So lets recap last weekends Rubicon Trip.
Vapor locked twice! Even with the heat wrap and heat shield.
Made it from start to finish.
Winch Works.
Lockers Work.
Fuel Injection on that type of trail is SWEEET!
Had a GREAT Time.
Damage report.
Destroyed front tie rod (they were factory 1979 anyway)
Destroyed front drag link (they were factory 1979 anyway)
Popped all of the pop rivets on the passenger side rocker diamond plate
Sheared off the driver rear shock form the leaf spring plate
destroyed the driver rear shock (its was 18 years old anyway)
Pushed the exhaust y into the front drive shaft and split the pipe at the passenger manifold
Bent both passenger and driver body seams when the sliders pushed into the body (3/4 in movement due to hard hit)
Repairs
New exhaust / muffler with cat removed and y pipe connecting behind the transfer case inside the skid.
New drag and tie rods on the way from Big Daddy Offroad. 1" to replace the 1/2 and 3/4 factory hardware.
new rear leaf spring plates from Warrior products with u-bolt sliders and replaceable shock mounts.
4 new Rancho shocks - thanks to Rancho for helping with the selection.
Found rust under the rocker diamond plate so i need to fix that prior to putting it back on.
I think that's about it. But i have one more thing to say. For all of you that are thinking that the Rubicon Trail is easy and even a stock JKU can make it, i say Try it!. We took most bypasses and because of the track of the CJ we could go around or between obstacles that the bigger rigs had to go over. it was stressful, exhausting, relentless and i had one of the best times of my life. The WAL group was supportive, excited and didn't complain one bit when we took a lot longer getting through than the Coil Over JKU's did. There is a reason most of the Jeeps that navigate this trail have 3+ inches of lift and min 35" tires. ITS NEEDED!!
Some day we will return, better prepared, and better equipped. Until then let me know if you have a spare seat, would love to do this a passenger!
