Who has taken their 100 on the Rubicon?

[Tahomatom]

Ok. I have had a house in Tahoma for over 25 years. Right behind the old gas stations for those in the know. Snowmobile on this trail every year and have done the trail from Tahoe side in a stock jeep the day after I bought it. I think it had 30" on it. I would not do it with anything less than 33"

The first thing I wll say is I got permanent pin stripes on the Jeep. The trail is narrow. If you dont care about you paint go ahead and try. If you do. Go elsewhere. (there are fire road type trails not far at Barker Pass, about 6 miles away)
Second thing there are many bypasses if you are not up for the challange. The later you go the more bypasses are open and the more the trail has been worked and rocks moved for less trail ready rigs.
Passing in spring and early summer is much more difficult than late summer but it really depends on the last group up there. Some make it harder, some easier.

Pirates of the Rubicon is the place you need to visit before you go. Always recent trail reports, bypass info, weather forecasts and trip info there.

I bought the 100 knowing I will never take it past Loon lake. I have seen Subaru's and 2x2 up that far. Even a moped. If there is a will theres a way. You can go run the first few miles for a little fun. There are places to turn around.

Keep it clean, stay on the trails or it will be gone forever. People have spend countless hours maintaining it and playing the political game so it stays open. We have been very close to loosing it many times.

 

[Zane]

Anybody else run the Rubicon in their 100 since 9/22/2006? I can't believe the subject hasn't been covered since then... If so, would you do it again? Any mods you realized you wanted or needed after you got there?

From the feedback that I have read in this thread it sounds like you would want the following:
* front and rear lockers
* full skid plates
* sliders
* front and rear bumpers
* 35's would be best
* knowledgable and experienced spotter

...and a very good friend to stack a lot of rocks. So, Travis all you will need are some skid plates, front and rear lockers and I'll be happy to stack your rocks!

 

[bluecruiser]

I am in...let's get some 100's together for Rubicon...sounds fun....

 

[highonpottery]

I dunno about 100-series owners having no desire to run it...if I had my 100 armored up I would definitely give it a go without hesitation. Once I retire my Cruiser from DD duty in a year or two and armor-up, I'll definitely attempt it.

Sidetrack...anyone taken their 100 on any of the other trails in the Tahoe area? I've searched around and haven't found diddly and was starting to think nobody likes to wheel their 100s out here or report their trip. I ran Squaw Ridge/Pardoes trail last weekend in my truck again to double check whether not my 100 would fit - It'll definitely handle any obstacle out there but would have a VERY difficult time navigating through the forested sections of the trail without getting friendly with a few trees on the sides or the roof.

 

[spressomon]

Strawberry is the only one I've had my 100 on near Tahoe.

 

[Fireguy]

I've done things on trails in AZ that are more difficult than things I've seen on the Rubi and Rubi experts have confirmed it. So have others.

I had to re-read this comment to make sure you really said it. You've done things on trails in AZ that are more difficult than things you have seen PICTURES of online of the Rubicon??? Are you kidding me? Pictures can make an obstacle seem very easy. You have to be there, in the drivers seat. You have no context to understand what you are seeing. You don't know what the obstacle looked like right before and after the current obstacle. Sometimes, it is the next obstacle that you have to deal with as you are coming down over the current obstacle that makes it hard - how do you get over the one in front of you to be set up properly to make the next one. Pics do not show this.

How can you possibly be part of this conversation when you have never been on the Rubicon? It's like me giving guys Moab trail advise even though I haven't been there. I can advise them on modifications they may want to make, but I can't tell them which trail is better.

I've often wondered if more 100's would go through the Rubicon. But fact is, they are not cut out for it. A 80 is just better suited. There I said it. On the Rubicon, a 80 is better. Now you will lose your mind and ruin yet another thread defending the 100. I think it is awesome that a 100 was taken through. Took a lot of balls. How bout we here from the owner who actually did wheel his 100 there.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Not sure there's a lot of desire from 100 owners. It's not about capability it's about the 100's size. The Rubicon has places 24/7 where fitting the 100 is extremely difficult. I've done things on trails in AZ that are more difficult than things I've seen on the Rubi and Rubi experts have confirmed it. So have others. That's the difference though...2-4 horrible obstacles vs 1,235 on the Rubi. Way more overal risk...though way more overall excitement when done.

OK cyber know-it-alls and attackers.............back to the topic:

***So it's 2011 and we've not heard of any 100-Series hitting the Rubicon Trail here on MUD since 2006. In that 5-year time period 100 builds have exploded. Many are built as much as they can at this point and there's a BUNCH of them. Folks are wheeling everywhere EXCEPT the Rubicon.

I gave my opinion as to why and attacks came in hard. So know-it-alls...forget ME...why do YOU think nobody has went in the last several years? Come on...step up...share your opinion.

 

[bamabrock]

I had to re-read this comment to make sure you really said it. You've done things on trails in AZ that are more difficult than things you have seen PICTURES of online of the Rubicon??? Are you kidding me? Pictures can make an obstacle seem very easy. You have to be there, in the drivers seat. You have no context to understand what you are seeing. You don't know what the obstacle looked like right before and after the current obstacle. Sometimes, it is the next obstacle that you have to deal with as you are coming down over the current obstacle that makes it hard - how do you get over the one in front of you to be set up properly to make the next one. Pics do not show this.

How can you possibly be part of this conversation when you have never been on the Rubicon? It's like me giving guys Moab trail advise even though I haven't been there. I can advise them on modifications they may want to make, but I can't tell them which trail is better.

I've often wondered if more 100's would go through the Rubicon. But fact is, they are not cut out for it. A 80 is just better suited. There I said it. On the Rubicon, a 80 is better. Now you will lose your mind and ruin yet another thread defending the 100. I think it is awesome that a 100 was taken through. Took a lot of balls. How bout we here from the owner who actually did wheel his 100 there.

Maybe I spent too many years wheeling a one ton YJ wrangler, but why are so many claiming the rubicon is impossible? Other than width issue in areas, any properly setup rig can make it. I wouldn't run the tighter trails because I'm building the LC as an expedition/tow rig/dd combo. I have a small, cheap, dependable wrangler for the tight stuff. I'd much rather roll in a jeep with a full roll cage tied to the frame than a vehicle I use to drive to work in.

 

[e9999]

whoever's 100 goes, please take a videographer with you for posterity and for our education and enjoyment!

(oh, I'll volunteer...! and I'll provide a 12V fridge...! )

 

[jonharis]

......but why are so many claiming the rubicon is impossible? Other than width issue in areas, any properly setup rig can make it....../QUOTE]

I don't think many said it was imposible. I just don't want to risk body damage. My truck has not even a door ding (pin-striping is another story) at this point and I want to keep it that way. I'll run it in a few years when that's not the case. In the meantime, I call shot-gun with bluecruiser.

 

[bamabrock]

......but why are so many claiming the rubicon is impossible? Other than width issue in areas, any properly setup rig can make it....../QUOTE]

I don't think many said it was imposible. I just don't want to risk body damage. My truck has not even a door ding (pin-striping is another story) at this point and I want to keep it that way. I'll run it in a few years when that's not the case. In the meantime, I call shot-gun with bluecruiser.

I'm the same as you. Don't mess up a good vehicle. That what I got a cheap jeep to beat on offroad and a polaris ranger for farm duties.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

The Con in a 100 is difficult but doable. How difficult depends on your truck and your skill. Can we just leave it at that and not rehash this crap again and again?

 

[1loudLX]

And go back to heated seat and cupholder discussions? IM IN!

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Maybe I spent too many years wheeling a one ton YJ wrangler, but why are so many claiming the rubicon is impossible? Other than width issue in areas, any properly setup rig can make it. I wouldn't run the tighter trails because I'm building the LC as an expedition/tow rig/dd combo. I have a small, cheap, dependable wrangler for the tight stuff. I'd much rather roll in a jeep with a full roll cage tied to the frame than a vehicle I use to drive to work in.

EXACTLY!

SOME forums are tough because we're dealing with so many egos...but I will take a word of a few of my CLOSE FRIENDS over those on-line any day.

We all know a 100 can make it. Three have that we know of. Amando and two OEM vehicles on the FJC run. So what they can make it? How fun is it to stuff a fat tomato through skinny blender 573 times over 3-days? No thanks!

And to the folks who say "you can't comment because you've never run the trail"...that's PLAIN INSANITY. I've went back and forth many many times as to whether or not we should take the "challenge". Scott Brady talked me out of it. Scott has been over the Rubicon in more DIFFERENT vehicle-types than probably anyone here. He knows exactly how a 100 would do compared to an 80 and a G and Wranger and a............it's not for me! He also knows about Arizona trails and how obstacles compare to Rubicon ones. I stand by his word over anybody here. He said flat out that taking a 100 through there would make it an "extremely difficult trip and one with lots of potential for body damage".

IF I ever do the Rubi it'll be to see it AND have fun. Fun for me = Wrangler...and the Wrangler will SPANK any 80-200 series Cruiser on the trail. OH WAIT...I've never been there so I can't say that even though everybody here knows it.

 

[Newps]

I never been on the Rubicon but have watched a lot of videos of 80s going through it. To me it just doesn’t look like a fun time. All I see are 80s squeezed by rocks on all sides. It just looks like a lot of work and pressure, oh yea and it goes on and on like that for 15 miles. I love a good obstacle that pushes a driver and a rig. However the thought of two days of this over and over sounds exhausting. My rig has some dents and scratches but really no serious trail damage. I know I could get it through the trail with minimal damage but it would be a lot of work and stress. In a smaller rig it would be a lot of fun. I would say getting a 100 through the con would be even worse. Bigger rig and IFS would make an already stressful day worse. If you had an 80 or a 100 that was beaten on and trail damaged then the Con would be a blast. Now I have never been on the Con so I could be totally wrong on all of this. I think I should ride along with a group of Wagon’s first and see just how bad it really is. Who’s knows maybe it’s not as bad as the videos look.

 

[rusty_tlc]

The Con in a 100 is difficult but doable. How difficult depends on your truck and your skill. Can we just leave it at that and not rehash this crap again and again?

New blood, people like to discuss this kind of thing.

I do the Rubicon every year in my FJ40, it's a fun trip, LOTS of fun.

In my FJ60 (armored) it would be less fun and more work.

In my UZJ100 it would be LOTS more work, LOTS more stressful and WAY less fun.

I do the trail to have fun, you do the math and figure out which truck I prefer to take.

Unless you built a full on dedicated trail rig type 100 I can't see any reason to do the trail except for bragging about it after the fact.


BTW I think it would be really cool to half chop a 100, SAS it, link it, tube it out and make it a full on rock buggy. Now that would be fun on the Rubicon.

 

[Romer]

EXACTLY!

Scott Brady talked me out of it. Scott has been over the Rubicon in more DIFFERENT vehicle-types than probably anyone here. .

maybe Scott talked you out of it based on your wheeling skills

Thats a joke John

Lets be clear, anyone can give an opinion whether they have done something or not. When you give an opinion you spout like its the law from god rather than just couching it as your opinion and thats what stuck in my craw. Maybe you don't REALIZE you come off thast way.

Scott Brady is a good guy and I would value his opinion, it's your delivery that starts the back and forth. If you had said "I talked with Scott Brady and he said" that would be different. Just a suggestion for ya

I do agree with you it's hard in a 100, but you could do it

It was hard in the 80, but I am glad I did it. It was an experiance I will remember the rest of my life. My daughter and I had a great time. It is tiring and you have to go into expecting body damage, we were lucky mostly due to excellent spotting.

A 40 or minitruck will have an easier time on the con than a large wagon. But it can be done in a wagon and a 100, you just have to make sure you want to do it AND are willing to have some body damage.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

maybe Scott talked you out of it based on your wheeling skills

Thats a joke John

Lets be clear, anyone can give an opinion whether they have done something or not. When you give an opinion you spout like its the law from god rather than just couching it as your opinion and thats what stuck in my craw. Maybe you don't REALIZE you come off thast way.

Scott Brady is a good guy and I would value his opinion, it's your delivery that starts the back and forth. If you had said "I talked with Scott Brady and he said" that would be different. Just a suggestion for ya

I do agree with you it's hard in a 100, but you could do it

It was hard in the 80, but I am glad I did it. It was an experiance I will remember the rest of my life. My daughter and I had a great time. It is tiring and you have to go into expecting body damage, we were lucky mostly due to excellent spotting.

A 40 or minitruck will have an easier time on the con than a large wagon. But it can be done in a wagon and a 100, you just have to make sure you want to do it AND are willing to have some body damage.

You're full of crap. You attacked me at my first post before Brady was ever mentioned. So keep attacking...I'm done. Have fun.

 

[Romer]

You're full of crap. You attacked me at my first post before Brady was ever mentioned. So keep attacking...I'm done. Have fun.

Thanks John, from someone like You I consider that a compliment. I wan't attacking you, I was giving my opinion on what you stated in your post. I didn't fling insults like you are, seems like your the one attacking

Then you question the validity of my statement even though I have run the trail and supported what I said with video

Thats the point I was making, you were stating your opnion as unquestionable without saying what Scott said

 

[Fireguy]

It was hard in the 80, but I am glad I did it. It was an experiance I will remember the rest of my life. My daughter and I had a great time. It is tiring and you have to go into expecting body damage, we were lucky mostly due to excellent spotting.

This is exactly why I'm building up my 80. My dad and I have talked about the Rubicon since I was 16. Well he is getting older (68) and I figure it is now or never. I know the 100 is probably a better replacement for my 4Runner, but I can always get one down the road. I won't always be able to wheel the Rubicon in a built 80 with my dad.