Cruiserdrew
On the way there
Driver more important than truck!
Yes-the 100 series can go through the Rubicon! However, it is more a testament to the excellent skills/judgement of Amando the driver, then the prowess of the truck. On the Rubicon, the 100 had basically 3 handicaps to overcome. First, that truck is wide. The lines that would work for an 80 series do not work for a 100 series. Second, front suspension flex is lacking. It would routinely lift a wheel in the off camber stuff-so much so that we called it a tricycle. Off camber down hills looked particularly unstable. Third, the front steering/suspension is fragile. In a pinch situation, both front wheels would compress inward. While it didn't break, at one point on Walker Hill, it delayed progress for over an hour. A less skilled or more impatient driver would have broken his steering right there. I really have to hand it to Amando as he kept almost all of his sheet metal pretty and his mechanicals intact on one of the toughest trails in the Sierras.
On the upside, I will say that the cv joints on the 100 are pretty stout. Since a wheel was in the air so often, and the front axle was locked at the same time, those cv's withstood 100% of the torque delivered to the front axle.
It was extremely cool to see a 100 go through the Rubicon. Amando is the man for 1) bringing such a nice truck, and 2) driving it with such skill and finesse.
Disclaimer-I am in no way knocking 100 series trucks. I like them (and may buy one) and have new respect for their abilities. However, the average 100 series driver will not go through the Rubicon unscathed.
Yes-the 100 series can go through the Rubicon! However, it is more a testament to the excellent skills/judgement of Amando the driver, then the prowess of the truck. On the Rubicon, the 100 had basically 3 handicaps to overcome. First, that truck is wide. The lines that would work for an 80 series do not work for a 100 series. Second, front suspension flex is lacking. It would routinely lift a wheel in the off camber stuff-so much so that we called it a tricycle. Off camber down hills looked particularly unstable. Third, the front steering/suspension is fragile. In a pinch situation, both front wheels would compress inward. While it didn't break, at one point on Walker Hill, it delayed progress for over an hour. A less skilled or more impatient driver would have broken his steering right there. I really have to hand it to Amando as he kept almost all of his sheet metal pretty and his mechanicals intact on one of the toughest trails in the Sierras.
On the upside, I will say that the cv joints on the 100 are pretty stout. Since a wheel was in the air so often, and the front axle was locked at the same time, those cv's withstood 100% of the torque delivered to the front axle.
It was extremely cool to see a 100 go through the Rubicon. Amando is the man for 1) bringing such a nice truck, and 2) driving it with such skill and finesse.
Disclaimer-I am in no way knocking 100 series trucks. I like them (and may buy one) and have new respect for their abilities. However, the average 100 series driver will not go through the Rubicon unscathed.
