The Rubicon in September

I've hit my passenger quarter panel on two different occasions. And both my doors one time but that was a stupid, I wasn't paying attention, avoidable moment

 

I haven’t driven the Rubicon but have gone a long as a passenger twice. You can definitely make it through without body damage but I’ve seen a lot of bangs, dents and scrapes of doors, fenders, quarter panels. It is easy for the vehicle to slide into a boulder or scrape a quarter panel against a rock or boulder or a hundred other things. It’s definite challenging.

 

I’m not an expert. I’ve done 1.5 Rubicons and the last time was 20 years ago. The 0.5 was going in from Tahoe to Rubicon Springs, and out, the same day in a stock FJ80. Double locked, but stock ride height, 32” tires, and no armor. A few scratches, nothing bad, but that’s the easy part of the trail. The following year I did the entire TLCA Rubithon, with a 2” lift and some armor, and definitely picked up some dings and scrapes. The 80 is quite a bit smaller than a DCSB Taco. With your lift and tires it should be able to make it, but don’t expect totally damage free. My experience was that some narrow stretches and lines are optimized for Jeeps, and the side to side lean tip a wider, or less armored, vehicle into granite outcroppings that can scrape at vehicle belt line or higher. I cracked a flare and my buddy broke a tail light lens. I also creased my rocker panels when my ARB “sliders” bent up. 20 years later, and lots of 80’s run the trail all the time. At the time, folks thought it was huge.

 

Well I guess if your gonna build them up you should let find out what there limits are.

 

As in what is nice to squirrel away? cv's, tie rods, ujoints?

 

CVs and inner and outer TRs. Toyota ujoints are strong so I don't take those but now I'm sure I've just jinxed myself. Some peeps take a spare driveshaft too.