Big Blue's Ouachita National Forest Trip

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Big Blue's Ouachita National Forest Trip

Gary Lewis
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Janey and I just got back from a 720 mile trip into Arkansas to drive around in the Ouachita National Forest.  Of that we were off the highway right at 150 miles, with 40 miles the first afternoon and 110 the next day.

The routes are shown below, but I can give gpx files if someone is interested.  Of the route I'd say that 140 of the 150 miles were on fairly easy gravel roads, but those other 10 miles were on some extremely narrow forest service roads with brush hanging in from both sides that had to be cleared.  Even then Big Blue has new pin striping.  Plus there were many, many mud puddles that were completely frozen over as it was down to 15F overnight.  But the puddles were not frozen solid so we broke the ice - not knowing how deep the puddles were.  So we were in 4Lo with the front diff locked in on several of those.  In addition there was one section that required 4Lo just to go slowly enough to handle the rocks and bumps.  And another section that was on the planned route was just too tight and too rough so after walking it a ways we found another route.

We had a wonderful time, and the fact that there were sections that challenging means that my son and I may decide to go back.  But that will require some route clearing, and we'll have to make sure that doing so is ok with the Forest Service.

Anyway, here are some pics from our trip as well as the routes.

Here's a shot from the first day showing Janey with the wonderful view of the Ouachita mountains in the background:



And here is a shot showing a typical view of the trail ahead.  We had many small concrete water crossings like the one you can see in this shot.  But, there were also lots of larger bridges to cross as the area has beautiful streams everywhere.




But, there were those 10 miles.  Here's a shot of a section where I had to clear out limbs above and pull brush from both sides just to get by, and even then the driver's mirror got bumped pretty hard.




Last, here are the routes:



Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

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Re: Big Blue's Ouachita National Forest Trip

Nothing Special
Sounds like fun!
Bob
Sorry, no '80 - '86 Ford trucks
"Oswald": 1997 F-250HD crew cab short box, 460, E4OD, 4.10 gears
"Pluto": 1971 Bronco, 302, NV3550 5 speed, Atlas 4.3:1 transfer case, 33" tires
"the motorhome": 2015 E-450-based 28' class C motorhome, 6.8L V-10
"the Dodge": 2007 Dodge 2500, 6.7L Cummins
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Re: Big Blue's Ouachita National Forest Trip

Gary Lewis
Administrator
It was fun, Bob.  And it may have been a scouting trip for the trip with our son.  Just checked and the whole of the Ouachita national forest is available for dispersed camping.  So, having found some difficult trails...
Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

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Re: Big Blue's Ouachita National Forest Trip

grumpin
That is cool! Nice pictures! Does look like fun.
Dane
1986 F250HD SC XLT Lariat 4x4 460 C6-Sold
1992 Bronco XLT 4x4 351W E4OD
1998 GMC Sierra SLE K1500 350 4L60E
Arizona
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Re: Big Blue's Ouachita National Forest Trip

Gary Lewis
Administrator
Thanks, Dane.  We certainly did have fun.

Here are some more pics.  First, here's what Big Blue looked like when we got home.  Mud caked everywhere, although it is hard to see due to the sun going down.  I got him out and hosed him off yesterday, but he's still not clean.



And here he is on a tight trail, but not the tightest spot 'cause I couldn't get out to take a pic on the tightest spots!



Here's an example of limbs we had to deal with - this one is ready to hit the truck on the passenger's side:




And here I am out clearing limbs away so we can go on.  This was typical of this section of the trail.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

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Re: Big Blue's Ouachita National Forest Trip

Machspeed
Administrator
Looks like fun, Gary! A couple those pics look like ATV trails. No way I'd take my truck through those....LOL! I'm thinking Big Blue is not likely to ever see nice shiny paint.
John

"Blackie" - 1986 F150 4x4 - Mildly warmed over 351W HO - Original owner
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Re: Big Blue's Ouachita National Forest Trip

taskswap
What a fun trip! Should we start a section on adventures/trips? It would be fun to showcase how capable these old trucks still are.
--
1981 F-250 Custom. 6.6L V8, 4 barrel Holley carb, ARA aftermarket A/C.
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Re: Big Blue's Ouachita National Forest Trip

Gary Lewis
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Good idea!  Done.  

John - Now you see why I told my son "NO!" when he asked if I'd had Big Blue painted.  
Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

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Re: Big Blue's Ouachita National Forest Trip

BigBrother-84
In reply to this post by Gary Lewis
Gary Lewis wrote
'cause I couldn't get out to take a pic on the tightest spots!
Jeff / 1984 F350 Crew Cab 4x4/5.8L w351 4V/ T18/ D50 4.10 front/ 8' bed.
Restored 2019-2022.
Nicknamed «Big Brother 1984», due to its soooo-looong shape & nod to George Orwell's 1984 famous novel.
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Re: Big Blue's Ouachita National Forest Trip

Gary Lewis
Administrator
And from what I hear/read it is even tighter on the Ozark Overland Adventure Trail.  But, we shall see - Thursday.
Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

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Re: Big Blue's Ouachita National Forest Trip

Rembrant
Great pics Gary, looks like fun!
1994 F150 4x2 Flareside. 5.0 w/MAF, 4R70W, stock.
1984 F150 4X2 Flareside. Mild 302 w/ 5spd. Sold.
1980 F150 4X4 Flareside. 300i6 w/ 5spd. Sold in 2021.
1980 F100 4X2 Flareside. 351w/2bbl w/NP435. Sold in 1995

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Re: Big Blue's Ouachita National Forest Trip

BigBrother-84
In reply to this post by Gary Lewis
Gary Lewis wrote
Thursday.
So exiting!
Jeff / 1984 F350 Crew Cab 4x4/5.8L w351 4V/ T18/ D50 4.10 front/ 8' bed.
Restored 2019-2022.
Nicknamed «Big Brother 1984», due to its soooo-looong shape & nod to George Orwell's 1984 famous novel.