preparing for the Rubicon trail. steering boost?

[yokramer]

Okay, so its been a while since I have done any Jeep Jamborees, last time was in my JKU. I have since upgraded to a JLUR and I'm thinking about the Rubicon Trail. Is this thread suggesting trying the Rubicon Trail in a stock JLUR a bad idea?

People still do the trail in flat fenders. So you will be fine in a stock JLUR.

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[TKY]

Most of these events list requirements

All Jeep vehicles shall adhere to the following requirements for the Rubicon Trail Jeep Jamboree.

• A minimum of 37″ tires (not to exceed 40″)
• Front and rear lockers
• Properly secured tow points
• GMRS radios are required
• Skid plates covering the gas tank and transfer case, and rocker panel protection

Thanks. I would have to replace the stock LT285 tires. I'm guessing a handheld GMRS in addition to an installed Ham radio would be acceptable?

 

[Sportacus]

Most of these events list requirements

All Jeep vehicles shall adhere to the following requirements for the Rubicon Trail Jeep Jamboree.

• A minimum of 37″ tires (not to exceed 40″)
• Front and rear lockers
• Properly secured tow points
• GMRS radios are required
• Skid plates covering the gas tank and transfer case, and rocker panel protection

i think it depends on the event. The one im attending is the family event and i dont think they had a tire minimum, certainly not 37s. A member here did it on 35s with no lockers last year. I have seen the adults only event that has the strict requirements; i think they may do the harder obstacles while the family one may skip them.

 

[Sportacus]

Anyone have any links to good threads on cooling fans for the pump? That sounds interesting.

 

[yokramer]

i think it depends on the event. The one im attending is the family event and i dont think they had a tire minimum, certainly not 37s. A member here did it on 35s with no lockers last year. I have seen the adults only event that has the strict requirements; i think they may do the harder obstacles while the family one may skip them.

Any of the "official jeep jamboree" ones require 37” tires, front & rear lockers, tow points, skid plates covering the gas tank and transfer case, and rocker panel protection. Any JK with a factory rear axle requires upgraded rear cover and/or glide plate.

Im sure there are other groups that go out there that arent as strict on what you need to rid with them.

"JeeperS Jamboree" is less strict for example.

 

[Terrymo]

Anyone have any links to good threads on cooling fans for the pump? That sounds interesting.

@Dusty Dude

 

[Zandcwhite]

I’ve not done the Rubicon yet. Old timers I wheel with (yes older than me) love to tell me they ran the Rubicon a half dozen times in CJs with 33s. I’m sure it’s changed over the years. They were doing trails like Surprise Canyon which has since been shut down. They tell me they didn’t have money for mods which mostly didn’t exist like they do today and definitely didn’t have a lot of common sense.

Least built rig we've taken through the entire trail was my wife's '01 WJ on 3" lift and 31s. It was WORK. Stacking rocks, winching, jack, and persistent rocks scrapping and banging. Same rig with 4.5" of lift and 35s was a pleasure by comparison. No winching, minimal repositioning for different lines, and enough time between scrpping and banging to relax and actually enjoy the trail. Our last trip in the JLUR on 38s was next level relaxing. Didn't even get out to spot and simply drove the trail. On a shoe string budget in my 20s there was some pride in the work of getting under built rigs through. Fast forward 2 decades and I'll take comfortably overbuilt every time.

 

[Terrymo]

Least built rig we've taken through the entire trail was my wife's '01 WJ on 3" lift and 31s. It was WORK. Stacking rocks, winching, jack, and persistent rocks scrapping and banging. Same rig with 4.5" of lift and 35s was a pleasure by comparison. No winching, minimal repositioning for different lines, and enough time between scrpping and banging to relax and actually enjoy the trail. Our last trip in the JLUR on 38s was next level relaxing. Didn't even get out to spot and simply drove the trail. On a shoe string budget in my 20s there was some pride in the work of getting under built rigs through. Fast forward 2 decades and I'll take comfortably overbuilt every time.

These guys are driving JL Rubicons on 37s now and although they talk longingly about the old days they say they would never give up what they have now,

 

[Cips]

I added the Apex Steering Boost kit because it was difficult to turn my steering wheel on flat pavement. It has made a welcome difference for me.

 

[EbyCreek]

Anyone have any links to good threads on cooling fans for the pump? That sounds interesting.

https://www.jeep392.com/threads/psc-392-xd-electric-power-steering-pump.3634/page-5#post-67142

 

[Zandcwhite]

These guys are driving JL Rubicons on 37s now and although they talk longingly about the old days they say they would never give up what they have now,

Rose colored glasses or dementia, but either way the good old days weren't nearly as good as some "remember". Even the 4.0L legendary reliability needed many repairs from cracked exhaust manifolds and heads to crank shaft position sensors...at half the power output. How long would the 3.6L last pushing 1500lbs less weight and never revving past 4k rpms? Why would I waste my time to find out? I'll take the rig that's perfectly happy on the rubicon, a roadtrip, or even at 90mph on the freeway over the one that had to be built with the focus on 1 of those 3 in order to be good at it.

 

[Terrymo]

Rose colored glasses or dementia, but either way the good old days weren't nearly as good as some "remember". Even the 4.0L legendary reliability needed many repairs from cracked exhaust manifolds and heads to crank shaft position sensors...at half the power output. How long would the 3.6L last pushing 1500lbs less weight and never revving past 4k rpms? Why would I waste my time to find out? I'll take the rig that's perfectly happy on the rubicon, a roadtrip, or even at 90mph on the freeway over the one that had to be built with the focus on 1 of those 3 in order to be good at it.

I think it’s the good times not the Jeep itself. But then like you said, their talk ends up being about how many spare parts they carried, plus having a garage full of spare parts, and about how they spent half their time fixing one person or another’s Jeep on the trip.

 

[Vimby210]

Okay, so its been a while since I have done any Jeep Jamborees, last time was in my JKU. I have since upgraded to a JLUR and I'm thinking about the Rubicon Trail. Is this thread suggesting trying the Rubicon Trail in a stock JLUR a bad idea?

Stock vehicles do it all the time. your gonna bang and scratch it up, but go do it. You will find mods only make it easier. Or just a way to spend money. If you are an experienced off roader, you will out perform a non experienced driver in a moded jeep.

 

[Sportacus]

https://www.jeep392.com/threads/psc-392-xd-electric-power-steering-pump.3634/page-5#post-67142

i was hoping someone had a more detailed thread than that lol. Like how he did it a d what fan he used. Decent pic through. Reminds me of wiring in fans to keep my sound systems amplifiers cool back in the 90s.

 

[EbyCreek]

i was hoping someone had a more detailed thread than that lol. Like how he did it a d what fan he used. Decent pic through. Reminds me of wiring in fans to keep my sound systems amplifiers cool back in the 90s.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XDPWYKN?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_4

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