At the risk of perpetuating a troll, perhaps this section would be better labeled "backroads" or "outdoors" rather than "off-road." Then all my camping stuff would fit right in. The campgrounds I frequent are paved.

A final note, P.J. O'Rourke nailed it when he observed:


"The ultimate off-road vehicle is the rental car."

I think its fine just the way it is

maybe we need a section just for short/ long stories, where we can all tell of our stories that we have with us and our elements

Dunno, I hit Baja over some long weekends for some surf safaris, and I think off-road is an improvement over some of the back-roads down there. :shock:

While 'backroads' is more descriptive of what I drive, I don't have problems if others use off-roading in a generic sense. After all, just how do you, or anyone else, define off-road? In many areas you are prohibited from leaving established roads or tracks - in that case, even if the tracks are rough, you can't drive 'off - road'. Is the Rubicon trail a 'road'? or any of the dozens of old mining roads around Moab? How about the county maintained jeep trails in the San Juan Mtns of Colorado? Some roads can be easily driven when dry, but become difficult when wet (especially if the surface is clay). Add enough snow and any road becomes impassible to anything but a dedicated snow machine.

The 'off-road' designation has worked well enough during 2+ years of forum operation. Few people have disputed whether a thread belongs in this section. The major exception occurred a while back when some trolls appeared on hondaelament.org and ridiculed various posts where I described some of my backroads driving. It was hard to tell whether they were juveniles, or men whose sense of masculinity was threatened by such 'wimpy' off-roading.

paulj

hiker chick: Far from being a troll, you are one of our most valuable members. Your input is always welcome. That other dude WAS a troll.

If this section needs a new title, I'd vote for 'off-highway'. This is what Honda uses the manual. It covers backroads as well as parks like Pismo Beach, and backyard mud holes. It does not cover driving an ATV across a mountain meadow.

In government literature, off-highway is also prefered. For example, Pismo Beach (an area of drivable dunes) is
The State Vehicular Recreation Areas or SVRAs, are OHV parks that are operated by the OHMVR Division of California State Parks.


What ever the title, it is good to have a section that collects threads about the RT4WD system, the folly of lifting the Element, and rough road driving techniques and experiences. Tire discussions are probably best kept in the 'performance' section. Illustrated trips could go here, or in images. Snow driving doesn't have an obvious home.

paulj

The backroad I live on is off-road! :-o

We will be revamping the forum layout and structure as well as titles of the various forums before the end of the year. Probably closer to Turkey Day Weekend.