My son and I just drove the FAT in his 2005 Jeep TJ Rubicon. What fun - we started about 50-hours of some heavy rain fall and expected to have lots of water crossings. We did, managed all except for one and had to use our winch for recovery but that in itself was fun. One thing we quickly learned approaching these unknown water obstacles - if there was a bypass and it looked fresh, take it. Probably some local who knew more about the trail that we did. The one time we didn't, yep that's when we had to use the winch. We also decided to do some night driving one night (my son had recently installed some new overlanding lights and wanted to give them a try). That was even more fun - all the animals we saw along the way. The ONLY negative in this trip were two marked camp sites on ONX were occupied by some creepy vans. One site had three vans and by the amount of garbage around them they had been sitting awhile. The other had an older female with her dog. We gave her plenty of space and set up as far away as we could. As other adventurers have done, we filled several large contractor bags with trash we found at each site. My son plans to drive it again with his wife after he finishes building her jeep. Safety in numbers for sure so take a buddy in a separate vehicle. My son documented our adventure for his own youtube channel. His next adventure will be the Georgia Trail.
I was out there last weekend and it was dry as a bone. Some good advice I was given before my first ONF trip about 20 years ago that I will pass on is the following: don't go alone and take a gun.
Other than from puddles caused by the rain, it was pretty dry when I was there. Even the spots waypointed on the route as water crossings and mudholes were dry. You and I made our first trips out there around the same timeframe. Of all the times I've been there, I don't know if I've ever actually gone by myself, and yeah, I'm never not armed ;)
back in 1976 we'd go out to the "Canal Diggin's" and scale that wall of dirt....much fun then with my 76 CJ 7 V8, loved the jeep and the ONF. Glad ya'll are still trailing out there and taking care of it. God bless
Awsome video, you did an absolutely amazing job capturing the beauty of this place on video. I go off roading here pretty frequently and it also bothers me how much garbage gets dumped on the trails. Some people just have zero respect for the things they are lucky enough to have available to them.
Wow, the landscape is so incredibly different than where I am in Cali..! It’s amazing that there are wildfires there too. Great video! Subbed and looking forward to watching some older videos and new ones as you post! 👏🏻👊🏼😃
Awesome video, but boy Florida is so flat. It really trips me out going there, or even South Carolina and not seeing a mountain in any direction. Not saying it’s not beautiful there, but I get lost in my sense of direction sometimes there.lol People are outstanding! Love the people
@@DefiantOffroad last time I brought my car it was a 911 so.. not much off roading to do! But I’ll come back with the G, don’t know when yet but I’ll take notes from your videos!
The F.A.T. passes very close to the Paisley Trail, but I don't believe it's following the same exact route there. Definitely the same part of the forest though!
@@DefiantOffroad Great place to go swimming in that area is where the bridge goes over Alexander Springs creek on 445 for anybody around there on a nice warm day, crystal clear water year round.
I have a front wheel drive pick up truck. What do you think would be my limitations when visiting the park to drive on trails and camp in the truck bed overnight?
If your truck doesn't have 4 wheel drive, I would stay off of the dirt roads. While they are mainly hard-packed dirt, they can become soft, loose sand quickly. Ocala NF has some campgrounds that are easy to access though. Also check further north at the Osceola National Forest. The main trails there are much harder packed dirt, and most passenger vehicles can travel on them.
Generally speaking, no. There are areas that dispersed camping is allowed, though. You would be better off going to the National Forest website and looking up the regulations there.
@@DefiantOffroad Thanks. We don't live that far from Ocala. We just did Windrock in the Smoky Mountains and got a little experience with rocks and mountains. Sand and mud would be a fun next step.
Love seeing others pick up litter, good on you brother. We all have to take care of our Earth. Enjoyed the video!
Thanks! Litter is one of my pet peeves! If everyone would just pick up one piece every time they hit a trail, it would have a measurable impact.
My son and I just drove the FAT in his 2005 Jeep TJ Rubicon. What fun - we started about 50-hours of some heavy rain fall and expected to have lots of water crossings. We did, managed all except for one and had to use our winch for recovery but that in itself was fun. One thing we quickly learned approaching these unknown water obstacles - if there was a bypass and it looked fresh, take it. Probably some local who knew more about the trail that we did. The one time we didn't, yep that's when we had to use the winch. We also decided to do some night driving one night (my son had recently installed some new overlanding lights and wanted to give them a try). That was even more fun - all the animals we saw along the way. The ONLY negative in this trip were two marked camp sites on ONX were occupied by some creepy vans. One site had three vans and by the amount of garbage around them they had been sitting awhile. The other had an older female with her dog. We gave her plenty of space and set up as far away as we could. As other adventurers have done, we filled several large contractor bags with trash we found at each site. My son plans to drive it again with his wife after he finishes building her jeep. Safety in numbers for sure so take a buddy in a separate vehicle. My son documented our adventure for his own youtube channel. His next adventure will be the Georgia Trail.
Awesome! Glad you had a good time! The Georgia Traverse is also something that I'm making plans to do as well.
I'm glad to see that others stop and pick up litter while they're out on the trails. Have you finished the rest of the FAT yet?
I try to pick it up here and there when I come across it. Trashing the forests is one of my pet peeves!
I was out there last weekend and it was dry as a bone. Some good advice I was given before my first ONF trip about 20 years ago that I will pass on is the following: don't go alone and take a gun.
Other than from puddles caused by the rain, it was pretty dry when I was there. Even the spots waypointed on the route as water crossings and mudholes were dry. You and I made our first trips out there around the same timeframe. Of all the times I've been there, I don't know if I've ever actually gone by myself, and yeah, I'm never not armed ;)
Can i ask why armed? I french canadien and no acces to arm. This place is dangerous? Wildlife or bad people? Thanks
Protection.
@@FamilleJalbert just a bad idea to go out deep into the swamps alone and unarmed with alligators, bears,panthers, and possible drunks.
Very good video Thanks..stay safe out there..👍🏼 🙏🏼
Thank you for the kind words!!!
back in 1976 we'd go out to the "Canal Diggin's" and scale that wall of dirt....much fun then with my 76 CJ 7 V8, loved the jeep and the ONF. Glad ya'll are still trailing out there and taking care of it. God bless
I bet that was a sight back then!
Yes Sir......going along on mostly flat land and come upon this wall of dirt was special. Looked like a mountain ....!!@@DefiantOffroad
Very nice rig build mate! Lovely landscape and terrain. Beautiful all round!
Thanks ! The Ocala NF is a great place to explore!
I really enjoy watching your videos. All of your trips are great and have many beautiful angles
Thanks for watching!!
We ride there all the time our adventure bikes when training for Paris-Dakar. Excellent training grounds.
Awesome!
Great video. Your footage is very beautiful with the places you are going through
Thanks for watching!
Awsome video, you did an absolutely amazing job capturing the beauty of this place on video. I go off roading here pretty frequently and it also bothers me how much garbage gets dumped on the trails. Some people just have zero respect for the things they are lucky enough to have available to them.
Thank you for the kind words. Litter on the trails has always been one of my main pet peeves. It's just so incredibly lazy!
Wow, the landscape is so incredibly different than where I am in Cali..! It’s amazing that there are wildfires there too. Great video! Subbed and looking forward to watching some older videos and new ones as you post! 👏🏻👊🏼😃
Florida is a fascinating place to explore!
Awesome video, but boy Florida is so flat. It really trips me out going there, or even South Carolina and not seeing a mountain in any direction. Not saying it’s not beautiful there, but I get lost in my sense of direction sometimes there.lol People are outstanding! Love the people
Florida is definitely flat, there's no doubt about that! I grew up there, and didn't see my first mountain until I was about 13.
Great place .spent a few weeks this past winter boondocking in Ocala NF just got back from the Jersey pine Barrons
Dang, sounds like you spent a hot minute out there!
We where just there in our 2019 nissan frontier and my brothers 2000 tj wrangler
Right on! I haven't been since I shot this video, but I'm hoping to make another trip home soon so I can get back out there.
I loved it! I'm really going to have to get down there soon and try that place out.
Thanks! It goes without saying that it's one of my favorite places to go explore.
It looks like I'll be down there in the fall. I'll most likely be staying in the Gainesville area...I'm thinking I'll have to check this place out.
You must! Also, check out Citrus Wildlife Management Area. It's not too terribly far from Gainesville, and it's a ton of fun!
Nice ! When I bring the G to Florida I wanna try this !
How long are you going to be in Florida? There's several places you should check out!
@@DefiantOffroad last time I brought my car it was a 911 so.. not much off roading to do! But I’ll come back with the G, don’t know when yet but I’ll take notes from your videos!
Awesome! Glad that I could help!
🤝😊👍 Отличный контент! Успехов!
Thanks!
Hard to make onf look good, great camping but the worst 4 wheeling obstacle is sugar sand…
I find Ocala NF to be a great place to just get out and ride for a day. It's certainly not Moab, but it still has its charm.
Awesome place! Was that last part of the video the Pasley trail?
The F.A.T. passes very close to the Paisley Trail, but I don't believe it's following the same exact route there. Definitely the same part of the forest though!
@@DefiantOffroad
Great place to go swimming in that area is where the bridge goes over Alexander Springs creek on 445 for anybody around there on a nice warm day, crystal clear water year round.
I have a front wheel drive pick up truck. What do you think would be my limitations when visiting the park to drive on trails and camp in the truck bed overnight?
If your truck doesn't have 4 wheel drive, I would stay off of the dirt roads. While they are mainly hard-packed dirt, they can become soft, loose sand quickly. Ocala NF has some campgrounds that are easy to access though. Also check further north at the Osceola National Forest. The main trails there are much harder packed dirt, and most passenger vehicles can travel on them.
Can you pull off the trails and camp? I know it's a national forest and there ae rules but what about just pulling over and setting up camp?
Generally speaking, no. There are areas that dispersed camping is allowed, though. You would be better off going to the National Forest website and looking up the regulations there.
Thanks for not making us subscribe to a patreon in order to know where the trail is.
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Which off road map app do you use?
OnX Offroad
Were you in 2H or 4H for most of this? Did you ever have to drop into 4L?
I did nearly all of it in 4H. There was never any need for 4L
@@DefiantOffroad Thanks. We don't live that far from Ocala. We just did Windrock in the Smoky Mountains and got a little experience with rocks and mountains. Sand and mud would be a fun next step.
There isn't a lot of mud, unless it's rained recently. The sand varies from hard packed, to very soft sugar sand. It's definitely fun!
Do you have a cell phone service in there? Can I go by my self?
Yes and yes. The area is not technical at all. Some of the smaller side trails can have soft sand and mud though.
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Yes yes no no no no no no no no no no
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