jeepboy1990

my friends say i aint gonna do good but like ive never offroaded b4 wats ure input

Aldakoopa

I've never been either, but I've seen videos and pics from Rausch Creek, and you'll want more than a 3" lift.

Rock Toy

I've seen guys running 40 inch tires on a 1.25 inch body lift on a TJ so I guess if you have done some trimming and are running 33s you could do OK, but the most important thing is experience, and you say you don't have any so it will be a learning experience. ( lol )
Seriously though take it as a learning experience, your friends that wheel will help you unless they are a**s. Take it easy, and if it looks to difficult let your friends go first and watch their lines. ( it will help )

jeepboy1990

i have 3 inch rc lift with 31 inch mickey thomsen baja

Running Free

Like what Rock said, you need experience. The only way to get it is to get out there and do it. Bring someone with you, never wheel alone.

RoyalXJ

get lockers

_StationWagon_

You need neither lockers nor a tall lift at Rausch. What you need are some decent tires, front & rear recovery points and 4-wheel drive. The trails at Rausch are rated by color from Green to Red, with Green being beginners, gradually increasing difficulty in between up to Red or stupid. Align yourself with a beginner (Green) group and listen to the spotter if one becomes necessary. You will be surprised how capable that XJ is. Leave the testosterone at the staging area, take your time & you will be fine.
People might tell you that you belong in a Blue group (1 up from Green) based on the height of your lift. I suggest running Green until you're comfortable, then move up from there. I have a friend who was placed in a Black group just because her CJ was on 33s with 4" lift. She let her ego take over and found herself way in over her head - she wasn't experienced, couldn't handle Black trails & was terrified all day.

Rausch is for having fun - you will have fun on your first run if you use common sense. If you have no wheeling experience (and sometimes even if you do), a locker could make you do things you have no business tackling. Take it slow, have fun.

RoyalXJ

greens and blues are no fun. i have that kinda stuff down the street from my house.. my first time ever on rocks i started on blacks and reds. you learn to choose the right lines pretty fast. you'll need lockers for the good stuff.

_StationWagon_

You know doggone well this is bad advice. This is exactly what I mean when I said leave the testosterone behind. Someone with no experience (even in mud) can get into a lot of trouble wheeling rocks. Not to mention holding everyone up. There's nothing wrong with "walk before you run". I've seen experienced wheelers mess up royally on black trails.

RoyalXJ

sometimes you've gotta jump right in. in life ive always taken the path least traveled. as long as you know what your rig is capable of youll be fine.

mdcmn7

I have run at Rausch, it is a rocky and muddy park that is fun and challenging for all skilll levels and vehicles. We have had some rain here latley so you will love getting your jeep muddy

I had my stock XJ with crappy *** street tires and it did fine. You will really need to take the green trails in the beginning. Many of the harder trails and obstacles will have bypasses that you can easily get around.

There are hill climbs, mud pits, rocks and everything else that your XJ will handle just fine. You WILL need front and rear recovery points, a tow strap without hooks (you should have your own, but so long as someone has one), and a full size spare. If you have a post 97 think about taking off your bumper end caps and your fender flares. I kept breaking mine. Literally every trip to RC I broke them off. Also, pack a cooler with some grub in it and you should have an awesome time.

I now have 3-ish inches of lift and 30inch A/T tires and I get around rausch great. Next time you go up PM me, I live in the area and have been itching to get my XJ dirty

Chuck

_StationWagon_

I think by his post it's pretty clear that he doesn't know what his rig is capable of. He's learning ... or he will.

repodad

My first time at RC was with a sagging 4" lift and 31's. I was running blue/black trails. I say go for it as long as you have someone with experience with you. You will be amazed at what your Jeep can do stock let alone with a 3"lift and a set of good at's.

jeepboy1990

thanks for the great advice

scbmx87

If you have skid plates that will help protect your rig from serious damage on the rocks.