Rubicon Bound

Starting a build of my 2010 regular cab 4x4. My ultimate goal is to do the rubicon. For the future i plan on a good lift(COs and 3in leaf pack, full skids, sliders, 265/75-16s or 235/85-16s) I have been doing research and with the short wheelbase of the reg cab plus a lift and 32"+ tires i can try the rubicon next summer. I dont want to hurt my baby so im going to try to bullet proof the hell out of her.

Here is how she sits now(at cleghorn)...






Capable even in stock form

 

Can't wait to see the finished product, good luck!

 

With the Trac mod in 4 low it already feels unstoppable like having lsd front and rear but a rear arb locker is on the list with onboard air system. I figured that with a 3" lift and the extra 400-500lbs from full skids sliders and front and rear bumper with a front winch the truck will sit 2" higher than stock lol

 

Well went for a night run with a bunch of the guys and i was leading. It was foggy as hell and i took a wrong turn going to fast and went up a f'n gnarly bypass and ran over a rock with the ass end forcing the front down. Like prerunning through a mine field. It was bad...

There are two little wing things on the sides of the front-most crossmember. The one on the right took a good hit. Time for a AP hybrid bumper or arb bumper.

normal

crushed

ouch

good

bad

f'd

as straight as i could get it. Ill be going to the fab shop to have them finish straightening and reenforce it. After market bumpers require the removal of the "wings" (suspension protectors?)

To be honest im glad that took the hit instead of the suspension. That could have destroyed the tie rod or tr end, leaving me stuck as hell

 

Ouch. Thats a bummer. Good excuse for a new bumper!

 

yea well i kinda dont mind breaking shit so i can make it stronger

 

thanks for all the great advice... dont sell that 4banger short. Its torquey as hell.
RC 20#/ Lbs ft^2. Vs V6 AC 16#/ lbs ft^2.
I agree with what your saying about power to weight but just remember that the 4cyl has 4.10 over the v6 3.73s. they seem to be comparable. Another way i look at it is the 4cyl AC weighs 400+lbs. more than the RC. Allowing me 400 lbs of goodies before i am even with a stock AC weight. I wish i had the V6 for sure but thats not gonna happen. I do feel a regear in the future for the truck, if im throwing lockers in might as well go 4.56 or 4.88 while i have it apart...

 

Those are always the first to eat it on the trail.
I cut mine when I installed my Shrockworks Bumper. I wish I would have reinforced mine before the bumper install due to the retardedly thin metal. I have some ideas in the works though.

GL on the build

 

Thanks,

I talked to Jason Demello yesterday and hes gonna reenforce the shit out of the area for more strength when i get an aftermarket front bumper. It will also be getting the front body mounts trimmed while its there so i can run 35s when i get the ext. travel icon remote resis and TC or Camburg uniball UCAs.

Im taking my sweet ass time building the truck because i want to do it right the first time...

 

Excellent. I will keep checking in on the build.

I have to uninstall a 130 lb bumper to fix my shit..

x2million on doing it right the first time. You will save a ton of money and trouble.

 

Hear you loud & clear - Did you drill the extra holes for you shrockworks to 'pin' it in the location you want?

 

I did. However, I will try to level it again when I install my winch and level it a tad better.

 

Level again? Didn't you drill it already? I was going to say, don't drill it until you REALLY know where you want it. (Too bad there isn't a removable winch bucket - It's a bitch to service the winch when you have to take off the bumper in some cases). Good luck!

 

so, down the road when you swap gears..... I call Dibs on buying your 4.10s for my truck if they're still in good shape. I want to re-gear slightly from my 3.73s for larger tires, but the factory 4cyl gears are the only 4.10s available, otherwise im going to have to run 4.56's.

Good luck on the build!

 

So i figure id update my build...

Ive been getting more and more into heavy offroading. Especially since moiving to big bear...

So far I have built, installed, and tested my own sliders... 2" square tube 1/8" wall

I also recently got 265/75 duratracs

 

Slider build








Installed



Tested

 

Added Carnage

 

pics of new tires and sliders from a far please

 

crappy cell pic



duratracs work amazing