The frame on Cadillac Hill is actually a Cadillac. I am the caretaker and a property owner of Rubicon Springs. The wheel base was measured and confirmed that the frame is that of a Cadillac. We also have one of the front wheels off the Cadillac which also confirms it is a Cadillac. Thank you.
I live about an hour away from the Loon Lake side of this trail and I consider it to be my sanctuary. It's where I find peace and solitude with myself and the world around me. I have so many unforgettable memories on this trail dating back to September 2001 when I wheeled it for the first time.
Use to go on the Rubicon with a CJ 7 in the late 70's seemed like every weekend we were on that trail during the summer.. We always did the difficult Slouch no one in group ever was winched. I learned the big rock at Cadillac Rock is now gone. I was always a little more nervous there than anywhere else on the trail. I had a lot of great memories on the Rubicon. In February of this year I got a Jeep it's a 2001 and love it but, don't think it will go over the Rubicon since I'm in my senior years. Have fun and be safe. Oh, and never had a dent in our jeep from Rubicon.
Did the Rubicon almost 40 years ago in my 83 Toyota pu truck. It had 31" tires with a 3" lift and a Detroit locker in the rear and TRD limited slip in the front. No winch. Along with a couple of buddies, who also had Toyotas we made it through with no body damage or broken parts. A picture of my truck going through Little Sluice is in an old issue of FourWheel Drive magazine.
Today is Thursday, 6-23-2022. Today will be the first time I'll try doing the Rubicon Trail in my 2001 Ford Explorer Sport...the Explorer with the short wheelbase. I have oversize tires, and no special fluid in the limited-slip differential so that it almost functions like a locker differential. My vehicle has a winch with 95 feet of cable. There are 120 feet of 3" tow straps in 30 feet sections, and a couple of 20 foot straps. I've done a lot of 4wheeling is some very rough areas and feel that I'm safe to try the Rubicon. I have a couple of shovels, an axe, food and water. To rule out engine problems, the radiator, water pump, thermostat, and hoses are new. I'm carrying four gallons of drinking water, one gallon of anti-freeze, a PLB, a CB Walki Talki, a Talk About two way, a complete tool set, an extra alternator, food and cooking gear. I should be at Loon Lake at about noon.
UPDATE: Big, big mistake. It took me 14 hours to cross the wall next to Buck Island Lake where people were camping and having fun swimming. I went for about another mile, getting worn out from having to winch myself over large rocks and old lava humps. I sensed that the only way to continue was to winch myself all the way to Lake Tahoe! I finally gave up and turned around because I was worn out doing all that winching....about 30-40 times! Three 5 gallons of gas cans were used up. I was seriously thinking that I may have to hike out! To make a long story short, my Explorer Sport has so much damage to the frame and lower body that I may simply sell it to the wrecking yard. The engine and transmission are in great shape and don't even seep oil. Both are bone dry. Between 5,000 mile oil changes, the oil dip stick may go down about 1/8 th of an inch, if that because the engine had been rebuilt about 60,000 miles earlier. 213,800 miles on the odometer now. The transmission had also been overhauled at about the same time and functioned flawlessly. I applied for a bank loan to purchase a properly equipped Jeep. This experience has taught me much of what I didn't know before, so it hasn't been a total waste. I shall be back to finish crossing the Rubicon, but this time knowing what I'm doing.
@@douglasrodrigues8361 wow what an experience! It sounds like you have a great attitude though, and honestly that is the most important thing to bring on any trip.
Idk why I watch videos about the rubicon when I only live 45 mins from the trail out my front door 😂😂 I love the rubicon I live in pollock pines and spend dam near every weekend out there I love it so much. Great video and keep up the great videos 👌
Great video. I ran the rubicon in 2014 and 2019 in my 2001 XJ .No real damage or issues to speak of, I had a 4 inch lift and 33’s with a rear locker. 2014 was sporty because it rained nearly the whole trip. Sold that Jeep, hope to take our 2003 Rubicon TJ out there some day. Great trail. Cheers!
Hi there. I just found your channel. This is one of the best Rubicon videos I’ve seen. I live in Auburn and have never been on the Rubicon Trail because I’ve always had full-size trucks. I’m shopping jeeps now and plan on doing some rock crawling in the future. Maybe I’ll bump into you on one of the trails. I’m gonna check out some more of your videos. Thank you. Jim
Man me and the family are heading up Jun 1 but we are going it alone I know this says never alone but I think there will. E pep to help if needed. Hopefully lol
I grew up in Somerset NJ and moved to Las Vegas in 1999. The west has endless trails. I got into off roading and can't get enough of it. The places and scenery you can explore are worth every penny spent
I missed a opportunity to buy a long wheel base 2 door rubicon 4-5 years ago I still kick myself for not going to at least look at it. Was 500 kms away but looked in great shape. Obviously it sold quick and I missed my chance. Probably never have another chance to find one. At least in that condition. Great video!
Great video! I’ve been a passenger on the rubicon 3 times now, and have been saving to get a JLU of my own. I’m currently weighing the pros/cons of EcoDiesel vs 4xe vs Hemi. Any and all suggestions would be helpful, I’m sure folks here have opinions 😏 thanks!
Honestly I really like the 3.6L engine. The EcoDiesel is ok but weighs 450 pounds more than the gas V6 and costs $3500 more. I’m excited to test drive the 4xe next month and will definitely report back with my impressions.
I have a 4xe so can speak to that.. bottom line, I’d only recommend it if you have many short commutes and access to chargers. Otherwise, it’s not that efficient.
0:59 loon lake isn’t the historic start. Wentwprth is. 2:10 if you have first timers you can base camp at loon and go out wentworth 3:07 soup bowl is from someone driving off the trail at one point and people followed, stuff like that ruins it for others. 4:25 there have been two bypasses for little sluice 4:45 have run a ‘56 CJ-5 with 32 in tires and limited slip front and rear 5:27 old sluice is another route that people created in the last 20 years 7:41 Are they charging to camp at Buck Island yet? 8:10 there were no names for parts of the rubicon til about 15-20 years ago. Why does every obstacle have to have a name? The whole trail is an obstacle now it so torn up 10:35 How did he slid off the trail right there? 13:10 How much is it to camp at the springs? 14:13 it was a Cadillac not a LaSalle why else would it be called Cadillac rock? My dad ran the trail when it was a whole Cadillac 15:43 observation point it the Helicopter Pad The rest of the trail from their use to be a smooth dirt road out not it’s a constant rocks
Iirc the LJ and TJ rear air locker has a helical diff when unlocked. That would explain why your LJ didn’t need the lockers as much as other unlocked rigs
Great video! I appreciate how straight forward it was and that it wasn’t drowned out with music. That said, I really would like to ask you for your advice. My father and I didn’t have enough time to tackle this trail together, so I want to ensure that I get to show my Wife and Son this in a few years. We purchased a classic XJ for our project, and I’d like to know what you’d recommend for a good recipe of parts/gearing. (I figured: long-arms, 33”-35” MT’s, 4.56’ish gearing, stronger axles and steering, upgraded brakes, body armor, and winch.)
Possibly the best video I've ever seen you do👍👍 I'm building a 2002 jeep tj sport . I'm installing a 5" LCG PRO long arm lift kit from Teraflex and I was planning to run 35" ridge Grapplers. 488s with front and rear lockers.. so my question is this,,,, Would I be able to run this trail as effective as you did with 35" tires?? Or am I just going to hang up and cause a bunch of damage?
Love the LJ. I have the same one - red, high line kit, I’m running 35s though. A very capable rig. Nice video. I live in Carson and have only been to rubicon springs and back from Tahoe.
Who makes the roll bar storage bag in the LJ? would like to have one of those. Fordyce should be the next trail. And great video, refreshing to watch an off road video with someone who is well spoken doing the commentary and no obligatory vlogger dub step music.
Haha thanks! The bag is from Bestop, it really comes in handy with the limited space inside the Jeep. I’ll try to do a Fordyce video in the spring, I’ve got lots of tips for where to camp and hidden mine shafts along the trail.
Thanks, Harry. Amazing video that’s fun, entertaining and informative at the same time ! I’m now a fan, and a subscriber, of your channel. I have a question - I’m a Jeep newbie and have never really done any technical rock crawling before, but I like to think that I’m a decent driver :-) I just got a used 2018 JLUR that ‘s a 6-speed manual (v6) that came with the Jeep steel bumpers all around. I got it lifted with 2.5” Metalcloak game changer kit, brand new 37” Falken Wildpeak ATs and a gear box brace (steersmarts). With these AT tires and the OEM steel bumpers, is this rig good enough for me to do the entire Rubicon trail ? Do I need to add any other armor or change the tires to MT to minimize any potential damage (since this is my 1st Jeep and my daily driver) ? I’m signed up for the Jeep Jamboree next week and am going with an experienced friend who will be my passenger and spotter.
Is this trail possible in a 2 door JK with 33s, a 2 inch lift and no lockers? Thinking about getting a locker for the rear diff. Don’t see the point to adding a locking diff to the Dana 30
I think you could make it through with open diffs Austin but the rear locker will definitely make it easier. Just take your time and go with a spotter you trust and remember to have fun!
I went through this summer with a 2nd Gen on 37s. He had to be careful about when he used the front locker so it didn’t bind up but he made it without any breakage.
When traveling from out of town on there a place to park pickup/motorhome? And once completed the trail from loon lake to Tahoe , what is the best way to get back? On the hwy or just run the trail in reverse? Thanks
Great question Tyler. There is tow rig and trailer parking at each end of the trail, but it is limited and fills up on busy summer weekends. Driving around takes about three hours, it is a super pretty drive but unfortunately not very direct. If you have the time, doing the trail both directions is a lot of fun.
There is parking at the chalet before the dam and then parking down at the bottom of the dam as well. On busy weekends if you come in late you will usually have to park by the chalet.
Most people who trailer go out the same way they go in, back to the trailer. You can drive around on pavement but it isn’t very direct, it takes about two hours on winding roads.
Great question Gary I should have included that. The trail itself is 15.5 miles long and then there is another 5 miles of dirt at the Tahoe end before you get to the pavement.
@@ericsscout one night on the trail at Buck Island or Rubicon Springs is pretty typical. From Reno it takes three hours to get to Loon Lake, that is why I typically go up after work and camp at the trail head.
Its not uncommon at all. 99% of the time there is great cooperation in letting opposing groups work around. All of the rigs that get trailered to the start have to go back out.
If you run the trail backwards you want to be conscious of when you do it. I wouldn't try to go in backwards on a Sunday when people are coming out, but on a week day you are usually fine. As said you just need to be patient and friendly and find places to pull off and let people pass if you encounter traffic. The same goes for groups going slower or faster than you in the same direction.
