2018 Rubithon Wagon Run

Yes, two. I saw Michael's yellow one quite a bit, it did very well. Did not see how the black one did. They will have to chime in on how they were outfitted, but I know control arms took a beating.

 

Joe did great in his black FJ but he will have to comment on his set up. I want to say that the tire size was ~34

 

Calling @jmylie , he had the black FJ and had no issues.

 

I spent a good bit of time with the black one. I don't recall what suspension he was running, but ~ 3" lift and 285/75/17 tires (34" tall). He went through without much trouble. I think he bumped the driver's door on one of the rocks going down the rock garden below the big sluice. It's a tight squeeze through a few spots. I was in a 5th gen 4runner - which is basically the same thing with a little longer wheel base. The only change I think I'd make to his FJ Cruiser - and my own 4runner too - is to have wider hoops on the sliders to keep a little bit further away from the rocks in a few spots. Having bump out sliders really helped this year on mine compared to last year in terms of keeping the rear fenders off the rocks. Also I had 33" tires last year and was so overloaded that I was probably near stock suspension height and I struggled a lot. This year riding about 2.5" lift net of all the added gear and 34" tires - it was a lot better. I also knew what to expect a little more. So that helped.

I've personally never seen a bracket lift IFS work worth a crap in the rocks or hold up for more than about 15 minutes. The Yellow FJ Cruiser has a bracket lift (not sure what brand/model) and it did great. No problems with durability at all. Toyota did a great job of recognizing the weakeness in prior IFS models and fixed most of the issues. The FJ/4Runner 30 spline/8" IFS is amazingly strong for a stock IFS setup. I've only ever seen or heard of maybe 3 examples of anyone ever being able to break one of the axles or the front diff. Big Mike's Tacoma seems to be pretty solid even with tripple cases and 40's on the same setup. Not sure what it takes to blow them up - but I think anything up to 35's is easily within the strength range.

It wouldn't necessarily be a lot of fun to do, but I would guess a bone stock FJ Cruiser would make it through - albeit with some body damage. Any of the common 3" lift setups and 34" tires along with full skids and sliders and it should make for a fun trip where its a challenge, but do-able.



Here's the black one

 

@Jetboy and gang. Thanks for the replies, photos and such. Sounds like a super fun time. so when is registration for the 2019 run going to be up ? BTW how many days did it take to complete the trail during this event?

 

Registration this year opened up at the end of January, so it will likely be about the same. Keep an eye on the site rubithon.com , thats where you will register, and when you'll see updates on next years event.

It was about 3 days of trail riding, but a few days in between, depending on what you sign up for. For the wagon run, it started on Wednesday, goes from Loon Lake to Buck Island, camp for the night, then continue on to Rubicon Springs on Thursday. There are other runs that come in on various other days, with everyone stopping in Rubicon Springs. Leaving via Cadillac is on Sunday, and takes about 1/2 a day.

 

@workingdog

Is there a build thread for your 60? That was about the coolest rig I saw there. Wanted to spend more time seeing how you handled the E brake and front suspension. I have all those same parts (sadly, in the garage not on the truck). But it looks like an unbreakable truck at this point.

 

Yep, it's safe to assume that we won't be reinventing the wheel for next years Rubithon. You can expect the overall schedule leading up to the Rubithon to be pretty much the same. I certainly plan to follow in Eric's (@Bad Coco) well-traveled footsteps as I learn take the helm. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing the usual trail-dusted faces, and as many new faces as we all can encourage to come join the fun.

I'd like to take this opportunity to also thank all those volunteers who have already stepped up and told me they will be returning to fulfill their usual committee positions. I'm definitely looking forward to continuing the tradition of making each Rubithon a memorable one for everyone!

 

CruiserDrew - there is no build thread because I didn't do the work - it's physically and emotionally beyond my abilities. It was done at WFO. The front ended up pretty weird - the way the engine had been put in (to one side) forced us to do kind of a custom install and slightly outboard of the frame rails. I can take pictures if you tell me what you are particularly interested in. Are you going to be at Sierra Trek?

 

3" OME lift with 285/75/17 Toyo Extreme Country MT's.

BudBuilt skids, stock "rock sliders".

This was the second time I ran the Wagon Run. I added to the minor scratch on the drivers door. Strange, same exact place.

There was a FJC the last time also but with a 6" lift.

I am surprised that we don't see more FJ Cruisers on this run.

 

There aren't that many FJ Cruisers that are built enough (but that doesn't seem to stop the 100's). The FJ's seem to do very well.

 

Negative on Sierra Trek.

I just really like the idea of a 60 on one tons, and since I have the tons, and the 60, thinking that would be a good match. Yours looked like it did well at Rubithon though they didn't look full width unless I was looking at it wrong.


Regarding FJ Cruisers-I was there the first few years the Trail Teams brought them and the near stock ones took a pretty good beating. The first year (around 2006), one poor guy brought a brand new one, and by the time he got to the springs, every axle shaft was broken and the rear diff had broken teeth on the ring gear. I don't know how he broke everything so completely or how he got out. It was not repairable.

Originally the skids underneath were not much and a bunch of issues stemmed from that. With a lift, bigger tires and good skid plates they do quite well on the trail-I think because there isn't much rear overhang.

 

Getting some repairs finished. The TRD Pro skid I put on this year turned out not to be very strong. After the Rubicon trip it had both broken both welds on the sides, caved in some in the middle, and also started to deform around the mounting holes. I liked the look so I made a replica in steel. Hopefully this one will last a bit longer!

 

Love the logo

 

Nice looking skid plate, @Jetboy! You should post those same pictures over in the FJ Cruiser forum. I'm sure you could generate some interest.

 

Awesome!

 

I'm definitely in for next year. That time lapse video was awesome!

 

Just letting everyone that ordered shirts at the event or ordered them past the registration dead line. All shirts and hoodies were shipped out on Monday.

If you do not receive yours and believe that you should have, please contact me by Wednesday of next week. Fire season has been insane out here in CA, so if it take a bit to respond, please understand I'm not dodging you, I may be deployed. You can email me at chairman@rubithon.com or call me at 530-401-0800.

I'd like to thank everyone for coming out and making this such a great year. It's going to feel weird to not be doing all of the post event stuff next year as Richard Thompson will be the Chairman next year. Thanks again for making the last 6 years so much fun!

Eric