What is going to break on my Rubicon Trip? (Revised, trip complete!)

Wheeling is such a weird sport. The fact that people are so worried about breaking stuff makes me think they are bringing the wrong equipment to the party.

 

When I was going really hard on my mtn bike (50 miles singletrack) I always carried a chain tool and link and patch and pump and a few other odds and ends. I have some of the best bikes built for off road too. Shit happens.

 

I brought literally spare everything doubted I went to central cali after the rubicon, wheeled trails out of Shaver lake area, and then drove 1k miles home. Spare inner and outer tie rod (for when the inner bends, and then breaks the outer), cv, and a rear driveline if you already don't have a thick wall rear. My tires measured 33'' when I did it, even tried soup bowl. Main trail is easy

 

its a weird awesome sport. you spend time and money building something then you test it and yourself. You find the breaking point and you fix and repeat. Even the pro ultra 4 cars have spares of everything and they are bringing the best trucks ever made.

 

I don’t entirely disagree, but I feel like I rarely worried about my bicycles and dirt bikes breaking and I treated them much worse than my truck. Tacos are road vehicles. It just happens to be lots of fun to take a very inappropriate truck on an adventure and come back intact.

 

Don't worry, you are driving the Jeep recovery vehicle.

 

I was at a OHV park a couple years back in northern Minnesota and met some locals driving some modified Jeep XT’s. They were attempting this climb when one of the XTs went pop. His friend explained to me that that was his 3rd driveshaft of the day. I was like, “I didn’t bring any spare driveshafts. Should I be worried?”

 

Its about 3" or so... Deaver 403s I think, middle weight. 700# springs on 6130s, top notch in the front.

 

Agree with this for sure!! I am pretty sure my spotter will be a good one.

 

Oh No. I am hoping for not doing that.

 

Maybe... I have been wheeling for a long time but this is likely going to be the hardest. Especially in this truck. I am going in hopeful to clear most things, drag armor and winch or get pulled early.

 

Thanks a ton for the video. I have only been able to start it but it is awesome so far and looks to be helpful to see what the IFS is going to be up against.

 

Great looking rig. Have fun. Definitely post some pics after your trip!!

 

Tacoma's not made for that sort of trail. good luck. From what little I've wheeled my 3rd gen, I'd say the steering is the weak link.

 

I guess this is along my idea of what spares I want... What did you actually use??

I have numerous suggestions for inner tie rods. Thanks to all for the tip on those. I looked them up and found some "special" tools need so that was great to learn ahead of time.

 

I broke nothing, but a buddy with a 2nd gen/8.4 rear end blew his diff from rock bouncing up soup bowl lol

 

you don't need any special tools. just a hammer to separate the outer from the knuckle, a wrench to undo the lock nut, a flat head to bend the lock tab and a big adjustable wrench. The best part about the rubicon is thats its well traveled. If you have the spare part someone will pass you with the tools and the knowledge to fix it.

 

Sounds like a nice shortcut on the potential repair. I really like to be self sufficient, but I have helped enough others to have some help coming back my way someday. I am sure the folk on the Rubicon are in general good ones. Spare CV is here and the inner tie rods are on the way! I will feel good having these with me.

 

Bucket list item since I was about 12 years old is complete. Did the trail between 10/1 - 10/6. Loon lake to Tahoe. Took an extra day in the middle to camp/fish/hike at Buck Lake. Had the trail almost completely to ourselves. Awesome.

As far as breakage: Zero! No parts broken. Rear spring hanger bent. Zero body damage. TONS of dents, bangs, scrapes, gouges, etc. on all the bumpers, sliders and armor. Would not have been pretty without them. Same deal for the other two rigs that went with me. All were IFS with no bigger tires than mine.

I will post some pictures here or elsewhere once I get them sorted out a bit.

 

• Serpentine belt (maybe 2, I don’t expect them to break, but if they do, remember, you have no cooling)
• 2 CVS. You have a front locker, chances you break one are higher than a standard truck, unless you use it sparingly.
  
• Matching sized spare, if you don’t have one.
  
• Inner Tirods.
  
• Fluids in general.
  
• Maybe driveshafts if you can find them.

My list is probably overkill. But, I’d rather carry some extra crap and be inconvenienced by some loss of space than stranded.