Need advice on John Bull trail in Big Bear

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sdnative

sdnative

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I was doing a google search for the John Bull trail in Big Bear and stumbled across this. Is that you Dave?

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So we are heading up to Big Bear this month and the others want to run John Bull. Any advice?

Keep in mind I do NOT have sliders.

I hear conflicting reports. Some say no way, armor required. Then I see pictures of relatively stock vehicles going through (like this ranger).


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What do you all think?
 
That ranger doesnt look like its on JB??

I used my sliders only a couple times on JB, and I have done the trail 4 times. With a good spotter on a few sections you should be ok. Dont cry if you rocker damage though...

the " Gatekeeper" might get you..

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There are a couple areas on the climb up...

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I dont have any pics, but on the downhill side there are some dropoffs and rocks too..
 
Marc P said:
That ranger doesnt look like its on JB??

With a good spotter on a few sections you should be ok. Dont cry if you rocker damage though...
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x2. with a good spotter you should be ok. but then again don't cry if you get your rockers damaged. I have my running boards on and i would rather get those banged up then my rockers. sliders are in the works;) here's some pictures.
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cruiserruf said:
x2. with a good spotter you should be ok. but then again don't cry if you get your rockers damaged. I have my running boards on and i would rather get those banged up then my rockers. sliders are in the works;) here's some pictures.
Click to expand...

Looks like your running boards got banged up pretty good. What lift do you have?
 
Daves on the easier 2nd part of JB past gatekeeper, you could do that /wo sliders.

From/to the gatekeeper & rest of trail you're better off with sliders, you might be able to get away without them depending on lift/tires. I used mine last time to pivot around some stuff, climbing the middle rock pile on the hill, drop off at two trees, etc.

The group that maintains the trail recently went in there and removed some of the cheater rocks, /wo them /wo much lift/tires you're likely to contact some stuff so you might need to stack to get by without sliders.

Brian
 
There are a variety of rock sections that will threaten your rockers as everyone has mentioned but one area that I find concerning in a truck as big as ours is the drop between the trees. You will want to be very diligent the drivers side does not contact the tree as you drop in. This is the spot:
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redcheetah said:
There are a variety of rock sections that will threaten your rockers as everyone has mentioned but one area that I find concerning in a truck as big as ours is the drop between the trees. You will want to be very diligent the drivers side does not contact the tree as you drop in. This is the spot:
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YUP. x2 on that one. here's some pictures
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I say the toughest part fo me was at this area that has the large rock garden. My right side slider protected me well but got one dent on the rear pannel from comming down that large rock on the right. You can see the large rock on the right in the picture.
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SDNative left out a couple facts to consider. We will be doing John Bull, West to East and on a Friday (less traffic, less pressure). We'll hit the gatekeeper going down hill and near the end of the trail. He will have some good spotters there to help him along. :D
 
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SDTLC80 said:
I say the toughest part fo me was at this area that has the large rock garden. My right side slider protected me well but got one dent on the rear pannel from comming down that large rock on the right. You can see the large rock on the right in the picture.
Click to expand...

That same rock on the right took a bite out of my bumper on my last trip through there. Its in the perfect spot to catch a piece of the body as the truck rolls over the rocks on the left.

When is this run? Who is organizing it?
 
There are quite a few picture galleries of John Bull on our website, HiredAssassinPhotos.com Surfing and Off-Road Photography. You can get a feel of where your rockers will be vulnerable. Is it doable without damage, yes. Would I take my 80 through there without rocker protection, hell no.
 
Careful, did alot of damage on that trail a few year ago when it had the wicked left downhill turn on the West/East route........If your worried about your rockers and doors......Id pass, even though that part got taken out after some rollovers.
 
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