Rubicon Directions

[FarmerMatt]

I haven't been up their since I was 18 & even than we ran it forwards. I don't know if I could find the trail head if my life depended on it. We'll be staying in a hotel in south lake Thursday night & going to the trail first thing friday mourning. Directions from south lake would be just peachy. Thanks

Matt

[Jes]

Take HWY89 north, you'll pass by Emerald Bay. The turn off will be after Tahoma(north of Meeks Bay) and before Chambers Lodge. Make a left(west) on Rubicon McKinney RD. There should be a brown forest service OHV sign. Once in the subdivision area follow the brown signs to the curvy one lane paved road. The staging area is on your left as the pavement ends.
I'm trying to find a good map to direct you to but can't find one yet...

Jes

Edit: As a matter of fact, I'll have a hard time finding it Thursday night since I've only gone in that way one time! :D

[XJJPR]

Best way:

Go to Loon Lake and follow the trail, find NAXJA group, turn around and follow.

mark
orgs mfg

[CRASH]

Backwards rules, don't listen to (s)BS boy.

Matt, as long as you don't miss the first left turn, you'll be fine. The USFS has used your tax dollars wisely for once by adequately signing the neighborhood. I can't believe you haven't been there since you were 18. I'm disappointed in you.

Have fun, guys.

CRASH

[Goatman]

I've never run it backwards, but I think I can find the staging area with no problems. How long a drive is it from Sacramento?

Keven, where am I picking you up?

[2MUD-IN]

Check to make sure you can run it backwards. I was there last week, and they wanted peeps to stay off the last third of the trail, past Cadillac Hill...from what I was told, it was just too wet. It wasn't closed, just requested to limit travel on that part.

Oh, ya, go prepared...it ripped my rig apart...literally.

Eric
2MUD-IN.

[CRASH]

2mud,

What happened to you out there? Where's your trip report?

CRASH

[WesternXJ]

Richard, pick me up here at the house. Exit South Watt Ave from Hwy 50, go to the third stop light and turn left (Kiefer Blvd). Go through the stop light and look for the 7/11 - Autozone sign, turn right (Tallho Drive) continue through the third stop sign and look for my Jeep on the right (4312 Tallyho Drive).

What time do you think you'll be in town?
What do I need to bring?

[Goatman]

Originally posted by SactoXJ
Richard, pick me up here at the house. Exit South Watt Ave from Hwy 50, go to the third stop light and turn left (Kiefer Blvd). Go through the stop light and look for the 7/11 - Autozone sign, turn right (Tallho Drive) continue through the third stop sign and look for my Jeep on the right (4312 Tallyho Drive).

What time do you think you'll be in town?
What do I need to bring?

I plan to leave no later than 5:00, which would put me in Sac around 9:30, depending on where in town I'm going.

Sean, what are you doing, are you going? Can we coordinate things with picking up Keven? Do you still want me to bunk with you on Thursday night?

Keven, I'll bring my big tent, very comfy for two. I'll also have a large ice chest, don't know what all you'll want to bring but we can figure that out. What do you want to eat? Do you want to cook? What's your phone number, maybe I should call you tomorrow to plan food. I'll bring a single burner stove, but can bring the two burner if needed. I'll also have a lantern. I can throw in two chairs, or just one if you'll bring your own. I can also throw in two air mattresses if you don't have one, let me know. I'll have an air pump.

Shoot me your number, or call me on my cell tomorrow, 661-706-1600.

[SeanP]

Richard, I'll call you on weds. If you stay up here in Rocklin, we'll end up going up 80 to Tahoe, so driving back down to pick up Keven wouldn't be prudent. Keven can drive up here and leave his truck at my house. After you get thru the Con, take the new road through georgetown and back down to 80 to drop keven off.

I would also like to hear the trip report from last weeks Flatlanders trip.

SeanP

[JTBOSCO]

Jes I sent you an email on Sun. about running the "Con" with you guys and have nnot heard back from you. Can you call me on my cp. 925-285-5491

[2MUD-IN]

Trail was rough on me. I thought I had built this thing to take the punishment.....WRONG!

Items that broke, or what happend:

-upper link of my 3 link broke on front end, so it sent the axle housing and pinion spinning upwards, and went through my oil pan.
-track bar (when the housing spun, it ripped it off at the axle mount)
-oil pan
-D60 front yolk
-front u-joint
-both front shocks...they look like an "L" now
-put one front spring back in...it shot out when the axle housing spun....didn't ruin it, just a pain to get back in...ever try to put a 12" lift coil back in place on the trail?

second break:
-rear shock mount
-rear shock

3rd break:
-steering heim

4th break:
-transmission mount

final break, within 1/2 mile of the trail head:
-track bar frame mount (used a come-along to secure it to get off the trail....grade 8 bolts held, but the mount just ripped away from them).


This is the quick version. I got to Spider Lake on Monday when the big break occurred. Didn't get any further than that...and it took us until Friday afternoon to get off the trail.

I'll get some pics scanned in soon, and up on the boards. I know everyone likes carnage pics.

Oh ya, to round out the trip...I got a speeding ticket when I left about 1 hour away from my house, and my F-250 Diesel decided to foul a couple of fuel injectors while I was out there. Luckily, Ford was working on that while I was hiking in parts to fix my XJ.

Thanks to AAA for their tow...thanks to Maita Ford in Auburn for fixing my F-250 quickly (Mike "Moose" Russell)...and thanks to Foothill Offroad in Auburn (Virgil Haddox) for sourcing parts for me, and not charging me out the a$$, considering my situation. And, one last shout out to Vern Mitchell from Modesto Differential, for welding up my tranny mount out on the trail. Glad he was out there to weld it up right....I tried a trail weld...obviously, it didn't hold :rolleyes:

Let's just say I'm glad to get home.

Anyone want to buy a set-up XJ?

[CRASH]

You're not giving up that easy are you? The trails out here dish out the punishment, but it sounds like you had an especially nightmarish experience.

Think of all the stuff you learned how to build stronger. I'm glad you got out OK.

CRASH

[2MUD-IN]

After seeing all the rigs out there, I'm thinking...Keep the front D60, sell everything else, and build a buggy.

However, if the price is right, I may sell the front end too.

[CRASH]

You don't need a buggy for the 'Con. I ran all the trails in Northern California for 4 years with a 3 inch Rancho lift, 31" all terrain tires, and a rear Detroit in a Dana 35.

That was about 8 years ago, but the trails haven't changed THAT much.

If anything, you may have been TOO big for the trail, and the suspension stuff was just not up to holding the big tires on the rocks.

I would think you would want to keep your rig built for the areas you wheel, since I assume it works well out there. Really, how often do you come out West? I wouldn't think you'd want to build a rig for a trip that occurs once or twice a year.

The cadre of hardcore XJ guys that I wheel with out here almost all run 6 - 7 inches of lift, 35 inch tires, and spend the majority of their time bulletproofing their rigs. Size works against you out here, in many ways. 14 inches of lift is sky high for a rock rig.

CRASH

[crazy4mopar]

Well seeing what happenned to him I'm rethinking this trip:eek:
I have 5 1/2" lift and 33's, a 9" and an stock open D30 with stock steering. Should I buy axles or a spare steering rod for spares if I go??:confused:

[WesternXJ]

Get both Lee :eek: Actually I have a set of D30/297's you can borrow for the trip.

[Stoney]

crazy don't let 2-mud scare u! he just had a bad expreance! u'll do fine!! i am willing to bet u won't even have a problem!(kock on wood)

ALSO ATTENTION!! is there anyone going up thursday evening that i can convoy with?? i don't know how to get to the thahoe side that well!! so call me at 916 223 5795 or pm me!

THANX
stoney

[CRASH]

(kock on wood)

I hope none of you guys were planning on bunking with Stoney! :eek:

CRASH

[JnJ]

2-Mud, I'd really like to see your front arms, before and after the failure.

Thanks

[2MUD-IN]

I'll agree that I had a bad experience. I saw smaller rigs dumping into the trail as we left. But I had a good time. Tested my knowledge out, and I did get home on time.

The one upper link pretty much did most of the damage. You should always carry extra heims or tie rod ends, and I would recommend spare axle shafts, ujoints, ujoint straps/ubolts and driveshafts. Might as well carry a spare axle yolk too...when you grenade a ujoint, you could damage the yolk.

I will also state that I was not exactly taking the easiest way around obsticles either...rather, I was just going through them, not around them.

[crazy4mopar]

Originally posted by SactoXJ
Get both Lee :eek: Actually I have a set of D30/297's you can borrow for the trip.
Cool... Thanks Kevin. I just went and picked up an RE2600 tie rod just incase.

[crazy4mopar]

Originally posted by Stoney
crazy don't let 2-mud scare u! he just had a bad expreance! u'll do fine!! i am willing to bet u won't even have a problem!(kock on wood)

ALSO ATTENTION!! is there anyone going up thursday evening that i can convoy with?? i don't know how to get to the thahoe side that well!! so call me at 916 223 5795 or pm me!

THANX
stoney
I'll be leaving tomorrow at noon. Stoney what time are you leaving?

[Goatman]

Originally posted by 2MUD-IN

The one upper link pretty much did most of the damage. You should always carry extra heims or tie rod ends, and I would recommend spare axle shafts, ujoints, ujoint straps/ubolts and driveshafts. Might as well carry a spare axle yolk too...when you grenade a ujoint, you could damage the yolk.

I will also state that I was not exactly taking the easiest way around obsticles either...rather, I was just going through them, not around them.

When you run a 3 link, that upper link better be damn stout. We've seen what happened to you a number of times now, and it seems all midwest rigs. Out here in the rocks, we know better. ;)

With 38's and a D60, that upper arm needs to be attached to the axle with some serious heims or JJ's.

Too bad you had such trouble, I hope you still enjoyed your trip. Spider is a great place to camp, hopefully hiking for parts and wrenching didn't ruin your experience. Like Crash said, we take a lot of time to build so we won't break.....it's never in a good place. It's also nice to run with other XJ's.....it's hard to carry everything that you might need and someone else might have it.

[2MUD-IN]

It didn't ruin my trip...I actually look back on it with great fondness...like, I don't know how I did it, but I got off that trail.

That upper link is pretty beefy, but there was a weld in it that broke...causing most of the carnage.

[Stoney]

crazy i have to work till 4 30 so i wanted to leave bout 6 or so! but thanx anyways!!

stoney

[Jes]

There's a reason I posted this in the origional thread...
"Minnimum requirements are as follows...
Full size spare, jack, and lug wrench.
First aid kit.
Fire extinguisher.
Spare front shafts(unless running alloys)
If you have a D35 bring spare shafts for it and know how to change them.
Spare steering(if stock).
1 locking differential.
Proper tow points front and rear.
Tow strap.
A working C.B. radio is highly recomended."
...we will be running the trail in from the Tahoe side. We will be going up Big Sluice and from what I hear it's really tough right now as the winter's snow and ice have really moved things around.
Come prepared!

Jes

[Tucker]

What, exactly, does "spare steering" mean? Which components? My rig is nowhere near ready for Rubicon yet, but as I'm scrounging for other stuff in the boneyards, I should pick up spares. What to get?

[Jes]

Spare tie-rod and drag link with tie-rod ends.

Jes

[CRASH]

You know, it occurs to me that our group brings everything but spare girls.

CRASH

[Jes]

I could use a couple of those! :D

Jes

[CRASH]

I thought you might chime in......I hear they are hard to come by in your neck of the woods......

CRASH

[Stoney]

O O O i am bringin a girl!! o yea but she isn't a spare!!!

stoney

[ChuckD]

Isn't there a NAXJA bylaw, about bringing girls, you have to bring at least one spare. I recall the only way you can get away with it if your married or at least bylaw. :D

[FarmerMatt]

I've got a couple of kids I'll lease out, but my wify is mine all mine.

Matt

[CRASH]

Matt are you bringing your son again? He always learns PLENTY of new things when he hangs out with Jes........

CRASH

[crazy4mopar]

Are there any kids coming? My 10 year old is coming time to teach him to drive slow......:D

[crazy4mopar]

Originally posted by Jes
Take HWY89 north, you'll pass by Emerald Bay. The turn off will be after Tahoma(north of Meeks Bay) and before Chambers Lodge. Make a left(west) on Rubicon McKinney RD. There should be a brown forest service OHV sign. Once in the subdivision area follow the brown signs to the curvy one lane paved road. The staging area is on your left as the pavement ends.
I'm trying to find a good map to direct you to but can't find one yet...

Jes

Edit: As a matter of fact, I'll have a hard time finding it Thursday night since I've only gone in that way one time! :D
coming from Sacramento do I take 50 or 80?

[Jes]

Originally posted by CRASH
Matt are you bringing your son again? He always learns PLENTY of new things when he hangs out with Jes........

CRASH

:rolleyes:

Ya right. I had no part in damaging his fragile little mind in JV last time. I think you and Loren should only express your "feelings" toward eachother when little'ns aren't around. :D :D

Lee, take 80 for the fast route, 50 for the scenenic route. ;)

Jes

[FarmerMatt]

My 10 year old son Daniel & 5 year old son Ethan will both be there. Daniels been asking about that shifty guy.

Matt

[DesertXJ]

Keep an eye on that Daniel, you know how he likes to "explore";)

Have fun guys and keep all the parts where they belong!!

[crazy4mopar]

I'm outta here!!! rubicon or bust. My cell # is 916-747-2775
if anyone needs it

[Jes]

Bring ice veryone, it's gonna be warm and we'll want cold drinks. ;)
Also, if anyone has some firewood to bring that would be cool. There aren't any fire restrictions yet.
I'll be leaving the city around 4:00. Traffic is going to be marvelous. :rolleyes:

Jes