LOL.
Seriously though...
Ford takes people on a guided trail ride on fairly easy stuff and charges them thousands.
You haven't even taken us on a trail ride.
Maybe try organizing something for people to come out and do for a weekend and see how well you like it. I will tell you that it's way better tagging along on someone else's adventures than organizing and leading them.
It's a lot of work and a lot of responsibility. Especially if you're getting paid. You'll have to worry about some dipshit getting hurt and his wife wanting to sue you.
Or getting a phone call from some Park Ranger because she saw your event online, wrongfully obtains your phone number, then calls and accuses you of doing things you didn't do and needing permits that you don't actually need.
People's trucks breaking down 1,000s of miles from home. Having to skip a section of trail to protect someone because their vehicle isn't up to it.
People bitching at you because you haven't made it to the campsite and they need to eat.
Stragglers that keep falling behind.
People that hold you up because you're having to constantly wait for them.
People that need 50 potty breaks.
Trucks that show up and you don't know how they even made it to the event and then need to remove the bed to repair their fuel pump.
If you're lucky, you end up with someone like Bobby in the group that can troubleshoot anything, Eric who's great at organizing things to do off the trail, and Gump who can feed a group of people.
Damn it. Now I want some campfire pizza.
I've led several trips around here locally. Heck I have been part of mapping out the whole middle TN area seems like. I've led 3 trips through the Georgia Traverse. 2 on Big Frog Loop and ended up leading our trip to the Smokey Mountains earlier this year. Most have went well. 2 were cut short because mechanical issues on others rigs. I've led several day rides through LBL over the past few years as well.
1st off we would have to have some tech inspection and a waiver. I've signed many of these waivers to attend rides. I should probably pay more attention to what they say. Will talk to my friends at Mill Creek and see what their waiver consists of.
2nd. I will have Kyle involved as my tech/mechanical guy. He's working on these rigs daily at Mill Creek Overland. Heck he's one of the people pushing me to do the whole thing.
3rd. It will be small groups. Max of 6 total. Now getting those 6 to download the maps maybe a task haha. But we will pre run the route and have designated stopping points. This will be the new part for me. As I hate having a particular spot I'm trying to make it to. I'm more of a fly by the seat of my pants kinda guy. Where Randy comes in. Beleive it or not he's quite good at organizing and scheduling.
4th. As far as cook duties we would all split them up. That way no one person gets burnt out on the trip. This is think would be the hardest part. Knowing what people can and will eat. May have ro have a set menu listed. If they want it good but they are free to cook for themselves.
What has brought this whole thing up. Is i get several people wanting me to show them around. Most these people have spent a ton of money to build an Overland rig to daily drive. Never been off-road or on a car camping trip. They may have used their RTT at a state park or 2. Brand new Toyota or Jeep. I would keep them on easy forest roads and get them camping in dispersed areas. I wouldn't label this an "off-road " trip. More of an outdoor adventure. A learn to use your gear kinda trip.
Oh by the way. I've invited you all on my Georgia Traverse trips and LBL trips. I can't help it you guys live all spread out across the country haha. I know there will be troubles and trials. But there are those on free trips. I would start small. 3 or 4 geust rigs at first and see how it goes. Just a little side hustle doing what I love. That might be a bad thing as well.
P.S. I wished I could take you guys along on every trip. Kevin and Bobby's knowledge is priceless. Gump and Eric's pizza gets my mouth watering just thinking of it. And Jim the way you have so much history and knowledge of things to see is what makes our adventures so memorable.
It's all just a dream right now. I'm camping with the crew next weekend. We will probably dream about it more around a campfire. Haha.
