- First Name
- Caleb
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2021
- Threads
- 41
- Messages
- 865
- Reaction score
- 2,475
- Location
- Sacramento
- Vehicle(s)
- 2021 Bronco/1996 Jeep XJ/1957 FC-150
- Your Bronco Model
- Big Bend
- Thread starter
- #1
Hey y’all, finally got back out for some Rubicon redemption after a friend (broncodetours), hit me up to go tackle it last minute. @Snacktime and @SS Bronco @NORCALGXP and @Brandon Miller couldn't make it out so off I went with just the two Broncos.
We hit the trail 10am on Thursday and originally intended on just an in and out but at camp at Buck Island decided to continue pushing through as we were making good time and the only ones in sight along the trail except a F-550 poop truck (that ironically had a Bronco Built Wild sticker on it
. It also meant that the only vehicles in the trail for a minute were Fords Take that Jeep.
All in all, we had a fantastic time and I put all my armor to the test.
My friend was on 35’s running ADS suspension, Core 4x4 arms, JCR front bumper and ADD rear. Metaltech sliders and RCI skids. No issues on the trail though he had to go a good bit slower as he had never been on before and this was his hardest off-road trail to date plus the almost stock height. Very impressed with his wheeling and he made it through with only slight body rash!
I was on 37’s, Metalcloak bumpers, Califabrication sliders, Talons garage transmission skid and random assortment of other armor from Ford and Icon. King suspension tuned by Accutune and a few other odds and ends.
I was on a mission to test my sliders and showcase how they should be built to be used as a tool as much as they are for armor as well. I’ve seen too many sliders bending into the body on the Broncos.
I smacked hard multiple times, used them as pivot points, used the kick outs to push my tire away, even fell between two rocks hard and became wedged on the sliders once. Not a single issue, they held their shape and kept me trucking and off the rocks. Same for the Metaltech sliders.
I also wanted to test my Talons garage transmission skid so I set the Bronco down on it twice to see how it would hold… it held
Metalcloak rear bumper dragged a few times but no issues. Front bumper had clearance for days and it barely kissed the rocks.
I’m also very happy with my Foutz lower control arm gussets up front. No more bending my brackets on the rocks!
After doing the rubicon many times in my Jeep, I’ve noticed a few things.
The Jeep is faster and easier to navigate the obstacles. The Bronco, however, was very stable, landed well coming off the rocks without any sway (I credit the accutune kings for that) and was waaay more comfortable on the trail. If pressed to pick between the two for the Rubicon it would be a hard choice. It just planted when landing off an obstacle vs my Jeep that would bounce around and sway.
I only felt sketched out once trying an obstacle I probably had no business trying and honestly felt more confident about avoiding damage then in my Jeep (due to the sway).
All in all I had a blast and didn’t retain any body damage. I did start to crack my rear, upper control arm bracket as I’ve seen happen to a few earlier Broncos now. I’m told they now have gussets to prevent this. Guess I’ll have to add my own. Here are some photos and some of my rock scrapes. Can’t wait to go again!
We hit the trail 10am on Thursday and originally intended on just an in and out but at camp at Buck Island decided to continue pushing through as we were making good time and the only ones in sight along the trail except a F-550 poop truck (that ironically had a Bronco Built Wild sticker on it
. It also meant that the only vehicles in the trail for a minute were Fords Take that Jeep. All in all, we had a fantastic time and I put all my armor to the test.
My friend was on 35’s running ADS suspension, Core 4x4 arms, JCR front bumper and ADD rear. Metaltech sliders and RCI skids. No issues on the trail though he had to go a good bit slower as he had never been on before and this was his hardest off-road trail to date plus the almost stock height. Very impressed with his wheeling and he made it through with only slight body rash!
I was on 37’s, Metalcloak bumpers, Califabrication sliders, Talons garage transmission skid and random assortment of other armor from Ford and Icon. King suspension tuned by Accutune and a few other odds and ends.
I was on a mission to test my sliders and showcase how they should be built to be used as a tool as much as they are for armor as well. I’ve seen too many sliders bending into the body on the Broncos.
I smacked hard multiple times, used them as pivot points, used the kick outs to push my tire away, even fell between two rocks hard and became wedged on the sliders once. Not a single issue, they held their shape and kept me trucking and off the rocks. Same for the Metaltech sliders.
I also wanted to test my Talons garage transmission skid so I set the Bronco down on it twice to see how it would hold… it held
Metalcloak rear bumper dragged a few times but no issues. Front bumper had clearance for days and it barely kissed the rocks.
I’m also very happy with my Foutz lower control arm gussets up front. No more bending my brackets on the rocks!
After doing the rubicon many times in my Jeep, I’ve noticed a few things.
The Jeep is faster and easier to navigate the obstacles. The Bronco, however, was very stable, landed well coming off the rocks without any sway (I credit the accutune kings for that) and was waaay more comfortable on the trail. If pressed to pick between the two for the Rubicon it would be a hard choice. It just planted when landing off an obstacle vs my Jeep that would bounce around and sway.
I only felt sketched out once trying an obstacle I probably had no business trying and honestly felt more confident about avoiding damage then in my Jeep (due to the sway).
All in all I had a blast and didn’t retain any body damage. I did start to crack my rear, upper control arm bracket as I’ve seen happen to a few earlier Broncos now. I’m told they now have gussets to prevent this. Guess I’ll have to add my own. Here are some photos and some of my rock scrapes. Can’t wait to go again!
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