Jeep beats Rubicon Trail
Off-roading is something many look down upon — many say it is for those with big gussied-up rigs and knobby tires. I was in that camp until an extraordinary off-road experience changed my mind. As a part of the 10th anniversary of the introduction of the first Wrangler Rubicon, Jeep is at it again. The latest version, revealed at the Los Angeles Auto Show, takes a basic Wrangler and beefs it up to take its offroad ability to the next level.
Along with the Dana 44 front and rear axles with locking differentials, the 2013 Wrangler Rubicon earns a 4:1 rockcrawling transfer case ratio and a remote sway bar disconnect system. To minimize damage, it also gets a 13-millimetre increase in the ride height, steel bumpers and a full slate of skid plates and rub rails that protect the rocker panels. Throw on a set of LT265/70R17 BF Goodrich KM2 tires and there is very little that will stop Rubicon’s forward progress.
When the chance to drive the Rubicon Trail arrived, how could I refuse? This is the toughest off-road trail in North America; the Wrangler that bears its name is just as tough.
The Rubicon Trail involves coaxing a four-wheeled mule over, around and between boulders the size of small houses. The tough part is learning where to place the wheel(s) so that one does not rip the guts out of its underside.
It took 14 hours to negotiate 20 kilometres of torturous trail. That’s an average speed of less than 1.5 km/h.
One particularly difficult section of the trail involved driving toward two enormous boulders that towered over the Wrangler Rubicon and making a 90-degree left between the two while inching over a boulder that was waiting to wipe out the transfer case if the wheel placement was not millimetre-perfect — spinning the wheels at this juncture would have seen the Jeep slip off the rock and leave me hapless and high-centred. This is where I learned the value of Rubicon’s differential lockers — pushing a dash-mounted button engaged or disengaged the front and rear lockers as needed. I found it beneficial to keep the rear axle locked most of the time and just engage the front locker in particularly gnarly sections.
Reaching the overnight camp required negotiating a long downhill section called Little Sluice — very difficult and littered with boulders. Reaching camp, we parked, took a wellearned rest and prepared to conquer Cadillac Hill — arguably the trail’s most difficult section — in the morning.
Cadillac Hill features a series of switchbacks, exposed tree roots, off-camber climbs and yet more boulders. It winds its way up to Observation Point that gives a breathtaking view of the Rubicon Trail and surrounding area. From there, we took the gravel road back to Lake Tahoe and a well-deserved shower.
Tackling the Rubicon Trail proved to be the most fun I have had testing a new vehicle. The sense of accomplishment that comes with climbing the likes of Cadillac Hill gave me a high that is not soon going to be beaten.
The Wrangler Rubicon is a stalwart that takes things to a higher plane altogether. The proof of its off-road ability is found in the fact that a dozen pre-production vehicles navigated the entire trail without casualty. Indeed, the Rubicon’s new steel bumpers and side rub rails kept nature at bay and the rocker panels in one piece. Yes, there were a few scrapes on the skid plates, but that was it. Truly remarkable, given the extreme severity of the test.