I'm thinking around late summer I'd like to do a road trip down to Lake Tahoe and check out the Rubicon Trail. Has anyone from the PNW made this trip?? My goal is to have my XJ in EXCELLENT mechanical condition to make the trip down, run the Rubicon and make the trip back with no worries. I plan on connecting with a few locals down there, to kind of guide me around the trails and get the best experience.
Let me know if youre interested, cause a caravan is always more fun than going it alone.

 

I had thought about headin down there sometime this summer. I might wait til next summer thou because of work

 

id love to go...not sure on timing and result of how are things going to look by then. ill keep ya posted. check back in when the time is closer...

 

I would love to tag along if everything works out.

 

I will be down in Fallon Nevada for work 3-24 August. I was planning on pulling my Jeep down there behind my truck on a trailer so I can play during my off time while there. In Fallon I am only a 1 hour drive from the Rubicon Trail head on the Southwest corner of Lake Tahoe near Tahoma, Ca. So I am in for a Rubicon Trail run definitely if you decide to do it during that time frame in August. I also know a guy from the forum who Goes by RenoXJ. I'm sure he would join us. he is a great guy. I've wheeled with him when I was there before.

 

I drove my Jeep when I was down there before a couple of years ago. That is a long haul to make in your Jeep but it can be done.

Here are a couple of pics I took at the Rubicon Trail trail head last time I was down there. I only had a Chevy Malibu rental car or I would have gone farther.

 

Is it possible to go down their and like "drive" the Rubicon, or a lot of it, without really wheeling the **** out of your rig?

I ask because I've thought of doing a trip like this, but can't imagine the headache of breaking the rig down their or something.

 

wondering the same thing?

 

The hole town is based around offroad wheeling, so lots of parts available. Also, we will be going with people who are very experienced with the trail and rigs. There are websites that tell you exactly what you need to have a successful trip. This is not a day trip to the local mud hole. This is a full blown adventure, that I'm sure will have all kinds of excitement and surprises. Preparation is key and will not be taken lightly. Anyone who wishes to go with needs to be equally or more serious about there jeep than I am.
I've been on lots of road trips, most well over 2,000 miles, so this 14 hour car ride will be like a trip to the corner store. I'll definitely be hitting the local trails around Washington pretty hard, so we'll have to meet up and start planning.

 

Get that 91 trail ready and let's go wheeling, MAN!!!!!!!!!!

 

I forgot to post this pic of this poor broke down XJ that some guy left on the Rubicon Trail about a 100 yards up the trail past the trail head. I thought it very ironic that I am an XJ owner and the one rig I see that day was an XJ and it was broken and left on the trail. Like Matt said, those who come along on this adventure, especially all the way from Washington, will need to be prepared. Everything needed to fix an XJ is available in Reno, and my Bud (RenoXJ) works at the Summit Racing store in Reno and he knows all of the local places to get anything on an XJ fixed. So bring spare parts and tools AND your plastic for emergencies. That trip back home can get VERY long with an XJ suffering from un-fixed trail damage.

 

Although I am still in the process of building my jeep (done next month). Will a XJ with RC 4.5, 33's, and aussie lockers front and rear do fine on the rubicon? If so, I would like to tag along. Loon Lake is an awesome lake to spend a couple days camping also. I also need to find a winch. if I dont have one by then, am I SOL? haha

 

If it doesnt i would blame the driver lol. Ive never actually been there but and xj locked front and rear can hang with the best of em!

 

Also have a well maintained rig is also half the battle. Cracked hoses and belts, poor brakes, and old fluid can always be recipes for disaster.

 

there are go arounds at alot of major parts.
but some dont have go arounds.

simply put anyone is lucky to make it thru the entire rubicon without some sort of mark or scratch or dent or major ****up.

last time i went up we only made it about 20% before my buddies steeringbox ripped off.
we had to suck it back in place as best as possible with a winch.. ( screwed up the cable doing it too. ) and limp back to camp and throw it on the trailer..

a trailer is definitely a good idea if your needing to drive all the way back to washington.. but it is possible to make it thru and drive home.

id say 35s, lockers and 4.56 gears minimum.
you could probly make it with 33s tho.
deff want skids for t-case and gas tank. and anything else you can skid.
rock sliders are recommended, ive seen doors become permanently shut because they didnt have sliders.
and you want at least one winch in the group. ideal if everyone has there own.


all in all rubicon is an awesome fun trail,
and if your a 4wheelin fanatic i definitely recommend doing it at some point.
just go prepared for anything.

oh and count me in! just gimme a date asap so i can plan it out.