FJ Does Rubithon - PICS!

roosterdo · 06-28-06, 08:50 AM

Here is the link to the pics taken @ Rubithon. The truck worked its little hind end off but the Trail Team drivers showed what the FJ can do. It was a great event.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rooster...7594179092602/

woody · 06-28-06, 09:07 AM

impressive!! you've got some awesome pics in there from the event!!

Jim S. · 06-28-06, 10:32 AM

Those pics are truly great! The old school cruisers looked cool too. I will get out there some day. Thanks for sharing, Jim

Cuerno Largo · 06-28-06, 10:35 AM

Sweet pics

petescoffee · 06-28-06, 12:50 PM

Great PIctures! I had no idea you took so many. How do we get copies?
Good Wheeling with the Trail Team on the Wednesday Breakfast Run.
The FJ Crusier was much more capable than I thought it would be. It was fun to test drive in camp, Especially with AC. A little more lift and bigger tires would of been nice for the Rubicon, but again I was impressed that it did so well.
Good group of guys as well.

Also, Thanks for finding the rock in the pond Wed. Night. Everyone else was guided around it after you.

Dave Thomas
Walnut Creek,
Green 1975 FJ40 w/2F

alvarorb · 06-28-06, 07:44 PM

I recognize the white rig in the foreground.

Regards

Alvaro

beno · 06-28-06, 07:51 PM

Can someone correct me if I am wrong (Rod?)...it looks like those FJC's are lifted....is that correct?

Have other teams received more modified vehicles? I've just dealt with Scully's team and each time I have seen their rigs (besides the TLC under belly, ARB, and winch), they look pretty stock.

Just wondering...nice pics Rod. Hope you are enjoying yourself out west now (and no tornadoes to worry about either!!).

Cheers.
-onur
Akron, OH

alvarorb · 06-28-06, 07:53 PM

Onur,

I understand they have a 3" lift on them. Plus skid plates, bumpers and sliders.
Not much for such a capable rig.

Regards

Alvaro

Voodoogirl · 06-28-06, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beno

Can someone correct me if I am wrong (Rod?)...it looks like those FJC's are lifted....is that correct?

Have other teams received more modified vehicles? I've just dealt with Scully's team and each time I have seen their rigs (besides the TLC under belly, ARB, and winch), they look pretty stock.

Just wondering...nice pics Rod. Hope you are enjoying yourself out west now (and no tornadoes to worry about either!!).

Cheers.
-onur
Akron, OH

The Revtek FJ's are lifted, but are not part of the official Trail Team.

The Trail Team vehicles are not lifted, but do have better skid plates, and some have ARB bumper/winch combos. They actually sit a little lower than an actual stock FJ because of all the extra weight.

Kathie

beno · 06-28-06, 08:08 PM

Uh...

Alvaro says one thing, Kathie another!!

A great day to be on MUD!!

Spec check, aisle 69!!

Maybe Rod will jump back on and confirm.

Thanks!
-onur

Voodoogirl · 06-28-06, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beno

Uh...

Alvaro says one thing, Kathie another!!

A great day to be on MUD!!

Spec check, aisle 69!!

Maybe Rod will jump back on and confirm.

Thanks!
-onur

Some are lifted, (the Revtek company FJ's), but not the official Toyota Trail Team's FJ's. Toyota wants to advertise how capable their stock FJ is.

We're not really saying different things, just talking about different vehicles.

Cruiserdrew · 06-28-06, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voodoogirl

The Revtek FJ's are lifted, but are not part of the official Trail Team.

The Trail Team vehicles are not lifted, but do have better skid plates, and some have ARB bumper/winch combos. They actually sit a little lower than an actual stock FJ because of all the extra weight.

Kathie

VooDoo-The Trail Team vehicles all had a lift installed just before the trip. I believe they stopped at 4x4 labs and Luke Porter helped them out.

I thought they did pretty well all things considered. They definitely needed even more lift and tire for this trip. The team members were nice guys and did a good job in the conditions. I don't think they broke anything too serious, but did mangle the skid plate on at least one of them, and tore the rear bumper off another. Minimal damage though due to good driving and spotting.

What a great time!

Voodoogirl · 06-28-06, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cruiserdrew

VooDoo-The Trail Team vehicles all had a lift installed just before the trip. I believe they stopped at 4x4 labs and Luke Porter helped them out.

I thought they did pretty well all things considered. They definitely needed even more lift and tire for this trip. The team members were nice guys and did a good job in the conditions. I don't think they broke anything too serious, but did mangle the skid plate on at least one of them, and tore the rear bumper off another. Minimal damage though due to good driving and spotting.

What a great time!

Thanks, I didn't know. I was just going off of what they told me at CM '06. It's good to know the FJ is so capable. Do you know what kind of lifts they got?

roosterdo · 06-28-06, 10:12 PM

The two that did the run did have 1 inch larger tires and a 3 inch lift. This gave us about 11 inches of clearence or about 1.5 over stock becouse of what we lost with the modified skid plate and the arb bumper.

Quote:

Originally Posted by beno

Can someone correct me if I am wrong (Rod?)...it looks like those FJC's are lifted....is that correct?

Have other teams received more modified vehicles? I've just dealt with Scully's team and each time I have seen their rigs (besides the TLC under belly, ARB, and winch), they look pretty stock.

Just wondering...nice pics Rod. Hope you are enjoying yourself out west now (and no tornadoes to worry about either!!).

Cheers.
-onur
Akron, OH

TexasBadlands · 06-29-06, 01:33 AM

Obviously the Nay sayers are eating their words about the new Land Cruiser now. It's an awesome off road vehicle, especially in the right drivers hands. Awesome!

lowenbrau · 06-29-06, 02:03 AM

Not exactly. I'm hearing reports of irate people stuck behind those stockers inching their way along the trail in spite of not meeting the minimum requirements for the event. Toyota got the lion's share of the publicity at this year's Rubithon while supplying nothing to the event. Real supporters supplied thousands of dollars of goods to the raffle and were busy helping broken rigs and cooking food while the "Trail team" was basking in the glory of the Rav4's spawn. TLCA is being taken for a fool on all this FJ Cruiser BS.

ginericLC · 06-29-06, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasBadlands

Obviously the Nay sayers are eating their words about the new Land Cruiser now. It's an awesome off road vehicle, especially in the right drivers hands. Awesome!

It isn't the new Land Cruiser! The new Land Cruiser hasn't come out yet. Another year or year and half. I'm not saying it is a terrible vehicle, but it is not a Land Cruiser. FJ does not have LAND in it anywhere.

I don't know what happened at Rubithon. At Cruise Moab the Trail Team and Toyota were awesome. They had a free dinner Thursday night. Let people use their big screen to view photos and videos taken that day and passed out lots of FJ Cruiser loot.

FirstToy · 06-29-06, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alvarorb

I recognize the white rig in the foreground.

Regards

Alvaro

Looks like LaCabra got some new stickers

IFS stickers (2 of them!) on the 80?!

Great photos Roosterdo. Just curious, did you start in Tahoe and end at Loon Lake?

greytandy · 06-29-06, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowenbrau

Real supporters supplied thousands of dollars of goods to the raffle and were busy helping broken rigs and cooking food while the "Trail team" was basking in the glory of the Rav4's spawn. TLCA is being taken for a fool on all this FJ Cruiser BS.

Please keep your prejudices to yourself. They contribute nothing to this forum.

FirstToy · 06-29-06, 06:06 AM

Let's all be the bigger man here and try to discuss things w/o getting personal.

woody · 06-29-06, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowenbrau

Not exactly. I'm hearing reports of irate people stuck behind those stockers inching their way along the trail in spite of not meeting the minimum requirements for the event. Toyota got the lion's share of the publicity at this year's Rubithon while supplying nothing to the event. Real supporters supplied thousands of dollars of goods to the raffle and were busy helping broken rigs and cooking food while the "Trail team" was basking in the glory of the Rav4's spawn. TLCA is being taken for a fool on all this FJ Cruiser BS.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLCA Rubithon info

Minimum vehicle requirements 33" and either a: single locker or lower gearing. All vehicles must also have or carry: Hi Lift Jack easily accessible, front and rear hooks or strap attachment points, a strap (no chains or metal hooks), working fire extinguisher, first aid kit and personal toilet. Yes, Personal Toilets and packing out your waste will be the standard protocol at this event.

Per Rubithon.com, and per other posts, the FJC's were lifted over stock and had tires 1" over stock...with 32's being the stock tire, it would seem they meet the minimum requirements of the event. (33's, single locker)

Guaranteed they take more time tho, but I also guarantee I'm not exactlee quick with my 80-series when wheelin...

Rod, I'd love to "steal" a pic from your collection for the IH8MUD.com Featured rotation...do ya mind??

woooody · 06-29-06, 05:41 PM

We had this discussion over on Pirate, and I think there are a couple of points both sides should consider. For background, I was on the Double Locker Run, and we came up behind the Trail Team on Wednesday.

I think there is a huge difference between team #1 (Yellow) and team #2 (Blue).

It's unfortunate, but the guidance that Toyota Corp gave to the trail teams was "no paint scratch, no dent". Having your employer give you that directive TOTALLY changes how you run this trail. If minor carnage was acceptable, they would have been much faster.

Having said that, I ultimately was happy that they made the trip in. I wish it would have went faster for them, but they took care in spots that I would have said "F... it". Of course, that's why my rig looks the way it does.

The reality is there will be more and more FJC's on Rubithons. I may be driving one. I hope that by that time there are better options for bumpers, sliders and exo-cages.

There is a whole running thread about exclusivity, and public access on the Rubicon. We need to work together to make the trail accessable and passible by properly modified rigs. Fixing some of the bad spots will reduce erosion and trail damage, but proper mods will also allow faster access for all.

my 2 cents
__________________
Ross Woody
Vallejo, Ca
TLCA #7704
TLCA Western Individual Rep
72 FJ40 * "Mudrak Improved"®

TexasBadlands · 06-30-06, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ginericfj80

It isn't the new Land Cruiser! The new Land Cruiser hasn't come out yet. Another year or year and half. I'm not saying it is a terrible vehicle, but it is not a Land Cruiser. FJ does not have LAND in it anywhere.

I don't know what happened at Rubithon. At Cruise Moab the Trail Team and Toyota were awesome. They had a free dinner Thursday night. Let people use their big screen to view photos and videos taken that day and passed out lots of FJ Cruiser loot.

I am not going to be here debating this. It is in the Land Cruiser line, it is classified as the "FJ" model, instead of 100 120, or whatever. It is a Land Cruiser, and this site is "Exclusively for Land Cruisers".

DUH.

woooody · 06-30-06, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ginericfj80

It isn't the new Land Cruiser! The new Land Cruiser hasn't come out yet. Another year or year and half. I'm not saying it is a terrible vehicle, but it is not a Land Cruiser. FJ does not have LAND in it anywhere.

I don't know what happened at Rubithon. At Cruise Moab the Trail Team and Toyota were awesome. They had a free dinner Thursday night. Let people use their big screen to view photos and videos taken that day and passed out lots of FJ Cruiser loot.

Pssst -- Eric -- The Toyota LAND Cruiser Association (of which you are not only a member, but also the MVP) has accepted the FJ Cruiser as a worthy vehicle for membership. You are using the FJC to increase membership in TLCA. So why the negativity?

Now, while you are technically correct, the word "LAND" isn't in the name, we are all in this together, and the FJ Cruiser is the next extension of the Land Cruiser line.

Having not only wheeled with the Trail Team on Rubicon, but also wheeled the FJC on the 'Con, I can absolutely say that it is worthy of Membership. In my mind MORE so that the current Land Cruiser offering.

FirstToy · 06-30-06, 01:53 AM

Listen guys, this debate over the name has been played out in chit-chat many times. Revive one of those threads if you must

This is a great thread about Rubithon so let's keep that going.

Everyone that was at Rubithon, thanks for the info and perspective. Good & bad, I'm sure the FJC guys appreciate it all.

Also, check out the Rubithon threads in the "trails-events-exped" section for more about the whole thing.

06-28-06, 10:35 AM	#4
Cuerno Largo IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: The Republic of Texas TLCA# 16073 Posts: 462	Sweet pics __________________ '75 FJ-40-In pieces on my garage floor. -Buildup thread here '07 Titanium FJC- wife's ride 2002 F-250 Super Duty with 7.3 Powerstroke My statement to my wife: "All of the accumulated crap in my shop will be really useful if I find a use for it." "You may all go to Hell and I will go to Texas"- Davy Crockett

06-28-06, 07:44 PM	#6
alvarorb Cook Free or Die Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sacramento, California TLCA# 12833 Posts: 1,573	I recognize the white rig in the foreground. Regards Alvaro __________________ Alvaro Rodriguez 96 FZJ80 "La Cabra" 08 Tacoma Double Cab 4x4 TCLA #12833 / BRC # 41799 KI7FZJ New web site with blog and pics Norcal wagons website INTI Roof Racks - Make a loan, Make a difference - Kiva.org

06-28-06, 07:53 PM	#8
alvarorb Cook Free or Die Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sacramento, California TLCA# 12833 Posts: 1,573	Onur, I understand they have a 3" lift on them. Plus skid plates, bumpers and sliders. Not much for such a capable rig. Regards Alvaro __________________ Alvaro Rodriguez 96 FZJ80 "La Cabra" 08 Tacoma Double Cab 4x4 TCLA #12833 / BRC # 41799 KI7FZJ New web site with blog and pics Norcal wagons website INTI Roof Racks - Make a loan, Make a difference - Kiva.org

06-28-06, 08:08 PM	#10
beno IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Corrales, NM TLCA# 14607 Posts: 3,864	Uh... Alvaro says one thing, Kathie another!! A great day to be on MUD!! Spec check, aisle 69!! Maybe Rod will jump back on and confirm. Thanks! -onur __________________ 1997 FZJ80 with and without lots of stuff. 2001 Honda Accord 3.0L V6 VTEC Coupe EX. It is what it is....

06-29-06, 01:33 AM	#15
TexasBadlands IH8MUD Regular Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 256	Obviously the Nay sayers are eating their words about the new Land Cruiser now. It's an awesome off road vehicle, especially in the right drivers hands. Awesome! __________________ 2007 6-Speed Toyota FJ Cruiser 2002 Land Rover Discovery II 1978 Toyota FJ-40 Cruiser I UNDERSTAND THE JEEP THING, THAT'S WHY I DON'T OWN ONE.

06-28-06, 08:50 AM	#1
roosterdo IH8MUD Junior Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 105	FJ Does Rubithon - PICS! Here is the link to the pics taken @ Rubithon. The truck worked its little hind end off but the Trail Team drivers showed what the FJ can do. It was a great event. http://www.flickr.com/photos/rooster...7594179092602/ __________________ FJTT- "It's not so much the mud I hate as those trees right next to the mud that gives me concerns."

06-28-06, 09:07 AM	#2
woody Admin Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Appleton, WI TLCA# 1548 Posts: 7,687 Blog Entries: 2	impressive!! you've got some awesome pics in there from the event!! __________________ Brian 'woody' Swearingen 1974 FJ40 'The Raisin' - Pitbull Rockers, 30-spline Longfields, SOA - 1/4 ellip 1996 FZJ80 'Gretchen' - MetalTech, ARB, OME, IPOR, 4x4Labs 2003 2500HD Duramax - Edge/Juice/Attitude, 285 Nitto Terra Grapplers, 4" exhaust Forum Questions? Click Here! 'America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.' Abraham Lincoln

06-28-06, 10:32 AM	#3
Jim S. IH8MUD Junior Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Sierra Vista, AZ TLCA# 12604 Posts: 136	Those pics are truly great! The old school cruisers looked cool too. I will get out there some day. Thanks for sharing, Jim

06-28-06, 12:50 PM	#5
petescoffee IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Walnut Creek, CA TLCA# 13331 Posts: 1,212	Great PIctures! I had no idea you took so many. How do we get copies? Good Wheeling with the Trail Team on the Wednesday Breakfast Run. The FJ Crusier was much more capable than I thought it would be. It was fun to test drive in camp, Especially with AC. A little more lift and bigger tires would of been nice for the Rubicon, but again I was impressed that it did so well. Good group of guys as well. Also, Thanks for finding the rock in the pond Wed. Night. Everyone else was guided around it after you. Dave Thomas Walnut Creek, Green 1975 FJ40 w/2F

06-28-06, 07:51 PM	#7
beno IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Corrales, NM TLCA# 14607 Posts: 3,864	Can someone correct me if I am wrong (Rod?)...it looks like those FJC's are lifted....is that correct? Have other teams received more modified vehicles? I've just dealt with Scully's team and each time I have seen their rigs (besides the TLC under belly, ARB, and winch), they look pretty stock. Just wondering...nice pics Rod. Hope you are enjoying yourself out west now (and no tornadoes to worry about either!!). Cheers. -onur Akron, OH __________________ 1997 FZJ80 with and without lots of stuff. 2001 Honda Accord 3.0L V6 VTEC Coupe EX. It is what it is....

06-29-06, 02:03 AM	#16
lowenbrau IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Calgary AB TLCA# 5513 Posts: 2,495	Not exactly. I'm hearing reports of irate people stuck behind those stockers inching their way along the trail in spite of not meeting the minimum requirements for the event. Toyota got the lion's share of the publicity at this year's Rubithon while supplying nothing to the event. Real supporters supplied thousands of dollars of goods to the raffle and were busy helping broken rigs and cooking food while the "Trail team" was basking in the glory of the Rav4's spawn. TLCA is being taken for a fool on all this FJ Cruiser BS. __________________ Rocky Mountain Land Cruiser Association TLCA # 5513 '87BJ74, '86BJ70, '78FJ45, '53M100, '90M101cdn I support our Troopies

06-29-06, 06:06 AM	#20
FirstToy tlcwagons.org Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3,512	Let's all be the bigger man here and try to discuss things w/o getting personal. __________________ I love cachapas! my wip I drink your milkshake!

06-29-06, 05:41 PM	#22
woooody IH8MUD Addict Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Vallejo, Ca TLCA# 7704 Posts: 874	We had this discussion over on Pirate, and I think there are a couple of points both sides should consider. For background, I was on the Double Locker Run, and we came up behind the Trail Team on Wednesday. I think there is a huge difference between team #1 (Yellow) and team #2 (Blue). It's unfortunate, but the guidance that Toyota Corp gave to the trail teams was "no paint scratch, no dent". Having your employer give you that directive TOTALLY changes how you run this trail. If minor carnage was acceptable, they would have been much faster. Having said that, I ultimately was happy that they made the trip in. I wish it would have went faster for them, but they took care in spots that I would have said "F... it". Of course, that's why my rig looks the way it does. The reality is there will be more and more FJC's on Rubithons. I may be driving one. I hope that by that time there are better options for bumpers, sliders and exo-cages. There is a whole running thread about exclusivity, and public access on the Rubicon. We need to work together to make the trail accessable and passible by properly modified rigs. Fixing some of the bad spots will reduce erosion and trail damage, but proper mods will also allow faster access for all. my 2 cents __________________ Ross Woody Vallejo, Ca TLCA #7704 TLCA Western Individual Rep 72 FJ40 * "Mudrak Improved"® __________________ Ross Woody TLCA #7704 72 FJ40 - ORION #342 ROTW 10/6/08 07 TRD FJC

06-30-06, 01:53 AM	#25
FirstToy tlcwagons.org Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3,512	Listen guys, this debate over the name has been played out in chit-chat many times. Revive one of those threads if you must This is a great thread about Rubithon so let's keep that going. Everyone that was at Rubithon, thanks for the info and perspective. Good & bad, I'm sure the FJC guys appreciate it all. Also, check out the Rubithon threads in the "trails-events-exped" section for more about the whole thing. __________________ I love cachapas! my wip I drink your milkshake!