On This Day, 2007 Rubicon
Summer 2007 trip to Cali to run the world famous Rubicon with some coworkers.
I recall leaving the Jeep at a shop for three weeks getting air lockers and new ring and pinion installed. Only for them to wrap that up just the day before this trip. So I spent the night driving around town to break in the gears at minimum recommendations before the long high speed drive out from SLC starting early the next day.
Following the long drive out and camping near the start of the trail, day One on the trail wasn't too bad but with just a driver in each vehicle we didn't have much going for spotters other than to stop and help each other through, this left me watching lines taken by the rig ahead, deciding on and memorizing the next line I would drive, while remembering the last line I picked as it has disappeared under the hood, it was quite the mental workout.
The Jeep and lockers performed well, the Tacoma in our group though taller than my XJ, but with IFS in front, only a limited slip for some traction, and a worse departure angle, was the most challenged. We made it to camp near the little sluice without incident. After setting up camp the weekend local crowds showed up and continued to show up what felt like all night. Back then Little Sluice itself was a rock-crawler only buggy fest, I've heard since then that not long after, things were changed to make it more passable and keep the trail on route. We spent the afternoon and evening between fixing dinner, hiking about to see some views, and spectating at little sluice.
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