Gladiator vs. the Rubicon Trail

[Rottwheeler]

Which of you has run the Rubicon Trail in your Gladiator and what, if any, damage did you suffer? If no damage, what model, lift, tires and protection did you have? If you had damage of any kind, what would you change on your rig if you're going to run the trail again? My 2020 JTR has a 2" Mopar lift and 37" KO2s. It is my daily driver in addition to my trail rig. I'm not afraid to beat it up but want to protect it as best I can when I run the trail this summer. THANKS!!!

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[ShrimpHappens]

Mr. @WILDHOBO has:

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...l-brief-review-and-battle-scar-reports.61997/

 

[JTGuy]

I have done it in a buddy trail rig. I would get plenty of skids. A good spotter. Expect to use then skids. Go slow and you probably won't hurt the body.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Which of you has run the Rubicon Trail in your Gladiator and what, if any, damage did you suffer? If no damage, what model, lift, tires and protection did you have? If you had damage of any kind, what would you change on your rig if you're going to run the trail again? My 2020 JTR has a 2" Mopar lift and 37" KO2s. It is my daily driver in addition to my trail rig. I'm not afraid to beat it up but want to protect it as best I can when I run the trail this summer. THANKS!!!

I have. No damage whatsoever. Rubicon, 37’s, RCV front axle shafts, belly skid, all 8 LCA skids, diff skids, rear shock skids, rock sliders, hitch skid, approximate 3.5” lift at the time. It takes 30 minutes to get used to every single skid being used. The rock rails are of paramount importance. You’ll ride them like skateboards. Other than that. Go slow and take your time. It was the time of my life and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. You’ll have so much fun.

 

[Rottwheeler]

I have. No damage whatsoever. Rubicon, 37’s, RCV front axle shafts, belly skid, all 8 LCA skids, diff skids, rear shock skids, rock sliders, hitch skid, approximate 3.5” lift at the time. It takes 30 minutes to get used to every single skid being used. The rock rails are of paramount importance. You’ll ride them like skateboards. Other than that. Go slow and take your time. It was the time of my life and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. You’ll have so much fun.

Thanks! I just read your thread... great info and thanks for sharing. I've run the Rubicon in a JKR... and was wishing for a shorter wheelbase. Now I'm going to do it in this beast, so it ought to be entertaining! Thanks again.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Thanks! I just read your thread... great info and thanks for sharing. I've run the Rubicon in a JKR... and was wishing for a shorter wheelbase. Now I'm going to do it in this beast, so it ought to be entertaining! Thanks again.

If you’ve run it in something else, you’ll be better off than I was by far. I’d never seen the trail before. Gladiators do great on it. I never had a taillight risk or body risk at any time. There’s plenty of things in Moab that are genuinely dangerous. The rubicon is just non stop rocks. But no one’s dying on it.

 

[SoK66]

Se Ali Mansour's YT video on doing the RT in his Gladiator. Can't remember the name of his channel, sorry. Will give you all you need to know.

 

[Gvsukids]

Which of you has run the Rubicon Trail in your Gladiator and what, if any, damage did you suffer? If no damage, what model, lift, tires and protection did you have? If you had damage of any kind, what would you change on your rig if you're going to run the trail again? My 2020 JTR has a 2" Mopar lift and 37" KO2s. It is my daily driver in addition to my trail rig. I'm not afraid to beat it up but want to protect it as best I can when I run the trail this summer. THANKS!!!

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...ing-our-gladiator-to-the-rubicon-trail.17901/

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...ladiator-sport-be-on-the-rubicon-trail.59786/

 

[Rottwheeler]

Thanks to all for the insights and links!

 

[WILDHOBO]

Thanks to all for the insights and links!

Here’s a teaser.

 

[BigG]

I ran it last June, we went both ways. The factory skids are junk, the one on the passenger side bent and damaged the body a little. Rear bumper was bent up. Flares took a beating too but are still in good shape. If you have a diesel you NEED to put a skid under the fuel filter housing. Was a good time, 4 nights on the trail. I tagged a taillight so I removed them for the rest of the trail. I replaced the rear bumper and sliders so far with Motobilt.

running metalcloak game changer 3.5
38 milestars

 

[BigG]

More pics. The bear paid us a visit the night we stayed at the springs.

 

[WILDHOBO]

More pics. The bear paid us a visit the night we stayed at the springs.

Awesome. I fly fished in that exact spot. We didn’t see it, but it rummaged around during the night. We heard it.

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