First time to Rubicon...

[tommyboy]

I read a lot on this forum, lol i read more than i talk, and with all the talk about the rubicon, i want to go. Ive never been but lately i have been thinking about it more serious everyday so ive finally decided its time. I know itll be a couple months before i do go, due to i need some things done to my all stock running gera on my 84 yota, and a collection of the right extra equipment. i have 33s and  a little 3.5 lift and a weber carb an thats it. But i work with a guy who ran the rubi in a mostly stock first gen with 31s and a welded rearend. So what i was thinking is after i get my hysteer done, soon, and weld my rearend that it will be ready for a run up the rubicon, of course i wont nail all the hard spots you guys do but ill test my limits. And another thing is i dont have anyone to wheel with so when the time came would anyone want to roll? of course in your own rig. But another thing is i want to know what i should bring as in spares, tools, and things of that nature. thx fellas, great site!! And how far is it from me? Im inelk grove...basically sac and do any of you live around here that would wanna go?

[Hyena]

I would highly recommend lower gears.  with 33's, a locked rear, and lower gears you should be able to do the trial pretty easily.  You should probably wait till february or march when the snow is gone also(may not be any right now but later most likely).

[Duffil]

duals and a detroit with 4.88s and it was good. I kept off of the hard stuff.

[tommyboy]

I would highly recommend lower gears.  with 33's, a locked rear, and lower gears you should be able to do the trial pretty easily.  You should probably wait till february or march when the snow is gone also(may not be any right now but later most likely).

yup thats when im thinkin. ok now also by then i will have 37 mtrs...i know it!!! so 5.29s than.
ok now what bout extra stuff and just other misc. stuff??

[tommyboy]

duals and a detroit with 4.88s and it was good. I kept off of the hard stuff.

u ran just one locker too?? u didnt have hy steer either huh??

[Duffil]

nope. flipped J-arm and a detroit in the rear. coming back out to loon is a little tougher than going in, especially Big Sluice.

WERMZ84 ran it last year with us...rear locker 4.7 single case and no lift. Made it thru just fine.

[tommyboy]

aw ya flipped j arm. ya i meant like no crossover/hysteer...idk lol. ya sluice is the nardly one rite. now what extra gear would be a good idear?

[Ramrod]

id just throw in a 4.7 tcase and weld the rear, your would be rock solid and easily do the whole trail.  My buddy did the whole trail with a stock ifs runner with 30" street tires and a welded rear and dual cases.  not much body damage

[tommyboy]

id just throw in a 4.7 tcase and weld the rear, your would be rock solid and easily do the whole trail.  My buddy did the whole trail with a stock ifs runner with 30" street tires and a welded rear and dual cases.  not much body damage

but i should definitely do my hysteer rite?

[Ramrod]

its not that important, only gets real important if your getting alot of flex in the front because the stock J arm is prone to breaking.  If your worried about the steering bring an extra tierod

[tommyboy]

lol ya im lacking the flex too...

[Ramrod]

flex is overrated

[tommyboy]

to a certain extent right? i mean of course theres other variables but to be successful flex is one of those variables too rite?

[BLACKDOG]

to a certain extent right? i mean of course theres other variables but to be successful flex is one of those variables too rite?

Not exactly.  It definitely helps, and to do the larger obstacles, you need it, but in reality, skill is far more important than what you are driving.  Just this past MCR, we had a guy in our group that was completely stock, on 31"s, he had sliders, and I *think* a welded rear, and he did just fine.  Did great actually, many people including myself suffered more damage than he did with more built rigs. 

[blackdiamond]

Not exactly.  It definitely helps, and to do the larger obstacles, you need it, but in reality, skill is far more important than what you are driving.  Just this past MCR, we had a guy in our group that was completely stock, on 31"s, he had sliders, and I *think* a welded rear, and he did just fine.  Did great actually, many people including myself suffered more damage than he did with more built rigs. 

If it's the guy I'm thinking about (yota18), he had 31's, 5.29 gears, open differentials, sliders and a rear bumper.  He took a strap in a few places, but if the trail wasn't so crowded I think he could have driven more without assist.  If you start at Loon I'd be more concerned about body damage than not being able to make it.  On the way out Cadillac Hill we kept a long and short strap handy so he wouldn't end up being the guy blocking the road, but I'm fairly sure he could have driven it out.

[BLACKDOG]

If it's the guy I'm thinking about (yota18), he had 31's, 5.29 gears, open differentials, sliders and a rear bumper.  He took a strap in a few places, but if the trail wasn't so crowded I think he could have driven more without assist.  If you start at Loon I'd be more concerned about body damage than not being able to make it.  On the way out Cadillac Hill we kept a long and short strap handy so he wouldn't end up being the guy blocking the road, but I'm fairly sure he could have driven it out.

thats who I'm talking about.  I didn't know about the 5.29s. 

[tommyboy]

ok...well cool than it just sounds more intimidating than it is i guess...and the skill factor is true...im not gonna get on here and pitch a story to everyone bragging on how im a "champ" at wheelin but im not a moron like some who just point a truck at anything and say "i got it" u know.. lol. but hey if anyone ants to come along thatd be way nardly
well wat bou armor now...?

[BLACKDOG]

sliders!  at the very least.

[tommyboy]

lol and at the most?

[Wermz84]

sliders!  at the very least.

x10  and at least a rear locker 

[BLACKDOG]

lol and at the most?

there is no at the most.  Some people do it in near stock rigs with sliders and stock bumpers.  Some people go through in full tube buggies, with no body per se to do damage to.  A happy medium is certainly sliders and some good solid bumpers. 

[Wermz84]

  Some people do it in near stock rigs with sliders and stock bumpers.

Hey, I did that!     My only claim to fame.