Rubicon Trip

[dragoneggs]

If you don't have a posse that (can save your ass) has done the Rubicon, then definitely do the Jamboree. This is not a day trail and you need 'survival/camping' gear.

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[gonzoflick]

You sound like you're pretty well set up for the Rubicon enjoy the trip and your dad will never forget it. As @C.Sco points out, a relocate steering stabilizer would be next on the list, and maybe upgraded tie rod, track bar and drag ling while your at it so the clamps all fit and you don't have to re-do. I have your exact same set up with the metalcloak steering and fox ATS and have been very happy. I have just recently received from Santa, the metal cloak, front and rear differential skid plates. They really are nicely made and tuck up nice and tight. I want to add control arm skids as well, but have not found anything that I'm excited about. It looks like the best ones are all weld on and I'm not excited about that is I think they will make it difficult to service the metalcloak bushings in the future.

Have a great trip, I usually avoid the jamboree, but I'm on the Rubicon once or twice a year.

Yep planning on doing the whole MC steering package before. I have the weld on skids for the front LCAs. They fit like a glove and don't give you any issues servicing the control arms.

 

[zouch]

i'd further the recommendations for a Steering Stabilizer Relocation; that thing is fragile, and for some reason in stock configuration it's put directly in harms way.

after that, look at what is lowest; those rear shock/LCA mounts are all the way down by the lower edge of the rims. while they're not as fragile as the SS, bolt-on protection is readily available for them.

 

[GrayMatterJeep]

Emmanuelmv

Based on what you say you will be driving, you will be fine IF you have good spotters and follow their every single command.

My Advice: Prepare yourself mentally to hear thuds and scraping sounds. Hopefully you've heard them before. Remember slow & steady will get you to the finish line... it is not a race. If you get impatient you will dramatically increase your chance of damage. There's a little sand on all of the rocks and you increase your chances of sliding off (in an any direction) if you don't have great foot pedal command. Start practicing your two foot driving skills now, don't wait until "game time".

My Background: A group of 12 of our club members tackled the trail in July 2023. We had 2 & 4 door Wranglers, plus an XJ and 4 JTs. Great spotting by our fellow club members got me through, only winching 3 times, with my Gladiator on a 2.5" lift and worn down 35" MT's.

Truth Be Told: I have a full belly set of skid plates from Rock Hard 4x4, but a couple JKU's in our club had very little belly protection. Also of note because of my inpatients, I did bend my steering stabilizer somewhere in the last hour or two at the north end of the trail. I got lazy and apparently hit a solitary rock in the middle of the trail. One of those spots that didn't seem like an issue. However, I was still able to drive home all the way to Kansas just fine.

 

[C.Sco]

You sound like you're pretty well set up for the Rubicon enjoy the trip and your dad will never forget it. As @C.Sco points out, a relocate steering stabilizer would be next on the list, and maybe upgraded tie rod, track bar and drag ling while your at it so the clamps all fit and you don't have to re-do. I have your exact same set up with the metalcloak steering and fox ATS and have been very happy. I have just recently received from Santa, the metal cloak, front and rear differential skid plates. They really are nicely made and tuck up nice and tight. I want to add control arm skids as well, but have not found anything that I'm excited about. It looks like the best ones are all weld on and I'm not excited about that is I think they will make it difficult to service the metalcloak bushings in the future.

Have a great trip, I usually avoid the jamboree, but I'm on the Rubicon once or twice a year.

Sounds like we have pretty much the same setup! I did the MC steering system at the same time as the SS relocation and Fox ATS. Pretty easy upgrade to do, think it only took me about 3 hours and it was my first time ever working on steering parts like that so I didn't really even know what I was doing. No noticeable impact (either positive or negative) to the way the steering feels, but it's good to know the parts will hold up a lot better in the future than the OEM steering parts.

 

[C.Sco]

i'd further the recommendations for a Steering Stabilizer Relocation; that thing is fragile, and for some reason in stock configuration it's put directly in harms way.

after that, look at what is lowest; those rear shock/LCA mounts are all the way down by the lower edge of the rims. while they're not as fragile as the SS, bolt-on protection is readily available for them.

MetalClaok makes a bolt-on rear shock mount relocation kit, which lets you cut off the lower 1.5" or so of the OEM shock bracket. I've had the kit sitting in my garage for months and haven't gotten around to installing it yet, but the instructions make it sound like it should be pretty simple work, just some basic hand tools and a cutting wheel.
The front LCA's are more annoying, as someone else mentioned earlier in this thread most places only make weld-on versions, which is something I try to avoid since skid plates are, in my opinion, a sacrificial part that I'd like to be able to easily replace later without having to do a bunch of metalwork. I haven't really figured out what I'm doing with my front LCAs yet, if anything.

 

[zouch]

there are SS Reloc kits available that don't require any cutting.
Synergy makes the one i used. i paired it with a Fox ATS SS, and it was entirely bolt-on.

MetalClaok makes a bolt-on rear shock mount relocation kit, which lets you cut off the lower 1.5" or so of the OEM shock bracket. I've had the kit sitting in my garage for months and haven't gotten around to installing it yet, but the instructions make it sound like it should be pretty simple work, just some basic hand tools and a cutting wheel.

 

[C.Sco]

there are SS Reloc kits available that don't require any cutting.
Synergy makes the one i used. i paired it with a Fox ATS SS, and it was entirely bolt-on.

Sorry I meant the rear lower shock mount relocation brackets require cutting, not the steering stabilizer relocation bracket.

 

[zouch]

ah, gotcha'; sorry, my misunderstanding.

Sorry I meant the rear lower shock mount relocation brackets require cutting, not the steering stabilizer relocation bracket.

 

[Shibadog]

Are you thinking a stock base Sport can do the Rubicon? I mean without being dragged, of course.

Remember that Jeeps were doing the Rubicon DECADES before there WAS a “Jeep Rubicon”. I know a Rubicon model is very capable, but all Wranglers are pretty capable. I took my ‘98 TJ Sahara through there when it was a year old. It had big ‘ol 31’s on it?, skids, an ARB on the front and a winch. Easy? Nope. Doable? Yup. With all the traffic these days “maybe” it‘s tougher, I dunno. I stacked a bunch of rocks?

 

[Ratbert]

Remember that Jeeps were doing the Rubicon DECADES before there WAS a “Jeep Rubicon”. I know a Rubicon model is very capable, but all Wranglers are pretty capable. I took my ‘98 TJ Sahara through there when it was a year old. It had big ‘ol 31’s on it?, skids, an ARB on the front and a winch. Easy? Nope. Doable? Yup. With all the traffic these days “maybe” it‘s tougher, I dunno. I stacked a bunch of rocks?

When we did it in September our Jeep Jamboree guides were saying that the gatekeeper was a foot and a half deeper than it was two weeks earlier. It was pretty damn challenging with 37s, a 3" lift, and full skids.

Maybe it's still doable with 31s? Maybe?

 

[autotragic]

When we did it in September our Jeep Jamboree guides were saying that the gatekeeper was a foot and a half deeper than it was two weeks earlier. It was pretty damn challenging with 37s, a 3" lift, and full skids.

Maybe it's still doable with 31s? Maybe?

Back when he did the Gatekeeper it hadn't been blown up yet either.

 

[Emmanuelmv]

It’s funny I’ve seen and heard and seen different sides. Some say the Rubicon has become more difficult and others say it used to be more of a challenge then it is today. I guess I’m just trying to prepare the best I can without breaking the bank in modifications. So far I am thinking the Artec Industries belly pan, Genright sliders, and fender chop.

 

[J.Ferreira]

I signed up for the July trip as well...never offloaded before. But have been preparing my 2024 4xe Rubi X with the following

Full skids and serious rails
3.5 MC GC lift
37 nittos

Taking my 75yo dad.. can't wait

You...should probably get out and get a little experience before that. They'll help guide you and spot you and even teach you things probably. But uhhh going ahead of time will help alleviate yourself of the wincing that happens the first few times you scrape against things.

 

[autotragic]

It’s funny I’ve seen and heard and seen different sides. Some say the Rubicon has become more difficult and others say it used to be more of a challenge then it is today. I guess I’m just trying to prepare the best I can without breaking the bank in modifications. So far I am thinking the Artec Industries belly pan, Genright sliders, and fender chop.

At the end of the day it's your Jeep and you should make whatever modifications you feel you need to in order to make the best of the time you have while there. Those mods will certainly "get you there" so all I ask is you take lots of video/pictures to share with the rest of us and good luck!

Also I found this a while back...awesome playlist of the Rubicon.

I don't know who this guy is but this is one of the best video series of the Rubicon out there I have come across anyway.

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