Maximus Trip to the Rubicon

[MaximusTX]

How did y’all handle leaving your tow rig while you ran the trail?

We left them at the Loon Lake entrance along with everyone else.

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[AstroZombie]

@MaximusTX Did you smash it on something to break the steering so was it just a week part? Pictures of trail repairs?

We all hope to never break a bead because no one want to use lighter fluid and a match EVER!!

I've fixed beads with a ratchet strap before. Explosions are better for sure

 

[MaximusTX]

@MaximusTX Did you smash it on something to break the steering so was it just a week part? Pictures of trail repairs?

We all hope to never break a bead because no one want to use lighter fluid and a match EVER!!

I've fixed beads with a ratchet strap before. Explosions are better for sure

I am not sure. I think my wheel got stuck between two rocks and I tried turn it and it just busted the ball joint on the drag link but I was backing up when it busted and my sister got it on video. There was no resistance on the steering wheel so not sure if maybe it was already cracked or something. Because we used a tie rod the sway bar links were in the way so we disconnected the sway bar links as well. We originally on did the one said but the computer didn't like that and started throwing errors so we ended up disconnecting both sides.

 

[ourjeeps]

That's for sure. It was definitely an adventure and we are already planning the next one. 2 of the 4 rigs this was their maiden voyage and mine I haven't taken anywhere except just day trips so all in all it a success. Everyone had a fun time and all the rigs made it out under their own power one way or another.

Enjoy those ALL those memories and experiences. Certainly worthy of ALL the effort you put into your trip and follow-on mech recovery efforts.

Enjoyed yours share, brought back some great memories of that trail. Thanks, and thanks also to those who work so hard to maintain that special trail access.

We ran the Rubicon Trail way back in 2002 with a group of friends w/ an assortment of self-built Jeeps with lots of spare parts (and tools)... CJs/YJs/TJs. Our run interestingly overlapped some pre-production prototype Jeep TJ Rubicons on the same namesake trail.

15 years later, we FINALLY got the wife a 2017 JKUR Rubicon RECON for as an anniversary present, then more recently, got her a 2024 Rubicon JTRX in Tuscadero for another anniversary. We have those, along with our vintage built '74 Butterscotch Gold CJ-5 AMC-304 V8 w T-18a (granny) since we hang onto our Jeeps, when we can.

The Jeep memories you have/made, will last a lifetime. Enjoy them ALL in the decades to come.

You have the right fortitude, attitude, and determination for Jeeping the classic trails/regions.

Keep up the good work, and always have a recovery trailer handy, if you can.

[Sorry to hear of all the post Rubicon recovery issues and blown CP4 in the Dodge. Diesels are wonderful, but a tough go in modern times w/unforgiving govt reg/mandates which we just tough out, mechanically.]

 

[MaximusTX]

Enjoy those ALL those memories and experiences. Certainly worthy of ALL the effort you put into your trip and follow-on mech recovery efforts.

Enjoyed yours share, brought back some great memories of that trail. Thanks, and thanks also to those who work so hard to maintain that special trail access.

We ran the Rubicon Trail way back in 2002 with a group of friends w/ an assortment of self-built Jeeps with lots of spare parts (and tools)... CJs/YJs/TJs. Our run interestingly overlapped some pre-production prototype Jeep TJ Rubicons on the same namesake trail.

15 years later, we FINALLY got the wife a 2017 JKUR Rubicon RECON for as an anniversary present, then more recently, got her a 2024 Rubicon JTRX in Tuscadero for another anniversary. We have those, along with our vintage built '74 Butterscotch Gold CJ-5 AMC-304 V8 w T-18a (granny) since we hang onto our Jeeps, when we can.

The Jeep memories you have/made, will last a lifetime. Enjoy them ALL in the decades to come.

You have the right fortitude, attitude, and determination for Jeeping the classic trails/regions.

Keep up the good work, and always have a recovery trailer handy, if you can.

[Sorry to hear of all the post Rubicon recovery issues and blown CP4 in the Dodge. Diesels are wonderful, but a tough go in modern times w/unforgiving govt reg/mandates which we just tough out, mechanically.]

It definitely wasn't the trip we had planned and I learned a lot about what I am missing as far as tools and spare parts. This one being the first big trip I have taken I was pretty focused on getting Maximus ready and adding the skid plate and steering reinforcement and some other items and kind of last track of the other aspect of spare parts and tools. Luckily combined between all 4 of us that went we usually had what we needed to fix all the rigs that broke down. We had everything from steering issues, tires issues, driveshafts and electrical fuel pump issues on the trail. One of the rigs even lost a belt and put a pinhole in the radiator that was spraying out everywhere that we used regular black pepper to plug hole in the radiator. That what makes it more rememberable.

Growing up my dad had a I think it was a 87 CJ-7 in Rootbeer. I wanted that thing so bad but my brother ended up getting it and I couldn't afford a Jeep so I get the next best thing a tintop Samurai that I bought from my Buddy for $500 bucks which is actually the one I went to the Rubicon with. That's what started everything for me. I still have memories of taking the Samurai out and my brother taking me out in the CJ with his buddying in his Trooper who also came with us to the Rubicon. It was kind of cool that years later we all live in different places but still got together to go 4 wheeling at the Rubicon and we are planning next years trip to Moab.

 

[Dano3190]

I just got my jeep and havent even seen it in person, have no real experience off-roading and post like these smack me out of the clouds and make me remember maybe the rubicon trail is a far reach right now

 

[MaximusTX]

I just got my jeep and havent even seen it in person, have no real experience off-roading and post like these smack me out of the clouds and make me remember maybe the rubicon trail is a far reach right now

You have to start somewhere. Just start off small or go with a group and you will be fine.

 

[MaximusTX]

Here are some more photos from the trip. Some day I may get around to getting a youtube channel started so I post videos.

From outside the cab the tilt doesn't seem that bad but when you are inside the cab and the roll gauge is at 25 degrees and you have an extra 400 pounds up top and you are looking down the side of the mountain it feels a little different.

 

[ourjeeps]

It definitely wasn't the trip we had planned and I learned a lot about what I am missing as far as tools and spare parts. This one being the first big trip I have taken I was pretty focused on getting Maximus ready and adding the skid plate and steering reinforcement and some other items and kind of last track of the other aspect of spare parts and tools. Luckily combined between all 4 of us that went we usually had what we needed to fix all the rigs that broke down. We had everything from steering issues, tires issues, driveshafts and electrical fuel pump issues on the trail. One of the rigs even lost a belt and put a pinhole in the radiator that was spraying out everywhere that we used regular black pepper to plug hole in the radiator. That what makes it more rememberable.

Growing up my dad had a I think it was a 87 CJ-7 in Rootbeer. I wanted that thing so bad but my brother ended up getting it and I couldn't afford a Jeep so I get the next best thing a tintop Samurai that I bought from my Buddy for $500 bucks which is actually the one I went to the Rubicon with. That's what started everything for me. I still have memories of taking the Samurai out and my brother taking me out in the CJ with his buddying in his Trooper who also came with us to the Rubicon. It was kind of cool that years later we all live in different places but still got together to go 4 wheeling at the Rubicon and we are planning next years trip to Moab.

Yeah - Those Samurais didn't get the respect they deserved, but could put many larger rigs to shame on many trails and obstacles.

When we ran the Rubicon, our group carefully identified key parts - axle shafts, U-joints, other drive train parts common to our group's Jeep vehicles etc. and made sure we didn't have too much duplication on parts and the specific tools needed --- to manage overall weight and storage space. In the end it worked out well.

We also dry iced and duct-taped closed coolers, with frozen foods for the last two days (4 day trip) and kept those coolers under cover/out of the sun to keep them cool. We ate like Kings the whole trip (w/planned group meals.).

 

[MaximusTX]

Yeah - Those Samurais didn't get the respect they deserved, but could put many larger rigs to shame on many trails and obstacles.

When we ran the Rubicon, our group carefully identified key parts - axle shafts, U-joints, other drive train parts common to our group's Jeep vehicles etc. and made sure we didn't have too much duplication on parts and the specific tools needed --- to manage overall weight and storage space. In the end it worked out well.

We also dry iced and duct-taped closed coolers, with frozen foods for the last two days (4 day trip) and kept those coolers under cover/out of the sun to keep them cool. We ate like Kings the whole trip (w/planned group meals.).

Yeah, this was a mix of vehicles that went JK, JT, XJ and a Land Cruiser although all of us had one ton axles all of them were different had used different parts in their build. 3 of us were still building our rigs and one of them had just been purchased 1 month before after sitting for over 3 years and was still working the kinks out of it and the Land Cruiser had just finished it's build. The only trail proven was the JK which the owner has had for over 10 years. Could we have planned better sure but did we still have an amazing trip yeah. When we all live in different states except my brother and I makes it a little harder to coordinate everything.

For the Samurai, I grew up on the central coast in CA in the Pismo Beach area. My friends and I would take it to the dunes all the time. It was slow was molasses on the dunes but it was soo light it didn't sink in like all the other trucks so I could make it up pretty much any hill. I put a PA system in it and I would go to the top of the biggest hill and just sit there and make fun of all the massively lifted and expensive trucks that couldn't make it to the top of the hill that my $500 stock samurai could. Still have a few things left to finish and I will be looking for another Samurai to build.

This was my first Samurai I had

Here is the last Samurai that I built and sold a few months ago:

 

[RodRecket]

Here are some more photos from the trip. Some day I may get around to getting a youtube channel started so I post videos.

From outside the cab the tilt doesn't seem that bad but when you are inside the cab and the roll gauge is at 25 degrees and you have an extra 400 pounds up top and you are looking down the side of the mountain it feels a little different.

25 is starting to pucker for me when I have a cooler in back. I've brushed against 28 and didnt like it

 

[MaximusTX]

25 is starting to pucker for me when I have a cooler in back. I've brushed against 28 and didnt like it

25 was bad enough I don't think I want to feel 28. I also think if I remove the giant rooftop tent it wouldn't so top heavy and put some stiffer springs on it might help a little as well.

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