So I just took a look at this thread by The Josh:

Rubicon Trail Trip Report

Is it just clever marketing then when Jeep claims that all the Wrangler Rubicons are tested on this trail? Where…the trailhead parking lot? I'd love to do this in the 4Runner, as I think the stock 'Runner can keep up & surpass a Wrangler, but this looks like a trail for serious rigs, not the occasional off-roader like me.

Am I missing something?

Yes, any Jeep that is trail rated is capable of completing the Rubicon. And if you think a stock 4Runner can out-wheel a Rubicon, you really need to take a Rubicon for a test drive.

And although it's not stock, there were about 5 stock Rubicons right behind me that took every line I did with no issues...

Do you even wheel, bro? Put down the Toyota fanboy hat and come back to earth.

Assuming equal drivers, a stock 4Runner doesn't come near a stock Wrangler in capability on the trail, and the idea of a showroom 4Runner in any trim competing with a Rubicon on a serious trail is just stupid. There's a lot of reasons 4Runners are superior to Jeep Wranglers, but offroad prowess is not one of them. Wranglers kill it offroad, and the Rubicon package dominates. Nothing else off the showroom floor comes close.

Now, there's more than one way to drive the Rubicon, and when Jeep takes their stock Wranglers out there to "trail test" them they take the easy lines and they still stack rocks. But I wouldn't want to even do that with any stock 4Runner. Actually that's not true, I would love to try that. But I wouldn't do it with a truck I cared about, because the odds would be real good it wouldn't come back in one piece.

Four wheeler took a stock 4runner trail out on the Rubicon a few years back. They said it did very well.
http://www.fourwheeler.com/vehicle-r...rubicon-trail/

But yeah, the Wrangler Rubicon is very good. A trail rated Jeep doesn't mean it can complete the Rubicon. It basically means it's a 4x4. I had a Jeep Liberty a few years ago that was "trail rated."

Good to know. Thanks for that. I did test drive an Unlimited Rubicon - and liked it. They were a little cramped though and we camp with a shit-ton of stuff on the regular plus tow a boat, so it was out of the question. I came from an FJ - a little better than stock (which I regularly out-wheeled Jeeps with) so the Wrangler was always high on the list. Like I said, in the end, it was space and towing capacity that killed it for me.

Toyota fanboy hat? Says the guy with 12,000 posts on a Toyota forum. Call the kettle black much do you? Yes, I wheel "bro"...you chisel-nutted milk-licker.

I agree though - I'd hate to do it in a truck I care about. The 4Runner is A LOT of lettuce to be tossing around on the trail. Maybe when the mortgage (I mean payments) are done I'll thrash it. Right now it's the daily driver that has to get us, our gear, canoes, trailer and kids all over the country.

Downhill from 12,000 feet towing a trailer with kids IS NOT the time to find out you FUBAR'd your undercarriage on the last adventure. I had an 87 like yours…drove that 4cyl 22R into a coma.

jus' saying there's no way I would take a new stock 'Runner on the Rubicon, it would take perfect and impeccable driving not to damage it or get it stuck . Could you thrash a new 'Runner it and drag it through the trail? probably , but a Jeep Rubi would get it done easier....

both rigs would not like this , good thing its optional

Yep, I stand corrected. It used to be their criteria but it looks like they changed it to a set standard for the less capable units that still function off-road.

From what I've heard running The Con on less than 35's is not as much fun as it is a chore. There's a pretty good Rubicon video from Terraflex on Youtube where he says at the end a 3-4" lift and 35's and you can make if through just fine (he's speaking to the JK crowd) but he also says a more or less stock JK Rubicon was in their group and he made it through but not without some scrape-age and sketchy moments. @bimrunner has done it in his 5th gen, but he has a very impressive rig.

I do the Rubicon every year....on my mountain bike. From a rig standpoint you could probably make it all the way to just before the sluice box... I have yet to see anything other than a highly modified rig make it through the sluice. Boulders the size of VW Bugs in a choke is the Sluice Box. Its awesome to watch though. I may venture to try some parts of the Rubicon now that I have some height and tires. Just need armor and I'll be good to go.

Some more Rubicon love , wish I was out there right now ....

Thanks for all the replies folks. Can any of you tell me where these videos were filmed? I realize it's a long trail & all - could be anywhere I guess, but it doesn't look anything like what you guys sent and seems pretty doable in the 'Runner. Like I said - am I missing something? Seriously. I'd LOVE to go out there & see this trail & the surroundings. Looking for local knowledge - not local legend. It's a long-ass drive from Miami.

https://youtu.be/2eyv7dzhSRU

https://youtu.be/9NprkxboCAY

Both videos look like parts of the Rubicon , maybe the area after (east) of Cadillac hill , closer to Lake Tahoe . That section is just a forest route . Once you go down Cadillac Hill , the rough stuff begins . None of the videos show any of the major obstacles or famous areas ....

Just going through the beginning parts before the granite drop off I was taking undercarriage hits. Saved by all that armor.

Next set of tires 35s, then I will put my BIG BOY pants on and run it.