Rubicon Trail Run

[Witchdoctor]

Hi Guys,

Leaving for the States on the 11th August for 2 weeks. Hiring a small SUV for the time we are there.
We will be staying with a mate in Elk Grove & using his place as a base for our excursions, hoping to have a look
around Yosemite for a couple of days. Then a drive up the coast North to Eureka then back.
Our friend has organised a 4 day run through the Rubicon Trail & i'm really looking forward to this adventure, we also have good friends
that are from Mt Tambourine meeting us for the Rubicon run. It looks like we have around 10 local trucks joining the Aussies for this
off road blast.
I will post some images when we return.

Cheers
David

[geeves]

Rubicon is the most fun you can have in a 4wd without mud
enjoy your trip

[Isuzumu]

Have a great trip guys. One favour David could you ask heaps of questions on the new Jeep Grand Cherokee, what do the Yanks think of them? Would like to buy one but am a little worried about Jeep's reliability

[Witchdoctor]

Bruce,

Half the trucks joining us are Jeep nuts, so email me the questions & i will do my best.
We are really excited about the trip.
I have purchased some new video gear just for this trip so i'm hoping to be able
to put a nice dvd together on our return.

Cheers
David

[Witchdoctor]

In California,
This a very interesting place, the driver sits on the wrong side of their vehicles & drives on the wrong side of the road.
Tools are very cheep, loads of large 4x4's.
Bruce we have hired a Jeep 4x4 Liberty, very nice only 5900miles on it.

Cheers
David

[Isuzumu]

Good one David, what is the Liberty? they do not have that model here.
Any Guys have a great time and we want to see heaps of photos.

[Witchdoctor]

Hey Bruce i think the Liberty is our Cherokee.
Now i'm very impressed, the auto gearbox is smooth with change ups, brakes are fantastic & the steering is accurate, the ride is very good, now saying that it could do with stiffer shocks in the front.
The 6 cylinder is a little thirsty, if i was getting one it would need to have the diesel engine.
If i had a gripe it would be the drivers seat could not be adjusted right to my required position. they are still very comfy & we have been in the seat now for 6 days & about 1000 miles, from Sacramento south to Pebble Beach then north to Eureka
If i was looking for a mid size truck this would be a good starting point, i'v always had a spot for the Jeeps.

Cheers
David

[Isuzumu]

Thanks for that David, the build quality is still a worry though, time will tell on that.

[Witchdoctor]

We finished the Rubicon!

Boy what a ride that was, we had 6 trucks in our group all were Toyota 4runner or Hilux. The Trail carnage was higher that i expected with 1 busted birfield on the 2nd day another on the last day & a rollover also on the last day. The birfields took about 3hours each to replace & the rollover required half an hour using the trucks own winch.
Gotta go we are off to Yosemite NP, update soon.

Cheers
David

[geeves]

if you get to Utah have a go at Lions back. Its really just a simple climb except for the 200 foot drop immediately off the side of the track on both sides. Lots of youtubes about it