Rubicon Requirements
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JK Newbie
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Vega$
Rubicon Requirements
If you have travled the Rubicon in the past, what do you consider basic vehicle requirements (ie. tire size, lockers, lift size that sort of thing).
Are there bypasses for less equiped jeeps?
Any basic knowlege of the trail would be great. I have been to several web sites with suggestions but they all seem to be missing some of my answers.
Any pics. would be great!!!
Are there bypasses for less equiped jeeps?
Any basic knowlege of the trail would be great. I have been to several web sites with suggestions but they all seem to be missing some of my answers.
Any pics. would be great!!!
JK Super Freak
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,217
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From: Phoenix, AZ
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: .
JK Super Freak
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,217
Likes: 1
From: Phoenix, AZ
I guess it's a good thing he has the 4.10's then.
JK Freak
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 711
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From: pensalbama
consumer reports did it. with a couple of keyboard jockeys in a 4dr Rubi. i think it was red rock...anyway, they twisted some metal, and banged up some skids, but that was mostly due to picking bad lines.
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Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Vega$
Thanks!
Nice write up!
Sound like I might want to look into fenders befor I go! Maybe even a helicopter!
Now thats a mod! I just got to figure out where to put that damn landing pad. I've seen some big roof racks but this ones going to to be the motha' of all roof racks!
Sound like I might want to look into fenders befor I go! Maybe even a helicopter!
Now thats a mod! I just got to figure out where to put that damn landing pad. I've seen some big roof racks but this ones going to to be the motha' of all roof racks!
Last edited by wayoflife; Aug 30, 2007 at 10:32 AM.
Felt like I was there (which I probably never will be given the distance from home). 
JK Freak
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 987
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From: Lemoore, CA
The Rubicon Trail is as tough as you want to make it.
That said it isn't an easy trail by any stretch of the imagination. It is unforgiving and unrelenting. Most people only do the 15 miles from Loon Lake to Lake Tahoe.
I have run the Rubicon, without damage, in a 3" lifted Isuzu with 33's. I bypassed "The Sluice Box" (as most people do) and took the slabs over True Sluice. True Sluice is a long stretch of big boulders that a stock Rubicon could make if through with enough undercarriage protection and no concerns over the factory fenders. The slabs is a 25-30 degree off camber down hill that gets your attention as you sideways stair step down to the bottom of True Sluice. Big Sluice has no by pass and has some rocks and some off camber. There is one turn on Big Sluice where there is a fair amount of carnage with people going up or tip/roll overs with people going down. The Springs is flat and peaceful and most spend the night there and pay the toll to use pit toilets and soak your feet in the Rubicon Springs. Cadillac Hill is a 25-30 degree uphill with areas of large rocks. This section which is not really easy but has gotten safer over the years as the trail has widened so you are not on the edge of the drop off ledge as much as you used to be.
When DC ran the Rubicon all of the JK's lost the factory fenders except 2 fenders on two different vehicles is how the story goes. My friend worked at the local dealership and was part of the mechanics team at Rubicon Springs for the factory runs. FWIW the factory had helicopters bring in parts/drivers/engineers on a regular basis while the Rubicon run is running.
I would consider the minimum to run the Rubicon to be an excellent spotter, 33" tires maybe 35's for the Unlimited a rear LSD but a locker would be better a low transfer case such as the 4:1 or an automatic as a 2:1 transfer case with the manual will probably toast your clutch by the time the run is over. The run is only 15 miles. It can be done in a day, a long hard day without breakage or traffic. Most run the Rubicon in 2 days and I have run it in 3 days which is a lot more fun as you can break up the days with sections of trails and spend some time at the box watching people break stuff.
Again I have run the trail several times without damage or breakage. I have also run the trail with significant body damage and no brakes after busting the master cylinder. I have had trail repairs from simple to rewelding my my frame to reattach the steering gear box. It all depends on the options you choose the lines you take and the ability of your spotter.
I will be running the Rubicon in about 3 weeks with some friends from the Red Bull Rock Crawling team when they arrive a little early for the WE Rocks Rock Crawling competition at Donner Lake.
If you have never done any trails in the Sierras, bring a particle mask or two. The dirt quickly dries and becomes pulverized like talc powder and gets everywhere and sometimes so thick it's hard to breathe.
That said it isn't an easy trail by any stretch of the imagination. It is unforgiving and unrelenting. Most people only do the 15 miles from Loon Lake to Lake Tahoe.
I have run the Rubicon, without damage, in a 3" lifted Isuzu with 33's. I bypassed "The Sluice Box" (as most people do) and took the slabs over True Sluice. True Sluice is a long stretch of big boulders that a stock Rubicon could make if through with enough undercarriage protection and no concerns over the factory fenders. The slabs is a 25-30 degree off camber down hill that gets your attention as you sideways stair step down to the bottom of True Sluice. Big Sluice has no by pass and has some rocks and some off camber. There is one turn on Big Sluice where there is a fair amount of carnage with people going up or tip/roll overs with people going down. The Springs is flat and peaceful and most spend the night there and pay the toll to use pit toilets and soak your feet in the Rubicon Springs. Cadillac Hill is a 25-30 degree uphill with areas of large rocks. This section which is not really easy but has gotten safer over the years as the trail has widened so you are not on the edge of the drop off ledge as much as you used to be.
When DC ran the Rubicon all of the JK's lost the factory fenders except 2 fenders on two different vehicles is how the story goes. My friend worked at the local dealership and was part of the mechanics team at Rubicon Springs for the factory runs. FWIW the factory had helicopters bring in parts/drivers/engineers on a regular basis while the Rubicon run is running.
I would consider the minimum to run the Rubicon to be an excellent spotter, 33" tires maybe 35's for the Unlimited a rear LSD but a locker would be better a low transfer case such as the 4:1 or an automatic as a 2:1 transfer case with the manual will probably toast your clutch by the time the run is over. The run is only 15 miles. It can be done in a day, a long hard day without breakage or traffic. Most run the Rubicon in 2 days and I have run it in 3 days which is a lot more fun as you can break up the days with sections of trails and spend some time at the box watching people break stuff.
Again I have run the trail several times without damage or breakage. I have also run the trail with significant body damage and no brakes after busting the master cylinder. I have had trail repairs from simple to rewelding my my frame to reattach the steering gear box. It all depends on the options you choose the lines you take and the ability of your spotter.
I will be running the Rubicon in about 3 weeks with some friends from the Red Bull Rock Crawling team when they arrive a little early for the WE Rocks Rock Crawling competition at Donner Lake.
If you have never done any trails in the Sierras, bring a particle mask or two. The dirt quickly dries and becomes pulverized like talc powder and gets everywhere and sometimes so thick it's hard to breathe.