It appeared that Sprinkles, my BJ74, was the lone 7x series to do the Rubithon this year.
As some of you may know, the 74 is basically bone stock, including a S/O with 4x4labs arms with the 1-ton rod ends and rock-ram, sporting the 325/85R16 Michelin XML's and 4.88 gears.
In preparation for the Rubithon, I removed the top, added roof-top tent and aluminum rear gate, roll cage, bam-bar style anti-wrap bar, and installed the Marlin toybox.
Marc Ritchie of Shaker and I solo'd the trail on Friday, with our co-pilots Bryan Kathan and Craig MacKay. Shaker is Marc's BJ42 that has also been extensively modified.. 3B-T, H41, Toybox, rear 4-link-air bag suspension on 60 series axles, with 39.5" Irok radials.
Needless to say, we spanked the trail. We both lost rear lockers on the trail... my cable locker wouldn't engage, and the air line for Marc's ARB blew out. With the toyboxes big tires and good spotting, we didn't need them anyway.
Sprinkles went without armour, and took home a few minor body dings to remind me of the trip. The worst damage came from Marc who was jumping on my stock rear bumperette to gain access to the rear gate, when it fell off.
Turns out that the reason my rear locker would not engage is because I twisted the rear short side long spline axle, and the locking mechanism became jammed on the twisted splines. I didn't discover this until long after I had returned home and was trying to repair the rear locker. I now owe Bruce Loewen a spare rear long spline axle shaft, but with no additional repairs, the rig was operational 4 days after the return from the Rubithon to go on the RMLCA's hard core annual run, the Ruby-con.
All in all, I was very happy how my unmodified BJ74 did as the sole 70 on the 'Con this year.
Peter Straub
As some of you may know, the 74 is basically bone stock, including a S/O with 4x4labs arms with the 1-ton rod ends and rock-ram, sporting the 325/85R16 Michelin XML's and 4.88 gears.
In preparation for the Rubithon, I removed the top, added roof-top tent and aluminum rear gate, roll cage, bam-bar style anti-wrap bar, and installed the Marlin toybox.
Marc Ritchie of Shaker and I solo'd the trail on Friday, with our co-pilots Bryan Kathan and Craig MacKay. Shaker is Marc's BJ42 that has also been extensively modified.. 3B-T, H41, Toybox, rear 4-link-air bag suspension on 60 series axles, with 39.5" Irok radials.
Needless to say, we spanked the trail. We both lost rear lockers on the trail... my cable locker wouldn't engage, and the air line for Marc's ARB blew out. With the toyboxes big tires and good spotting, we didn't need them anyway.
Sprinkles went without armour, and took home a few minor body dings to remind me of the trip. The worst damage came from Marc who was jumping on my stock rear bumperette to gain access to the rear gate, when it fell off.
Turns out that the reason my rear locker would not engage is because I twisted the rear short side long spline axle, and the locking mechanism became jammed on the twisted splines. I didn't discover this until long after I had returned home and was trying to repair the rear locker. I now owe Bruce Loewen a spare rear long spline axle shaft, but with no additional repairs, the rig was operational 4 days after the return from the Rubithon to go on the RMLCA's hard core annual run, the Ruby-con.
All in all, I was very happy how my unmodified BJ74 did as the sole 70 on the 'Con this year.
Peter Straub
