I survived my first trip through the Rubicon

[UKMyers]

I just got home from a 3 day trip to the Con with TTORA. We ran Loon to Tahoe. It was my first time up there and holy crap that trail is gnarly!! We had some pretty heavy carnage in our group. I broke a tie rod end and didn't have a spare nor did anyone else in the group. It sheared right where the tapered part goes through the steering arm. We ended up drilling a hole through where the grease zerk went and using a Tacoma body mount bold and nut to hold it all together. I was shocked it actually worked and got me all the way from just past Buck to the staging area.

Besides the trail repair my rig did awesome. I took a lot of the harder lines besides soup bowl and little sluice. Big sluice is really gnarly right now and Cadillac Hill sucked in the pouring rain.

Here are a few pics.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z186/NKAWTG/IMG_2240.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z186/NKAWTG/IMG_2241.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z186/NKAWTG/IMG_2248.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z186/NKAWTG/IMG_2238.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z186/NKAWTG/IMG_2229.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z186/NKAWTG/IMG_2208.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z186/NKAWTG/IMG_2206.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z186/NKAWTG/IMG_2197-1.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z186/NKAWTG/IMG_2190-1.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z186/NKAWTG/IMG_2174-1.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z186/NKAWTG/IMG_2274.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z186/NKAWTG/IMG_2205.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z186/NKAWTG/IMG_2136.jpg

Here's a couple videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMj2tFN5-rI

The same obstacle in an IFS truck on 33's

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JQOAYjQE0E

The only thing I tried and didn't make. This was very early on and I was still learning what I could get away with. I should have tried a little harder but I wasn't feeling real balsy in the first mile of a 3 day wheeling trip. The guy filming should have spotted me from the sounds of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcOoxG__ACQ

One more of the final obstacle at Slick Rock

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RGe6o9zB6Q

[AxleIke]

man that trail looks fun. Gonna have to make a run out there. Great pics and vids.

[Marc P]

I was checking out the pics last night on TTORA...you lucky bastard!!

[UKMyers]

Ya it was awesome! Marc we had 3 guys from the Socal chapter come up and run with us. You should try and make it next year! We even had a guy in that white tundra that is featured in this months Toyota 4wd owner from Tennessee show up! I spent all afternoon today working on the runner. I took the bug the bug shield off, my roof rack off, and my 100lb speaker box out. All cool stuff but all absolutely worthless when your rock crawling.

[xonetruthcrewx]

Gnarly man. I also saw all the pics over on TTORA. Looks like tons of fun for sure. I have always wanted to do the Con, but then i see pics and think again. Haha. I did see a couple rigs in all the photos that were IFS though. How did they do?

[UKMyers]

An IFS rig is perfectly capable of running the con as long as they have proper armor. It's not the lack of flex that is a problem it's a lack of clearance. An IFS rig with dual lockers, sliders, at least 33's, and a good rear bumper is perfectly capable of running the trail. We had 4 in our group with nothing more than that and even one with an open front. All had problems in certain areas and bashed the crap out of their skid plates but all made it with very little assistance.

[bdg4512]

An IFS rig is perfectly capable of running the con as long as they have proper armor. It's not the lack of flex that is a problem it's a lack of clearance. An IFS rig with dual lockers, sliders, at least 33's, and a good rear bumper is perfectly capable of running the trail. We had 4 in our group with nothing more than that and even one with an open front. All had problems in certain areas and bashed the crap out of their skid plates but all made it with very little assistance.



I know this has absolutely nothing to do with the topic, but I had to ask what you used to mount your Hella lights to your basket. I didnt know you could mount them and keep your fairing at the same time.

[slosurfer]

Joey, :thumbup: you lucky bastad! :flipoff: How tall is your 4runner with that gas can on top?

[UKMyers]

I built some custom brackets out of aluminum with stand offs to mount the lights. Chris it was too tall and super scary in the off camber sections. I pulled the rack clear off it yesterday. I'm gonna come up a different place to carry my stuff.

[Cheese]

Ya it was awesome! Marc we had 3 guys from the Socal chapter come up and run with us. You should try and make it next year! We even had a guy in that white tundra that is featured in this months Toyota 4wd owner from Tennessee show up! I spent all afternoon today working on the runner. I took the bug the bug shield off, my roof rack off, and my 100lb speaker box out. All cool stuff but all absolutely worthless when your rock crawling.


You don't say? :D

Seriously though, many IFS trucks run that trail, and for emphasis, it is not travel, it is strength.

What kind of tie rod broke, I thought you have Trail Mart stuff.

[reggie 00]

I pulled the rack clear off it yesterday. I'm gonna come up a different place to carry my stuff.


I'll be by later to help you keep that pristine garage clean and take that bothersome rack out.

[blacksheep]

Nice trip. I was going to go this year, but things came up at work, plus I still don't have a diesel and a trailer for my rig. Otherwise, I will be there next year.

[UKMyers]

I have a Marlin high steer kit. TG and Marlin sell they same tie rod ends. They are for a 91-97 FJ80. Looking at the break I think it had been cracked part way through for a while before it totally broke. Thank god it didn't happen going down the freeway. I now have a spare right and left in my trail box. I'd never wheel the Con with less than about 5 rigs and some people with lots of tool and trail fix knowledge. I would have been screwed had we not had some experienced wheelers with every tool known to man strapped into their rigs. I was 15 miles in when I broke.

[BruceTS]

Did the Con a few years ago, from the Loon Lake, out on Lake Tahoe side. Made it though with no issues, just 2 of us starting at 4:30am....... I'll most likely be doing it again this September.

[xonetruthcrewx]

Did the Con a few years ago, from the Loon Lake, out on Lake Tahoe side. Made it though with no issues, just 2 of us starting at 4:30am....... I'll most likely be doing it again this September.


You better post up when you plan on dong this. I just may have to come along and tackle the Con.

[UKMyers]

The Marlin Crawler Roundup is Sept 14-16. I hear there is going to be lots and lots of sweet Toys there. It would be a good one for IFS rigs. There will be lots of winches and lots of people with spare parts!