Rubithon 2014

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FL cruiser

FL cruiser

10 Year 15 Year 20 Year
Joined
Jul 22, 2004
Threads
96
Messages
1,766
Location
St Petersburg, Florida
Rubithon dates are June 17th to the 21st.
I believe my back has recovered enough to make the trip.

Anyone interested in making a trip out west this year and doing the Rubicon?

My tentative plans are to leave for GSMTR Thurs May15th. On May 18th, the Sunday after GSMTR, drive from Windrock to Nashville, leave the vehicle there and fly home. On June 8th, fly back to Nashville, get into the vehicle and resume the trip out west.

I have a safe place to store our vehicles just outside of Nashville and a ride to and from the airport.

Steve
 
40TUDE said:
I'm glad you're finally feeling better.
Click to expand...
He's been taking his medicine:

image-1682604904.webp
 
We need to pack lots of that medicine for GSMTR too.
 
On my way! Made it to Las Vegas. 3,060 miles have been driven so far. The Battle Wagon is running great.

It wouldn't be an adventure if EVERYTHING went perfect. Had a blow out on I40 in north texas. Blowout happened the same time a wind gust blew the semi truck next to me in my lane. Manage somehow to get the vehicle stopped w/o hitting the semi or the guard rail. Put the spare on. Walked around the other side of the truck and noticed the pass door resembled one of the Lamborghinis that has the doors that swing up. I guess I had left the door open above the guard rail when I jacked the truck up with the hi lift on the other side. :eek:

Need a spare replacment. 5 X 37 tires are almost a thing of the past. A couple were found. In a wharehouse in Florida:doh: 4Wheel parts couldn't coordinate both a new 17" wheel and a 37" tire in a reasonable time frame for pickup in Albequerque , Arizona or Las Vegas. Drove down to Discount Tire Direct in Phoenix yesterday and picked up a new 17" MTR and then to 4Wheel parts in Vegas to get the 17" that was shipped there. Walked in the showroom and there was four new 17" BFG KM2's sitting right there :bang:. Idiots!

Picking Terri up at Vegas airport today and she'll join me the rest of the trip.
Heading to Mammoth Lakes Ca tomorrow and hope to hit Yosemite and Sequoia NP before the Rubicon.

Rubi1.webp


Rubi2.webp
 
Gals to bear you're OK. Truck looks badass as usual.
 
Yeah it would suck if it dented the inner fender or something
 
I think a inner tube would have fixed it . Just saying .

You should go to the MGM Hotel after you pick up Terri and have the valet park the Battle Wagon . Then when you come out to pick it up yell What the F_ _ K happen to my newly restored Land Cruiser !

Enjoy
 
Wow... and an old school legend chimes in. Welcome back Mike. Talked to Steve-O a few hours ago.... He said he made it to Rubicon trail. Slew of mechanical issues including clutch and rear locker / rear end issues. He said he should be able to make it home. If anyone can find a way, he will.

Anyone that has been on a ride with Steve is quite aware of his rear issues, so thats no breaking news.
 
CruiserCliff said:
no breaking news.
Click to expand...

Pun intended? Lol.

Steve... that must have been the site to see your truck in Vegas... that could be a fun few hours annoying the crap out of people with very expensive vehicles...
 
The best part is that he put the lock on the shredded spare.

Is that the definition of conceit (from the point of view of the spare, not Steve!)
 
I'm not much of a photographer or colorful story teller, but will share some highlights of the trip.

After leaving Vegas, we camped out in the white Mountains (Sierra Nevada's) by the ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. These are some of the oldest living trees in the world ranging from 1,500 to 4,000 years old. It is said some have been alive since Moses walked the earth.
We drove the Silver Canyon road/trail while there.

GEDC0002 bb.webp
 
We spent a couple of days in Mammoth Lakes on the east side of Yosemite. Did some hiking and visited Devil's Postpile and hiked to Rainbow fallsGEDC0057 bb.webp GEDC0068 bb.webp
 
After Mammoth we drove through Yosemite. Got there early AM before the crowds showed up. I'm not posting any pics because they just don't do any justice to the beauty of this place.

Made it all the way to California W/o any mechanical failures until we were in Yosemite. An idler pulley bearing locked up and smoked a belt. Luckily it was only for the power steering. Power brakes too (Hydroboost). It was a slow white knuckle experience getting out of there, but made it to a Carquest parts store in the town of Oakhurst Ca under our own power. Got lucky and the parts store was fully equipped with bearings, pulleys and parts guys that knew how to look for parts and pull parts off the shelf. Although not how it was originally, we were able to mismatch various parts to come up with a shoulder bolt, bearing, pulley and belt combo that worked. All repairs were done in a parking lot and we were back on the road again.
 
That afternoon heading from Yosemite to Placerville (near Rubicon), the clutch disc decided to come apart. We were about 45 min from town. We were able to make it to town. It was 9PM on a Monday night, and it wasn't looking good as far as making a the trail run. 3500 mile trip and major failure just B$ we arrive to the Rubicon.

I posted up on MUD and made a call. Within 30 minutes two shops had offered to do repairs first thing in the morning and an offer of a driveway and a transmission jack to use. Due to time constraints I opted for the closest and quickest option. Steve Wardens Auto Repair in Placerville which are die hard Cruiser heads started on it Tues morning and had it fixed that afternoon. It was very cool they put my job ahead of other jobs they had in the shop so we could make the trail ride!
 
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