Some Valuable Info for Jeepers About a Little Off-Road Trail Called the Rubicon

Looking to buy one of the Jeeps for Sale in Colorado Springs so you can start hitting the off-road trails? If so, you’d probably be interested in learning about the most famous wheelin’ trail in the U.S., which is also often regarded as the most difficult – the Rubicon. It’s located in Sierra Nevada in the western part of the United States, and has every type of off-road obstacle imaginable. While it might be closed in the spring sometimes (to help prevent erosion) winter, fall, and summer are all excellent times to travel this trail. But before you jump out there and tackle it, you need to learn a little bit about it first. This trail is no joke, and Jeep uses it to test their vehicles for its exclusive Trail Rated badges.

The first step before going on any off-road adventure — regardless if you’re traversing the Rubicon or not — is vehicle preparation. However, since the Rubicon is a difficult 22-mile trail, being prepared for the trail ahead is even more important than just a day trip to your local off-road spot.

Vehicle Preparation — This Trail’s No Joke

On the Rubicon trail website (rubicontrail.org) you’ll find a list items you’ll need in order to ensure that your Jeep is ready to tackle the trail. Preparing your vehicle doesn’t mean just throwing a lift kit on it and calling it a day. Actually, if you have the driving skills, a new 2016 Wrangler Rubicon stock can traverse the trail safely, with only minor damage to the metal and paint.

But, you will also need vehicle accessories, like:

-hand tools

-spare parts

-onboard welder

-work gloves

-hi-lift jack

-roll cage

-good seat belts

-a functional parking brake/line lock device

-winch rated at roughly twice your vehicle’s weight

-spare tire

-tow strap

-extraction gear (tree strap, clevis, dowels, chains, etc.)

-tow hooks

While these are only a few of the accessories you’ll want to have on board (a spare phone, first aid kit, etc.), it’s still a good place to start. These pieces of gear fall under the “have it and not need it, than need it and not have it” category. After all, you don’t need a winch until you get stuck, or a spare tire until one blows.

While they aren’t required to go off-roading on the Rubicon, these are highly-suggested, handy items to have in a pinch. That way, you’re prepared for whatever might happen out there.

About the Trail

Let’s talk a little bit about the Rubicon trail. It’s a 22-mile trail, located in Sierra Nevada. It’s considered the grandad of all rock-crawling trails, and has been an off-road favorite for decades. Therefore, it’s understandable that you’ll find it on the bucket list of every and any die-hard off-roader. It’s not just used for off-roading, however, it’s also used for camping and hiking. Which is why if you do use it for off-roading, you make sure that you leave it just like you found it. Don’t leave any spare parts behind, or damage the environment around the trail.

This trail has been in use since the late 1800s, so it’s important to preserve it and the surrounding area as much as possible. In the 1920s, it was merely a gravel path traversed by two-wheel drive wagons. But today, it offers a much more challenging off-road adventure. One thing that makes this trail so unique (and dangerous, if not driven on carefully) is that it’s constantly changing. Sure, the path might stay the same — but the challenges change. Harsh winters and spring runoffs alter it yearly, and huge boulders split from the ice in the winter and then fall onto the trail. Trees will come down from wind or snow buildup, and a dry and dusty valley might be a muddy creek the next day. Speaking of snow, you’ll experience any type of weather on the Rubicon. It could be snowing one day, then in the mid 80s the next. Which is why it’s important to always prepare your vehicle, and yourself, for the trip.

Start by picking the entrance you’re going to use, since there are two entry points to the trailhead. A common one is accessed by crossing over the Loon Lake Dam, where a gravel road is lined with giant granite blocks. At the dam, you’ll find the last stretch of civilization. There is parking here, but keep in mind that you’re still in the middle of nowhere.

In recent years, the trail has been slightly changed so it’s a bit easier to conquer than it used to be. It’s still not an easy trail to navigate by any means. But, you don’t need a monster truck to make it through.

What Type of Jeep do you Need to Conquer the Rubicon?

A new 2016 Wrangler Rubicon could navigate the trail, with only minimum damage to the sheet metal if the operator knows how to safely and effectively traverse the bypasses, which means not doing anything too crazy. In order to help prevent damage, a set of 33” tires should be equipped to the Jeep, along with a 3” lift kit, rocker guards, and either a locking or limited slip differential.

But over the years, members of prestigious networks like FourWheeler, have taken everything from a near bone-stock ’71 Jeep CJ-6 to an overly modified full-size 4×4 on 40-inch tires through the trail. Therefore, it really isn’t about what you’re driving: it’s whether you have the experience and expertise needed to get through it.

The new Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, Renegade, and Wrangler all have Trail Rated badges, so you know they’re certified by Jeep to be able to make it through the harshest off-road conditions. Proof? They’ve all conquered the Rubicon Trail, of course. Therefore, if you have the know-how behind the wheel, you’ll be fine with any type of Trail Rated Jeep vehicle.

While you might not be able to climb over the bigger rocks or traverse the more advanced trails, you’ll still be able to take the bypass routes and make it through all 22-miles of this legendary Rubicon trail.