Gold Mountain and John Bull Aftermath

[aFatBird]

Gold Mountain wasn't really notable besides the great views; however, John Bull is something else.

The long wheelbase of the gladiator definitely has its advantages and it's disadvantages. John Bull really showed me that the long wheelbase is a coin toss. Some obstacles were trivialized and some exasperated(mostly larger boulders).

The rear taillight also does seem to like some trees.

The gladiator still made it through but with some new "personalizations" and only new rock rash on 3 wheels.

10/10 Would go again maybe with new rock sliders and flush taillights.

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[Silverator]

"Personalized"!!! Haha! I like it!! LOL I've done both on 2 wheels, but not on 4 (yet). Glad you had a good time!! I love Big Bear for the secret trails (at least for m/c's).

 

[mx5red]

I tried John Bull this morning and the trail was empty! I couldn’t get past the gatekeeper so I left and ran Holcomb.
Scraped two wheels and every skid and diff on the rock garden there?
But I also somehow made it through easier than the two wranglers I followed..
These Gladiators are badass, just can’t turn very tightly!

 

[aFatBird]

I tried John Bull this morning and the trail was empty! I couldn’t get past the gatekeeper so I left and ran Holcomb.
Scraped two wheels and every skid and diff on the rock garden there?
But I also somehow made it through easier than the two wranglers I followed..
These Gladiators are badass, just can’t turn very tightly!

After the gatekeeper. I think the trail gets maybe a tiny tiny bit easier. Still ended up winching out of a pretty bad spot where I got myself stuck on 2 points. I gotta say that my rear diff skid has most certainly paid for itself on this trip alone. Now I just regret not getting a front diff skid when I changed the oil in it.

 

[RubiWhiteGladiator]

Gold Mountain wasn't really notable besides the great views; however, John Bull is something else.

The long wheelbase of the gladiator definitely has its advantages and it's disadvantages. John Bull really showed me that the long wheelbase is a coin toss. Some obstacles were trivialized and some exasperated(mostly larger boulders).

The rear taillight also does seem to like some trees.

The gladiator still made it through but with some new "personalizations" and only new rock rash on 3 wheels.

10/10 Would go again maybe with new rock sliders and flush taillights.

I tried John Bull and the gatekeeper got me and actually did a number on my steer system and stabilizer bracket. Taking it in for repairs. How did you get through it

 

[KevinM60]

I tried John Bull and the gatekeeper got me and actually did a number on my steer system and stabilizer bracket. Taking it in for repairs. How did you get through it

Yikes !!

 

[Zachanadandy]

No desire to even try it in the gladiator. The wife's JLUR with full belly skids, 3.5" of lift, and 39s is the rock rig. The mojave is for doing freeway speeds in the desert. John Bull was a cake walk in the JLUR with 0 winching or spotting for that matter, simply drive from 1 end to the other.

 

[aFatBird]

I tried John Bull and the gatekeeper got me and actually did a number on my steer system and stabilizer bracket. Taking it in for repairs. How did you get through it

My steering stabilizer is above my tie rod so that's safe. My draglink and tie rod are 1 5/8" steel.
Made it through by dragging my sliders along rocks and trying to keep tires on the big stuff.

My second time going through was alot smoother when i went a few months ago

 

[hjdca]

Holcomb Creek, John Bull, Gold Mountain are great fun trails. We are doing them a couple times a year. Scrapes are bound to happen. I recommend you paint all scrapes on steel because even in California, they will turn rust red. I paint my scrapes every 4wheel trip. Just clean with alcohol and use a piece of cardboard to stop overspray. My Method rims are black, so, I also paint the rim rash with the same AEV paint. For your rims, you will have to match the paint. You can get spray paint and spray it in a bottle and use a brush to fix your rims.

For paint, I use:

AEV Touch Up Paint - 12oz Black Textured - it matches perfectly the rear and front bumper and sliders and my Black method rims.

Eastman Chassis Black Gloss finish for the Gladiator undercarriage

You can get them both on Amazon. Enjoy !

PS. I am on my second can of AEV Touch up paint, and my Gladiator still looks like a mall crawler... lol...

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