New Video!!! The Rubicon Trail Stock Bronco Raptor

[userdude]

nope, couple blown racks (extreme crawling) but not really an issue, but I think most of the early wheeling with the braptors have been on 37-39s. I carry a spare as I bought an extra one early on just to have it.

The only reports of Braptor's breaking tie rods I trust were some guys at Merus talking about Braptor's at Wolf Caves (one guy said he'd helped some of them fix it), which is a tough, hardcore place to wheel. I can only imagine what they got into there.

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[popo_patty]

Awesome and thank you again! On the general advice and crawling versus throttling out, I’m with you there. Specific to the Rubicon and spots that are tight, I

For October I’ll shoot you a pm or post to see if anyone else is game to join in the fun

For the fenders, I don’t mind some scratches and picking up a new set of outer fenders afterwards would probably be easier than anything I’d be able to get fabricated. I may keep a set of ‘Moab —> Rubicon fenders for trips with skinny trails.

Cheers!

Depending on my schedule if you’re looking for someone to go through with you I’m down. I live here and go a few times a year in the Jeep and Bronco. I’ve brought a friend in a Raptor part way though and do trail guiding on it quite a bit. Just let me know, feel free to DM.

 

[RallyRaptors]

Depending on my schedule if you’re looking for someone to go through with you I’m down. I live here and go a few times a year in the Jeep and Bronco. I’ve brought a friend in a Raptor part way though and do trail guiding on it quite a bit. Just let me know, feel free to DM.

@popo_patty - thank you for the offer and I will definitely reach out when I get a firm window to see if it works for you. Would be awesome to go with someone who is local and has guided a Raptor through even a portion. Cheers in advance!

 

[Hkak45]

Is that the JCR winch mount you are using?

 

[LanceIto]

RC high winch mount

 

[JohnGalt]

I am surprised I haven't destroyed mine yet, but it needs one.

Skid to cover mufflers seems like it would trap a lot of heat. I’ve learned if I have to take a big rock down the middle, keep it to the passenger side

 

[JohnGalt]

1) Beyond tie rods, the exhaust, and parts you mentioned pulling, are there any parts (especially specific skids) you’d want to add before another run?

I would keep the stock tie rods but carry a spare. My spare arrived yesterday. The BRaptor inner tie rods are STOUT. The standard badlands inner tie rod pales in comparison. I didn't hero pedal through anything. Use your lockers wisely and you can crawl through any obstacle. Remember Hero pedal breaks shit!!!! If your tires slip you may need a controlled bump or better yet a slightly different line. If you start to bounce STOP!!! Collect yourself re-evaluate your line and take your time.

I am considering a rear diff skid and may consider rock sliders that extend further beyond the body. But these aren’t must haves if you take your time and ask for a spot when you need it.

2) For the bypasses on little and big Sluice, any photos or short videos you can share before the big reveal / full edit next month?

Since I ride with a YouTuber I literally dont take any photos or videos and I love it!!! I will see if he will feed me some Raptor porn footage to share here. Stand by

3) If, hypothetically you had pulled the fenders and were running a Braptor fender delete (know it doesn’t exist and not sure I can get one done in time), would you have been able to run Little and Big Sluice? Or would that lack of wide fenders atleast make the bypasses easier?

Actually fenders are awesome if you are slow and deliberate and don't care if you have a few scratches on the plastic. They actually popped off several times when I contacted rocks but they snapped right back in. They are a real good feeler device. You can touch with them before destroying a door or qtr panel. I actually did big sluice there is no bypass. I didn't do the v notch on Big Sluice because the tires wouldn’t fit through and if i would have climbed a side I would have destroyed a body panel. There was no “bypass” to this v notch I had to find a way. it was rough but I had a good spotter and took my time. The BRaptor is a beast!!!!

Regarding Little Sluice, one of the “trail stewards” old timers helping on the JKU roll over explicitly and adamantly said to my friend in the 392 on 38s “do not take any stock drivetrain vehicles including JKUs with dana 44s into Little Sluice. They are tired of rescuing broken rigs.” I took his advice and pass it on to you. And as I said and he stated….the short Little Sluice bypass is NOT easy!!!!!

If you’re up for another run through later this year (I’m aiming for mid October but TBD) let me know!

I would love to go, keep me posted. October is hunting season for me but if I fill my tag I may be free.

Another bit of advice…..this trail is relentless allow for extra days. The section from the Buck Island Dam to Big Sluice was brutal but awesome!!!!! It took several hours for like a 1/4 mile section. We bypassed Kauffmans Corner that looked too narrow for the BRaptor. Walk it and make your own decision. We camped at the bottom of rhe bypass it was one of my favorite spots of all time. We also stopped on a big open slab of granite had lunch and swam in the gorgeous Buck Island Lake. Breaks like that keep you in the game mentally. A mental lapse can be the difference in getting out without damage!!!

I’ve run up past the ledges on a day trip into the Rubicon, looking forward to doing the rest. Lots of great feedback here. Thanks.

Im surprised you’re not considering the rear lower control arm bracket skids after your trip. The brackets are very steep on the Raptor, hang low and don’t have any protection. I’ve installed those, shock mount skids and diff skids from FMI, RCI frame mount sliders and a ADD rear bumper to address all the usual suspects. And they’re all earning their keep, but the skids do generate more hits than before since they reduce clearance.

 

[JohnGalt]

Depending on my schedule if you’re looking for someone to go through with you I’m down. I live here and go a few times a year in the Jeep and Bronco. I’ve brought a friend in a Raptor part way though and do trail guiding on it quite a bit. Just let me know, feel free to DM.

Hmmmm that truck looks familiar…I’m down to go the rest of the way! Can’t have enough Raptors right?

 

[RallyRaptors]

Hmmmm that truck looks familiar…I’m down to go the rest of the way! Can’t have enough Raptors right?

@JohnGalt - I'd love to join you for a full run! I'm going to try and swing out mid October (sometime the week of the 14th) so I'll reach out in a few weeks to check on your schedule.

And if he's still game and the timing works I already told @popo_patty that I would take him up on the offer of local expertise and spotting so that I can hopefully drive home, as opposed to needing a flatbed .

 

[LanceIto]

The first video of the Rubicon series posted….

 

[popo_patty]

The first video of the Rubicon series posted….

Great video!

 

[LanceIto]

Bump

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