IFS Tacomas take on the Rubicon

The relentless tcase skid is SOLID even if it is 3/16. The 3/16 trans skid didnt bother me either. I had both from Relentless before I sold my 07 Tacoma. I think more than LCA skids Id want something that covered all the LCA mounting tabs. Cant remember what does a good job of that.

I'd just be prepared to drag everything across most of the con. Watch your rear diff drain plugs too. Rocks like to knock them loose.

 

On and I'd be nervous about those long ass drivelines. I know one of these guys packs a spare.

 

This photo shows the original horse collar cross member for the transmission on my old 1991. I had the low profile Budbuilt but before I sold the truck I returned it more to stock.

But I still have the supplemental cross member that ran approximately under the carrier bearing that I made at the last minute before Rubithon in 2008. And you are 100% right about the long rear driveline. That one piece of steel took more punishment than the front skids and sliders combined. Totally crucial.



More photos of it.

 

Aftermarket LCA's do a good job of that only part of the diff I'm worried about is the rear facing part that's paper thin. Going to get a 1/4" steel "shield" I guess you could call it, welded over it before summer.

 

This is what my skids looked like after the Rubicon.









I ended up straightening and reinforcing the main skid with extra steel where it seemed most susceptible.

 

You know you guys love us.

Yeah so my t-case skid and mid skid were already banana'd. But this trail was the worst. Wrecked about half my bolts. I had to use a floor jack to twist the mid skid back on there, and now the t-case skid is touching my t-case soooo... yeah Looks like 1/4" time for the t-case for sure.

 

Here I'm thinking my 3/16 skids seemed really beefy during install and no way would I ever need 1/4.

 

Don't necessarily think that you're wrong. They are fine for moderate stuff and do protect your truck. I mean as bad as they end up looking consider this is 2 days of literally constantly running them over stuff.

They just aren't going to take a constant punishment for years like that and the weight penalty isn't insignificant. My truck was a 22R-E and even more weight to go with 1/4" was something. I had to run 5.29 axle gears with 33" tires to have any hope of moving at it's most built up.

In the almost 2 years before and 7 years after doing Rubicon with those skid plates I never came close to twisting them that badly again. But I also kind of faded away from the really hard core stuff because you break lots of stuff and it just stopped being fun after a while.

 

This 100%! I used to do rock crawling comps when they first started. And that type of wheelin'. The appeal wore off a long time ago which I why I don't do those extrmeme trails anymore. The rubicon is about as hard as I'd ever do these days.

Not to mention comps in a daily driver weren't the idea back then. Haha

 

How much of a lift do you have, i have a 3"

 

Nice video, I've taken several Jeeps over the Rubicon and Fordyce. Don't have any plans for my double cab though.

 

Hey @JLee , @jberry813 , @MJonaGS32 et all.

I figured it would be easier to post on this thread than try and message you individually...

I'm looking to run the Rubicon this August, and I'm hoping you guys could give me some free advice regarding armor and spare parts to bring on the trail. From reading through this thread it looks like a spare CV and a tie rod are smart things to acquire and bring. Is there anything else you would bring with you if you went again. I'll be going with a jeep friend, and I need to avoid as much shame as possible if I break something on the trail.

Also, I have 1/4" IFS, T Case, and transmission skids, but no gas tank or LCA skids. It looked like some were running aftermarket LCA/ LT setups but for those with stock LCA, did you hit them at all, would you recommend them, how about the gas tank? I don't really like diff skids so I don't have any plans now to lose an inch of clearance for a diff skid, but I'm interested in the others.

I would really appreciate the opinions and advice if anyone is able. This is an awesome thread, props on the video editing Jerry as well!

 

Everyone seemed to make it look fairly easy. Great job everyone. More cojonies than I have..mine just mostly sees forest and lumber roads but lots of snow. Awesome to watch you all..

 

I did it without a gas tank skid, but I did have Jerry’s LCA and diff skids and I pretty much used every bit of my armor out there. Granted I was the only one out of the bunch without LT and/or 35s.

The biggest thing is just to be mentally prepared for a marathon. It’s a lot of wheeling. I’m not sure of your skill level but if you have a decent amount of experience, you should be okay. Make sure to check the calendar for any planned events. The last thing you want is a big event happening, crowding the trail and making you do something out of the ordinary because someone is waiting for you or watching you.

Also bring extra hardware. I lost a leaf spring bolt on the trail and was lucky @jberry813 had a spare nut and bolt that would fit (not perfectly, but enough to get me off the trail). If you can, source a spare driveshaft and maybe a LBJ.

 

You will scrape everything under the truck Gas tank skids are not needed most of the Con is large boulders. Your spring hangers are going to take a beating with the high clearance bumper so be prepared to replace those after the trip.

 

My passeneger spring hanger was so bent after this trip.
LCA skids for sure (unless you have aftermarket LCA’s)
At least 1 extra rear driveline, unless you’re a DCLB then take every driveline you can get your hands on
Tire puncture kit
I think most of us did it without a gas tank skid

 

finished building my bumper, and tire carrier 3weeks ago

 

Watched this youtube video months ago, never saw the thread for it, hell yeah dudes