Hey guys,
I love wheeling and haven’t been around as much as some, but get around a little. I’ve been to the Rubicon (5) times now, three times in my 4runner and (2) in my LX450. Here is what I’ve learned. I’m sure that no matter what I post, someone will tell me I’m wrong, but you know what, so be it.
1) Lesson #1 – I love this trail and appreciate all the work that key groups do to maintain it so I tried to do my part. For every piece of trash I packed in, I took three pieces off the trail. That means if I drank a can of soda I picked up (3) crushed beer cans. The lesson? Don’t be a douche bag, keep good trails clean and we can keep using them.
2) Lesson #2 – You can get from one end to the other on 315’s and 75mm springs and no body damage, but you must have sliders and a bumper to soak up the hits. Also, in my experience, you are going to drag the control arm brackets over lots and lots of rocks.
3) Lesson #3 – Although we can fit these things through the trail without body damage, I cannot imagine how the heck you can get one through Old Sluice without getting banged up. Super fun, but not exactly as FJ80 friendly as the rest of the trail.
4) Lesson #4 – It is so satisfying to go to any trail, wheel, and then when your buddies are loading their rigs on their trailers, you just unlock the front hubs and drive home. Coincidentally, it is exactly 12 hours from my house to Buck Island, including airing up/down.
5) Next steps?
a. I need to decide whether I take all the trim off, bang out the dents the best I can and then raptor line the whole thing or if I try to fix the fender flares.
b. DOM drag link to replace the stock one.
c. I kicked myself all the way home for not moving the stupid AC dryer that I knew would get crushed sooner or later. Now I have to fix the AC and move the AC dryer.
d. Every exhaust hanger I had broke (all on Old Sluice), I tacked a few things back in place, but will move it to go over the frame to keep it from getting crushed again and again.
e. I know they make re-enforced buckets for the rear control arms on the 100 series, but I’ve never seen any for the 80. I’ll either find some or make some
Anyway, super stoked on the platform, amazingly comfortable, capable and just all around awesome.
I love wheeling and haven’t been around as much as some, but get around a little. I’ve been to the Rubicon (5) times now, three times in my 4runner and (2) in my LX450. Here is what I’ve learned. I’m sure that no matter what I post, someone will tell me I’m wrong, but you know what, so be it.
1) Lesson #1 – I love this trail and appreciate all the work that key groups do to maintain it so I tried to do my part. For every piece of trash I packed in, I took three pieces off the trail. That means if I drank a can of soda I picked up (3) crushed beer cans. The lesson? Don’t be a douche bag, keep good trails clean and we can keep using them.
2) Lesson #2 – You can get from one end to the other on 315’s and 75mm springs and no body damage, but you must have sliders and a bumper to soak up the hits. Also, in my experience, you are going to drag the control arm brackets over lots and lots of rocks.
3) Lesson #3 – Although we can fit these things through the trail without body damage, I cannot imagine how the heck you can get one through Old Sluice without getting banged up. Super fun, but not exactly as FJ80 friendly as the rest of the trail.
4) Lesson #4 – It is so satisfying to go to any trail, wheel, and then when your buddies are loading their rigs on their trailers, you just unlock the front hubs and drive home. Coincidentally, it is exactly 12 hours from my house to Buck Island, including airing up/down.
5) Next steps?
a. I need to decide whether I take all the trim off, bang out the dents the best I can and then raptor line the whole thing or if I try to fix the fender flares.
b. DOM drag link to replace the stock one.
c. I kicked myself all the way home for not moving the stupid AC dryer that I knew would get crushed sooner or later. Now I have to fix the AC and move the AC dryer.
d. Every exhaust hanger I had broke (all on Old Sluice), I tacked a few things back in place, but will move it to go over the frame to keep it from getting crushed again and again.
e. I know they make re-enforced buckets for the rear control arms on the 100 series, but I’ve never seen any for the 80. I’ll either find some or make some
Anyway, super stoked on the platform, amazingly comfortable, capable and just all around awesome.
Yeah, I was really bummed that 
