Hi All,

I'm expecting this to be a huge discussion. Please keep on topic.

I have a crazy/Epic plan to do the Rubicon Trail with a Stock 2001 Discovery II in the next couple of years. This LR does have CDL.

1. Are there DII owners out there that have done this? Please explain in detail some of the things I should know before taking on an expedition such as this.

2. What should I do to the DII that would still be considered STOCK. What add-ons? Extra Gas? Drive shafts? Tools? Size tire? Stuff of this nature.

3. Is this even realistically possible?

Thanks!

 

I have run the trail with my 99 D2, lifted, locked, geared, winch, sliders, diff guards and lockers and would never suggest you run it with any thing less bottom line.

 

I've seen videos from the trail, I too would not do it without plenty of armour, a bit of lift, aggressive tires, lockers, etc.

 

I agree with you guys, but I'm still wondering if it's been done or attempted. I'm pretty sure in the end that I will outfit my LR... I just figured that it would be a fun topic to entertain.

 

You can run it stock but your experience will be characterized by two things:

1. Upset people waiting in a long line behind you while you screw around solving the problems you could have avoided if you were prepared. No kidding, you can have 60 cars pile up behind you on that trail if you're taking too long and don't move out of the way, in which case you'll just be waiting a lot.

2. Body damage.


The point is not to say that you "need" to do all these "mods" to your Disco. There's nothing "wrong" with a stock D2, and if you had the Rubicon trail all to yourself, some driving skill, and some people to help with recovery operations, it could go ok. But it doesn't work that way. You can't consider the Rubicon trail like it's just you and the trail and you're going to take as long as you want to do it right. It's popular and there's pressure. You might not be able to sit around for half an hour thinking about a solution to your predicament and "trying something" without upsetting a lot of other users. There's pressure, and if you're inexperienced that's going to quickly lead to rocks on the doors and quarter panels.

FWIW, I have not driven my Discovery through there. I don't care for crowded trails and long lines. If you have a rig like Mike's, you might get through there without too much drama but there's never a guarantee. Maybe the pinion angle from the 3" lift catches up to you and you pop a driveshaft. Maybe you put the front wheel up against a rock face and frag a birfield that's been waiting to go. Maybe a rock catches your tranny pan and the valve body. Just because you get a locker to get over an obstacle without all the wheelspin doesn't mean you won't break the axle now. I've dealt with problems like those, and if I have to, I don't want to have a line piling up behind me as well. That's not to say I don't think other wheelers would be helpful. I am sure they'd do everything they could to help, but that would mostly consist of helping to get me out of the way and wish me luck because they didn't bring any rover parts with them.

 

Great Points.

Too much lift and over-sized tires can cause a snow ball effect. Making it necessary to upgrade parts throughout the drivetrain. There must be a happy medium. Max sized tires for stock axles... Max lift for stock shafts. In effect it's oversized tires that make you change the gearing.

What kind of underside protection would someone need for the Rubicon?

What other trails are available?(maybe closer to the east coast)

Best time of year for Rubicon?

 

Where are you located Dean?

 

Moncton N.B. Canada

 

Well seeing as how you're only 5 hours from Benton, Maine, where the Winter Romp is; and 50 hours from the Rubicon trail, I suggest you go to Winter Romp!

 

Which btw the rubicon trip would be roughly 2750 in gas alone.