larger, relocated radiator as well as nearly snorkled CVT intake, CVT exhaust and engine air intake.  It also features the SST G2 frame, Tri-Mode DPS, Visco-Lok QE, preload-adjustable mud shocks and aluminum foot-pegs. 28 inch Maxxis Mudzilla tires on 12 inch cast aluminum wheels will keep you rolling in any terrain. MSRP has not yet been released for the Outlander 650 X mr.