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Rubicon trip

Notyourmomslx450

Cruise Moab Committee
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Westminster
Alright. I’m not much at writing trip reports but here it goes.
Tj, my buddy Will, his girlfriend, my wife, youngest kid, one of our dogs and I headed west from Denver to Lake Tahoe. Tj was the only one man enough to drive his 83 mini truck from Denver to the Rubicon and back.
we left on Saturday 7/17 and arrived in S Tahoe Sunday. Monday morning we meet w/ Brian Flynn and than proceeded up Ice House road to the world famous Rubicon Trail.
we aired down and started on our way.
Not even an hour in Brian’s rear passenger wheel studs decided to sheer off and wheel fell off. Once we figured out the spacer was still attached to the wheel the game plan was to rob the studs from the spacer and install into axle. An hour or so later we are back at it.
we ran from Loon lake to Buck Island lake the first day (very very long day). Than from Buck to Rubicon Springs (about 4 hours). Than from the Springs out (4ish more hours).
Nobody after that had any major issues after that other than me. I lost a passenger side caliper bolt (found it 2’ or so behind my truck). I lost a rear passenger flair, and I think I twisted the splines on the rear (locker wouldn’t engage after the first day). So I finished the trail w/ a front locker only.
Oh and bears. We had some bears in camp both nights. Nothing else other than one food box got messed w/.
on to pictures!
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Notyourmomslx450

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After we did the Rubicon we all broke off and did our own thing. I went to visit family and my best friend (in Reno)
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. We went out on his boat on N Tahoe.
 

Notyourmomslx450

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We left Reno on Saturday and drove to SLC. Spent the night in a hotel and Sunday morning we met w/ Kurt Williams for a private Sunday tour of the Land Cruiser Heritage museum.
after the museum we drove home.
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Notyourmomslx450

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Do you think I could run it with my 4runner on 33s and a rear locker? This trail has always tempted me.
if 33’s I’d recommend full skids and a front locker. It could be done though.
 

DaveInDenver

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Do you think I could run it with my 4runner on 33s and a rear locker? This trail has always tempted me.
I ran it in an IFS mini truck on 33" and doubled locked. You'll want reliable skids and sliders, you will need to use them. It's doable but I also understand 2008 was a relatively easy year through the Big Sluice.

Thinking back, being with a tribe of Rising Sun'ners probably was the difference.

I had one lapse in wheel placement and one mechanical issue (broken leaf springs). Nothing that couldn't happen to anyone but had it not been the Rubithon the leaf spring situation would have been a real PITA. Marlin and Yotaman being at the event were huge benefits.
 

AimCOTaco

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Awesome report, looks like an amazing road trip all around! Well done guys!

TJ is a badass for iron butting the mini out and back that's for sure!
 
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