Rubicon Trip - lots o' pics

[jcardona1]

This is a copy/paste from my build thread.

The group consisted of myself, the 3rd gen 4Runner that's always in my pics, a bobbed Tacoma, 1st gen 4Runner and an insane Jeep XJ. The Jeep was built during a 6 week period and this was its shakedown run.

The plan was to camp the night then go all the way out. But as mentioned, the 3rd gen 4Runner was going through hell. He snapped not one, but two axles and had no more spares. But this was a good thing actually. My buddy's been considering going SAS. This sealed the deal. He's probably online ordering parts as we speak. He'll be running an FJ80 front axle and will switch it up to 37s. That thing is gonna be sweet.

We made it Buck Island Lake and went out the next morning. One of the days we'll run the whole thing. From what I experienced in this stretch of the Rubicon, the toughest part was the section where you drop down from Spider Lake into Buck Island. That entire hill slide has some crazy off camber stuff and lots of boulders. Granite Bowl was awesome. Just the sheer size of that chunk of rock is mind boggling.

Enough talk, on to the pics. After making it past the Heep traffic jam at the Gate Keeper came the Granite Bowl. Really wish I snapped more pics here

The 3 better built rigs then tried the Soup Bowl

So much flex you'd think it BROKE

Tried and tried but couldn't make it up. Ended up calling it quits

He then got shown up by the 1st gen 4Runner, driven BY A GIRL

Then came the bobbed Tacoma. Walked up the Bowl like if it were a speed bump, all while forgetting to engage the front lockers

Running through Little Sluice, or what's left of it

 

[jcardona1]

Courtesy of the steep ledges in the Granite Bowl

 

[jcardona1]

Didn't take any pictures during the descent into Buck Island as it was a tough stretch. Near the bottom of the hill the 4Runner snapped the first axle of the trip and had to be tugged to camp.

This is starting to become a familiar sight. At this point I think is when he made up his mind to go solid axle.

He also lost the nut on his upper control arm and it was flopping around. We improvised by making a new bushing/washer with a castle nut from a spare axle shaft and a rubber insert.

Meanwhile the boys were out being boys

As if thing were going bad for the 4Runner, the next day popped the bead after landing hard on the tire. Can't tell from the pic but this was on the really steep hill climb coming out Buck. While winching to another truck as an anchor, the remote line got caught in the fairlead and shorted out the wiring in the box. GREAT.

But the popped bead did give us the chance to make a cool video for Youtube



Immediately after fixing the bead the 4runner broke ANOTHER axle just a few yards up the trail. Luckily we found just enough flat ground to fix it again.

Finally back on the trail and it was getting late. We bypassed Little Sluice to avoid any more mishaps this late in the day.

Being careful to only use the front locker unless absolutely necessary!

Sometime during Sunday a huge wildfire started in the Sierras. Unfortunate, but we got incredible views and skies on the way out

Stopped for a late lunch and started to check the damage.

Passenger side slider was jacked. Bent the tubing upwards

Driver's side was a bit worse. Bent and flexed all the way up into the body. Look at my freaking rocker. DOH!

And finally made it back onto pavement! Exited Loon Lake just as the sun was setting. The wildfire mixed with the clouds and sunset made for one of the most amazing sunsets I'd seen in a long time. It cast a dramatic glow over the entire lake and mountains. What a way to end the trip

 

[93yotasr5]

Dude those are awesome shots. Im hoping to make it out here next year! need my sliders welded on!!

 

[Elbert]

great pics...looks like a great time, other than having to deal with the damage.

 

[richardmvaldez]

Dose any one know if the trail is still there???

 

[jcardona1]

Dose any one know if the trail is still there???

No idea, haven't been following it lately. But the fire was a good distance away from Loon Lake the weekend we were out there (9/13). It was a good distance west of Fresh Pond

 

[jcardona1]

Dose any one know if the trail is still there???

I stand corrected. The whole damn forest is closed effective 9/17/14

http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3817304.pdf

 

[twentyocho]

Great thread and pics.. Love all those rides.

 

[Blade 80LC]

Great pictures! Nice post.

 

[SeaDrifter]

Amazing photos! A bucket list fosho! Thanks for sharing

 

[Epatt29]

Don't mean to hijack but what are the specs on the 4runner? Love watching the IFS guys follow the solid axle guys

 

[Heron]

Thanks for the great post, awesome pictures. I took a lot of pictures on my run, but none of them turned out as good as these.
Makes Me want to go back.

 

[TheViking]

Great pics like the 4Runner too!

 

[fireball]

Fantastic photos! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi all,

jcardonna1, thanks for sharing your trip report & pics with us!


That 1st Gen 4Runner is a nice rig; too bad the driver won't wear a seat belt!


Regards,

Alan

 

[HENDOG]

Okay, I got to ask, what kind of camera were you using because those are awesome shots!!!