We missed the "Old Sluice". Our trail leader took us down a trail that was
closed due to the Spider lake situation. At the Little Sluice some of us
went to the left, some took the steep slickrock to the right. I think the
right side is easier overall. The Big Sluice you just have to do, too long
for any real bypasses.


"jbjeep" <jbjeep@saw.net> wrote in message
news:505aj05ea3q25n17evctr4pvnbuk8aoua4@4ax.com...
> UP to a point I think you are right.
>
> 2 of the 3 sluices seemed to have bypasses. Many of the obsticales had
bypasses.
> The slabs are easier than the sluices and the hills. Not that they are
easy mind
> you.
>
>
>
> On Tue, 31 Aug 2004 15:20:38 GMT, twaldron <thomas@OBVIOUSrubicons.com>
wrote:
>
> >>I've never been there, but I was under the impression that you could
> >>make the Rubicon as easy (with bypasses) or as difficult as you wanted
> >>and that a near stock Jeep could make the trip using these bypasses on
> >>the more difficult obstacles...is this not so?
> >>
> >>Jerry McG wrote:
> >>
> >>> JB,
> >>>
> >>> I wasn't aware there was another way out other than Cadillac Hill.
Frankly,
> >>> if you went out there without a detailed map or a guide you could get
> >>> yourself in a great deal of trouble in a hurry. Few trail markers and
tire
> >>> marks going in every direction. With one exception, our trail leader,
this
> >>> was the first time on the Rubicon for all of us. We planned the trip
out for
> >>> several months and our leader had us well educated on what to expect.
He and
> >>> his wife had videotaped their first visit last summer, so we all got
to see
> >>> the thing beforehand. It was still a major handful. You are absolutely
> >>> correct in your trail description. It is just one continuous obstacle.
Since
> >>> we're just a couple of hours from Moab and very close to
Silverton/Ouray we
> >>> don;t generally leave this area very often. Several of us are already
> >>> planning "Rubicon II", so who knows!
> >>>
> >>> Best on the upgrades.
> >>> "jbjeep" <jbjeep@saw.net> wrote in message
> >>> news:ahu7j09nvd00ot0itqcltgneanh8dmf4jb@4ax.com...
> >>>
> >>>>Thanks. I really appreciate the comments.
> >>>>
> >>>>Actually, we had less big carnage that I thought we would. the brakes
> >>>
> >>> were scary but
> >>>
> >>>>easily fixed. Its funny how the body damage didnt bother me. Nothing
> >>>
> >>> like rolling
> >>>
> >>>>your rig to put it all in perspective! I figured I would be the one
with
> >>>
> >>> the busted
> >>>
> >>>>axles, but I guess I got lucky!! I really liked the trail a lot. Its
not
> >>>
> >>> like Moab
> >>>
> >>>>where you have hard obsticales and then a nice drive, and then some
more
> >>>
> >>> hard stuff.
> >>>
> >>>>Its rock, all the time rock, and then the rock gets bigger and badder
in
> >>>
> >>> the hard
> >>>
> >>>>stuff. You have to be on top of it all the time. I was bummed to
miss
> >>>
> >>> cadilac hill,
> >>>
> >>>>but the guys didnt want to go out that way. Rubicon springs was nice,
the
> >>>
> >>> day trip
> >>>
> >>>>there and back was fun. Little sluice looked like fun for about 1/2
way
> >>>
> >>> up. LOL.
> >>>
> >>>>Then the rock is too big for my 33's. Old sluice and Big Sluice were
just
> >>>
> >>> plain fun
> >>>
> >>>>(well, other than the brakes). I dont know if I mentioned it in the
trip
> >>>
> >>> report or
> >>>
> >>>>not, but I was the only driver that had never done the trail before.
They
> >>>
> >>> kept
> >>>
> >>>>forgetting that, and it was so very different from what I am used to.
I
> >>>
> >>> cant wait to
> >>>
> >>>>go back again!! (once I get my rig out of the shop - my mechanic is
> >>>
> >>> having a heyday,
> >>>
> >>>>all the parts showed up this afternoon and he got really excited about
it
> >>>
> >>> and started
> >>>
> >>>>working on it already.) We are doing the tera rear brake conversion,
PS
> >>>
> >>> trail
> >>>
> >>>>corners, and flush mounted tail lights, in addition to a sh**load of
> >>>
> >>> maintenance
> >>>
> >>>>work.
> >>>>
> >>>>Yep, the diaper will be hard to live down. As will Todd's "axle
tampon"
> >>>
> >>> (I forgot
> >>>
> >>>>and left it out of the trip report) ... the plug he made to go inside
the
> >>>
> >>> axle
> >>>
> >>>>housing for the trip home - its absorbent on the inside, its got a
string
> >>>
> >>> on it, so
> >>>
> >>>>what else could you call it? Maria kept us in stiches for about 15
> >>>
> >>> minutes with
> >>>
> >>>>that. <G> Unfortunitly, that was some of the pics on the camera
card
> >>>
> >>> that went bad
> >>>
> >>>>on me. =( It was a rubber glove stuffed with rags, with a zip tie
on
> >>>
> >>> the middle to
> >>>
> >>>>hold it together and a string from that so that he could get a hold of
it
> >>>
> >>> to pull it
> >>>
> >>>>out when he got the rig home.
> >>>>
> >>>>Glad to hear you guys had a good time too. I'll look fowards to
seeing
> >>>
> >>> those pic's!
> >>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>On Mon, 30 Aug 2004 21:18:27 -0600, "Jerry McG"
> >>>
> >>> <gmcgeorge.remove@frontier.net>
> >>>
> >>>>wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>>>JB, really enjoyed seeing your pictures and reading your reports.
Our
> >>>
> >>> group
> >>>
> >>>>>>(Creeper Jeepers, Durango CO) was on the Rubicon the 16th - 18th
and
> >>>>>>probably just missed you. Since we only had 2 1/2 days we skipped
the
> >>>
> >>> Little
> >>>
> >>>>>>Sluice and did the bypass, which was tough enough. Stayed at Buck
Island
> >>>
> >>> the
> >>>
> >>>>>>first night, then stopped at Rubicon Springs early the second
afternoon
> >>>
> >>> and
> >>>
> >>>>>>camped the night. Did Cadillac Hill on day 3 and we were back in
Tahoe
> >>>
> >>> in
> >>>
> >>>>>>time to catch a dinner cruise on the MS Dixie.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>We all survived with just a few dings and a broken hard brake line
on an
> >>>
> >>> XJ.
> >>>
> >>>>>>I "doinked" both of the front fenders on my YJ with the tires from
> >>>>>>underneath (wanted tube fenders, anyway) and peeled the cover back
on my
> >>>>>>rear D60 just enough to watch it drip for 3 days, wondering how much
> >>>
> >>> gear
> >>>
> >>>>>>oil was left every morning. (I put a drip pan under it and measured
the
> >>>>>>loss!) Still had plenty when I got back to Tahoe, at which time I
> >>>
> >>> wrapped it
> >>>
> >>>>>>in a towel, which the group dubbed "the diaper", which I will not
live
> >>>
> >>> down
> >>>
> >>>>>>soon. The best part is that a nice Poison Spider "Rock Ring" that
would
> >>>
> >>> have
> >>>
> >>>>>>prevented all this was sitting on my workbench, too busy / lazy to
> >>>
> >>> install
> >>>
> >>>>>>it before I left town.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>I was busy driving so I only got about 50 shots in the whole time we
> >>>
> >>> were on
> >>>
> >>>>>>the trail. However the others got quite a few, so as soon I have
> >>>
> >>> everyone's
> >>>
> >>>>>>photos sorted I'll put a link up on Webshots.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>Glad you all made it back safe & sound. Sounds like you had more of
a
> >>>>>>"carnage adventure" than we did, but the trail is not to be missed.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>"jbjeep" <jbjeep@saw.net> wrote in message
> >>>>>>news:v805j0t3jmpccag3krbj7idv9v63620ib2@4ax. com...
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>http://jbjeep.terahex.com/Rubicon04/Rubicon04.html
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>If you get a "page not found" error or something similar, please
try
> >>>
> >>> again
> >>>
> >>>>>>later.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>The server owner has limited the bandwidth to my site (that's the
> >>>
> >>> price I
> >>>
> >>>>>>have to pay
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>for free server space. LOL.) Since this will be hitting all my
lists
> >>>
> >>> at
> >>>
> >>>>>>once, etc,
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>there will probably be a lot of folks trying to hit on the site.
> >>>
> >>> Please
> >>>
> >>>>>>be patient
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>and check back if you don't get in on the first try. The page will
be
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>slow to load
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>due to the pictures embedded in the trip report, and, if you decide
to
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>check out the
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>picture link at the bottom of the page, please remember that it
will
> >>>
> >>> load
> >>>
> >>>>>>VERY VERY
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>SLOW. I cut out more than 1/2 the pictures that we took, but there
is
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>still a LOT of
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>them there (400-ish). Click on an image for the larger pic.
> >>>>>>>-jenn
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>
> >>>
>

 

"jbjeep" <jbjeep@saw.net> wrote in message
news:1r4aj0pg2s7g9ekho3nu5rv0frr47ifaa3@4ax.com...
> Its called "run it backwards" =)

Looking at all your fabulous pictures I recognized a lot of the spots and
finally came to the conclusion that you'd done it East to West, rather than
the other way as we did. Hmmm, maybe that's what we'll do next time!

>
> We entered at Wentworth, went as far as Rubicon Springs, and then exited
at Loon
> Lake. Except those of us who had to take Ellis Creek Road out.
>
> You are 100% correct, you will be in big trouble. In its own way its
harder than
> finding the trails at Moab, since there you search for known trail
markers, scrapes,
> tire marks, etc. Several times I couldn't figure out where the guys in
front of me
> had gone...they got out of site by the time I got there and it would look
like there
> was two routes...sometimes there was.
>
>
> >>I wasn't aware there was another way out other than Cadillac Hill.
Frankly,
> >>if you went out there without a detailed map or a guide you could get
> >>yourself in a great deal of trouble in a hurry. Few trail markers and
tire
> >>marks going in every direction. With one exception, our trail leader,
this
> >>was the first time on the Rubicon for all of us. We planned the trip out
for
> >>several months and our leader had us well educated on what to expect. He
and
> >>his wife had videotaped their first visit last summer, so we all got to
see
> >>the thing beforehand. It was still a major handful. You are absolutely
> >>correct in your trail description. It is just one continuous obstacle.
Since
> >>we're just a couple of hours from Moab and very close to Silverton/Ouray
we
> >>don;t generally leave this area very often. Several of us are already
> >>planning "Rubicon II", so who knows!
> >>
> >>Best on the upgrades.
> >>"jbjeep" <jbjeep@saw.net> wrote in message
> >>news:ahu7j09nvd00ot0itqcltgneanh8dmf4jb@4ax.com. ..
> >>> Thanks. I really appreciate the comments.
> >>>
> >>> Actually, we had less big carnage that I thought we would. the brakes
> >>were scary but
> >>> easily fixed. Its funny how the body damage didnt bother me. Nothing
> >>like rolling
> >>> your rig to put it all in perspective! I figured I would be the one
with
> >>the busted
> >>> axles, but I guess I got lucky!! I really liked the trail a lot. Its
not
> >>like Moab
> >>> where you have hard obsticales and then a nice drive, and then some
more
> >>hard stuff.
> >>> Its rock, all the time rock, and then the rock gets bigger and badder
in
> >>the hard
> >>> stuff. You have to be on top of it all the time. I was bummed to
miss
> >>cadilac hill,
> >>> but the guys didnt want to go out that way. Rubicon springs was nice,
the
> >>day trip
> >>> there and back was fun. Little sluice looked like fun for about 1/2
way
> >>up. LOL.
> >>> Then the rock is too big for my 33's. Old sluice and Big Sluice were
just
> >>plain fun
> >>> (well, other than the brakes). I dont know if I mentioned it in the
trip
> >>report or
> >>> not, but I was the only driver that had never done the trail before.
They
> >>kept
> >>> forgetting that, and it was so very different from what I am used to.
I
> >>cant wait to
> >>> go back again!! (once I get my rig out of the shop - my mechanic is
> >>having a heyday,
> >>> all the parts showed up this afternoon and he got really excited about
it
> >>and started
> >>> working on it already.) We are doing the tera rear brake conversion,
PS
> >>trail
> >>> corners, and flush mounted tail lights, in addition to a sh**load of
> >>maintenance
> >>> work.
> >>>
> >>> Yep, the diaper will be hard to live down. As will Todd's "axle
tampon"
> >>(I forgot
> >>> and left it out of the trip report) ... the plug he made to go inside
the
> >>axle
> >>> housing for the trip home - its absorbent on the inside, its got a
string
> >>on it, so
> >>> what else could you call it? Maria kept us in stiches for about 15
> >>minutes with
> >>> that. <G> Unfortunitly, that was some of the pics on the camera
card
> >>that went bad
> >>> on me. =( It was a rubber glove stuffed with rags, with a zip tie
on
> >>the middle to
> >>> hold it together and a string from that so that he could get a hold of
it
> >>to pull it
> >>> out when he got the rig home.
> >>>
> >>> Glad to hear you guys had a good time too. I'll look fowards to
seeing
> >>those pic's!
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> On Mon, 30 Aug 2004 21:18:27 -0600, "Jerry McG"
> >><gmcgeorge.remove@frontier.net>
> >>> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> >>JB, really enjoyed seeing your pictures and reading your reports.
Our
> >>group
> >>> >>(Creeper Jeepers, Durango CO) was on the Rubicon the 16th - 18th
and
> >>> >>probably just missed you. Since we only had 2 1/2 days we skipped
the
> >>Little
> >>> >>Sluice and did the bypass, which was tough enough. Stayed at Buck
Island
> >>the
> >>> >>first night, then stopped at Rubicon Springs early the second
afternoon
> >>and
> >>> >>camped the night. Did Cadillac Hill on day 3 and we were back in
Tahoe
> >>in
> >>> >>time to catch a dinner cruise on the MS Dixie.
> >>> >>
> >>> >>We all survived with just a few dings and a broken hard brake line
on an
> >>XJ.
> >>> >>I "doinked" both of the front fenders on my YJ with the tires from
> >>> >>underneath (wanted tube fenders, anyway) and peeled the cover back
on my
> >>> >>rear D60 just enough to watch it drip for 3 days, wondering how much
> >>gear
> >>> >>oil was left every morning. (I put a drip pan under it and measured
the
> >>> >>loss!) Still had plenty when I got back to Tahoe, at which time I
> >>wrapped it
> >>> >>in a towel, which the group dubbed "the diaper", which I will not
live
> >>down
> >>> >>soon. The best part is that a nice Poison Spider "Rock Ring" that
would
> >>have
> >>> >>prevented all this was sitting on my workbench, too busy / lazy to
> >>install
> >>> >>it before I left town.
> >>> >>
> >>> >>I was busy driving so I only got about 50 shots in the whole time we
> >>were on
> >>> >>the trail. However the others got quite a few, so as soon I have
> >>everyone's
> >>> >>photos sorted I'll put a link up on Webshots.
> >>> >>
> >>> >>Glad you all made it back safe & sound. Sounds like you had more of
a
> >>> >>"carnage adventure" than we did, but the trail is not to be missed.
> >>> >>
> >>> >>"jbjeep" <jbjeep@saw.net> wrote in message
> >>> >>news:v805j0t3jmpccag3krbj7idv9v63620ib2@4ax.com. ..
> >>> >>> http://jbjeep.terahex.com/Rubicon04/Rubicon04.html
> >>> >>>
> >>> >>> If you get a "page not found" error or something similar, please
try
> >>again
> >>> >>later.
> >>> >>> The server owner has limited the bandwidth to my site (that's the
> >>price I
> >>> >>have to pay
> >>> >>> for free server space. LOL.) Since this will be hitting all my
lists
> >>at
> >>> >>once, etc,
> >>> >>> there will probably be a lot of folks trying to hit on the site.
> >>Please
> >>> >>be patient
> >>> >>> and check back if you don't get in on the first try. The page
will be
> >>> >>slow to load
> >>> >>> due to the pictures embedded in the trip report, and, if you
decide to
> >>> >>check out the
> >>> >>> picture link at the bottom of the page, please remember that it
will
> >>load
> >>> >>VERY VERY
> >>> >>> SLOW. I cut out more than 1/2 the pictures that we took, but
there is
> >>> >>still a LOT of
> >>> >>> them there (400-ish). Click on an image for the larger pic.
> >>> >>> -jenn
> >>> >>>
> >>> >>
> >>> >>
> >>> >>
> >>>
> >>
>

 

"jbjeep" <jbjeep@saw.net> wrote in message
news:1r4aj0pg2s7g9ekho3nu5rv0frr47ifaa3@4ax.com...
> Its called "run it backwards" =)

Looking at all your fabulous pictures I recognized a lot of the spots and
finally came to the conclusion that you'd done it East to West, rather than
the other way as we did. Hmmm, maybe that's what we'll do next time!

>
> We entered at Wentworth, went as far as Rubicon Springs, and then exited
at Loon
> Lake. Except those of us who had to take Ellis Creek Road out.
>
> You are 100% correct, you will be in big trouble. In its own way its
harder than
> finding the trails at Moab, since there you search for known trail
markers, scrapes,
> tire marks, etc. Several times I couldn't figure out where the guys in
front of me
> had gone...they got out of site by the time I got there and it would look
like there
> was two routes...sometimes there was.
>
>
> >>I wasn't aware there was another way out other than Cadillac Hill.
Frankly,
> >>if you went out there without a detailed map or a guide you could get
> >>yourself in a great deal of trouble in a hurry. Few trail markers and
tire
> >>marks going in every direction. With one exception, our trail leader,
this
> >>was the first time on the Rubicon for all of us. We planned the trip out
for
> >>several months and our leader had us well educated on what to expect. He
and
> >>his wife had videotaped their first visit last summer, so we all got to
see
> >>the thing beforehand. It was still a major handful. You are absolutely
> >>correct in your trail description. It is just one continuous obstacle.
Since
> >>we're just a couple of hours from Moab and very close to Silverton/Ouray
we
> >>don;t generally leave this area very often. Several of us are already
> >>planning "Rubicon II", so who knows!
> >>
> >>Best on the upgrades.
> >>"jbjeep" <jbjeep@saw.net> wrote in message
> >>news:ahu7j09nvd00ot0itqcltgneanh8dmf4jb@4ax.com. ..
> >>> Thanks. I really appreciate the comments.
> >>>
> >>> Actually, we had less big carnage that I thought we would. the brakes
> >>were scary but
> >>> easily fixed. Its funny how the body damage didnt bother me. Nothing
> >>like rolling
> >>> your rig to put it all in perspective! I figured I would be the one
with
> >>the busted
> >>> axles, but I guess I got lucky!! I really liked the trail a lot. Its
not
> >>like Moab
> >>> where you have hard obsticales and then a nice drive, and then some
more
> >>hard stuff.
> >>> Its rock, all the time rock, and then the rock gets bigger and badder
in
> >>the hard
> >>> stuff. You have to be on top of it all the time. I was bummed to
miss
> >>cadilac hill,
> >>> but the guys didnt want to go out that way. Rubicon springs was nice,
the
> >>day trip
> >>> there and back was fun. Little sluice looked like fun for about 1/2
way
> >>up. LOL.
> >>> Then the rock is too big for my 33's. Old sluice and Big Sluice were
just
> >>plain fun
> >>> (well, other than the brakes). I dont know if I mentioned it in the
trip
> >>report or
> >>> not, but I was the only driver that had never done the trail before.
They
> >>kept
> >>> forgetting that, and it was so very different from what I am used to.
I
> >>cant wait to
> >>> go back again!! (once I get my rig out of the shop - my mechanic is
> >>having a heyday,
> >>> all the parts showed up this afternoon and he got really excited about
it
> >>and started
> >>> working on it already.) We are doing the tera rear brake conversion,
PS
> >>trail
> >>> corners, and flush mounted tail lights, in addition to a sh**load of
> >>maintenance
> >>> work.
> >>>
> >>> Yep, the diaper will be hard to live down. As will Todd's "axle
tampon"
> >>(I forgot
> >>> and left it out of the trip report) ... the plug he made to go inside
the
> >>axle
> >>> housing for the trip home - its absorbent on the inside, its got a
string
> >>on it, so
> >>> what else could you call it? Maria kept us in stiches for about 15
> >>minutes with
> >>> that. <G> Unfortunitly, that was some of the pics on the camera
card
> >>that went bad
> >>> on me. =( It was a rubber glove stuffed with rags, with a zip tie
on
> >>the middle to
> >>> hold it together and a string from that so that he could get a hold of
it
> >>to pull it
> >>> out when he got the rig home.
> >>>
> >>> Glad to hear you guys had a good time too. I'll look fowards to
seeing
> >>those pic's!
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> On Mon, 30 Aug 2004 21:18:27 -0600, "Jerry McG"
> >><gmcgeorge.remove@frontier.net>
> >>> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> >>JB, really enjoyed seeing your pictures and reading your reports.
Our
> >>group
> >>> >>(Creeper Jeepers, Durango CO) was on the Rubicon the 16th - 18th
and
> >>> >>probably just missed you. Since we only had 2 1/2 days we skipped
the
> >>Little
> >>> >>Sluice and did the bypass, which was tough enough. Stayed at Buck
Island
> >>the
> >>> >>first night, then stopped at Rubicon Springs early the second
afternoon
> >>and
> >>> >>camped the night. Did Cadillac Hill on day 3 and we were back in
Tahoe
> >>in
> >>> >>time to catch a dinner cruise on the MS Dixie.
> >>> >>
> >>> >>We all survived with just a few dings and a broken hard brake line
on an
> >>XJ.
> >>> >>I "doinked" both of the front fenders on my YJ with the tires from
> >>> >>underneath (wanted tube fenders, anyway) and peeled the cover back
on my
> >>> >>rear D60 just enough to watch it drip for 3 days, wondering how much
> >>gear
> >>> >>oil was left every morning. (I put a drip pan under it and measured
the
> >>> >>loss!) Still had plenty when I got back to Tahoe, at which time I
> >>wrapped it
> >>> >>in a towel, which the group dubbed "the diaper", which I will not
live
> >>down
> >>> >>soon. The best part is that a nice Poison Spider "Rock Ring" that
would
> >>have
> >>> >>prevented all this was sitting on my workbench, too busy / lazy to
> >>install
> >>> >>it before I left town.
> >>> >>
> >>> >>I was busy driving so I only got about 50 shots in the whole time we
> >>were on
> >>> >>the trail. However the others got quite a few, so as soon I have
> >>everyone's
> >>> >>photos sorted I'll put a link up on Webshots.
> >>> >>
> >>> >>Glad you all made it back safe & sound. Sounds like you had more of
a
> >>> >>"carnage adventure" than we did, but the trail is not to be missed.
> >>> >>
> >>> >>"jbjeep" <jbjeep@saw.net> wrote in message
> >>> >>news:v805j0t3jmpccag3krbj7idv9v63620ib2@4ax.com. ..
> >>> >>> http://jbjeep.terahex.com/Rubicon04/Rubicon04.html
> >>> >>>
> >>> >>> If you get a "page not found" error or something similar, please
try
> >>again
> >>> >>later.
> >>> >>> The server owner has limited the bandwidth to my site (that's the
> >>price I
> >>> >>have to pay
> >>> >>> for free server space. LOL.) Since this will be hitting all my
lists
> >>at
> >>> >>once, etc,
> >>> >>> there will probably be a lot of folks trying to hit on the site.
> >>Please
> >>> >>be patient
> >>> >>> and check back if you don't get in on the first try. The page
will be
> >>> >>slow to load
> >>> >>> due to the pictures embedded in the trip report, and, if you
decide to
> >>> >>check out the
> >>> >>> picture link at the bottom of the page, please remember that it
will
> >>load
> >>> >>VERY VERY
> >>> >>> SLOW. I cut out more than 1/2 the pictures that we took, but
there is
> >>> >>still a LOT of
> >>> >>> them there (400-ish). Click on an image for the larger pic.
> >>> >>> -jenn
> >>> >>>
> >>> >>
> >>> >>
> >>> >>
> >>>
> >>
>

 

"jbjeep" <jbjeep@saw.net> wrote in message
news:1r4aj0pg2s7g9ekho3nu5rv0frr47ifaa3@4ax.com...
> Its called "run it backwards" =)

Looking at all your fabulous pictures I recognized a lot of the spots and
finally came to the conclusion that you'd done it East to West, rather than
the other way as we did. Hmmm, maybe that's what we'll do next time!

>
> We entered at Wentworth, went as far as Rubicon Springs, and then exited
at Loon
> Lake. Except those of us who had to take Ellis Creek Road out.
>
> You are 100% correct, you will be in big trouble. In its own way its
harder than
> finding the trails at Moab, since there you search for known trail
markers, scrapes,
> tire marks, etc. Several times I couldn't figure out where the guys in
front of me
> had gone...they got out of site by the time I got there and it would look
like there
> was two routes...sometimes there was.
>
>
> >>I wasn't aware there was another way out other than Cadillac Hill.
Frankly,
> >>if you went out there without a detailed map or a guide you could get
> >>yourself in a great deal of trouble in a hurry. Few trail markers and
tire
> >>marks going in every direction. With one exception, our trail leader,
this
> >>was the first time on the Rubicon for all of us. We planned the trip out
for
> >>several months and our leader had us well educated on what to expect. He
and
> >>his wife had videotaped their first visit last summer, so we all got to
see
> >>the thing beforehand. It was still a major handful. You are absolutely
> >>correct in your trail description. It is just one continuous obstacle.
Since
> >>we're just a couple of hours from Moab and very close to Silverton/Ouray
we
> >>don;t generally leave this area very often. Several of us are already
> >>planning "Rubicon II", so who knows!
> >>
> >>Best on the upgrades.
> >>"jbjeep" <jbjeep@saw.net> wrote in message
> >>news:ahu7j09nvd00ot0itqcltgneanh8dmf4jb@4ax.com. ..
> >>> Thanks. I really appreciate the comments.
> >>>
> >>> Actually, we had less big carnage that I thought we would. the brakes
> >>were scary but
> >>> easily fixed. Its funny how the body damage didnt bother me. Nothing
> >>like rolling
> >>> your rig to put it all in perspective! I figured I would be the one
with
> >>the busted
> >>> axles, but I guess I got lucky!! I really liked the trail a lot. Its
not
> >>like Moab
> >>> where you have hard obsticales and then a nice drive, and then some
more
> >>hard stuff.
> >>> Its rock, all the time rock, and then the rock gets bigger and badder
in
> >>the hard
> >>> stuff. You have to be on top of it all the time. I was bummed to
miss
> >>cadilac hill,
> >>> but the guys didnt want to go out that way. Rubicon springs was nice,
the
> >>day trip
> >>> there and back was fun. Little sluice looked like fun for about 1/2
way
> >>up. LOL.
> >>> Then the rock is too big for my 33's. Old sluice and Big Sluice were
just
> >>plain fun
> >>> (well, other than the brakes). I dont know if I mentioned it in the
trip
> >>report or
> >>> not, but I was the only driver that had never done the trail before.
They
> >>kept
> >>> forgetting that, and it was so very different from what I am used to.
I
> >>cant wait to
> >>> go back again!! (once I get my rig out of the shop - my mechanic is
> >>having a heyday,
> >>> all the parts showed up this afternoon and he got really excited about
it
> >>and started
> >>> working on it already.) We are doing the tera rear brake conversion,
PS
> >>trail
> >>> corners, and flush mounted tail lights, in addition to a sh**load of
> >>maintenance
> >>> work.
> >>>
> >>> Yep, the diaper will be hard to live down. As will Todd's "axle
tampon"
> >>(I forgot
> >>> and left it out of the trip report) ... the plug he made to go inside
the
> >>axle
> >>> housing for the trip home - its absorbent on the inside, its got a
string
> >>on it, so
> >>> what else could you call it? Maria kept us in stiches for about 15
> >>minutes with
> >>> that. <G> Unfortunitly, that was some of the pics on the camera
card
> >>that went bad
> >>> on me. =( It was a rubber glove stuffed with rags, with a zip tie
on
> >>the middle to
> >>> hold it together and a string from that so that he could get a hold of
it
> >>to pull it
> >>> out when he got the rig home.
> >>>
> >>> Glad to hear you guys had a good time too. I'll look fowards to
seeing
> >>those pic's!
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> On Mon, 30 Aug 2004 21:18:27 -0600, "Jerry McG"
> >><gmcgeorge.remove@frontier.net>
> >>> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> >>JB, really enjoyed seeing your pictures and reading your reports.
Our
> >>group
> >>> >>(Creeper Jeepers, Durango CO) was on the Rubicon the 16th - 18th
and
> >>> >>probably just missed you. Since we only had 2 1/2 days we skipped
the
> >>Little
> >>> >>Sluice and did the bypass, which was tough enough. Stayed at Buck
Island
> >>the
> >>> >>first night, then stopped at Rubicon Springs early the second
afternoon
> >>and
> >>> >>camped the night. Did Cadillac Hill on day 3 and we were back in
Tahoe
> >>in
> >>> >>time to catch a dinner cruise on the MS Dixie.
> >>> >>
> >>> >>We all survived with just a few dings and a broken hard brake line
on an
> >>XJ.
> >>> >>I "doinked" both of the front fenders on my YJ with the tires from
> >>> >>underneath (wanted tube fenders, anyway) and peeled the cover back
on my
> >>> >>rear D60 just enough to watch it drip for 3 days, wondering how much
> >>gear
> >>> >>oil was left every morning. (I put a drip pan under it and measured
the
> >>> >>loss!) Still had plenty when I got back to Tahoe, at which time I
> >>wrapped it
> >>> >>in a towel, which the group dubbed "the diaper", which I will not
live
> >>down
> >>> >>soon. The best part is that a nice Poison Spider "Rock Ring" that
would
> >>have
> >>> >>prevented all this was sitting on my workbench, too busy / lazy to
> >>install
> >>> >>it before I left town.
> >>> >>
> >>> >>I was busy driving so I only got about 50 shots in the whole time we
> >>were on
> >>> >>the trail. However the others got quite a few, so as soon I have
> >>everyone's
> >>> >>photos sorted I'll put a link up on Webshots.
> >>> >>
> >>> >>Glad you all made it back safe & sound. Sounds like you had more of
a
> >>> >>"carnage adventure" than we did, but the trail is not to be missed.
> >>> >>
> >>> >>"jbjeep" <jbjeep@saw.net> wrote in message
> >>> >>news:v805j0t3jmpccag3krbj7idv9v63620ib2@4ax.com. ..
> >>> >>> http://jbjeep.terahex.com/Rubicon04/Rubicon04.html
> >>> >>>
> >>> >>> If you get a "page not found" error or something similar, please
try
> >>again
> >>> >>later.
> >>> >>> The server owner has limited the bandwidth to my site (that's the
> >>price I
> >>> >>have to pay
> >>> >>> for free server space. LOL.) Since this will be hitting all my
lists
> >>at
> >>> >>once, etc,
> >>> >>> there will probably be a lot of folks trying to hit on the site.
> >>Please
> >>> >>be patient
> >>> >>> and check back if you don't get in on the first try. The page
will be
> >>> >>slow to load
> >>> >>> due to the pictures embedded in the trip report, and, if you
decide to
> >>> >>check out the
> >>> >>> picture link at the bottom of the page, please remember that it
will
> >>load
> >>> >>VERY VERY
> >>> >>> SLOW. I cut out more than 1/2 the pictures that we took, but
there is
> >>> >>still a LOT of
> >>> >>> them there (400-ish). Click on an image for the larger pic.
> >>> >>> -jenn
> >>> >>>
> >>> >>
> >>> >>
> >>> >>
> >>>
> >>
>

 

We had a great trail leader who must have a memory like an elephant, he
never took a wrong turn, etc. He'd really studied the map and his co-pilot
wife was on the CB all the time telling us what was coming up. It was great,
like a guided tour. Our trail leader is a German national who retired here
in Durango many years ago. A somewhat fearless XJ driver, I eventually
dubbed him "Der Spot Meister" because he was the best trail spotter I've
ever had. (Unfortunately "Der Spot Meister" is gibberish in German, but he's
getting a T-Shirt with it anyway.) He drove without a spotter and was
peerless.

The area is laced with tire marks and oil spills in spots that aren't really
part of the trail. I gets really confusing and at one point when we got
separated I ended up walking the trail to be sure. Some of the only trail
markers we saw had been nailed on some trees 8 - 10 ft up, hard to spot.

> You are 100% correct, you will be in big trouble. In its own way its
harder than
finding the trails at Moab, since there you search for known trail markers,
scrapes,
tire marks, etc. Several times I couldn't figure out where the guys in
front of me
> had gone...they got out of site by the time I got there and it would look
like there
> was two routes...sometimes there was.>


>
>
> >>I wasn't aware there was another way out other than Cadillac Hill.
Frankly,
> >>if you went out there without a detailed map or a guide you could get
> >>yourself in a great deal of trouble in a hurry. Few trail markers and
tire
> >>marks going in every direction. With one exception, our trail leader,
this
> >>was the first time on the Rubicon for all of us. We planned the trip out
for
> >>several months and our leader had us well educated on what to expect. He
and
> >>his wife had videotaped their first visit last summer, so we all got to
see
> >>the thing beforehand. It was still a major handful. You are absolutely
> >>correct in your trail description. It is just one continuous obstacle.
Since
> >>we're just a couple of hours from Moab and very close to Silverton/Ouray
we
> >>don;t generally leave this area very often. Several of us are already
> >>planning "Rubicon II", so who knows!
> >>
> >>Best on the upgrades.
> >>"jbjeep" <jbjeep@saw.net> wrote in message
> >>news:ahu7j09nvd00ot0itqcltgneanh8dmf4jb@4ax.com. ..
> >>> Thanks. I really appreciate the comments.
> >>>
> >>> Actually, we had less big carnage that I thought we would. the brakes
> >>were scary but
> >>> easily fixed. Its funny how the body damage didnt bother me. Nothing
> >>like rolling
> >>> your rig to put it all in perspective! I figured I would be the one
with
> >>the busted
> >>> axles, but I guess I got lucky!! I really liked the trail a lot. Its
not
> >>like Moab
> >>> where you have hard obsticales and then a nice drive, and then some
more
> >>hard stuff.
> >>> Its rock, all the time rock, and then the rock gets bigger and badder
in
> >>the hard
> >>> stuff. You have to be on top of it all the time. I was bummed to
miss
> >>cadilac hill,
> >>> but the guys didnt want to go out that way. Rubicon springs was nice,
the
> >>day trip
> >>> there and back was fun. Little sluice looked like fun for about 1/2
way
> >>up. LOL.
> >>> Then the rock is too big for my 33's. Old sluice and Big Sluice were
just
> >>plain fun
> >>> (well, other than the brakes). I dont know if I mentioned it in the
trip
> >>report or
> >>> not, but I was the only driver that had never done the trail before.
They
> >>kept
> >>> forgetting that, and it was so very different from what I am used to.
I
> >>cant wait to
> >>> go back again!! (once I get my rig out of the shop - my mechanic is
> >>having a heyday,
> >>> all the parts showed up this afternoon and he got really excited about
it
> >>and started
> >>> working on it already.) We are doing the tera rear brake conversion,
PS
> >>trail
> >>> corners, and flush mounted tail lights, in addition to a sh**load of
> >>maintenance
> >>> work.
> >>>
> >>> Yep, the diaper will be hard to live down. As will Todd's "axle
tampon"
> >>(I forgot
> >>> and left it out of the trip report) ... the plug he made to go inside
the
> >>axle
> >>> housing for the trip home - its absorbent on the inside, its got a
string
> >>on it, so
> >>> what else could you call it? Maria kept us in stiches for about 15
> >>minutes with
> >>> that. <G> Unfortunitly, that was some of the pics on the camera
card
> >>that went bad
> >>> on me. =( It was a rubber glove stuffed with rags, with a zip tie
on
> >>the middle to
> >>> hold it together and a string from that so that he could get a hold of
it
> >>to pull it
> >>> out when he got the rig home.
> >>>
> >>> Glad to hear you guys had a good time too. I'll look fowards to
seeing
> >>those pic's!
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> On Mon, 30 Aug 2004 21:18:27 -0600, "Jerry McG"
> >><gmcgeorge.remove@frontier.net>
> >>> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> >>JB, really enjoyed seeing your pictures and reading your reports.
Our
> >>group
> >>> >>(Creeper Jeepers, Durango CO) was on the Rubicon the 16th - 18th
and
> >>> >>probably just missed you. Since we only had 2 1/2 days we skipped
the
> >>Little
> >>> >>Sluice and did the bypass, which was tough enough. Stayed at Buck
Island
> >>the
> >>> >>first night, then stopped at Rubicon Springs early the second
afternoon
> >>and
> >>> >>camped the night. Did Cadillac Hill on day 3 and we were back in
Tahoe
> >>in
> >>> >>time to catch a dinner cruise on the MS Dixie.
> >>> >>
> >>> >>We all survived with just a few dings and a broken hard brake line
on an
> >>XJ.
> >>> >>I "doinked" both of the front fenders on my YJ with the tires from
> >>> >>underneath (wanted tube fenders, anyway) and peeled the cover back
on my
> >>> >>rear D60 just enough to watch it drip for 3 days, wondering how much
> >>gear
> >>> >>oil was left every morning. (I put a drip pan under it and measured
the
> >>> >>loss!) Still had plenty when I got back to Tahoe, at which time I
> >>wrapped it
> >>> >>in a towel, which the group dubbed "the diaper", which I will not
live
> >>down
> >>> >>soon. The best part is that a nice Poison Spider "Rock Ring" that
would
> >>have
> >>> >>prevented all this was sitting on my workbench, too busy / lazy to
> >>install
> >>> >>it before I left town.
> >>> >>
> >>> >>I was busy driving so I only got about 50 shots in the whole time we
> >>were on
> >>> >>the trail. However the others got quite a few, so as soon I have
> >>everyone's
> >>> >>photos sorted I'll put a link up on Webshots.
> >>> >>
> >>> >>Glad you all made it back safe & sound. Sounds like you had more of
a
> >>> >>"carnage adventure" than we did, but the trail is not to be missed.
> >>> >>
> >>> >>"jbjeep" <jbjeep@saw.net> wrote in message
> >>> >>news:v805j0t3jmpccag3krbj7idv9v63620ib2@4ax.com. ..
> >>> >>> http://jbjeep.terahex.com/Rubicon04/Rubicon04.html
> >>> >>>
> >>> >>> If you get a "page not found" error or something similar, please
try
> >>again
> >>> >>later.
> >>> >>> The server owner has limited the bandwidth to my site (that's the
> >>price I
> >>> >>have to pay
> >>> >>> for free server space. LOL.) Since this will be hitting all my
lists
> >>at
> >>> >>once, etc,
> >>> >>> there will probably be a lot of folks trying to hit on the site.
> >>Please
> >>> >>be patient
> >>> >>> and check back if you don't get in on the first try. The page
will be
> >>> >>slow to load
> >>> >>> due to the pictures embedded in the trip report, and, if you
decide to
> >>> >>check out the
> >>> >>> picture link at the bottom of the page, please remember that it
will
> >>load
> >>> >>VERY VERY
> >>> >>> SLOW. I cut out more than 1/2 the pictures that we took, but
there is
> >>> >>still a LOT of
> >>> >>> them there (400-ish). Click on an image for the larger pic.
> >>> >>> -jenn
> >>> >>>
> >>> >>
> >>> >>
> >>> >>
> >>>
> >>
>

 

We had a great trail leader who must have a memory like an elephant, he
never took a wrong turn, etc. He'd really studied the map and his co-pilot
wife was on the CB all the time telling us what was coming up. It was great,
like a guided tour. Our trail leader is a German national who retired here
in Durango many years ago. A somewhat fearless XJ driver, I eventually
dubbed him "Der Spot Meister" because he was the best trail spotter I've
ever had. (Unfortunately "Der Spot Meister" is gibberish in German, but he's
getting a T-Shirt with it anyway.) He drove without a spotter and was
peerless.

The area is laced with tire marks and oil spills in spots that aren't really
part of the trail. I gets really confusing and at one point when we got
separated I ended up walking the trail to be sure. Some of the only trail
markers we saw had been nailed on some trees 8 - 10 ft up, hard to spot.

> You are 100% correct, you will be in big trouble. In its own way its
harder than
finding the trails at Moab, since there you search for known trail markers,
scrapes,
tire marks, etc. Several times I couldn't figure out where the guys in
front of me
> had gone...they got out of site by the time I got there and it would look
like there
> was two routes...sometimes there was.>


>
>
> >>I wasn't aware there was another way out other than Cadillac Hill.
Frankly,
> >>if you went out there without a detailed map or a guide you could get
> >>yourself in a great deal of trouble in a hurry. Few trail markers and
tire
> >>marks going in every direction. With one exception, our trail leader,
this
> >>was the first time on the Rubicon for all of us. We planned the trip out
for
> >>several months and our leader had us well educated on what to expect. He
and
> >>his wife had videotaped their first visit last summer, so we all got to
see
> >>the thing beforehand. It was still a major handful. You are absolutely
> >>correct in your trail description. It is just one continuous obstacle.
Since
> >>we're just a couple of hours from Moab and very close to Silverton/Ouray
we
> >>don;t generally leave this area very often. Several of us are already
> >>planning "Rubicon II", so who knows!
> >>
> >>Best on the upgrades.
> >>"jbjeep" <jbjeep@saw.net> wrote in message
> >>news:ahu7j09nvd00ot0itqcltgneanh8dmf4jb@4ax.com. ..
> >>> Thanks. I really appreciate the comments.
> >>>
> >>> Actually, we had less big carnage that I thought we would. the brakes
> >>were scary but
> >>> easily fixed. Its funny how the body damage didnt bother me. Nothing
> >>like rolling
> >>> your rig to put it all in perspective! I figured I would be the one
with
> >>the busted
> >>> axles, but I guess I got lucky!! I really liked the trail a lot. Its
not
> >>like Moab
> >>> where you have hard obsticales and then a nice drive, and then some
more
> >>hard stuff.
> >>> Its rock, all the time rock, and then the rock gets bigger and badder
in
> >>the hard
> >>> stuff. You have to be on top of it all the time. I was bummed to
miss
> >>cadilac hill,
> >>> but the guys didnt want to go out that way. Rubicon springs was nice,
the
> >>day trip
> >>> there and back was fun. Little sluice looked like fun for about 1/2
way
> >>up. LOL.
> >>> Then the rock is too big for my 33's. Old sluice and Big Sluice were
just
> >>plain fun
> >>> (well, other than the brakes). I dont know if I mentioned it in the
trip
> >>report or
> >>> not, but I was the only driver that had never done the trail before.
They
> >>kept
> >>> forgetting that, and it was so very different from what I am used to.
I
> >>cant wait to
> >>> go back again!! (once I get my rig out of the shop - my mechanic is
> >>having a heyday,
> >>> all the parts showed up this afternoon and he got really excited about
it
> >>and started
> >>> working on it already.) We are doing the tera rear brake conversion,
PS
> >>trail
> >>> corners, and flush mounted tail lights, in addition to a sh**load of
> >>maintenance
> >>> work.
> >>>
> >>> Yep, the diaper will be hard to live down. As will Todd's "axle
tampon"
> >>(I forgot
> >>> and left it out of the trip report) ... the plug he made to go inside
the
> >>axle
> >>> housing for the trip home - its absorbent on the inside, its got a
string
> >>on it, so
> >>> what else could you call it? Maria kept us in stiches for about 15
> >>minutes with
> >>> that. <G> Unfortunitly, that was some of the pics on the camera
card
> >>that went bad
> >>> on me. =( It was a rubber glove stuffed with rags, with a zip tie
on
> >>the middle to
> >>> hold it together and a string from that so that he could get a hold of
it
> >>to pull it
> >>> out when he got the rig home.
> >>>
> >>> Glad to hear you guys had a good time too. I'll look fowards to
seeing
> >>those pic's!
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> On Mon, 30 Aug 2004 21:18:27 -0600, "Jerry McG"
> >><gmcgeorge.remove@frontier.net>
> >>> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> >>JB, really enjoyed seeing your pictures and reading your reports.
Our
> >>group
> >>> >>(Creeper Jeepers, Durango CO) was on the Rubicon the 16th - 18th
and
> >>> >>probably just missed you. Since we only had 2 1/2 days we skipped
the
> >>Little
> >>> >>Sluice and did the bypass, which was tough enough. Stayed at Buck
Island
> >>the
> >>> >>first night, then stopped at Rubicon Springs early the second
afternoon
> >>and
> >>> >>camped the night. Did Cadillac Hill on day 3 and we were back in
Tahoe
> >>in
> >>> >>time to catch a dinner cruise on the MS Dixie.
> >>> >>
> >>> >>We all survived with just a few dings and a broken hard brake line
on an
> >>XJ.
> >>> >>I "doinked" both of the front fenders on my YJ with the tires from
> >>> >>underneath (wanted tube fenders, anyway) and peeled the cover back
on my
> >>> >>rear D60 just enough to watch it drip for 3 days, wondering how much
> >>gear
> >>> >>oil was left every morning. (I put a drip pan under it and measured
the
> >>> >>loss!) Still had plenty when I got back to Tahoe, at which time I
> >>wrapped it
> >>> >>in a towel, which the group dubbed "the diaper", which I will not
live
> >>down
> >>> >>soon. The best part is that a nice Poison Spider "Rock Ring" that
would
> >>have
> >>> >>prevented all this was sitting on my workbench, too busy / lazy to
> >>install
> >>> >>it before I left town.
> >>> >>
> >>> >>I was busy driving so I only got about 50 shots in the whole time we
> >>were on
> >>> >>the trail. However the others got quite a few, so as soon I have
> >>everyone's
> >>> >>photos sorted I'll put a link up on Webshots.
> >>> >>
> >>> >>Glad you all made it back safe & sound. Sounds like you had more of
a
> >>> >>"carnage adventure" than we did, but the trail is not to be missed.
> >>> >>
> >>> >>"jbjeep" <jbjeep@saw.net> wrote in message
> >>> >>news:v805j0t3jmpccag3krbj7idv9v63620ib2@4ax.com. ..
> >>> >>> http://jbjeep.terahex.com/Rubicon04/Rubicon04.html
> >>> >>>
> >>> >>> If you get a "page not found" error or something similar, please
try
> >>again
> >>> >>later.
> >>> >>> The server owner has limited the bandwidth to my site (that's the
> >>price I
> >>> >>have to pay
> >>> >>> for free server space. LOL.) Since this will be hitting all my
lists
> >>at
> >>> >>once, etc,
> >>> >>> there will probably be a lot of folks trying to hit on the site.
> >>Please
> >>> >>be patient
> >>> >>> and check back if you don't get in on the first try. The page
will be
> >>> >>slow to load
> >>> >>> due to the pictures embedded in the trip report, and, if you
decide to
> >>> >>check out the
> >>> >>> picture link at the bottom of the page, please remember that it
will
> >>load
> >>> >>VERY VERY
> >>> >>> SLOW. I cut out more than 1/2 the pictures that we took, but
there is
> >>> >>still a LOT of
> >>> >>> them there (400-ish). Click on an image for the larger pic.
> >>> >>> -jenn
> >>> >>>
> >>> >>
> >>> >>
> >>> >>
> >>>
> >>
>

 

We had a great trail leader who must have a memory like an elephant, he
never took a wrong turn, etc. He'd really studied the map and his co-pilot
wife was on the CB all the time telling us what was coming up. It was great,
like a guided tour. Our trail leader is a German national who retired here
in Durango many years ago. A somewhat fearless XJ driver, I eventually
dubbed him "Der Spot Meister" because he was the best trail spotter I've
ever had. (Unfortunately "Der Spot Meister" is gibberish in German, but he's
getting a T-Shirt with it anyway.) He drove without a spotter and was
peerless.

The area is laced with tire marks and oil spills in spots that aren't really
part of the trail. I gets really confusing and at one point when we got
separated I ended up walking the trail to be sure. Some of the only trail
markers we saw had been nailed on some trees 8 - 10 ft up, hard to spot.

> You are 100% correct, you will be in big trouble. In its own way its
harder than
finding the trails at Moab, since there you search for known trail markers,
scrapes,
tire marks, etc. Several times I couldn't figure out where the guys in
front of me
> had gone...they got out of site by the time I got there and it would look
like there
> was two routes...sometimes there was.>


>
>
> >>I wasn't aware there was another way out other than Cadillac Hill.
Frankly,
> >>if you went out there without a detailed map or a guide you could get
> >>yourself in a great deal of trouble in a hurry. Few trail markers and
tire
> >>marks going in every direction. With one exception, our trail leader,
this
> >>was the first time on the Rubicon for all of us. We planned the trip out
for
> >>several months and our leader had us well educated on what to expect. He
and
> >>his wife had videotaped their first visit last summer, so we all got to
see
> >>the thing beforehand. It was still a major handful. You are absolutely
> >>correct in your trail description. It is just one continuous obstacle.
Since
> >>we're just a couple of hours from Moab and very close to Silverton/Ouray
we
> >>don;t generally leave this area very often. Several of us are already
> >>planning "Rubicon II", so who knows!
> >>
> >>Best on the upgrades.
> >>"jbjeep" <jbjeep@saw.net> wrote in message
> >>news:ahu7j09nvd00ot0itqcltgneanh8dmf4jb@4ax.com. ..
> >>> Thanks. I really appreciate the comments.
> >>>
> >>> Actually, we had less big carnage that I thought we would. the brakes
> >>were scary but
> >>> easily fixed. Its funny how the body damage didnt bother me. Nothing
> >>like rolling
> >>> your rig to put it all in perspective! I figured I would be the one
with
> >>the busted
> >>> axles, but I guess I got lucky!! I really liked the trail a lot. Its
not
> >>like Moab
> >>> where you have hard obsticales and then a nice drive, and then some
more
> >>hard stuff.
> >>> Its rock, all the time rock, and then the rock gets bigger and badder
in
> >>the hard
> >>> stuff. You have to be on top of it all the time. I was bummed to
miss
> >>cadilac hill,
> >>> but the guys didnt want to go out that way. Rubicon springs was nice,
the
> >>day trip
> >>> there and back was fun. Little sluice looked like fun for about 1/2
way
> >>up. LOL.
> >>> Then the rock is too big for my 33's. Old sluice and Big Sluice were
just
> >>plain fun
> >>> (well, other than the brakes). I dont know if I mentioned it in the
trip
> >>report or
> >>> not, but I was the only driver that had never done the trail before.
They
> >>kept
> >>> forgetting that, and it was so very different from what I am used to.
I
> >>cant wait to
> >>> go back again!! (once I get my rig out of the shop - my mechanic is
> >>having a heyday,
> >>> all the parts showed up this afternoon and he got really excited about
it
> >>and started
> >>> working on it already.) We are doing the tera rear brake conversion,
PS
> >>trail
> >>> corners, and flush mounted tail lights, in addition to a sh**load of
> >>maintenance
> >>> work.
> >>>
> >>> Yep, the diaper will be hard to live down. As will Todd's "axle
tampon"
> >>(I forgot
> >>> and left it out of the trip report) ... the plug he made to go inside
the
> >>axle
> >>> housing for the trip home - its absorbent on the inside, its got a
string
> >>on it, so
> >>> what else could you call it? Maria kept us in stiches for about 15
> >>minutes with
> >>> that. <G> Unfortunitly, that was some of the pics on the camera
card
> >>that went bad
> >>> on me. =( It was a rubber glove stuffed with rags, with a zip tie
on
> >>the middle to
> >>> hold it together and a string from that so that he could get a hold of
it
> >>to pull it
> >>> out when he got the rig home.
> >>>
> >>> Glad to hear you guys had a good time too. I'll look fowards to
seeing
> >>those pic's!
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> On Mon, 30 Aug 2004 21:18:27 -0600, "Jerry McG"
> >><gmcgeorge.remove@frontier.net>
> >>> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> >>JB, really enjoyed seeing your pictures and reading your reports.
Our
> >>group
> >>> >>(Creeper Jeepers, Durango CO) was on the Rubicon the 16th - 18th
and
> >>> >>probably just missed you. Since we only had 2 1/2 days we skipped
the
> >>Little
> >>> >>Sluice and did the bypass, which was tough enough. Stayed at Buck
Island
> >>the
> >>> >>first night, then stopped at Rubicon Springs early the second
afternoon
> >>and
> >>> >>camped the night. Did Cadillac Hill on day 3 and we were back in
Tahoe
> >>in
> >>> >>time to catch a dinner cruise on the MS Dixie.
> >>> >>
> >>> >>We all survived with just a few dings and a broken hard brake line
on an
> >>XJ.
> >>> >>I "doinked" both of the front fenders on my YJ with the tires from
> >>> >>underneath (wanted tube fenders, anyway) and peeled the cover back
on my
> >>> >>rear D60 just enough to watch it drip for 3 days, wondering how much
> >>gear
> >>> >>oil was left every morning. (I put a drip pan under it and measured
the
> >>> >>loss!) Still had plenty when I got back to Tahoe, at which time I
> >>wrapped it
> >>> >>in a towel, which the group dubbed "the diaper", which I will not
live
> >>down
> >>> >>soon. The best part is that a nice Poison Spider "Rock Ring" that
would
> >>have
> >>> >>prevented all this was sitting on my workbench, too busy / lazy to
> >>install
> >>> >>it before I left town.
> >>> >>
> >>> >>I was busy driving so I only got about 50 shots in the whole time we
> >>were on
> >>> >>the trail. However the others got quite a few, so as soon I have
> >>everyone's
> >>> >>photos sorted I'll put a link up on Webshots.
> >>> >>
> >>> >>Glad you all made it back safe & sound. Sounds like you had more of
a
> >>> >>"carnage adventure" than we did, but the trail is not to be missed.
> >>> >>
> >>> >>"jbjeep" <jbjeep@saw.net> wrote in message
> >>> >>news:v805j0t3jmpccag3krbj7idv9v63620ib2@4ax.com. ..
> >>> >>> http://jbjeep.terahex.com/Rubicon04/Rubicon04.html
> >>> >>>
> >>> >>> If you get a "page not found" error or something similar, please
try
> >>again
> >>> >>later.
> >>> >>> The server owner has limited the bandwidth to my site (that's the
> >>price I
> >>> >>have to pay
> >>> >>> for free server space. LOL.) Since this will be hitting all my
lists
> >>at
> >>> >>once, etc,
> >>> >>> there will probably be a lot of folks trying to hit on the site.
> >>Please
> >>> >>be patient
> >>> >>> and check back if you don't get in on the first try. The page
will be
> >>> >>slow to load
> >>> >>> due to the pictures embedded in the trip report, and, if you
decide to
> >>> >>check out the
> >>> >>> picture link at the bottom of the page, please remember that it
will
> >>load
> >>> >>VERY VERY
> >>> >>> SLOW. I cut out more than 1/2 the pictures that we took, but
there is
> >>> >>still a LOT of
> >>> >>> them there (400-ish). Click on an image for the larger pic.
> >>> >>> -jenn
> >>> >>>
> >>> >>
> >>> >>
> >>> >>
> >>>
> >>
>

 

I wonder if the Rubicon shafts are any stronger than the stock ones? A local
guy has installed the Superior kit and loves it, mostly because of the
Detroit.

"Jerry Bransford" <jerrypb@***.net> wrote in message
news:u69Zc.64252$yh.39277@fed1read05...
> Superior Axle sells them for $120 or so per side, maybe less if you shop
> around. To get to Chromolly, you'd have to go with their Super44 axle kit
> which includes a locker. I'm running Superior Axle D44 axleshaft
> replacements and they're reportedly 15-20% stronger than OE axle shafts.
>
> Jerry
> --
> Jerry Bransford
> PP-ASEL N6TAY
> See the Geezer Jeep at
> http://members.***.net/jerrypb/
> "jbjeep" <jbjeep@saw.net> wrote in message
> news:r65aj016ilbtin1rcm6pkgog4sebj8jhdh@4ax.com...
> > Who makes good replacement D44 axle shafts?? I am not changing the
spline
> > count, I just need new ones. The shop just pulled the shafts for the
> > brake
> > conversion and one of them is starting to bend. What companies do I
look
> > at
> > for getting replacements? How about upgrading to Chromoly? Thoughts??
> > Thanks
> > -jenn (who really isnt surprised by this news)
> >
>
>

 

I wonder if the Rubicon shafts are any stronger than the stock ones? A local
guy has installed the Superior kit and loves it, mostly because of the
Detroit.

"Jerry Bransford" <jerrypb@***.net> wrote in message
news:u69Zc.64252$yh.39277@fed1read05...
> Superior Axle sells them for $120 or so per side, maybe less if you shop
> around. To get to Chromolly, you'd have to go with their Super44 axle kit
> which includes a locker. I'm running Superior Axle D44 axleshaft
> replacements and they're reportedly 15-20% stronger than OE axle shafts.
>
> Jerry
> --
> Jerry Bransford
> PP-ASEL N6TAY
> See the Geezer Jeep at
> http://members.***.net/jerrypb/
> "jbjeep" <jbjeep@saw.net> wrote in message
> news:r65aj016ilbtin1rcm6pkgog4sebj8jhdh@4ax.com...
> > Who makes good replacement D44 axle shafts?? I am not changing the
spline
> > count, I just need new ones. The shop just pulled the shafts for the
> > brake
> > conversion and one of them is starting to bend. What companies do I
look
> > at
> > for getting replacements? How about upgrading to Chromoly? Thoughts??
> > Thanks
> > -jenn (who really isnt surprised by this news)
> >
>
>

 

I wonder if the Rubicon shafts are any stronger than the stock ones? A local
guy has installed the Superior kit and loves it, mostly because of the
Detroit.

"Jerry Bransford" <jerrypb@***.net> wrote in message
news:u69Zc.64252$yh.39277@fed1read05...
> Superior Axle sells them for $120 or so per side, maybe less if you shop
> around. To get to Chromolly, you'd have to go with their Super44 axle kit
> which includes a locker. I'm running Superior Axle D44 axleshaft
> replacements and they're reportedly 15-20% stronger than OE axle shafts.
>
> Jerry
> --
> Jerry Bransford
> PP-ASEL N6TAY
> See the Geezer Jeep at
> http://members.***.net/jerrypb/
> "jbjeep" <jbjeep@saw.net> wrote in message
> news:r65aj016ilbtin1rcm6pkgog4sebj8jhdh@4ax.com...
> > Who makes good replacement D44 axle shafts?? I am not changing the
spline
> > count, I just need new ones. The shop just pulled the shafts for the
> > brake
> > conversion and one of them is starting to bend. What companies do I
look
> > at
> > for getting replacements? How about upgrading to Chromoly? Thoughts??
> > Thanks
> > -jenn (who really isnt surprised by this news)
> >
>
>