Rubicon in a stock '80 pickup?

[Yotaoverland]

I have an almost stock 1980 pickup. It is locked in the rear and running 31's. Would this truck make it through the Rubicon as is? Or should I try in the future when I have the truck more modified?

I'm about to start an extended road trip and would love to try out the Rubicon among many other trails.
Pic because why not.

[Goldrush]

If theres a will, theres a way.







lol. At the very least put on some rock sliders and a single 4.70 case. Just to keep from beating it up.

[Yotaoverland]

If theres a will, theres a way.







lol. At the very least put on some rock sliders and a single 4.70 case. Just to keep from beating it up.

haha true. I've thought of the 4.7 case a time or two, and rock sliders would be nice.

[toyodaaddict]

I wouldn't take a straight first gen anywhere without rock sliders.

[SqWADoosh]

Yeah that truck is so damn clean I have to agree with them. You are going to tear up the door seals on the Rubicon GUARANTEED. Short of that I would also recommend at least one locker. It can be done without it but whoever you are running it with is going to have their work cut out for them.

[Rockcrawlintoy]

I would do dual cases or 4.7 gears. It will
Make life much more enjoyable

[blackdiamond]

We had a nearly stock 2nd gen truck on my Rubicon trip and it did great except for one spot that took out a rocker panel. It only takes one to mess up a straight truck.

I think it could be done, but it would be a high skill and high risk for damage. A single 4.70 t-case, sliders, and a rear bumper to go with your locker would make it pretty easy.

[blackdiamond]

We had a nearly stock 2nd gen truck on my Rubicon trip and it did great except for one spot that took out a rocker panel. It only takes one to mess up a straight truck.

I think it could be done, but it would be a high skill and high risk for damage. A single 4.70 t-case, sliders, and a rear bumper to go with your locker would make it pretty easy.

I checked and he did have sliders and a rear bumper.  He was on 31's with open diffs.  Here's a link to some pictures from the trip and the damage he got.

http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=49992.0;message=623975

I think the damage could have been avoided, but there was a lot of pressure to "push" with all the traffic trying to get to the springs.

[Yotaoverland]

Yeah, I may just wait until I have a more modified truck haha.

[fasterspider]

Yeah, I may just wait until I have a more modified truck haha.

I have been scrambling to get my 85 ready for the Rubicon.
Fully locked, sliders, 5" lift, 33"s and I am putting in a dual transfer case next week.
The Rubicon has been calling me and my rig has gone through some changes since January in preparation of the trip and I am not done modifying the Yota yet either, she'll never be done.

[H8PVMNT]

Sliders.

[Yotaoverland]

I have been scrambling to get my 85 ready for the Rubicon.
Fully locked, sliders, 5" lift, 33"s and I am putting in a dual transfer case next week.
The Rubicon has been calling me and my rig has gone through some changes since January in preparation of the trip and I am not done modifying the Yota yet either, she'll never be done.

Nice man. I'll probably get another truck to modify for more gnarly trails. My current one is too nice and is more of a camping/expedition truck.

[H8PVMNT]

I love my stockish 1st gen just to have as a pickup.  Mine is pretty hammered from years of work truck duty but I don't think I ever want it to be a huge trail monster.  I just like to drive it.  They are just such a good simple pure vehicle...

[blackdiamond]

Nice man. I'll probably get another truck to modify for more gnarly trails. My current one is too nice and is more of a camping/expedition truck.

I think you'd be fine for the Rubicon with 33s, 4.88 r&p, single 4.70 t-case (or duals), and good sliders, rear bumper, and cross member.  It's been a few years since I ran it, but it sounds like it's less difficult now for the most part and I consider it to be just a rough trail for the most part and not very technical (if you stay on the main route).  I think it would be doable with open diffs, but you're rear locker would be a huge benefit.  You don't need a wild rig to do the Rubicon, just some driving skill and some body protection as I think it would be almost impossible to run it without some mild body damage without any protection.

[Rockcrawlintoy]

I think you'd be fine for the Rubicon with 33s, 4.88 r&p, single 4.70 t-case (or duals), and good sliders, rear bumper, and cross member.  It's been a few years since I ran it, but it sounds like it's less difficult now for the most part and I consider it to be just a rough trail for the most part and not very technical (if you stay on the main route).  I think it would be doable with open diffs, but you're rear locker would be a huge benefit.  You don't need a wild rig to do the Rubicon, just some driving skill and some body protection as I think it would be almost impossible to run it without some mild body damage without any protection.

Steve pretty much walked the Rubicon with that set up. He was only tugged once or twice.

[H8PVMNT]

Yeah but he's British.  Those guys are drivers you know, because James Bond.