Pennsylvania Barney Rubble kicked my butt lol

Man that trail looks different on YouTube! Hahaha.

was running with guys who had 37’s and 4” lifts and tried taking the middle line.

I’ll say this…I’m not a seasoned off roader so I’m sure someone with my rig who was experienced wouldn’t have even flinched but this was the first time I’ve ever gotten into “trouble”

I had to pull cable so I didn’t rip off a fender or cause body damage.

I was with a good group who taught me how to off load the weight on the “danger side” with the winch so I didn’t damage my rig. I was really grateful for them … Genesis Jeep Coalition.

After I drenched my shirt with sweat and got out of danger I tucked my tail and headed to the easy part of that trail…I made it about 2/3’s of the way before bailing on the middle section. Great experience. That trail is no joke though! Lol

What are the details of your Jeep? What caused you to 'not make it'?

Cips said:

What are the details of your Jeep? What caused you to 'not make it'?

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I have 35’s and a 2.5”-3” lift. I have front and rear lockers (my Jeep is a sport but I put 392 axles under her over the winter), rubicon rock sliders and front and rear differential skids.

it rained the day before so the rocks were a bit slippery and there was mud.

all that being said I’ve been wheeling for less than a year (although I have been getting it in that year including a trip to Moab) and I didn’t pick a good line. My AT Falkin tires were slipping a bit and I think with my novice experience it just made good opportunities for getting myself more and more “stuck” and not knowing I was getting myself into trouble.

all worked out well like I said and thankfully no damage to the rig but had I been alone….i would have trashed my rig because I just don’t have the experience yet.

The value of having a good, patient group of folks willing to help you learn cannot be overstated. Looks like a fun trail.

Apples491 said:

The value of having a good, patient group of folks willing to help you learn cannot be overstated. Looks like a fun trail.

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Amen to that! Every time I’ve gone out with a group I’ve gotten an opportunity to learn. I’m grateful for the Offroad community that is like this. I come from a community of people whole build chopper’s and it can be real hit and miss with some guys that just want nothing to do with people who are newer and uneducated….more of a “figure it the F out yourself “ mentality. Really glad I haven’t run into that here.

That trail is no joke for sure! We have Barney Rubble on Trails Offroad™ rated a mandatory 7/10 that is best suited for Highly Modified 4X4s (Big Lift, Locker(s), Larger Tires).

That was the opinion of one of our most experienced drivers who is an avid crawler and completed Barney Rubble in a 2-door JL with 2.5" lift and 37s. I'm pretty sure he says that's one of his favorite trails now

TORAriana said:

That trail is no joke for sure! We have Barney Rubble on Trails Offroad™ rated a mandatory 7/10 that is best suited for Highly Modified 4X4s (Big Lift, Locker(s), Larger Tires).

That was the opinion of one of our most experienced drivers who is an avid crawler and completed Barney Rubble in a 2-door JL with 2.5" lift and 37s. I'm pretty sure he says that's one of his favorite trails now

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man everyone running 37’s or bigger… what’s going on!?!?! lol I have your app!

stretch-bsn said:

Man that trail looks different on YouTube! Hahaha.

was running with guys who had 37’s and 4” lifts and tried taking the middle line.

I’ll say this…I’m not a seasoned off roader so I’m sure someone with my rig who was experienced wouldn’t have even flinched but this was the first time I’ve ever gotten into “trouble”

I had to pull cable so I didn’t rip off a fender or cause body damage.

I was with a good group who taught me how to off load the weight on the “danger side” with the winch so I didn’t damage my rig. I was really grateful for them … Genesis Jeep Coalition.

After I drenched my shirt with sweat and got out of danger I tucked my tail and headed to the easy part of that trail…I made it about 2/3’s of the way before bailing on the middle section. Great experience. That trail is no joke though! Lol

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One piece of advice just judging from your pictures: I'm assuming you weren't aired down?

Air down to about 12-15psi. and it'll make a huge difference

Sparty said:

One piece of advice just judging from your pictures: I'm assuming you weren't aired down?

Air down to about 12-15psi. and it'll make a huge difference

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I was aired down to 18 psi.

stretch-bsn said:

I have 35’s and a 2.5”-3” lift. I have front and rear lockers (my Jeep is a sport but I put 392 axles under her over the winter), rubicon rock sliders and front and rear differential skids.

it rained the day before so the rocks were a bit slippery and there was mud.

all that being said I’ve been wheeling for less than a year (although I have been getting it in that year including a trip to Moab) and I didn’t pick a good line. My AT Falkin tires were slipping a bit and I think with my novice experience it just made good opportunities for getting myself more and more “stuck” and not knowing I was getting myself into trouble.

all worked out well like I said and thankfully no damage to the rig but had I been alone….i would have trashed my rig because I just don’t have the experience yet.

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It´s hard to damage these things. I got stuck so badly on a rocky trail like that at Jericho Mountain in New Hampshire about 5 years ago. it took two winches, a snatch block, and a Hi-Lift jack and 3 hours to get me out. I thought all hell was busted up under that Jeep from the sound of it (BIG rocks). When it was out, just scratches on the skid plates. Fortunately, I did put a much heavier duty FAD skid plat on. That is where it took the hardest hit. Amazingly, the rest of the hits were all on factory skids. Jeep engineers did a pretty danged good job of putting those skids in exactly the right places for that trail. LOL.

I am running 35´s and a 2¨ lift, btw. I got stupid for a minute and took a trail that I knew was going to be a bear and nobody else in the group would try. I almost made it, but slipped off the tops of rocks backing out and that´s where the ordeal began.

This looks like a great trail! Where is it?

"No joke" is absolutely the correct description OP's experience is identical to mine. 35" Falkens at 15psi, and a 2" Clayton lift on my 2022 Rubicon, ARB diff covers but no aftermarket skids at the time, and Barney kicked my ass. I also bailed from the center track halfway up and took the easier track on the left side to the top (Pebbles). The right side is nicknamed Bam Bam, for obvious reasons. The park rates Barney Rubble as a blue, but I'd consider that a black trail for sure.

Now that I have a full set of Metalcloak skids on I want to try it again, but even so, that trail requires a skilled spotter to get you up the harder right and middle lines, or many years worth of rock crawling knowledge and experience if you want to do it solo.

TORAriana said:

That trail is no joke for sure! We have Barney Rubble on Trails Offroad™ rated a mandatory 7/10 that is best suited for Highly Modified 4X4s (Big Lift, Locker(s), Larger Tires).

That was the opinion of one of our most experienced drivers who is an avid crawler and completed Barney Rubble in a 2-door JL with 2.5" lift and 37s. I'm pretty sure he says that's one of his favorite trails now

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Yeah, 37s, 3" lift (or more) and full skids it would be a nice fun trail with minimal banging and crashing.

DanW said:

This looks like a great trail! Where is it?

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AOAA offroad park in Coal Township, PA. I will be there this weekend, but taking much easier green trails, guiding a group for our club's "101 Ride."

I'm tentatively doing Jericho Mountain for the Badge the weekend of Sept. 25th, if anybody's interested in coming with.

So an update: I did Barney again with my Metalcloak skids, made it 90% up and then hung up on the SAME DAMNED ROCK that it looks like @stretch-bsn got stuck on in post #1! Middle line, almost at the top. I couln't go forward or back. I was completely pinned. A friend with a hi-lift jacked me up on my rock sliders, we put a pair of Maxtrax under the tires, and while that alone didn't get me out, I slid off the boards just enough to drive it out. I swear, next time--if there is a next time--I'm going to try Bam-Bam instead.

NJRadioGuy said:

So an update: I did Barney again with my Metalcloak skids, made it 90% up and then hung up on the SAME DAMNED ROCK that it looks like @stretch-bsn got stuck on in post #1! Middle line, almost at the top. I couln't go forward or back. I was completely pinned. A friend with a hi-lift jacked me up on my rock sliders, we put a pair of Maxtrax under the tires, and while that alone didn't get me out, I slid off the boards just enough to drive it out. I swear, next time--if there is a next time--I'm going to try Bam-Bam instead.

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Man it’s no joke! Lol