Events/Trails PHOTOS: An 80 on the Rubicon (Marlin's Jambo)

[cruiserdan]

I'm sorry. I just can't wrap my arms around a trail where you are certain to tear-up your vehicle. Many will disagree with me and they are free to do so. I can't tolerate it

I find it impossible to knowingly subject a vehicle to certain damage.

 

[concretejungle]

Dan, do you believe in spanking your children?

 

[hatfieldcb]

Spanking his monkey, maybe.

 

[D'Animal]

I'm sorry. I just can't wrap my arms around a trail where you are certain to tear-up your vehicle. Many will disagree with me and they are free to do so. I can't tolerate it

I find it impossible to knowingly subject a vehicle to certain damage.

There are bypasses for the nasty stuff. The rubicon is not gauranteed damage.

Guys do it in semi stock jeeps and stock rubicon version jeeps all the time. I've done it twice in my CJ8 on 33's and my wife has done it once in the CJ-8. My FJ 40 on 35" has done it three times. It seems like a nice trail ride the way I have that rig built. I have yet to take my FJ60 through. My FJ45 project rig will make the trip in 2008.

The trail is a living breathing beast. You can go there on a thursday and drive in easily. On sunday night when you want to leave the trail it tore up.


Sorry for the hi-jack.

 

[PKP80]

I'm sorry. I just can't wrap my arms around a trail where you are certain to tear-up your vehicle. Many will disagree with me and they are free to do so. I can't tolerate it

I find it impossible to knowingly subject a vehicle to certain damage.

It's like killing someone (not that I'd know)....first time's the hardest, second one feels a little better, and by the third one you're a natural and you feel right at home (just ask OJ)...It still doesn't make the act "right', but it is what it is...plus the more damage by us the more business for you

I do understand what you're saying though Dan and respect your view. I do feel that there is slopply 4-wheeling where you just don't care and bang into everything and there are also the times where you did all you could to save from damage, but it ends up happening. I don't appreciate reckless carnage although fun to watch at times.

Con is a nasty trail, but that's also what makes it so much fun.

Here are a few Pics:
Jim

Alvaro aka la cabra driven by Sylvio

Me

Roberto

 

[Hayes]

I'm sorry. I just can't wrap my arms around a trail where you are certain to tear-up your vehicle. Many will disagree with me and they are free to do so. I can't tolerate it

I find it impossible to knowingly subject a vehicle to certain damage.

I'm with you Dan--but I have nothing against anyone who lives to wheel so hard their truck is secondary.

Back to the Rubicon itself--I was under the impression that one could easily do it in a relatively capable truck without damage(?) I have hopes of driving it one day, but my 80 would need to have a high probability of coming out unscathed.

 

[locrwln1]

I'm with you Dan--but I have nothing against anyone who lives to wheel so hard their truck is secondary.

Back to the Rubicon itself--I was under the impression that one could easily do it in a relatively capable truck without damage(?) I have hopes of driving it one day, but my 80 would need to have a high probability of coming out unscathed.

Size matters. Jeep sized vehicles make it much easier. Wagons with their big assess make it more of a challenge. We used to go through with a buddy in his full size Dodge Ramcharger. Lost both tail lights eventually. Not saying you can't do it, just be ready for the damage both above the rocker panels and below.

And has been said earlier, the first few scrapes to the underside hurt, but by day two, the sound hurts less and less.

Oh, yeah, mines not going through. I had my fun in my Wrangler and my 4runner. The 80 is not a rock rig.

Jack

 

[peepers]

i am sure i will get ripped for this by WOW the erosion is amazing. i cant believe how much has eroded.

 

[GXO]

Run trails in the SE with a wagon and you will see what a tight trail is...trees and rocks, roots, etc are very common and the trails are much narrower.

I would run the Ruby in the Avocado in a second...of course, I don't worry about rock rash

 

[powderpig]

So many different styles of driving. I have always and still do drive with the equipment in mind. I do not like body damage(but I have some). The rubicon can be done with out body damage with the right mind set and time commitment. A good spotter will help as well. The central FJ Team did real well this year and did drive with out a bunch of rock stacking, but some was necessary. I did take my 80 through last year as a support vechicle(and one other time with the norcal guys). The last time I was loaded to the gills with weight, lots of water and fuel and supplies. The damage I got was to the fuel tank(lost a little capacity). I took the wrong line. The spotter did a great job, but I slipped off the rock and landed hard on the fuel tank. So with the right group, damage can be avoided. If you have always wanted to do this trail, do it with a few buddies that wheel the way you like to do it. Have fun, take your time, stack a rock or many if needed. Most people can come away with very little to no damage if wanted.
later Robbie

 

[Nay]

So many different styles of driving. I have always and still do drive with the equipment in mind. I do not like body damage(but I have some). The rubicon can be done with out body damage with the right mind set and time commitment. A good spotter will help as well. The central FJ Team did real well this year and did drive with out a bunch of rock stacking, but some was necessary. I did take my 80 through last year as a support vechicle(and one other time with the norcal guys). The last time I was loaded to the gills with weight, lots of water and fuel and supplies. The damage I got was to the fuel tank(lost a little capacity). I took the wrong line. The spotter did a great job, but I slipped off the rock and landed hard on the fuel tank. So with the right group, damage can be avoided. If you have always wanted to do this trail, do it with a few buddies that wheel the way you like to do it. Have fun, take your time, stack a rock or many if needed. Most people can come away with very little to no damage if wanted.
later Robbie

This is sage advice for all trails. If you always wheel with people like you, damage is not terribly likely unless you are all after damage and run those kind of trails. Most 4x4 runs I have even been on are with totally overbuilt rigs with very cautious drivers on trails that are hardcore for a near stock rig driven by a newbie but reasonably moderate in a built rig with an experienced driver. 35's with dual lockers on say Poison Spider Mesa is a great example of this.

If you can take any stock vehicle through a trail, it cannot by today's definition be considered "hardcore". It's a moderate core trail with some hardcore optional obstacles. These are the best trails, because the less experienced can learn a lot while the harder core crowd can still play on unnecessary but fun lines.

It's the unncessary but fun lines that always cause the damage.

Great pics

 

[Tapage]

Great pic .. here Alvaro really make the diference !

 

[SOCALFJ]

You dont have to beat the crap out of your rig to get through the 'con. It's called finesse. Dan, trust me there's plenty of folk that go through that trail and dont come out of it with a damn near totaled rig. Some people just dont care. Others do and use spotters. Now..i've said it before and i'll say it again... if you think the 'con is brutal get your butts down here to the hammers. You aint seen crap yet!!!

 

[MJADDICTION]

Awesome pics, and some mad driving skills in that first pic on the hill descent. That was a good line my friend.

I'm with dan on the damage patrol. I just can't subject the 'ol Cruiser to that kind of trail knowing I'm going to beat her up. I guess that means she's a poser, even IF I know that my Cruiser can run pretty much any trail the Jeep can. BUT....

The Jeep, she likes a good beating, and well, I like to give it to her...

So I can def. understand the need to hear that sheet metal Skreeeeching, although I try to keep the Jeep as straight as possible. I just can't do that to my sweet Cruiser.

Nice Pics!

 

[Darwood]

Great pic .. here Alvaro really make the diference !

What's Alvaro doing on the outside of his rig?

 

[Brentbba]

What's Alvaro doing on the outside of his rig?

I think it's called balast!

 

[WWORNinja]

kaymar hoops

glad you had a blast out there dave, good to hear the hoops held up, i was real worried about them. Made some of those lines look pretty easy with your new found ground clearance too!

 

[ginericLC]

Dave looks like you had a great time. I have some GOT BODY DAMAGE Rubithon stickers if you need any. I'll send them to you. I miss that trail and it has only been a few months. I did do the Rubithon virtually unscathed in my 80. I had a scratch in my lining on my fender flare. Other than that zippo. I agree that the first dent is the hardest and they get easier. I have a friend who builds streetrods and after he paints every car he takes the key and scratches it in not so noticeable place. He claims getting the first scratch out of the way is important to being able to be able to go on and enjoy the vehicle. And Great pictures. I'm looking forward to reading the whole story.

 

[concretejungle]

where are the pics of the rear kaymar hoops in action?

 

[NorCalSam]

I'm with you Dan--but I have nothing against anyone who lives to wheel so hard their truck is secondary.

Back to the Rubicon itself--I was under the impression that one could easily do it in a relatively capable truck without damage(?) I have hopes of driving it one day, but my 80 would need to have a high probability of coming out unscathed.