Rubithon 2007

[PKP80]

I will hopefully be doing the Rubithon 07 and Recommend EVERYONE who can to do it. It would be great to have a So Cal 80 wagon run.

Minimum to run the Con:
-OME 3"
-35's although I've seen it done on 33's
-LOCKERS front and rear
-Sliders
-Rear bumper
-X case protection
-beer in cans (NOT bottles, learned the hard way)


It is a very intimate trip and everyone hangs out and is together, which is cool. It's about 7/8hr drive from Orange county and it is a truly amazing experience...we can start the trip either Wed. or Thurs. (there is a friday run, but I wouldn't recommend it b/c it's rather rushed and you don't get to enjoy camp. Everyone leaves the springs on Sunday to head home and there is a great support group to help and make sure everyone gets out as fast as possible. if anyone has questions, fire away. I'll do my best to answer them.

I know everyone is busy and June might seem a ways away, but to be early is to be on time and registration should open up by late February early March.

you owe it to yourself and
you owe it to your rig
Sam

 

[g8mfzj80]

I'm in run it 3 yrs in a row now with smaller rigs.

De-flared would be best IMO
Sawed off or rerouted tail pipe.

Start Wed for the early run to grab some of the best spots and avoid the crowds.

Bring all the spares you have.

Brian

 

[95eighty]

Im going for sure.We should caravan;p

 

[clownmidget]

I'd go but I don't think my truck is ready yet...and I don't want to scratch the paint. Can I ride shot-gun with someone?

 

[PKP80]

I'd go but I don't think my truck is ready yet...and I don't want to scratch the paint. Can I ride shot-gun with someone?

Mike, you have 6 months all you need are the bumpers (which you can easily fab up). if you're going to scratch the paint, no better place to do it than the Rubicon. that turbo will thank you and there are lots of rocks to high center on.

 

[RAYJON]

All I want to know is have any 80's with 33" and an ome made it though without body damage???


I would love to go, could even stop at mom and dads on the way... and call it a family outing...

 

[PabloVTA]

How much fun would a non lifted 80 with 33"s and sliders have?
would I be the bypass guide the whole time, or am I just gunna hold up everyone while I use all the straps I can find?

Did I mention I have a kick ass grill?
guess I'll have to go shotgun this time, and then next year I'll return with a vengance!

Who needs a co pilot?..er counterweight?

who has a 4" lift, shocks, rear bumper and skid plates for sale, CHEAP!
I know....SEARCH!

 

[g8mfzj80]

IMO if you have experience rock crawling 33’s are fine. The majority of the people I've run it 3x's didn't have >33's.

Lockers, patience, and some good spotting when needed should get you through without any damage.

Of course body damage is always possible, with a 80's its mostly the width you need to worry about on the tight squeezes at the one spot on walker, in the old sluice, and a couple other spots.

Sliders & tcase skid for sure, rear bumper is nice to have but you can get by without one with the spare somewhere else.

Bring what you have, don't worry be happy you drive a cruiser.

Brian

 

[SOCALFJ]

You can run it w/33's.. just take your time and have a good spotter.

I may or may not be in this run. I'll know last minute.

 

[Skim]

I'm interested........How manys days do you take to do this ? Is this a week long trip from So. Cal - run the Con- and back to So. Cal. ?

 

[PKP80]

All I want to know is have any 80's with 33" and an ome made it though without body damage???


I would love to go, could even stop at mom and dads on the way... and call it a family outing...

Like it's been said, you can get through w/out body damage if you take your time, know the rig, and have a good spot. 80's on 33's have done it you need to watch the front and rear diffs and the AC comp.

How much fun would a non lifted 80 with 33"s and sliders have?
would I be the bypass guide the whole time, or am I just gunna hold up everyone while I use all the straps I can find?

Did I mention I have a kick ass grill?
guess I'll have to go shotgun this time, and then next year I'll return with a vengance!

Who needs a co pilot?..er counterweight?

who has a 4" lift, shocks, rear bumper and skid plates for sale, CHEAP!
I know....SEARCH!

You need at least an OME on the rig, you don't always have the bypass option.

IMO if you have experience rock crawling 33’s are fine. The majority of the people I've run it 3x's didn't have >33's.

Lockers, patience, and some good spotting when needed should get you through without any damage.

Of course body damage is always possible, with a 80's its mostly the width you need to worry about on the tight squeezes at the one spot on walker, in the old sluice, and a couple other spots.

Sliders & tcase skid for sure, rear bumper is nice to have but you can get by without one with the spare somewhere else.

Bring what you have, don't worry be happy you drive a cruiser.

Brian

I agree with what you have said, but with the ledges you drop off at a rear bumper will save your ass, (literally) but if you have the basics and know how to drive your truck you'll be happy.

I'm interested........How manys days do you take to do this ? Is this a week long trip from So. Cal - run the Con- and back to So. Cal. ?

typically we would leave either Tues. or Wed. (depending on whether we do a Wednesday or Thursday run out to the springs) and you are back home Sunday
you have 1/1.5 days of trail then 2 days of hiking and hanging out and then 1 day of trail out to the end.


This is the real deal, what the LC was made for and where it shines. You learn A LOT about yourself, the truck, and wheeling

 

[SOCALFJ]

Hey Sam, you might want to mention what spares to bring and tools/recovery equipment that everyone should carry. Some people will just 'show up' with a cooler and beer.

 

[bluto]

...Some people will just 'show up' with a cooler and beer.

 

[PKP80]

Hey Sam, you might want to mention what spares to bring and tools/recovery equipment that everyone should carry. Some people will just 'show up' with a cooler and beer.

First and foremost I'll say that between the 50+ trucks out there you can find virtually ANY tool imaginable (Luke from 4x4 labs redid an whole new spring mount) and everyone is there to help. So you don't need to bring your Whole garage, what we did was make sure that between a few of us we had the essentials.

As far as spares are concerned, it's best to have everyone bring all there spares b/c if someone is to break, the chance of having the part is higher. There is no substitute for being proactive and wheeling carefully. Listen to your spotter and make sure they know the vehicle. i.e. I had all 40's on my run and 40's are NOT 80's so I would not ask for those I didn't know could spot me to do so and if they offered I would thank them for the offer but refuse the help and use someone I knew could spot me successfully and many times just do it myself.

I threw together a list of the tools and spares I remember bringing last year and some items I will take this year. As the trip comes closer and I actually start gather and putting things in order I'll add to the list and refine it.

Note taken:

Tools:
- metric ratchet set
- brass hammer, or similar
- allen set
- pliers
- duct tape
- PB blaster
- grease
- fluids (trans, antifreeze, diff. oil, motor oil)
- brake cleaner
- vice grips
- (i bring a torque wrench)
- lock tight
- gloves
- sledge (5lb)
- FSM

Spares: you can never have enough spare parts, but most of us don't buy second sets.
-Spare tire
- drive shaft (s)
- birfs
- axle shafts
- wheel studs and lugs (I broke 4 studs on the right home last year...that's right the F*&king ride home not on the trail)
- c-clips for the axles

Sam

 

[Ian Rogers]

I would add

Power steering fluid, ARB lines, (are there c-clips in 80 axels?) If you have stock rear lower links on your truck you might want to bring a spare, you will slide on them.

The rear bumper not only helps the rear of your truck but also the spoter as most rear bumpers rap around the rear of the truck a little.

x12 on who you ask for a spot from, some guys dont think about the last 4ft of the 80. If you guys get a bunch of 80's togeather you will have a blast.

First and foremost I'll say that between the 50+ trucks out there you can find virtually ANY tool imaginable (Luke from 4x4 labs redid an whole new spring mount) and everyone is there to help. So you don't need to bring your Whole garage, what we did was make sure that between a few of us we had the essentials.

As far as spares are concerned, it's best to have everyone bring all there spares b/c if someone is to break, the chance of having the part is higher. There is no substitute for being proactive and wheeling carefully. Listen to your spotter and make sure they know the vehicle. i.e. I had all 40's on my run and 40's are NOT 80's so I would not ask for those I didn't know could spot me to do so and if they offered I would thank them for the offer but refuse the help and use someone I knew could spot me successfully and many times just do it myself.

I threw together a list of the tools and spares I remember bringing last year and some items I will take this year. As the trip comes closer and I actually start gather and putting things in order I'll add to the list and refine it.

Note taken:

Tools:
- metric ratchet set
- brass hammer, or similar
- allen set
- pliers
- duct tape
- PB blaster
- grease
- fluids (trans, antifreeze, diff. oil, motor oil)
- brake cleaner
- vice grips
- (i bring a torque wrench)
- lock tight
- gloves
- sledge (5lb)
- FSM

Spares: you can never have enough spare parts, but most of us don't buy second sets.
-Spare tire
- drive shaft (s)
- birfs
- axle shafts
- wheel studs and lugs (I broke 4 studs on the right home last year...that's right the F*&king ride home not on the trail)
- c-clips for the axles

Sam

 

[Newps]

For the people going I recommend taking off your flairs and removing your rear bumper wings. This is not very hard to do and will save you from have to replace these parts. Heck if you have to you can do it on the trail there is a lot of waiting time. Mo says he can get the flairs off in 30 minutes. The rear wings are about a 10 minute job. I hope to be able to make it, right now with the new little one coming it is up in the air.

Tare

 

[SOCALFJ]

You never head to the trail relying on anyone else but yourself. It's a plus, but never soley rely on that. Always have all your spares and tools at all times. It's not my run, but i can't stand the one guy that breaks something on a hard trail and then has nothing with him sept his lunch. Of course i will lend a hand cause im not a complete jackass, but in all reality you shouldn't even be on the trail. Of course there's always exceptions to rule and i've had plenty of my own incidents regarding not having what i needed 'that day'. Bringing nothing at all and assuming "Jim Bob" will have it, is what bugs me.

I will never forget the one time i was out at the Hammers in Johnson Valley and busted a hole in my oil pan. I was clueless at the time about how to fix the problem and i didnt have what i needed to do so. I was very lucky that there was a event that weekend and a certain well know 4 wheeler helped me out. From that day on, i always swore i'd bring everything i could whether i needed it or not, or if someone had it already on a challenging trail.


Good list Sam.

 

[clownmidget]

Jeesh Sammy you takin' yourself a bit too seriously nowadays - my post was meant to be teasin' that one could never really be ready enough to run the Rubicon in an 80...right?!?! I got some surprises that'll hopefully be done for that run. AND I DON'T NEED NO STINKIN' BUMPERS! The stock ones work really well as "feelers"



My addition to the above sage advice is to make sure your junk is gone through/over/under and that it's all up to snuff. Most folks with 80's don't fall into this category since they are overly anal about maintenance but it ain't cool to find out none of the nuts and bolts on your truck are tightened to torque in the middle of a run.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Jeesh Sammy you takin' yourself a bit too seriously nowadays - my post was meant to be teasin' that one could never really be ready enough to run the Rubicon in an 80...right?!?! I got some surprises that'll hopefully be done for that run. AND I DON'T NEED NO STINKIN' BUMPERS! The stock ones work really well as "feelers"



.

Daaamn! And Sammy only ran it once through! 80's/33's/lockers seems to be the magic combo. Agree with the no flare idea. Clown-I hope you can come to Rubicon this year. It is a great time.

Seriously, Sam almost tipped his truck at the springs, then got totally hammered on vitamin T, then cut his eye, barfed and stillhad a great time.

If my 40 isn't finished, then I'll be bringing the 80 this year too. Hope to see you there!

 

[PabloVTA]

well, i'm unlocked. Just got the MT sliders on, and will be willing to shred off my rear if it happens. Have some tools, straps, but nothing like a spare shaft or arms.
I have the cooler and beers though, and a fat grill.
I think I'd be the shot gun for somebody this time, and maybe next year i'll take the rig up to the lake for some punishment. This way I can learn the spotting, do some photos and help wrench when needed.