Moab Fall Fling, Rubicon, or to Alaska we go

[XJCasper]

Just looking at the days scheduled for the 2006 Moab Fall Fling. I have wanted to hit this since the days of my first XJ.

Michael has been talking about the Rubicon for the last year.

I have to start making plans for these events to get the days off.

Where we going?
Rubicon
Moab
Alaska

When?
August
September
October

Thanks
Jason

 

[2xtreme]

I can only speak for my self (and anyone else who wants to be involved). I am going to the Rubicon, late next summer (probably end of August or early September time frame).

Scott and I were going to do this this year but both postponed it till next year. I believe my brother is also interested in going along.

My timing will be based on the group of people who are interested in going and the events that are planned for the rubicon during that time (I would like to do it at the same time as the SW group, but not at the same time as any Jeep Jamboree's).

I will not plan this in detail till probably spring time if that helps.

Michael

 

[XJCasper]

In this case, How many days, weeks, do I need to set aside?

Jason

 

[2xtreme]

In this case, How many days, weeks, do I need to set aside?
Jason

My intent is approximately 10 days (Could be done in shorter but not a whole lot shorter). I will most likely leave on a Friday after lunch and be back for the 2nd Monday.

For me, this equals 5 days of vacation, plenty of travel time and time for repairs and such. I will be driving down the motorhome and towing the jeep on a flatbed trailer. I assume that we will have a convoy of vehicles of whom ever is interested. I do have a friend or two who live in California who will also be meeting us there.

Michael

 

[XJCasper]

You taking the family along?

I don't know if my wife would be overly enthused about this trip.

She is wanting to go to Disneyland, not the Rubicon. I can't convince her that the rides are better along the Rubicon.

Jason

 

[2xtreme]

You taking the family along?

I don't know if my wife would be overly enthused about this trip.

She is wanting to go to Disneyland, not the Rubicon. I can't convince her that the rides are better along the Rubicon.

Jason

Not sure if the rides are as good but the scenery is unbeatable!!

Yes, I am taking the family. Not sure how many of them will be actually in the jeep or not yet (time will tell) but they are all coming down in the motorhome and camping once we get there.

Michael

 

[crookedletterd]

This may be a stupid question but does the Rubicon have sections for all kinds of rigs? How is the rating scale? Are there bypasses for the rough stuff?

I'd love to go if there is more to offer besides only hard stuff that I see in pictures Don't get me wrong, it would still be fun to just watch, but I'd rather drive.

 

[2xtreme]

My understanding (I have no first hand experience, just stories, friends, etc) is that there are by passes for all of the Major obstacles.

I believe that a reasonable requirement is a minimum of 31's, at least 1 locker, preferably a winch. I think that first aid, experience, good attitude, spare parts, recovery equipment, CB, must be reviewed well with the group before hand.

I would prefer 33's, lockers, and winch. But I do not think that they would necessarily be required as long as the group was ok with the rig and it's experience.

I

 

[crookedletterd]

Well thats a bummer... if the reasonable requirement is at least 31's, one locker and a winch even with the bypasses, it looks like I wont be making it .


I know you are planning rubicon anyway, but my vote would be moab due to the variety of trails. It would accomodate more of the "not so built" rigs.

 

[sams88]

With the by-passes, I don't really see where ther would be that much of an issue, specially if the vehicles have skid plates. Part of the whole thing is just being there to see stuff and be a part of that......... It could be compared to the biker world The annual Sturgis run. The hardcore ride their Harley's there, but there's others that trailer theirs. Both types have fun end accomplish what they were looking for. To my way of thinking, Rubicon is like that, it's something that you can get into as deep or shallow as you want. Meanwhile, when on long distance trips, it's always nice to have others with you in case of breakdowns, etc.

Karl went on vacation and headed down that way. Didn't do all the hard stuff, but he had a good time and enjoyed himself. He's got a 2" econo lift, no lockers and 29" tires. He ran the hard trail the last day of NWFest, and made it. But most of all he had fun, and that's what this is supposed to be about. And the people driving the less modified rigs know they can't do the hard stuff. But then maybe they would like to sit right seat with one of the more modified rigs.................

Rubicon! It's the pilgrimage!

 

[Avanteone]

Just a FYI, I'm planning on going to Moab the first week of May next spring.
Weekend drive down, one week on the trails, weekend drive home.


John

 

[John90XJ]

My first trip to the Rubicon was with a guy running a stock rig and 30's as I recall. He beat the living daylights out of it just getting through the Gate Keeper.

If you don't mind body damage, and there will be some, you can do it with a fairly stock rig. But to really enjoy yourself and remove the specter of damaging your rig severely, get skids, rocker protection, 31's and at least a rear locker. It will make the trip immensely more enjoyable and leave you the opportunity to see the environment you're driving through for its beauty instead of cursing it.

 

[XJCasper]

How about a front locker, only?

 

[John90XJ]

How about a front locker, only?

That would be fine too. Most people invest in a rear locker first but I did basically the same thing my first trip down there. I was running a LockRight in front and a Trac Lok LSD in the rear, the LSD being closer to open than locked.

 

[jimbar]

Yeah, I was there with John on that trip and I can tell ya that guy with the stocker beat that rig to shit and we only went in about 2 -3 miles before we had to turn back due to others having un-repairable damage. I seem to remember he also lost about half of his gas tank capacity as well due to a massive dent in his tank. Think about this guys, having to pull someone across every rough spot gets old fast. Not to mention you need to think about what your going to do if someone does break something that you can't fix. The con. is one nasty obstical after another. IMO 31's, lockers and plenty of armor is a minimum. Oh, and AC is nice to!

My first trip to the Rubicon was with a guy running a stock rig and 30's as I recall. He beat the living daylights out of it just getting through the Gate Keeper.

If you don't mind body damage, and there will be some, you can do it with a fairly stock rig. But to really enjoy yourself and remove the specter of damaging your rig severely, get skids, rocker protection, 31's and at least a rear locker. It will make the trip immensely more enjoyable and leave you the opportunity to see the environment you're driving through for its beauty instead of cursing it.

 

[sams88]

Don't get me wrong, as I wasn't saying there wasn't a hassle involved with smaller tires, etc. Obviously the gent you are talking about that destroyed his stocker wasn't a rocket scientist by any stretch of the immagination, and was sorely lacking in the common sense department. What I was saying was that if someone from the NWC wants to drive down there in whatever he/she has, that they should be welcomed to do that. There is limited stuff down there they can play in and still have fun. That's also why I made the comment that maybe they would ride right seat with someone with a more modified rig. But at least they could say they drove down there and played around some and had a fun trip, and spent some quality time with other NWC members.

But while we are speaking of damage, I've seen a lot of heavily modified rigs basically destroyed too. (Rimrock has eaten up a few rigs too.) The basic thing here is whether or not any driver can apply a little common sense about where they are going, what their limitations are, and all. Some guys get like they are at a demolition derby, and evidently have more money than they have common sense.

And as for doing the trail itself, yes, I agree with you that lockers, 31's with multiple skid plates and a winch would be a very wise minimum setup.

And you raised a very valid point Jimbar about what are you going to do about vehicles that you can't fix. Or for that matter vehicles that you can manage to cobble back to the camp, but aren't going to make the trip back home without being towed/dollied/trailered.... the big bugaboo for people that don't trailer their rigs to far-off places!! One common thing at the big/hard_core events is the large number of rigs that are towed to them (for one reason or another). For an event that far away, there needs to be a trailer or two to haul broken stuff back, or some spare money taken along for a U-Haul.

 

[2xtreme]

I think that the last several posts are extremely important for everyone who is interested in going to understand.

I am going, because I have always wanted to do the CON. I would like to enjoy the trip with others that are interested in going. I will not limit anyone who wants to go, but I also have the responsibility to make sure that everyone that is going understand their capability, and the consequences of an issue. I will be trailering my rig down.

I would like anyone who is interested to attend. I would prefer to wheel with you before we go down so we all understand each others strengths and weeknesses. I also do not want 1 vehicle to hold up the entire group.

I hope that anyone who is interested understands these thoughts and concerns. If I am not clear, please contact me off line so that we can discuss.

As it gets closer I will do more detailed planning until then all of this conversation is important, particularly for those like me who have not been there yet!!

Thanks,
Michael

 

[John90XJ]

Just for something to think about....I, along with most of the people in my group last year, never strapped or winched once. That includes me losing my rear driveline coming up Cadillac Hill and finishing the trip in front 2 wheel drive. The common denominators for those that went on our trip, that took most every obstacle head on and no more than 1-2 bypasses, were as follows:

Front and rear lockers
T-case and gas tank skids
Rocker protection for use as a pivot
32's or larger tires
Trimmed front and rear to allow as much articulation as possible.

Things that make the trip significantly more enjoyable:

A selectable front locker or a 2 Low kit in the t-case (a lot of binding on the rock)
Improve approach/departure angles by trimming and/or aftermarket bumpers
Diff protection
Spare axle and drive shafts, tie rods, tires

Going with less than the above will certainly make the trip more exciting...the issue to come to grips with before crossing your own personal Rubicon is how much damage will you be able to tolerate? What repairs are you going to feel comfortable making? Can you make them in less than ideal conditions?

As for bypasses, some are not necessarily less difficult/dangerous, just different. Also, things like the Gate Keeper are called that for a reason, they're hard to get through for a mildly prepared rig.

Finally, the conditions don't favor a lack of total commitment. You have no cell service, turning back is just as hard as moving forward, the rocks are hard and unrelenting.

It's not the hardest thing I have ever done but it's up there on my list of Top 10 accomplishments.

Definition:

Main Entry: Ru·bi·con
Pronunciation: 'rü-bi-"kän
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin Rubicon-, Rubico, river of northern Italy forming part of the boundary between Cisalpine Gaul and Italy whose crossing by Julius Caesar in 49 B.C. was regarded by the Senate as an act of war

: a bounding or limiting line; especially : one that when crossed commits a person irrevocably

 

[XJCasper]

Is the Rubicon trail a circular trip? Start and finish at the same locations?

Or is this some type of trip over a Pass?

I wanted to steel my brothers truck to tow down and for emergency service back, but he/I still need a trailer. But I was presuming the start and finish locations were nowhere near each other.

Thanks
Jason

 

[2xtreme]

John,
EXTREMELY good info!! Thanks!!

Jason,
It starts at 1 point and goes to another. But we could do both directions and call it a loop!!

Michael