Part 1 - Black Hills UTV Overlanding Camping II Polaris General 4 1000 [Family UTV Camping]

[@user-cs7mx6zc4n]

We have a total of 8 couples going out to the Balck Hills next year, the week after Labor Day for a 5 day UTV trip. I have been there several times but cant wait to UTV the hills. Great job on the videos! BTW we are all from Southern Wi also.

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

Thank you! Your trip sounds like a blast - may you have the amazing weather we had in our trip 🤙🏻 You wouldn’t believe how many WI natives we saw out there, it was getting pretty ridiculous by the end 😂 Highly recommend - we’ll try to share as many tips and tricks as we can!

[@stefanc2242]

Your little guy sleeping right off the bat is hilarious lol. Not sure if you've seen the "Helmet hands" product but attaches to their helmets and holds them up so they can sleep on long rides when they are tired. I've never tried one but just recently saw one and thought of it when I watched the video.

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

It’s crazy what he can sleep through 😂 we’ve seen something like those, thought about trying it. He seems to like to just alt down on the center console though. I dunno, maybe we’ll try one for the next trip! Appreciate the tip!

[@indianaoutdoorfanatic6292]

You produce excellent videos and I watch them as you put them out. My wife and I have been going off road for 22 years starting with ATV's and now UTV. Not wanting to offend you but, if you would avoid the mud and water holes you would have less radiator problems. I know it;s great fun but you could get stranded on a trail with overheating.

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

😂 I told my wife the same thing!!! She was driving that day and insisted on hitting EVERY mud puddle. No offense taken, it’s good to be right sometimes!😉 Our son loves puddles so I guess it’s the price of doing business. We have a water pump now so we can spray it off on the trail. But yeah, we have taken a more cautious approach to puddles now when overlanding! Anyways thanks so much for watching, we appreciate the kind words. Glad you are enjoying the videos.

[@AlexanderGarbuz]

Little dude looks very happy :)

[@tommyboy55901]

Wife and I loved watching your black hills videos. Reminded us when we used to go out to the hills every year Jeeping.

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

Awesome! Thanks so much. We love it out there. It seems everyone who has been has great memories.

[@thall6076]

Absolutely love this and you really don’t see to many families get out doing this much anymore and using your sxs to get out and enjoy life and nature, awesome video 👍

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

Thanks, it was so much fun. It should only get better too - this first day was pretty dull actually 😆

[@seanwiddows8065]

Love your content. Not a lot of KZbinrs posting videos of overland camping out of a side by side. Having family apart of it really puts the cherry on top. Thanks for showing us what we all wish we were doing! Drooling over here while I’m stuck at work haha.

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

Lol. Thanks Sean!!! It’s been a good ride so far. We’re just waiting for summer now - we got at least two big overlanding trips planned as of now! Be sure to break up that work stuff with a few videos now and then so you don’t strain yourself! 🤙🏼

[@rustykiser1601]

Beautiful looking country, so thankful for public lands !!

[@tomblain7753]

Great video. We live in and love the Black Hills. Come back and see us another time.

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

Thanks! We will for sure!

[@captseamus]

Our favorite road was the Spearfish Canyon River Road... It was absolutely gorgeous!!

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

That is a gorgeous spot. I’ve driven that many times and always wanted to fish there

[@kapperoutdoors]

Awesome find and recovery of the sleeping bags!!

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

LOL. For sure! We were worried there for a little bit 😬 😆

[@chrisleui7183]

Hahaha I was the one who found your camping bags! Glad you found them! Think you guys had passed me I was in a lifted blue jeep

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

No kidding!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!! 😂 That is hilarious. You live out there or were you just visiting? If we’re ever in the same area we owe you a lunch / beer or something 🍻 🙏🏼

[@chrisleui7183]

I live in Rapid City and I'm always in the hill either on my dirt bike or in my Jeep. Next time you come back to the hills I'll definitely take you up on the beer lol

[@ventureoutdoorfamily5523]

Awesome Video!!! Overlanding in the General is a big goal of ours! Thanks for sharing!

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

You bet. Thank you!

[@Idahoshepherds83440]

Really enjoy your videos ! Looking forward to more great content.

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

Awesome! Glad you’re enjoying them. Thanks for subscribing.

[@Munmi4]

I just found your channel and subscribed. It looks like you might need a head and neck restraint system for the little guy. :) His noggin got to bouncing a bit there while he fell asleep.

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

Thanks! We’ve looked at them a little bit and go back and forth on it… Maybe we should just try one. He seems to like putting his head on the center console to nap. It doesn’t look comfortable but he never complains and he sleeps all the time. I honestly don’t know how kids do it. If that was me I probably wouldn’t be able to turn my head for a week. Thanks for the tip… I think we’ll take a look at them again for our next overlanding trip

[@TopwaterScott55]

What an amazing adventure!

[@2fast65]

Great video thanks for taking us along i have a general also and would love to ride there this is on my bucket list have a great day be safe.

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

Glad you enjoyed it thanks for joining us! BHNF is great, you definitely need to get there at some point. Cheers!

[@davidrobbins6978]

that is so great you found your sleeping bags

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

The guy who found them and set them on the side of the trail left a comment below too 😁

[@kapperoutdoors]

Very cool adventure!! Thank you!

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

You betcha! Thanks!

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

We are now adding more info on our blog about this trip as well: northwoods.family/

[@jessewarren2689]

This is the content I've been looking for! 👌

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

Welcome Jesse! Glad you found it valuable 👍

[@hlhl2691]

Great video!

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

Really appreciate the support 👍

[@jimherman1395]

Another great video. I wish you had discussed permit or pass requirements if any and a little bit about trailheads for those of us who camping is Motel 6 no room service.

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

We will for sure! It’s in the works - we’ll go through all that in a separate video about our planning. Stay tuned :)

[@reedembley5197]

Hey, I'd really like to see a video of what kind of camera gear you are using. I see a GoPro but I can't make out the model. Are there other types of cameras too? What type of camera sticks are you using? How about a gimble mount and/or tri-pods? What mounts are you using both on and off the machine? I use Ram Mounts and have just purchased a Kemi Moto swivel mount and I'm excited to get mounted and experiment with. You mount you GoPro and then you can securely swivel it around to capture other angles. What program are you using to produce your videos? How much do you use a drone? I'm very interested in the photography opportunities 4-wheeling affords us. How much do you use a drone? Just thought I'd ask and maybe we can see the what and how of your production. Maybe we can share some things that will make everybody better. Thanks!

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

Hey Reed! That’s a great idea. It crossed my mind a while back and I kind of forgot about it. I’d love to do that video. The Ram Mount is an awesome idea to be able to swivel it quickly like that. I picked something up already! We’ll get working on it! Thanks for the idea!

[@danharris5873]

Love your videos of the Black Hills? Where did you get that map ? And did you color code

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

You can get them at USFS offices or a number of gas stations, grocery stores, etc in the Hills. They have online PDFs too at the USFS website. And color code / that was just us with a highlighter.

[@chb32nj]

Great video series about UTV riding in the Black Hills! I am planning a very similar trip next year and your videos have been very informational. What did you use for radio communication with your family? Thanks

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

Thanks! Glad you’ve found them helpful. We have a ComS4S intercom/radio from UTVCOM. It’s been a good unit overall and it’s really nice being able to have a conversation. It makes riding with the family much more enjoyable.

[@gm780]

Good morning I want to say first I have not seen too many overlanding videos in a UTV. So with that my hat is off to you and your family. The reason for this long message is tires. I just about wore out a set of stock bias stock tires on a 700 mile ride across the Arizona Strip last fall.Here's my question your Tusk terabyte tires how many miles do you have on them now and what condition are they in. After watching your video I'm considering going terabytes. Thank you very much a response would be greatly appreciated.

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

Thanks! Yeah, the bias ply tires tend to go fast. We've ripped through some really quickly on our Ranger like that. On our General we put on over 1500 miles on our Terrabytes and I'd saw they are maybe half-worn? That is street miles and trails about 50/50. We are running a set of radial tires from Falcon Ridge now we were sent to test out, and we've been really happy with those as well so far. I would expect to get significantly more mileage out of any good radial tire - and your ride is going to be so much nicer! It's 100% worth going with radials. Hope that answers the question! Let us know if you have more!

[@koulo4051]

I’m from Winneconne, WI. I’m planning on doing a trip to the Black Hills this summer. Will be pulling a 6.5 x 12 trailer with a Honda Pioneer 1000 on it. I have a 2015 Tundra. Was just wondering what kind of gas mileage were you getting with your Tundra.

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

I think we’re usually around 8mpg towing the trailer with the General. 15 without. Love our Tundra… but gas mileage isn’t its strong point.

[@richardnewman4042]

what kind of frigerator or Cooler do you use. I have a 2022 general XP 1004 I'm setting up for fun. You guys talk about going West should look into Arizona peace trail it looks like fun too

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

Thanks for the tip on AZ! We’ll take a look. I do love that state :) Our cooler is a Lifetime brand… it works pretty good and isn’t as much as a Yeti. We want to get some kind of heat blanket for our bed though, to even better insulate it. We went through a lot of ice on our trip last week - but it was really hot.

[@richardnewman4042]

@@TheNorthwoodsFamily I don't remember what side you have your cooler on but the left side would be best so it wouldn't be over the exhaust

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

We kind of have it in the middle on top of another box. But I think you’re right it sure wouldn’t hurt if we could stack it towards the drivers side more. Thanks!!

[@djgsxr600]

If your kids fall alseep often on rides you should look into the helmet straps for kids

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

Do you have one you’d recommend specifically? Grant usually just rests his head on the center console when he sleeps. It looks awkward and I have no idea how he sleeps through some of the bumps! 😆 It’s something we’ve looked at a little but haven’t felt we’ve seen a great solution so definitely are interested in ideas! Thanks!

[@til1645]

So I have to ask.... In the vid you indicate you traveled FS 6715. Is this not 62" width or less? And is your General wider than allowed? Just wondering.....

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

It could be a 62” trail not sure off the top of my head, we rode several that were - but our General is not the wider XP model. It’s a DLX. At least at the time with the tries we had installed it sat exactly at 62” wide.

[@sxsoffroad43]

Where do you suggest a starting piont? Nice video plan to do this trip soon. Did you only camp at campgrounds or just off trail?

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

Central area like we started is a good bet - then you can go anywhere then and it’s easier to return if you have trouble. I’d look around Custer Peak, and between Hill City and Deadwood. We split half and half - boondocking and campgrounds.

[@sxsoffroad43]

Awesome video inspirational at least.. Definitely will keep that in mind 500 miles ride is right what we like.

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it and good luck!

[@GulfSoftwash]

Through the trail system, what was your average cruise speed? Just bought a new Kubota RTV X1120 diesel and I can cruise consistently at 25. Wondering if that’s too slow for a trip like this.

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

On the trails or most forest roads you’d be fine. We had some trials we were doing 40+ but usually we were running 20-30, and plenty of places slower. The only time it may not be as much fun is if you need to jump on a bigger highway.

[@GulfSoftwash]

@@TheNorthwoodsFamily yeah I saw in some of those highway stretches y’all were rolling at 60+. What would you say the longest stretch of Highway that y’all traveled was? Great videos by the way. You’ve inspired me to put together my gear and do this trip in the early fall next year. Awesome job documenting the process. I downloaded your trail maps yesterday and have been studying them. Did they have diesel available at some of the places y’all stopped on the trail or was it specifically for gas UTV’s? Trying to plan for how much diesel to bring as reserve.

[@sxsoffroad43]

What trail head did you guys leave your truck at?..

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

We parked in the Willow Creek lot. It is a horse camp mind you, so you may get a couple looks… someone rode by and with a dirty look said “you’re not going to ride that on these trials are you?” 🙄 That said, plenty of non-horse people were using the area or parking there too. It works, it’s centrally located but at the same time, I don’t want to piss off the horse people. I’d rather leave their area to them, so I’d try to find a different trailhead next time. Or just pull off on a forest road. But there’s nothing illegal about parking there.

[@sxsoffroad43]

Wow thanks I see there's 2 other areas around on the willow creek website.. We plan to drive from Connecticut to do the ride.. Now the paved roads between systems is legal to ride? Awsome content 👌 on all the videos by the way so of all the rides which overland ones been the best?

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

That sounds like a heck of a trip! Yes, roads are legal but there’s stuff you have to do. We talk about it in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oXi5qpevgrhrgJIsi=j4-2j23Y5UuvSyzF You need to reach out to a county treasurer office either when you get there or in advance. I think we called Lawrence County and the lady was amazing. Took care of it all over the phone and email.

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

And our favorite trip… Black Hills was really nice for the family, lots to do, beautiful and we knew the area - that was probably the best all around. Idaho was really scenic though, far more remote though the navigation was a lot trickier (in hindsight we traveled on a few stretches of road we weren’t supposed to).

[@wamq29]

Did you get your passes when you got out there?

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

We got ours ahead of time but you definitely could get them the same day at a Forest Service office or at a number of retailers, rental places or some campgrounds around the area. Trail permits online: www.blackhillsbadlands.com/store/permits-passes And then for the road legal permit, you have to contact the treasurer at one of the courthouses. You can do it in person which is quick and easy, but we got those ahead of time too over the phone / email as well. I think we talked to a lady in Meade County and she was super helpful and easy to work with.

[@adamaustin3373]

what is your average speed on the trails?...just curious

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

20-25 mph is pretty typical for a trail ride. Unless the trail is really open we won’t get much over 40, and some of the really rocky ones we put it in L and putt along less than 10mph. Rides with lots of highway time are obviously higher speed.

[@adamaustin3373]

@@TheNorthwoodsFamily awesome. I am looking at the General and the Kawasaki Mule 6 seater. I will use a lot on the farm and for trip riding also. Im leaning towards mule because of the transformation of bed and the other functional abilities. Only flaw is the top speed of 48 mph... thats why I asked.

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

Gotcha. We have a Ranger at home for utility. Used a mule a few place at work, seem like solid work machines, no experience with them on the trails. I will say that on this trip - being able to keep up with the speed of traffic on the highways was nice. We had a few longer highway runs and being able to do 65 so we didn’t get our doors blown off was nice.

[@adamaustin3373]

@@TheNorthwoodsFamily I hear you there. We live out on the East Coast...in Western NC to be exact. No road usage allowed out here except in some national park areas in TN & VA etc.... then the speed limits are only 45mph. Thanks for your input for sure. The prices of the Generals are above 25k now...inflated like everything else. Not sure if it would be worth the extra 10k over the Mule FXT. I could put 5k of accessories into the Mule FXT and have an amazing overland machine lol

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

Makes a lot of sense! Everything is expensive these day… annoying. Like I said, my limited experience with the Mules has been good. If you pick one up let us know how it goes!