Headed for the Rubicon

[jonb8]

I've decided to drive cross country in the xj to wheel the Rubicon with a group of friends... If anyone see's this xj sitting along the interstate..stop and give a guy a hand.....:D

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[prerunner1982]

What route are you taking to get there?

[abebehrmann]

Safe travels and take lots of pics!

[jonb8]

I still don't have the route nailed down, It's probably gonna be I70 and I80 but I still havent ruled out I44 and seeing parts of RT66.

[prerunner1982]

Looks like I70 would take you damn near all the way. I44/Route 66 is a bit out of the way.
However looking at Google maps it would only ad on about 200 miles and a few hours to come down this way.

[4.3LXJ]

When will you arrive Jon?

[jonb8]

Depends on route and breakdowns, I have to be there by next Saturday.

[4.3LXJ]

Love to join you Jon, Jeep is apart right now. Will see if I can get it back together. You guys all pretty hard core, not that it matters

[jonb8]

Not sure what day the ride actually starts, there's lots of cookouts and tours before we go. I'm staying at the sands so I'm gonna try and get some gambling in too...That's if the xj makes it 2400 miles....LOL I'm gonna be there a week and not sure how many day's were gonna be camping on the trail...Just gonna show up and be "Happy to be there"

[4.3LXJ]

First, I am not sure i can make it. My biggest problem is tires and the money for them. I don't want to wheel without a spare. If I can make it, I will. On another note, there are other very worthy trails near the Rubi. Check out Barrett Lake. No full size rigs allowed on this one. Entrance off Hwy 50 just a few miles up from Ice House Rd. Another I don't know much about is Blackwood Canyon Trail. Supposed to be highly technical. Another nice one is Hell Hole trail near the bottom of the Rubi. Couple of nice rock gardens on that one. Fordyce of course. Mossy Lake Trail near Fordyce. One I am going on at the end of this month is the south side French Lake. Looks like a nice place to camp at the lake. Good luck, more than a weeks worth of wheeling there

[XJ Wheeler]

Sounds like an adventure! No matter how it ends I'm sure it'll be memorable! :D

Sent via messenger pigeon. I talk, he types.

[Hum Wee JR]

I live an hour from the Rubicon trail. I am also in Florida, i won't be back in time. However i have driven I 80 end to end. I just drove I 44 to get to the east coast this time. I 80 is a much nicer drive. The dessert is warmer than usual right now. Needles ca was 119 when i went through. Defiantly test your cooling system. More stuff to see between the Rockies and sirra nevadas on I 44, longer drive it seemed like and hot as heck.

I 80 to auburn turn left on highway 49 follow signs to Goerge town, more signs get you there. End up in lake Tahoe. Heads up when i left a week and a half ago gas in auburn was 2.95 a gallon more in the valley

[4.3LXJ]

What do you mean you can't make it back in time? Boot that Jeep in the ass :D

[jonb8]

OK that helps alot, I'll run I80 and stay as far north as I can. My A/C works and my cooling system is all new but I've never tryed to run them together in 100+ heat......Thanks for the heads up...

[4.3LXJ]

Ground is not level out here either Jon. Even harder on cooling systems

[jonb8]

Right On, I've never been past Iowa so I've been looking at elevation charts. I'm Just gonna run slow, me and Missy have been talking about just leaving this jeep out there and me put her another one together. That way we can fly in to Reno in 5 hrs and spend alot of time exploring the west... I gotta get the old girl out there first...LOL

[4.3LXJ]

Right On, I've never been past Iowa so I've been looking at elevation charts. I'm Just gonna run slow, me and Missy have been talking about just leaving this jeep out there and me put her another one together. That way we can fly in to Reno in 5 hrs and spend alot of time exploring the west... I gotta get the old girl out there first...LOL

Actually, that might not be a bad idea if you want to really wheel the west. Too much to do out here, too much colorful history etc. And wheeling during the week is the best, no one to hold you up

[jonb8]

We don't really wanna hardcore wheel out west but more get on the roads less traveled. We've seen everything out east so it's time to start planning on seeing the west...

[4.3LXJ]

I hear ya. Lots of stuff out west. However the Rubi is not one of the less traveled roads. Many of the trails I have mentioned are however.

[jonb8]

Yea I'm just doing it to mark it off my bucketlist, Moab is on there to and I'm hoping to knock it off in the spring. I'll be taking "The Jank" out for that though..

[4.3LXJ]

2019 for me on Moab. I am convinced however that much of Moab is rated more difficult than it is

[jonb8]

The way I understand it is, there's tons of traction and if you got the balls to keep the throttle down you'll climb till it flips over backwards... alot different then the silt, moss and red clay mud we got all over are climbs.... I'm taking the Jank mostly for the rollover protection.

[4.3LXJ]

From the vids I have watched, that seems to be the case. Probably why it is so popular. Lots of traction on the granite out here too.

[jonb8]

Spent a couple day's now going through the jeep, nothing else I can think of or fix. I have a new crank sensor and fuel pump in the tool box and every other sensor/part I can think of out of my used parts supply. I'm going to pull a tire off the teardrop to take as a spare and I quess I'm ready......UHHHGGGG I'm starting to dream up things that "could" go wrong....:bang:

[Hum Wee JR]

Don't know how, but make sure the Rubicon trail is open. Maybe call a buisnes in goergetown. When I left ca 2 weeks ago there was still several feet of snow on Donner summit. It has been really hot lately. Should be melted by now. I went up there in summer once and it was still closed dew to snow.

Also, VERY IMPORTANT, its very hot. It has been melting the snow at a rapid rate. It is very tempting to go swimming in the rivers. DON'T, The water is deep lots of undertows and very cold. 9 weeks staight there have been drownings.

A safe place to swim on your way down I80 high enough up the mountain the flow is slow. After the town of Truckee, climb Donner summit, on the way down the mountain, exit emigrant gap, turn left under bridge, turn right, follow the road to the campground, 8 miles i think. Park at campground, walk through campground (downstream) aprox 1/2 mile. Enjoy the water fall. 20 minutes and you will be blue. Seveal forest service roads to explore. I was there on fathers day it was cold but nice.

[denverd1]

Spent a couple day's now going through the jeep, nothing else I can think of or fix. I have a new crank sensor and fuel pump in the tool box and every other sensor/part I can think of out of my used parts supply. I'm going to pull a tire off the teardrop to take as a spare and I quess I'm ready......UHHHGGGG I'm starting to dream up things that "could" go wrong....:bang:

hate that feeling! like you've done everything you can, but still not sure you're ready. you'll be fine, sounds like you're prepared for the little things that can leave you stranded.

also, really like the idea of leaving the jeep out there for a while. have mapped out a few trips west (mainly to Rubicon and Moab), but don't want to tow it out there each time and definitely not shipping it. good call.

looking forward to pics and trip updates!

[jonb8]

I'm home finally, 2 weeks out west and the jeep did fantastic. 5100 miles and the Rubicon, you guys have some fantastic wheeling out there......Started in Georgetown, spent the first night at Airport flats then two nights at Rubicon Springs then up Cadillac hill to Lake Tahoe... I got through with a open front diff and didn't winch, but It was hard on the xj and she's gonna need some love. This was the first "Crawl the Con ride" put on by John Herrick from Crawl Magazine... I'll definitely be back for next years....

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[4.3LXJ]

Jon, let me know next year in advance. Should have 37s on by then and if possible I could join you

[jonb8]

I was gonna get ahold of you but I couldn't get on this website without taptalk and I don't know how to download it...LOL Next trip we' gotta get together and run some stuff....

[4.3LXJ]

There is more out here to run besides that too. Depends on how much of a trip you want to make of it. Just takes some planning

[denverd1]

awesome!! little rock rash is all!? I'd say you did quite well.

[XJ Wheeler]

I'd say that door met it's maker! Congrats on making it. 5100 miles is quite a haul for any rig, let alone a 16+ year rig.

Sent via messenger pigeon. I talk, he types.

[jonb8]

Been working on the xj, both upper balljoints and both Rough Country lower arms are toast. Bushings are gone and that I'm assuming was what was making it wonder around on the interstate. I've been doing some thinking and I've decided to sell every project/ jeep/ truck I own and put all my time/money into upgrading this xj to travel and wheel. I also want to be able to pull my teardrop when I come. This jeeps going to Easter Jeep in the spring....I've got the outwest Bug....

[ChicoXJ]

Hey Jon4.3LXJ here, if this is going to be your ultimate road and trail rig, want some really tough arms that will last you and are rebuildable?

[jonb8]

I'm leaning toward the Clayton long arms. I've always made my own but on this one I'm gonna use bolt on stuff so I don't run into a oddball can't get parts situation on the road.... What's everyone's experience on long arm kits?

[bluedragon436]

I'm leaning toward the Clayton long arms. I've always made my own but on this one I'm gonna use bolt on stuff so I don't run into a oddball can't get parts situation on the road.... What's everyone's experience on long arm kits?

I've got IRO's Long Arms and haven't had any issues out of them, but I know that any of the ends you need to get you won't find @ local auto parts stores, but any 4wheel parts type store would have them... But I'd say if you got the funds to swing and you plan to wheel her good... I'd go for the Clayton in a heartbeat.... Once I get some other stuff sorted out finance wise, and XJ build wise, I plan to go to Clayton setup...

[jonb8]

I'm also looking at the JKS system....Kinda like the skids