Yeah it was major fun! A perfect spot to go out and really get the feel for what these things can do if you don't have much off road experience and a place to test the size of your uh...ride... if youre a seasoned vet!

You're the second one to tell me they should do an imax like that! anybody got a few extra hundred thousand they could toss my way for a camera?

Silver Lake is a state park so you just need a park pass and an ORV sticker to get in.
Here is the DNR website
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7...4760--,00.html

You can also get some more info over at http://www.silverlakeforum.com I just started posting some stuff there, same name. theres quite a few Hummer guys over there too.
It would be a great spot to do a meet! You definately dont need anything special to go wheeling there. Just air down the tires and take off the side steps! We had stock everything from H3X's to H1s...lots of quads, dirt bikes, sandrails and tricked out dune buggies too. There was even a stock newFord Explorer with 4 people in itkeeping up! Varying terrain from mild to wild and the sand is nice and soft so no trail damage so you can try the wild without worrying about totaling yourevery day driver! Really helpful people too. If you get stuck, a huge pickup truck was on its way up the dune with a strap in a matter of seconds. All the big dunes are directional so you never have to worry about flying up a huge dune and wondering if somebody else is flying up the other side right at you. The only real danger is getting to the lip of a dune too fast and launching. We had one H2 SUT do that and he cracked his windshield and did some realigning of the body because he came off a little too hot and nosed into the ground. But no breakdowns, everybody does a good job at keeping thier distance and driving defensively.

As for the white truck, I didn't see it happen but I got there right after. They said he came over the ridge too fast and launched it. The nose dropped right when the back launched so it flipped them completely overendo styleand they landed right on the roof. It was a family of 4 with no seatbelts!!! [sm=insomnia.gif][sm=insomnia.gif] The fellow dune riders were there in a matter of seconds to get everybody out. They were all really shook up but other than a few bumps and bruises, they walked away. Here are some more pics from the guys over at silverlakeforum ..

 

Signing up HumminNBoatin. I have a nod from Zyne as to a trip, so you guys could caravan if you're interested. There are some wipe outs, most don't end up with sigificant injury. Everybody just has to use their brain...............absolutely no alcohol in the Dune Area!!!! I've been goin there since 1979, and I only saw one helicopter evac, I think it was 3 or 4 years ago when two trucks rolled and a kid was ejected, US Coast Gaurd can be there PDQ!

You can do the Dune area from mild, up to crazy WILD. Depends on your equipment (tires mean a lot), sand experience, and common sense. If you have never been before, the best way is to go with somebody who has to give you a tour, show you the trouble areas, then you can have at it. Loads of fun. I take the family every yearand this is a great place for the kids. Tons of stuff to do, don't have to wheel all day to have a good time. Plenty of accommodations: hotels, motels, cottages and campgrounds.

Ghostrider, where did you end up getting your flag? Looks like a nice one. Those drag vids crack me up dude.[sm=gears.gif]I heard your I5 roaring, NICE with a ha ha at the end up hill. Watched it a bunch of times, I might have to dub it over with some classic rock though This is what we needed to get people interested in a Dunes meet. Nice work!

 

I ended up getting my flag right at the Silver Pointe General Store. Its the gas station right on the corner between the campgrounds and the dunes entrance where B15 curves. It was definately expensive thats for sure but its nice. Screws in half so you dont have to have the whole thing up. I quickly realized why you designed your own bracket though. It took some major creativity to get it to work and it was just enough to get me by for the day. I'm going to work on making something better.

Yea the drags were awesome. That chuckle of mine at the end was when we had the "great" idea of racing to the top of the hill. I won but accidentally climbed a few feet above the hill too! Launched it. Luckily it was a clean jump, landedclean on all 4and didnt bottom out the suspension or hurt anything.

funny yousuggest classic rock. I actually had the 1st version with a nice variety of classic rock...but decided to make it a little more extreme. But the classic was mostly because Thursday night I went to the REO Speedwagon concert so I was rockin to XM 49 classic rock allllll weekend long!

 

I figured, we have the same flag! I like taking it apart to transport back and forth every time I go! The Silver Sand Resort acrossed the street is where I usually stay, unless I rent a cottage for the week.

Back in 1982 I saw REO at the Silver Dollar Saloon, East Lansing. I was the guy wholet them in the back door unannounced cuz there was a huge line out front!! he he, was supposed to be studying, oops.

 

Hey Doc. Are we still looking for a spring get-together here? Is this the same place we've been talking about this whole time? I think it would be loads of fun. Do they allow grills and BBQ'in and all that fun stuff?

 

Yes. Same place. No grilling in the Dune area, but after at the Hotel, cottage, motel, campground. Dunes in the day. Some grillin and chillin after, maybe a go cart ride or three!!! We shall all huddle on a good date for a trip(s). Might have to do more than one!!! Big fun guaranteed for all, even the little ones.

 

Well, depending on our funds at the time, we may, MAY have our RoadTrek by then, and assuming it can tow, oh 5k pounds or so, we might camper it and tow the H3. Do you think it would be possible to do that, or is that just a disaster waiting to happen? I've never towed another vehicle before. I don't even really get how it steers properly..............

 

It is possible, but a 3 is pretty freekin heavy. If everything is up to snuff and you take your time, could be done. You would need one heavy duty tow dolly. I've seen many people towing Jeeps and Mini trucks, but no H3s yet. One guy showed up at Silver Lake this summer with a ginormous trailer, had 3 four wheelers and a small 18' bow rider boat on it pulled by a four door Ford pick up with a four wheeler in the bed!!!

 

I've seen Class A'sdragging H3's ...no class B's yet but a class B should be ratedabout 8,000lbs so it should be able to handle it pretty well I'd think. If you are going to flat tow it (put the t-case in neutral) make sure you get all the safety brakes and failsafes in case it comes loose.

Here was my test of the H3's towing ability. I hauled this about 40 miles...it was RIGHT at the limit.

 

Sorry Doc I cant make the 28th.