I am looking for some help in a custody battle with my (x)wife. she has told the judge that wheelin is not for the family and not for my boys 6 and 3 years of age. I need some input on this one and maybe some fo your thoughts on this. most of the trails i do with the boys are at Hollister Hills. thanks for the input.:confused:

So spending time with the family is not good for your boys? I'll write a letter, I just returned from HH this weekend, took the entire family, wife and sons (3, 8 months). My 3 year old son runs all the trails with me. I'd suggest going out to HH and taking some pictures of all the families out for the day. Maybe video tape a few interviews. Or do as your wife suggests and keep them indoors watching TV and playing video games.

Joe

Originally posted by rochog
I am looking for some help in a custody battle with my (x)wife. she has told the judge that wheelin is not for the family and not for my boys 6 and 3 years of age. I need some input on this one and maybe some fo your thoughts on this. most of the trails i do with the boys are at Hollister Hills. thanks for the input.:confused: Get a hold of Joe Sands on the Off Road Mailing List (offroad@offroadlist.com) , he just went through this. Same part of California too, I believe he lives out in the Delta.

Well now we know why your getting a divorce, I would emphasize wheeling to be more of "Camping" that requires a off road vehicle to get to the better spots. Just make sure its not protrayed as a bunch of foul mouthed red neck drunks on a quest to compinsate for the lack of there endowment though overbuilt, over priced, ego driven rigs. just my .02

Originally posted by LAWMAN
Well now we know why your getting a divorce, I would emphasize wheeling to be more of "Camping" that requires a off road vehicle to get to the better spots. Just make sure its not protrayed as a bunch of foul mouthed red neck drunks on a quest to compinsate for the lack of there endowment though overbuilt, over priced, ego driven rigs. just my .02

damn mike, that was a mouth full:D yeah get some pix of you and the boys with the camping gear and fishing poles, you always gotta bring the fishin poles!!!

Joe your son ROCKS.

Sunday morning he was helping me air down and then he was telling Sara about your Scout.

Funniest thing was when we were coming back down the hill and he was crying because he wanted to go back up and do more :D

I'll be at HH for Fathers Day weekend with my boys. 5 and 9. Camping Friday night and fun on Sat, then to Grandpa's house.

--JoshC

One of the reasons I want to have kids is to show them the world of 4 wheeling.

Think back to when you were a little one and how everything seemed so big and cool.

Now think about how fun 4 wheeling must be for kids.

I think it would be the greatest thing to show a little person this.

Josh and Joe are both doing this with their kids.

What is she talkin about, I remember how my pops and I would go out fishin, and wheelin and shootin all the time, ILOVED IT, and it was not all that long ago, I'm only 16 now.
PAt

But in todays fsensative world we are taught that playing army and or Cowboys and indians is insensative and wrong.
Hunting is just killing bambi and donald duck.
and 4 wheeling is just running over pretty flowers and chasing animals away from their precious homes and well you know dads aren't father figures any more they are tutors of destruction

Damn I wish those hot cups of Mcdonalds coffee would kill all those stupid fawkers.

Originally posted by Monkeyboy
....well you know dads aren't father figures any more they are tutors of destruction

Damn I wish those hot cups of Mcdonalds coffee would kill all those stupid fawkers.

What the hell are you :smokin: :question:


Man that was deep :flipoff2: got me thinking about my role as a dad, em I bad for letting Joseph watch Fear Factor?

Wheelin brought us together as a family :)



Dayammmmm that almost sounded like a religoius commercial eh! :eek: :D :)

Originally posted by suburban grl
Wheelin brought us together as a family :)



Dayammmmm that almost sounded like a religoius commercial eh! :eek: :D :)

That sig of yours is funny in this post sub girl!

Joe from what I can see with your kids you are doing just fine.

And No you aren't one of the fawkers that needs to be knocked off by a cup O hot coffee.

I'm not smoking I'm not even drinking.

THis new weakling victim be sesitive to everything mentality really gets on my nerves.

They preach all this sensativety and under standing crap then they turn around and stomp good people like us into the ground:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

Damn straight.(What he said!!)

thanks for the input I have court on thursday and dont have time to goto Hollister and get some video.
I also grew up hunting, fishing and wheeling it is the best way to relax and get away from the norm.

Unless you get some greenine Judge I don't see how getting out in the world with your children can be anti family. Don't see how that fantasy could hold water in the court of law. Sounds like the soon to be EX is a cold hearted bitch trying to get back at you and using the custody as a means to do it.
Bring pictures of you and your kids out having a good time. See if you got pictures of you and yours out on the trails with other family's.
Heck my oldest girl LOVES going wheeling. When she get's scaried (or if I get worried) she stands off to the side with the other kids and their parrents in my club. My youngest (15.5 months) is going on her first wheeling trip this weekend. Missed my wife on the trail for the last 2 years. We are going to some private land a friends family has and always throws a good Memorial day party. My Club is a Big "Family" bassed club and there will be a good 20 kids running around and jumping into the swimming hole. To bad Mr's Stilts the Giraffe passed (yes a real one standing 20ft tall and privately owned...the land is a wildlife refuge). :( Would have loved to get a picture of my youngest feeding him carrots to go on the mantle with the picture of my oldest feeding him a few years ago.
That's total BS guy. Good luck with it and I can see why the divorce is happening. She's one mean woman.

Originally posted by rochog
thanks for the input I have court on thursday and dont have time to goto Hollister and get some video.
I also grew up hunting, fishing and wheeling it is the best way to relax and get away from the norm.
Im 31 now and my dad started taking me wheeling when I was 1 or 2. Heck he still takes me wheeling 30 years later.

This makes me SO mad. I wish my father had taken me wheeling when I was little. My dad hates the outdoors. Not sure where I picked up the bug for wheeling, camping, fishing and the like. I was just out fly fishing today, all in all, I have been fishing 4 or 5 times in the past week. I don't think anyone in my family even knows how to operate a fishing pole. It would make my day if I could enjoy that kind stuff with my dad. As it is he thinks I spend to much time and money on my truck and I would never even begin to tell him how much time I spend fishing during the summer months (summer school is all he wants to hear about). Your kids are very lucky and I hope this court thing goes well for you bro. I'll keep you in the prayers...

My old man and I get along pretty well, and we did do thigs together as a child. He enver took me wheeling, because he hates it. He did take me fishing and those are some of the ebst momories Ihave of me and my dad. Sure he complains about me working on my truck all the time, but he also asks for my help all the time when it comes to cars and trucks. Every once in a while he laughs and says he will come with me one of these days. Ican't wait to ake him. he went to claROCS to watch me compete, but he goit turned away. That was devastating to me because this would have been the first time he was able to come watch me do what I love to do. Anyway, I ramble. I say you print up this thread and bring it to the Judge. Show the judge that there are a lot of people that are into this weehling thing with their families, and it is much better than sitting at home watching TV. This is a true bonding time with the family. This is when the boys can look at their father adn say " I want to be just like him one day. I want to own a truck and drive it off road just like my dad does."

Dimitri

I grew up hunting and fishing with my dad. I think I spent more weekends out on a boat or walking on the ice with him for that sweet fishing hole.

I got 2 boys now of my own. my wife just recently decided Cali was not for her. she went home for xmas break and filed for custody. since we only were in cali for 5 months the FAWKIN NY granted her custody.

long story short. Josh is now 4.5 he has been going with me for 2 years. This was going to be Zacks first time out. he will be 2 in July. I get them for the summers. You can bet your house on it. they will be out camping, wheeling, and fishing with me every summer here in Cali.

This is the very reason why I bought another 4x. My son and I work on it together and he gets to see the rewards of all the hard work. When he wakes up the first thing he asks is "can we take the Bronco to school dad." I can't keep him from posting all his toys on the fences, neighbors retaining walls, hell anything he can find to drive up on.
I agree, photos taken of you and your kids "camping" and having a great time should really help you out. Good Luck.

your best defense is right here in front of you.
i am sure there are atleast 100 families here
that would write letters for you sharing how
they spend lots of weekends with their families
on these trails.
just make sure you have all the safety equipment in your
rig and take pictures so you can show them to the judge.
i am sure with letters and pictures , you wont have any problems.

i went through this with my ex in a simular situation.
she didnt have a leg to stand on becouse i had all the safety
equipment needed , and i was responsible enough to stay
on the easy trails becouse my son was with me. and i had
film to prove it.

she has to prove you are irrisponsible and if she cant ,
she is s.o.l

its funny how ex's will pull anything they can to hurt
someone they were in love with to want to bring children into this
world.


good luck

Rochdog,

I have custody of my 3 kids, 9, 6, and 4. I took them to a NWRCA event last year and they are still talking about how fun it was. Never mind the 30 mph sandblast we got.

I bought a '47 Flatty last year for the expressed reason of taking my kids wheelin'. It is almost done, but Memorial day is here. So I am takin' my tow rig. My kids are stoked, in part cause they are getting outta the house, but because it's going to be a family thing. Being a single dad, full time student, and working whenever I can they look forward to some time out of cell phone rang if you know what I mean.

Two thumbs up for givin' a rip about your kids, my ex- sees the kids once a month on average.

I have to say.. your Ex is going the wrong direction.
I too have an Ex so I am right in there with ya.

I took my kids wheelin all last year. 7 and 3 at that time. They still talk about it. even when I brake something they are right there with me. I had my youngest under the jeep helping me spin wrenches.
I can't think of a beter way to bond with your child. gives them alot more than they could get sitting infront of the tube. getting them involved with the whole experience. If they are into it they have more meaningfull life experience. That gives them confidence in themself. I hear my boys talk to there friends at what fun they had.


present your case with positive envolvement of being there with your boyz when wheeling. How they enjoy it with you. That they still talk about how much fun they have with you.

Wheeling can definately be a family thing. That's the primary reason I got into it. The kids love it, my son demands to be in the Jeep every time it moves! I think it's truely the best way to get out and enjoy the outdoors with kids, particularly small kids. Look at how much you can see. With a 4x4, you can get far back into the mountains. If you tried to hike, you'd be lucky to get 500 ft from where you parked your car unless you carried your kids all the way. I'm just not superhuman enough to do that. Weather doesn't matter. If it starts to rain or snow, on a 4x4 trip, it might just make it more fun. If it does that on a hiking trip, you might never get them to go with you again. Danger? If there's a particularly dangerous obstacle, all you have to do is kick them out and let them watch from a safe distance. Once your past it, they just hop back in. If hiking, you probably wouldn't be going there.
Here's a writeup I did about a trip with my kids. (http://www.jeeptech.com/oliver/Trips/HackettGulch/index.htm) They talked about that for months afterwards. Notice the snow on the trail. No way you could have done a trip like that on foot with two small kids. With 4x4s, it was not only possible, but perfectly safe as well.

there is nothing more satasfying then seeing your kids eat lunch while they are enjoying themselves alot. I cannot wait till they are here for the summer.


Josh's Lunch (http://jopey.overclockers-network.com/josh.jpg)

Just my two cents worth. My family and i love to go wheelin. I have a 2 and a half year old who loves to go wheelin,and my 8 month old will be right behind him as soon as he is old enough to ask to go. This shouldnt be an issue, Any time spent with your kids is quality time. If they enjoy wheelin keep takin them.

:jeep: DOG

My god, can you get any better quality time?
Kids being outdoors with family and friends, how much more sense can it make?

I take my kids wheeling with me all the time. They enjoy the camping and wheeling and cannot wait to go back. They also come along for the races. The older one will be a passanger. My daughter will watch and take pics. It's about together time doing something we all enjoy.

Wheelin is a family sport, shoulda seen all the little kids runnin around Moab this weekend. For me it worked the other way around tho, I got into wheelin, then got my mom into it, and now shes got a rig too.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/38596539/38601934lLBTaj
good luck

Dallas

(x)wife is pissed off I asked for a contunuience on the date for the the custody date and she was not happy. I will be going to HH this weekend for some video of some families on the trail.
Thanks for all of the input on this subject and I am going to print this post and admidt it in for evadence that I am not the only dad that wants to spend time with his childeren in the outdoors.


Thanks for the help ROCHOG
:rasta: :eek: :rasta:

I'm very sorry that you're are going through this, it must be tough! IMO, the most important thing is that you spend quality time with your children. I know of no better way to do that than to use your 4x4 to take you and the kids to a remote location for a weekend of camping and getting back to nature. Promote the togetherness issue, not the 4x4 sport issue.

My wife and I have been taking our teenage girls on trips since they were both 4 months old. They are now 15 1/2 yo and 18 yo, both have there own rigs and we have a wonderful relationship because we do things as a family with other families.

Good luck with your fight! Your boys need you in their lives! They need you to teach them how to be good men that respect the environment and Tread Lightly.

Go for it. Don't let her tell you what you can and can't do as a family!!!!

Not to be an ass but i really hate close minded people who only look out for themselves,and that is what she is doing:mad3: :mad3:

:jeep: DOG

Rochog,

I will be at HH on Saturday. my 2 kids will be there too. We should be there most of the day. maybe I'll see ya there.


.../dan

kodak what kind of rig do you drive? I will be looking out for you and anyone else that is going to go out.

by the way we went to medeation today and I walked out a happy man, I got my boys back today. I will get them every other weekend and every other 10 days in the summer. It was like pulling teeth to get what I got but I wasnt going to leave untill I got to get back my boys and it payed off for me.

Today was a good day indeed.

Thanks for you all writing in. It was very useful. Thanks again.


I run channel 12 I will be in a s10 blazer a big red one

oops My Bad, We are going Monday to HH,

That is good news.

Congrats!!!!I am glad all worked out. And i am sure that the kids will benifit from it, Spending time with their dad is the best thing.

:D :D :D :D

:jeep: DOG

I had a good weekend with the boys. I bring them home and my (other) says I dont want you to take the boys wheelin any more. I thought that this was taken care of in the medeation. Now she has changed her mind and we will have to go to medeation again.:confused: :confused: :confused:

Same story as above...my son has been going on the con since he was 2, hes almost nine now, and he'd kick my ass if I went without him. My daughter went for her first time last year, at age 3. She loved it and still talks about it.

When I sold my last rig and switched to a zuk I searched high and low for a LWB...so I'd have room for the whole crew. I however am fortunate that my wife like to go too.