TLCA TLCA Rubithon 37 Huft’s Thursday Breakfast Run 2025

[Pipsqueekspire]

I cant tell but i highly suggest a rear antiwrap bar . Ruffstuff has a good one .

Done!!

 

[Rockstar34]

Ok quick intro since I’m 99% sure I’ll be there.
I’m Michael. I live in Tahoe not too far from the exit of the trail. This will be my 5th run on the Rubicon. 3rd time with Doug. Normally I go with my younger son but after months of working on the truck with me, he got an opportunity to go to a week long camp he can’t pass up so I’ll be with my older, less truck enthusiastic, son Logan. It will be his 2nd run.

Over the last 6 months I’ve take a fairly stock FJ and turned it into a monster I’m not sure behaves properly yet. It got a SOA on 60 springs and axles. It’s on 38s. Powered by LS 5.3 with an NV4500 and 4:1 Orion Tcase with 4.10 diffs and ARB lockers. This was all done by my son and I with very little experience. Lost of advice from Valley Hybrids. I hope it holds up!

Today it ran for the first time! We pulled it out and around the block. Once we figured out that it works we put the cage back on and took it for a little spin on a local trail and promptly overheated. After my wife rescued us I figured out that I had the fan on blow and not suck. Quick wire swap. Now that it sucks it’s running cooler. I already found a fuel leak, lost a bead lock bolt and found a loose shackle.

Many more test drives required!

View attachment 3913649

Wow! That thing is sweet! Hope you get the bugs worked out and we get to see it in person.

 

[peesalot]

You'll be fine. Alot of those shake down, double checks is a great idea, run down to south lake, when you get to the hair pin at end of ridge out of emerald bay come at it a little fast in 3rd and let off, if that orion is gonna pop, thats one spot where they like to do it. check steering arms, and dline bolts, if its a first run it wouldnt hurt to put some run around time and before trip, drain tcase fluid, 2 reasons, the orion on break in will have some silver dust which is good to get out and I like to check the interior case bolts. You are gonna love the 5.3, 4500, 4:1, 4.10 combo IMO.

 

[Brav]

View attachment 3906061Time for an introduction here. Name's Anthony, out of Penngrove, Sonoma County. Rig is a '94 80. Factory 3x locked, 37's, slinky, icon, delta suspension. Bellfab bumper, winch. RCVs in the front, 4.88 and regeared part time T case.

First time rubithon attendee, first time rubicon driver. Been wheeling a long time in various Toyota vehicles, trails like gold lake, snake lake, Sourgrass, Moab, Baja... but this is my biggest set of tires yet, and the biggest set of rocks I've tried to drive over!

Built this rig over the past year or two from bone stock, with a major chunk of the work completed this spring. I've got one solid shakedown run up in the Mendo national forest under my belt, but would like to take it out on some rocks before rubithon... so far everything's working and holding up nicely.

To do list:
Wire my lights
Delete front sway bar
Considering removing rear bumper for the trip. Have plans for a nice low profile steel bumper, but won't get it done in time for rubithon...
Freshen up power steering fluid. PS system is all stock...
Aaaand a million other little items

That's it! Can't wait to meet everyone and get to wheeling!
View attachment 3906060

Nice. You should be fine, except for PS as mentioned. I would get an aftermarket cooler and fresh fluid in there if I were you. I ran it last year with 35s / stock fluid and my pump was SCREAMING by end of day 1.

 

[Devil's Slide Doug]

The 40 is as ready as it’s going get. Checking shock length and rear locker!

 

[Devil's Slide Doug]

Getting Down to the wire with the 80! Finally looked hard enough to find the source of the creaking/ticking when turning hard. Drilling and welding and plating the frame cracks on the back side of the steering box. Installing a 105 shaft while it’s all apart.

 

[BertH2O]

Getting Down to the wire with the 80! Finally looked hard enough to find the source of the creaking/ticking when turning hard. Drilling and welding and plating the frame cracks on the back side of the steering box. Installing a 105 shaft while it’s all apart.

I just did that before Cruise Moab as a preventative upgrade. I picked up a spare box, rebuilt it with a 105 shaft, and drilled/tapped for future hydro assist. Then I welded on the frame supports (kit from Rampt Customs) and installed box with new pump, hp and lp hoses, added an inline cooler and magnetic filter, and added a larger reservoir. Welding the plate on the backside of frame was tough to reach. I didn't get as many welds as I wanted around the crush tubes, but should be fine.

 

[Devil's Slide Doug]

I just did that before Cruise Moab as a preventative upgrade. I picked up a spare box, rebuilt it with a 105 shaft, and drilled/tapped for future hydro assist. Then I welded on the frame supports (kit from Rampt Customs) and installed box with new pump, hp and lp hoses, added an inline cooler and magnetic filter, and added a larger reservoir. Welding the plate on the backside of frame was tough to reach. I didn't get as many welds as I wanted around the crush tubes, but should be fine.

Delta kit, not looking forward to burning in that back plate.

 

[FFDawson]

Logistical question for a first timer... trailer and truck parking? I'm planning on trailering the 80 up, is there a good place to park and unload at Ice House? I know a lot of folks do it at the Rubicon trail head, but that's a good ways past our Ice House meetup and I'm guessing it'll be packed as well.

 

[Firemedic831]

Logistical question for a first timer... trailer and truck parking? I'm planning on trailering the 80 up, is there a good place to park and unload at Ice House? I know a lot of folks do it at the Rubicon trail head, but that's a good ways past our Ice House meetup and I'm guessing it'll be packed as well.

Just a friendly reminder that they are doing road construction on ice house . Expect delays of up to 45 min .

 

[FFDawson]

Just a friendly reminder that they are doing road construction on ice house . Expect delays of up to 45 min .

Copy that, we'll be subject to that construction on our thurs morning route from breakfast at ice house to the loon entrance will we not?

Edit: I'm not super familiar with the area, I guess what I'm asking is there a better place to park a truck and trailer during the trip?

 

[ajordan1975]

Copy that, we'll be subject to that construction on our thurs morning route from breakfast at ice house to the loon entrance will we not?

Edit: I'm not super familiar with the area, I guess what I'm asking is there a better place to park a truck and trailer during the trip?

trailer parking is ether at Loon or Tahoma... If you park at Loon, do you plan to drive the trail backwards to get back?

 

[AgentOrange]

trailer parking is ether at Loon or Tahoma... If you park at Loon, do you plan to drive the trail backwards to get back?

Or after coming out of the Rubicon and driving down Highway 50 and all the way back up Ice House Road when you're tired. I would get moving earlier and park at the Tahoma side sometime Wednesday

 

[FFDawson]

Or after coming out of the Rubicon and driving down Highway 50 and all the way back up Ice House Road when you're tired. I would get moving earlier and park at the Tahoma side sometime Wednesday

Ok now I get it. Yeah I guess I had planned to drive back to loon after running the trail, but makes far more sense to stash the trailer on the Tahoma side. Thanks y'all.

 

[BertH2O]

Ok now I get it. Yeah I guess I had planned to drive back to loon after running the trail, but makes far more sense to stash the trailer on the Tahoma side. Thanks y'all.

If you need any help dropping off Wednesday, I'll be around the Highway 50 area near Pollock Pines hopefully by mid-day Wednesday.

 

[Pipsqueekspire]

I’m in South Lake Tahoe heading to Ice House Wednesday afternoon.

 

[Devil's Slide Doug]

We drive our rigs (no trailers) from the coast and hope to drive up Wednesday and camp out at Ice House. People who trailer park the tow rig at either end and drive the trail in and then back out to the trailer or park the tow rig at the end (Tahoma) and then drive pavement to loon lake to run the trail. “One way”.

 

[Devil's Slide Doug]

Got my steering back together! (So far the rebuilt box isn’t leaking). Just need a day off for a bit of road testing before packing and driving up.

 

[Mademan925]

View attachment 3906061Time for an introduction here. Name's Anthony, out of Penngrove, Sonoma County. Rig is a '94 80. Factory 3x locked, 37's, slinky, icon, delta suspension. Bellfab bumper, winch. RCVs in the front, 4.88 and regeared part time T case.

First time rubithon attendee, first time rubicon driver. Been wheeling a long time in various Toyota vehicles, trails like gold lake, snake lake, Sourgrass, Moab, Baja... but this is my biggest set of tires yet, and the biggest set of rocks I've tried to drive over!

Built this rig over the past year or two from bone stock, with a major chunk of the work completed this spring. I've got one solid shakedown run up in the Mendo national forest under my belt, but would like to take it out on some rocks before rubithon... so far everything's working and holding up nicely.

To do list:
Wire my lights
Delete front sway bar
Considering removing rear bumper for the trip. Have plans for a nice low profile steel bumper, but won't get it done in time for rubithon...
Freshen up power steering fluid. PS system is all stock...
Aaaand a million other little items

That's it! Can't wait to meet everyone and get to wheeling!
View attachment 3906060

Im on the 4runner mini truck run, but it will be good to see you at the springs. Its been a long time man.

 

[FFDawson]

Im on the 4runner mini truck run, but it will be good to see you at the springs. Its been a long time man.

Right on!! Yeah I'm really looking forward to getting back into the rocks. You bringing your green 80? Or the Taco?