Jeep getting ransacked by Griz

[applepie_eli]

We're backpacking in the Beartooths for 4 or 5 days. I've been there three times so I'm fairly familiar with the area. We'll be parking my Jeep, which has a soft top, at a trailhead near Cooke City. I know the campgrounds nearby require hard sided trailers. Think it's a bad idea to leave my soft top Jeep at the trailhead for 5 days?Of course everyone can imagine the sight of a bear tearing my roof apart and us driving back home looking like Chris Farley and David Spade in Tommy Boy. But what are the odds?

Obviously we'll make sure there's no food or anything else that smells in it. But I'm still a little worried about bears and also getting some type of ticket from the national forest. I did email the forest service to make sure about the laws
and haven't heard back yet. But even if it's legal to leave the Jeep there, would you still do it?

 

[wind gypsy]

I've not spent time in a soft top jeep but it can't be that different from a tonneau covered pickup as far as legality? I've never worried about getting in trouble for storing stuff under my tonneau in that area. I have watched a black bear climb on top of the tonneau (with dog food/lunch underneath) but ran it off before any damage was done. I imagine a soft top replacement would be a more expensive problem to fix..

Low odds but IMO a legitimate possibility of issue. I'm interested in what others say.

 

[Mt Al]

I wouldn't be worried about bears getting in, could happen obviously. I'd be more concerned about people wanting to get in. Regardless, if it were me I'd just make sure no food, no valuables and park and hope for the best.

It's been forever, but hope you're going to lower and upper arrow lakes. Had amazing/wonderful times there as a child fishing, just climbing around the lakes all throughout the Beartooths via Cooke City. Hope the snow and weather cooperate during your trip and that you'll share pics!

 

[*zap*]

What jeep?

 

[Bubblehide]

Get some of those large pool chlorine tabs and place them around the jeeps undercarriage.

 

[jimh406]

You're technically supposed to store food in a hard sided vehicle. I'm assuming you aren't planning on leaving food in the Jeep. https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/custergallatin/home/?cid=stelprd3825556. I'd be surprised if there are any bears in the area that are that familiar with vehicles containing food already. That being said, if they want in, they can easily go through your top or even hard doors if they really wanted to. I just think it's very unlikely they will try when there are plenty of wild foods available unless they are already conditioned.

However, I think you should pay more concern to the bears/wolves you see while hiking/camping. Btw, that link gives you information about hiking as well if you need it.

Have fun!

 

[applepie_eli]

What jeep?

13 Wrangler unlimited with a soft top

 

[WRM]

As they say...take your top off. It ain't stopping man nor beast who wants to get in.

 

[Red Letters]

Get some of those large pool chlorine tabs and place them around the jeeps undercarriage.

I’m no bear expert but I don’t think rusting your car would be worth whatever effect those may or may not have…those things are corrosive as hell

 

[Bubblehide]

So

I’m no bear expert but I don’t think rusting your car would be worth whatever effect those may or may not have…those things are corrosive as hell

So put a piece of wood under them, and stop trying to make it rocket science.

 

[applepie_eli]

Honestly I'm about 70% worried about forest rangers being jerks about it and 30% about bears. I've done the trail twice now, once by myself for most of it. Never seen a bear or any sign of one. But we've always got our bear spray and 10mm just in case. It does make me a little uneasy leaving my Jeep alone that long. Like others said, people are an issue too. I plan on leaving about nothing in it.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

I wouldnt worry about anymore than a 2 legged critter cutting into it. I have had my YJ since 1990...1st time it got cut and broke into I went to a hard top and ditched the half doors for full doors, it was '92ish IIRC. The sound of soft top going down the road drove me crazy anyways.

 

[Wolf_trapper]

The bears will for sure get in your Jeep. Seen it a million times.

I hate being the bearer of bad news.

 

[*zap*]

at a trailhead near Cooke City.

^park there and get a ride to/from the trailhead..

 

[PineBrook413]

I'd also be a little worried with the soft top.

 

[Moserkr]

Hell the black bears around Tahoe learned how to open doors of vehicles, and will break windows if the doors are locked. Hard side doesnt matter to them. Go hike n if sh!t happens…. Only issue is the forest service if anything.

You could just put a twinkie under another person’s car so the bear focuses on them and not you lol

 

[grfox92]

Grizz are thick in that area. I would be much more concerned about running into bears while out and about rather than them getting into my Jeep.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

 

[doc holiday13]

The bears will for sure get in your Jeep. Seen it a million times.

I hate being the bearer of bad news.

are you a black bearer, brown bearer, or grizzly bearer??

 

[Gutshot007]

I'd watch out for the smart bears that can drive manual/stick vs the ones that can only drive automatic or the really smart ones that can "hot wire " jeeps

 

[applepie_eli]

Update: Heard back from forest service, they said there's no problem with parking there. So nothing to worry about! (Legally)