Rubicon Trip

[dragoneggs]

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

I suggest you do some off-roading/rock crawling if you can prior. Your Jeep can surely handle it but you need some practice understanding lines. Driving over the rocks, not around them. Learning the use of 4Lo, lockers. Airing down/up and using recovery equipment.

The good thing is you will have plenty of help on a Jamboree but best not to be a total newbie on an iconic trail. You will have so much more fun if you have an idea of what you are doing.

Sponsored

 

[gonzoflick]

I suggest you do some off-roading/rock crawling if you can prior. Your Jeep can surely handle it but you need some practice understanding lines. Driving over the rocks, not around them. Learning the use of 4Lo, lockers. Airing down/up and using recovery equipment.

The good thing is you will have plenty of help on a Jamboree but best not to be a total newbie on an iconic trail. You will have so much more fun if you have an idea of what you are doing.

Totally agree.. my problem is I live in florida so my opportunities to make it anywhere worthwhile to practice b4 hand are limited to the small Offroad parks we have here and maybe a few small BOH trails in the SE which I WILL attempt to try b4 July. Also going to join to local jeep groups but still very limited in FLA.

 

[Deleted User 38384]

...full skids...

Quite possibly the most important thing you can buy when off-roading!!!

 

[dragoneggs]

Totally agree.. my problem is I live in florida so my opportunities to make it anywhere worthwhile to practice b4 hand are limited to the small Offroad parks we have here and maybe a few small BOH trails in the SE which I WILL attempt to try b4 July. Also going to join to local jeep groups but still very limited in FLA.

I hear ya and feel for you not having the terrain nearby. Do what you can to prep. Any man-made rock gardens around you?

Regardless… definitely go for it!!! It’s a bucket list item for most every off road Jeeper.

 

[Eyeball]

If you are planning on running the Rubicon trail with the Jeep Jamboree group, you should check their website for their minimum requirements which include among other things 37’s. With even a meager amout of experience you can absolutely run it with a smaller tire but they dont want you holding up their wagon train.

However, I am not sure how actively they police those requirements. When I ran it in my TJ with them a few years ago, they spent exactly 0 seconds checking that my Jeep met their basic and safety equipment requirements.

 

[roaniecowpony]

The good part about these "jamborees" is that they have good spotters at all the tough spots. You will be right on someone else's ass and your line will be his line. You'll be "handled" all the way. So, don't sweat that part.

I didn't make contact on the full skids much. But the shock and control arm brackets scraped a lot.

Regarding the steering damper, you can relocate it or just take it off at the trail head. You'll be going about 10 mph top speed and averaging 1 mph. You won't need it. But, for my money, I'd put a heavy duty aftermarket draglink and tierod on it. A lot of guys like the big aluminum tierods. I like the Metalcloak draglink and tierod. The factory tierods are weak, with staked on ends and the tierod has a hole with a pin through it that I have seen buckle. I'd say this gets more important as you go larger in tire size above the 33s.

Also, you'll be plenty tired of not being able to steer, because your tires aren't in a perfectly flat spot and they'll be aired down. You'll need more power in the power steering. You can make it with factory steering. It's just another difficulty. The ultimate fix is a PSC kit with the engine driven pump, new steering box, cooler, and ram assist. A quick and easy boost kit, like the Apex high pressure regulator and cooler will help a lot.

I found that a side step style rock rail kept the rocks from caving in my sides. The factory tiny rock rails might not have protected as well.

When I came off the trail, my tailpipe was pretty flat and my rear bumper had some rash. That was the damage. I stuck a big long steel pry bar in the tailpipe and opened it up easily.

Take some time to look at the scenery.

 

[roaniecowpony]

Hi everyone,

I’m interested in getting insight from everyone. I’m anxiously waiting for my Rubicon X with the Xtreme Recon package, 35’s, steel bumpers, winch and 4.88’s to arrive.
I’ve attended the Jeepers Jamboree with friends and family the last couple years. I’d like to participate this coming year in July with my Jeep and am wondering what would be a requirement or a good idea to upgrade. I plan on installing rock sliders before the trip and hitting a few So Cal trails before the Jamboree.

Thanks in advance.

As for running some trails in the Socal area, specifically with the Rubicon in mind as our bucket list goal, we ran Gold Mountain, Rocky Gap, Pinyon Mountain, Backway to Crown King, John Bull, and Holcomb Creek, in that order. There were others, but they were inconsequential. Keep in mind, we were starting from zero rock crawling. John Bull and Holcomb Creek were undoubtedly the two that provided the better sneak preview of what you're getting into on the Rubicon. But the other trails we did provided the progressive education we needed.

We did most of the trails leading to the Rubicon, starting in the spring and running the Rubicon by the end of summer. My friend and I did these trails, leading up to the Rubicon, without the benefit of more experienced wheelers to teach us. That means we didn't learn some things others may have been able to share. If my early days of aerobatic competition flying taught me anything, it was that you can learn as much talking with experienced people as you can flying. Hanging/wheeling with some well experienced, patient, wheelers would pay dividends.

 

[wibornz]

Just know that when I did the Rubicon trail, my bud had a stock rubicon on 35s, with no lift. I was able to spot him through the trail with no body damage. He did get hung up twice that required a tug as he was high centered. The stock rock rails do okay, obviously there are better one in the aftermarket.

He did damage the rear stock plastic bumper. I did not walk him over every obstacle.

 

[trekster]

Ran the Rubicon last August. All the advice for practicing is a good idea. We were surprised how tough the trail was. We ran 37s, 3 1/2 @ lift and as much skid play coverage as possible. Definitely suggest skids for your front lower control arms and transfer case skid. Three of us had bead locks one Jeep didn’t. The bead locks were a huge help. I put Ikon Dynamics Recon Pro wheels on my JL because they’re CDOT approved. We were glad we were set up this way. It rained hard for the first day so weather definitely complicates the trail. We‘re very experienced wheelers so we didn’t go with the Jamboree, it likely will be much easier with there support. BTW, we had bears in our camp twice at night. One climbed in my son’s JK, no doors, looking for food and drug his lawn chair away because there was a candy wrapper in it.

 

[roaniecowpony]

Ran the Rubicon last August. All the advice for practicing is a good idea. We were surprised how tough the trail was. We ran 37s, 3 1/2 @ lift and as much skid play coverage as possible. Definitely suggest skids for your front lower control arms and transfer case skid. Three of us had bead locks one Jeep didn’t. The bead locks were a huge help. I put Ikon Dynamics Recon Pro wheels on my JL because they’re CDOT approved. We were glad we were set up this way. It rained hard for the first day so weather definitely complicates the trail. We‘re very experienced wheelers so we didn’t go with the Jamboree, it likely will be much easier with there support. BTW, we had bears in our camp twice at night. One climbed in my son’s JK, no doors, looking for food and drug his lawn chair away because there was a candy wrapper in it.

We ran it around the end of August. Had good weather. Bears were reported to be a big nuisance at Rubicon Springs. We elected to camp at Buck Island Lake instead and didn't see a bear. I slept on the ground in the open.

I also ran Icon Rebound Pro wheels with their version of beadlocks as well as 37s and a 3.5" Metalcloak lift. A fellow member here didn't have beadlocks on his 392 JL and lost a bead. I'd recommend some kind of beadlock.

Any armor you can add will be helpful. I didn't run any control arm skids or differential skids. But I did have a full belly Artec aluminum skid.

 

[sdjeppa]

I ran the Rubicon with Jeepers Jamboree in July 2022 with my 2022 JLURXR stock suspension-wise - I did add better sliders, front steel bumper with sway bar disconnect skid, and M.O.R.E. underbody skid plates (and they were USED - it all took a good beating but that's what it's there for) but other than hitting the back plastic bumper (and popping off a fender because of it), no real damage. My Jeep was only 4 months old at that point.

For both that are signed up - definitely get some rock crawling practice in before if you can - the Rubicon is no joke, especially because of how long the trail is.

 

[Emmanuelmv]

I ran the Rubicon with Jeepers Jamboree in July 2022 with my 2022 JLURXR stock suspension-wise - I did add better sliders, front steel bumper with sway bar disconnect skid, and M.O.R.E. underbody skid plates (and they were USED - it all took a good beating but that's what it's there for) but other than hitting the back plastic bumper (and popping off a fender because of it), no real damage. My Jeep was only 4 months old at that point.

For both that are signed up - definitely get some rock crawling practice in before if you can - the Rubicon is no joke, especially because of how long the trail is.

That’s impressive! It’s great to hear you were able to run in as is. So far skids and sliders have been consistently recommended, that’s going to be one of the first and a trip to John Bull as well.

 

[SadRobot]

When I came off the trail, my tailpipe was pretty flat and my rear bumper had some rash. That was the damage. I stuck a big long steel pry bar in the tailpipe and opened it up easily.

Ah so that's how you unflatten that thing! Mine isn't as round as it used to be so I may take a pry bar to it today and see if that helps the situation.

 

[Old Jeeper]

Hi everyone,

I’m interested in getting insight from everyone. I’m anxiously waiting for my Rubicon X with the Xtreme Recon package, 35’s, steel bumpers, winch and 4.88’s to arrive.
I’ve attended the Jeepers Jamboree with friends and family the last couple years. I’d like to participate this coming year in July with my Jeep and am wondering what would be a requirement or a good idea to upgrade. I plan on installing rock sliders before the trip and hitting a few So Cal trails before the Jamboree.

Thanks in advance.

Here is the question: How long have you been driving Jeeps.

Know this: Rubicon Jeep is named after the Rubicon Trail! WHY? Because the front office at Chrysler in order to go with the mods they guys engineering it had to have a metric to get approval. So the Metric was the Rubicon Trail and it had to be done in OEM form, which was 4:10s/Lockers, 4:1 Transfer case, 4:1 stick first gear they did the Trail more than once I can tell you and they got the funding to build a "Rubicon" Jeep!

The engineers were Jeepers and had been going back to High School, got an Engineering degree, and went to work for Jeep. Made a rep for themselves and were able to pull it off.

You Jeep will do it in but I would really suggest better tires as in real off-road tires. If you have been Jeeping long time you can do it, fi not then you might want to upgrade to 37s, better skids, skid protection on the lower control arms, etc. As Ratbert suggested.

In the world of Jeeping it comes down to 2 factors: The Jeep and the Driver. Jeep Rubicon can DO IT, can you make it do it???

 

[SadRobot]

As for running some trails in the Socal area, specifically with the Rubicon in mind as our bucket list goal, we ran Gold Mountain, Rocky Gap, Pinyon Mountain, Backway to Crown King, John Bull, and Holcomb Creek, in that order. There were others, but they were inconsequential. Keep in mind, we were starting from zero rock crawling. John Bull and Holcomb Creek were undoubtedly the two that provided the better sneak preview of what you're getting into on the Rubicon. But the other trails we did provided the progressive education we needed.

I heard that as well so wanted to get Holcomb and John Bull done to have a feel of what I would be getting into. I've heard Dishpan (although not a BOH trail) is even more difficult than Holcomb.

Of all the Big Bear trails I think Holcomb was my favorite. That middle garden was a challenge for sure but satisfying to make it through without damage.

I have the 37s and skids for the Rubicon but I'm sure my steering components and ball joints could use an upgrade before I go.

Sponsored