How capable is a Pinz off road?

LibTimothy · Post by **LibTimothy** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 2:22 pm

Is there any reason to believe that a 712M can’t do a trail run that an XTerra can do? Would it be difficult to do hairpin turns with it being 16 ft long?

Is there any reason (except driver inexperience) that should keep me out of a forest trail?

Thanks once agian for the sharing of your knowledge!

Timothy

75pinz · Post by **75pinz** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 2:36 pm

Are you serious? How long is your Exterra?

LibTimothy · Post by **LibTimothy** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 2:50 pm

I don't know how long an xterra is. They have to be bigger than a Jeep.

I was going to go out on a trail ride this weekend with a 4 wheel drive club up here.

They canceled the run on the green trails, and are trying to tell me that the Pinz will not make it on the blue trails that their xterras will be going on. First it was ground clearence, but now it is due to tight turns.

Timothy

mjnims · Post by **mjnims** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 3:48 pm

If you are that inexperienced with the pinz that you would even think the xterra is more capable than yes you should stay home.

75pinz · Post by **75pinz** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 3:53 pm

The Pinz has the tightest turning radius of pretty much anything else there is. A 712 is very capable and these guys are probably trying to avoid being shown up would be my guess at this point. I think you should do some research on the Pinz capability and then decide what you are comfortable with. Xterra is a joke compared to a Pinz off road.

LibTimothy · Post by **LibTimothy** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 3:55 pm

If I came across as BELIEVING that an xterra is more capable than a pinz, then I apologize for the insult.

I was just wondering if I missed something.

Thanks for your help.

Timothy

Wayne Roberts · Post by **Wayne Roberts** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 3:58 pm

Take the Pinz and show them what they should have bought!! A Pinz will go anywhere a Xterra will go and then a few hundred miles farther down the trail. A Pinz will go most anywhere you point it.

Erik712m · Post by **Erik712m** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 3:59 pm

Tim, I would pick a new crowd to hang out with sounds like your 4by4 crowd does not have your best intrust. Sounds to me that doing something with this crowd could get you or your pinz hurt. Does the xterra even have true lockers?

undysworld · Post by **undysworld** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 4:23 pm

Tim, I've got to agree. Unless these guys are just yanking your chain, they're f'in nuts. On dirt, diff's locked, the 712 probably turns as tightly as the Nissan. Diff's unlocked, no trouble outmaneuvering them.
I've owned 3 different Jeeps, all modified, 3 Toyota 4x4 trucks, and a Ranger with 7" lift and a 302, and they were all great trucks. But the Pinz, especially a 712, is just in a different league.
Read what you can about Pinz's off-road handling characteristics, and then just stop before you excede your knowledge. There are some peculiar specifics.

todds112 · Post by **todds112** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 8:34 pm

I went from a modified Jeep Rubicon to my 712. I thought the Rubicon was the most capable off road vehicle ever. Until I drove the 712 off road, that is. The Pinz will SPANK the Jeep. Only area I can think of the Jeep would win is low hanging branches, etc. I do miss the power steering a bit.

Take it easy and build your skills gradually. Learn the off roading basics, then the particulars of your Pinz (like Undysworld said).

Here's a very basic tip: Keep your thumbs out of the inside of the steering wheel. If you hit a bump, rutt, etc. The wheel can spin around very fast. The spokes can sprain or even break your thumb.

andy · Post by **andy** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 9:37 pm

Ground clearence? You have more than enough for anywhere they go unless they are driving some super modified rock crawling stuff. And even then the Pinz is usually a formidable contender. Check out some of the stuff on Pinzgauers in YouTube. Nims has posted a bunch of pretty cool videos. Query: pinzgauers and you will get a long list of videos. Profpinz has some posted that will give you an insight as to what a 712 can do. You'll do fine. Just take it slow if you come to obstacles and check them out to see where you want your wheels to be. The big female dog will be if you have the front locked and have to do a serious turn.

Andy

LibTimothy · Post by **LibTimothy** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 6:57 am

Thanks everyone.

Well I now think I was disinvited from this trip only because of my inexperience, not because of the excuses used.

I do only have less than an hour off road time. My point in going was to build up some experience. But I certainly do not want to ruin anyone else's fun.

How different those guys are from you all.

Timothy

andy · Post by **andy** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 7:45 am

I don't know what the difference is between green and blue trails. But if one is the easier of the two, what's keeping you from loading up your significant other or a friend and going by yourself. Take a cell phone with you and take it slow. Build up some more off road time and build your confidence in yourself and your vehicle.

Andy

JC · Post by JC » Thu Jun 05, 2008 9:35 am

You should not have any trouble off-roading with a group of X-terras. You can go anywhere they can even if they are modified( only exception is if they are modified to the point of not being paved road worthy, and even then you probably can) The only piece of advice I will give it just because you are following an X-terra does not mean you should take the same line. A harder line for an X-terra might be easer for the Pinz and visa-versa.

LibTimothy · Post by **LibTimothy** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 9:43 am

Andy,

I believe it is like a ski slope rating. Green is for beginners, blue for moderate, and black for advanced. The place is a private off road vehicle park with trails that are rated (I have no idea by whom). I have not been there myself, but judging by pictures, I think green trails have a few less places to get stuck, and the black trails have some kind of technical rock climb involved. Honestly, based on pictures I have seen here, I think you guys out west would laugh your “you know what’s” off at the difference in difficulty.

There are few places to go off road here legally. (The People’s Republic frowns on this kind of activity, so the closest place in Pennsylvania.) Due to the lack of places to go, the ORV park is heavily used.

I'm just going to go down there and see if I can tag along with another group. My 40 minutes off road already taught me about watching my thumbs and my mirrors. In that short time I whacked my thumb, broke a mirror, and learned that you can't climb a wet 50 degree slope when it is covered with leaves and debris. (Plan B was turn around and go further down the hill until I came to a road.)

I wish I could afford the gas to go out to your big bend trip. I just could not shake loose the about 3K calculated gas cost to get to Texas and back. I gotta move south.

Fear not. I have lots of free time, and I am a quick learner. Thanks.

Timothy

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How capable is a Pinz off road?

How capable is a Pinz off road?

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