Has anyone run the Rubicon Trail in an LR3 or LR4?

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San Moritz LR4

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Looking to see if anyone has run the Rubicon Trial in a LR3 or LR4. I’m warming up to the idea of tackling the Rubicon. Would like to know what trails would be a good prerequisite before planning such endeavor.
 

greiswig

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It's been quite awhile since I ran it, and that was in a heavily-modified Isuzu Amigo. The short wheelbase, really low gearing (142:1 in lowest range) and big tires helped a lot.
Unless it's changed substantially since then, and unless a) you're a very good offroad driver b) with a good spotter, and c) that there are bypasses to take around the gnarlier obstacles

...unless those things and some more, I'd expect quite a bit of damage to the vehicle.
 

mm3846

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Someone did it in a LR3 years ago, and it was an event. I believe they ripped off a LCA and broke an air strut. That may have been the fault of the poly bushes, but it is a HARD trail for a rig like these.


 
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CRYA

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Our Club runs it annually, and they highly discourage anything under 35" tires and actually won't allow most 319s to participate. Last year the Newfender called "Kong" heavily modified by Lucky 8 ran it. The Rubicon does have many bypasses, but you're going to beat the **** out of your rig if you do it. There are plenty of other more suitable trails to run. http://rovicon.org/
 

San Moritz LR4

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It's been quite awhile since I ran it, and that was in a heavily-modified Isuzu Amigo. The short wheelbase, really low gearing (142:1 in lowest range) and big tires helped a lot.
Unless it's changed substantially since then, and unless a) you're a very good offroad driver b) with a good spotter, and c) that there are bypasses to take around the gnarlier obstacles

...unless those things and some more, I'd expect quite a bit of damage to the vehicle.
Hmm. Not quite the answer I was hoping for. A lot of ifs. It does give me pause. But, I’m still pondering the possibility….

I see I am gonna have to seriously think this one out.
 

CRYA

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Hmm. Not quite the answer I was hoping for. A lot of ifs. It does give me pause. But, I’m still pondering the possibility….

I see I am gonna have to seriously think this one out.
Even if you decide to, on 32s or 33s, DO NOT run it solo. You're just asking for trouble. Aside from Fordyce, it's probably one of the top 3 most difficult in the state.
 

San Moritz LR4

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Our Club runs it annually, and they highly discourage anything under 35" tires and actually won't allow most 319s to participate. Last year the Newfender called "Kong" heavily modified by Lucky 8 ran it. The Rubicon does have many bypasses, but you're going to beat the **** out of your rig if you do it. There are plenty of other more suitable trails to run. http://rovicon.org/
Hmm. Well that was a little discouraging. I am beginning to see a trend here. My rig sits on 32 1/2” tires. A tad short of your prerequisite tire size. I see I’ll have to consider this indulgence very carefully.

I would be very happy to take to bypasses when the choice is offered. Seems to me that I would need to ride shotgun with someone first before committing myself to the next step.

I’ll check out this link you sent me. Thanks.
 

CRYA

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You can get your tires onto the trail as part of the Blackwood Canyon trail which we can do, and then tell people you did "part of the Rubicon" :rofl:
 

San Moritz LR4

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Even if you decide to, on 32s or 33s, DO NOT run it solo. You're just asking for trouble. Aside from Fordyce, it's probably one of the top 3 most difficult in the state.
I agree. Going solo is a non starter. The Rubicon is legendary - and it’s precisely for that reason that I would like to traverse the trail. But, this is going to take some serious effort to get my LR4 “Rubicon ready”. I think it would be prudent to work my way through progressively more difficult trails before committing myself to the challenge of the Rubicon Trail.
 

Longtrail

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Someone did it in a LR3 years ago, and it was an event. I believe they ripped off a LCA and broke an air strut. That may have been the fault of the poly bushes, but it is a HARD trail for a rig like these.



The photos and videos are insane, absolute respect to the guys who did it; I'm happy to be an armchair spectator on this one!
 

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