The Rubicon in September

I'll be attempting the Rubicon Trail this year in my 14 DC tacoma. Has anyone tried the trail? Looking for any help or insite that I can get.
Here is the rig:

 

@la0d0g

 

What do you want to know?

 

Anything that would be a surprise. There doesn't seam to be much info on 2nd gen D.C.'s that have ran this. I've heard it has gotten easier over the years, as a few of the tougher obstacles have been blown up or broken apart. I'm planning on driving from colorado taking 2 days to run the trail then return.

 

Little sluice is easier for sure but there has always been a bypass for that so that doesn't really matter. Old sluice is hard if running it east to west, a little easier going the opposite way since you have gravity on your side. Same with Cadillac hill but the opposite.

Are you on 35s, locked, armored? Not required just curious. Well armored is required. The other two just help.

 

I'm running a 3" OME Lift with 33" tires, locked f/r and full skids and sliders, front bumper with winch and hc rear bumper.

 

Take some spare parts and enjoy yourself. I'd find someone to roll with you.

 

I'll be going with 2 guys I go to moab with every year that have jeeps. Thanks for the help.

 

Do you know what direction you're going to run it?

 

Not yet we just started planning.

 

Cool. Let me know if you have more questions.

 

Definitely post an update or pics/vids when it happens. I'd love to check it out.

 

I normally go for the Marlin Crawler Rubicon roundup in September. Good time to go as there is normally a lot of Toyotas there with spare parts but not normally ifs ones. Still a handful though. Not sure if your trailering or not but we normally park the tow rigs on the Tahoma side and drive the crawlers to loon lake and run it from loon to Rubicon springs, stay the night then run from the springs up Cadillac and out to Tahoma. Most people only seem to do the trail from Tahoma to Rubicon springs and back. We have only met a handful of people who normally do the trail all the way through.

We park at Tahoma incase we have any problems we don't have to drive a broken rig all the way back to loon and don't have to park the tow rigs at the top of Ice house Road (really steep and windy road up and down).

Ideal would be 3 days to do the trail. Loon to buck island, buck island to the springs, and the springs to Tahoma. We have done it 2 years in a row in 2 days but I think it would be more enjoyable over 3 and plus buck island is pretty cool and so is the springs when the weather is nice. Pack for the worst (spare parts, warm clothes, etc.) and just take your time and enjoy it. Its still a hard trail no doubt. The guys who say it is easy are in buggies on 40s who don't care about body damage. And we have done the entire trail. (Little sluice, Old Sluice(on accident), big sluice, etc.) Bypasses for most hard obstacles.

And last bit of advice is to bring a gps with the trail. Last year was our first real year doing it on our own and not following anyone and that's how we ended up running old sluice. Once you get on the granite, it can be hard to tell where the trail goes. it is marked (the small road reflectors to distinguish lanes) but having a gps with the trail on it will help or following someone who has done it before.

 

Really? Tahoe to the springs takes like an hour. What do they do the rest of the time?

 

Sub'd

 

There are lots of videos on YouTube of doing the Rubicon. I suggest you watch a bunch to get an idea of what to expect. Your Taco is awesome looking but be prepared for some body damage. Dem rocks and boulders are unforgiving.
Oh yeh if you like to trout fish bring some fishing gear, Loon lake is a beautiful mountain lake with lots of trout.

 

There's a chance I might be doing this in Sept as well but theres a lot of things to confirm between now and then

 

Thanks for all the info. I'm confused on the body damage part. What parts of the body are you guys referring to? My truck has full skids including the rear dif. Are you meaning damage from below or doors and quarter panels? From the videos I've watched it looks very challenging due to how long it is not so much about being supper technical. Its also very hard as there isn't much out there with IFS tacos.

 

Also looks like the dates are gonna be the week of Sept 11-12th ish

 

Looks like the same weekend as the Toyota roundup. When im planning on going.
http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=102702.0

And body damage as in doors, fenders, bedsides etc but completely avoidable with a good driver and spotter. Gone through twice with no body damage (once on 35s and once on 37s) but did brake parts the first year.