propain
New member
Thanks for the advice. I'm not looking to speed on a 4x4 course, just wanted to make sure the truck could handle the courses :thumb:
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First time in a 4x4 Park/Track. Damage to be expected?
- Thread starter propain
- Start date
Thanks for the advice. I'm not looking to speed on a 4x4 course, just wanted to make sure the truck could handle the courses :thumb:
mace.
New member
Andy it's going to be like 0F degrees this weekend, we would meet you there, but we would like to camp there too, and its a little too cold for that. I think we will head there in a month or so..were going to camp there all weekend. I will msg you before we set a date and see if you want to meet up eventually.
Here is a stupid question, are there bears there on or around the courses? Would be good to know before hand, i dont need some bear come visit me in my tent..... HEY BEAR!!!
Hehe....
Check out twin grove campground for a nice place to stay. They even have cabin rentals for those that don't want to deal with tents. Just the bathrooms and showers alone are worth it over the RC parking lot.
Andy in Pa
New member
That is where we are staying tonight, a cabin at Twin Grove. Rates are cheap this time of year, and yes its entirely too cold to camp outside right now! Our goal is to not have too many reasons to be out of the 4r on Saturday.:clap2:
Yes, there are bears in RC, and quite a few too. Theres also lots of old strip mines and holes that make great bear dens. The bears do not often bother the campers but it does happen. It seems like they were more active this spring/summer/fall, probably due to the logging that happened in the main part of the park this past year.
Andy in Pa
New member
There really aren't courses, just lots of trails everywhere. As long as you stick to green trails you should be ok. Just dont let anyone talk you into doing something without at least getting out and looking it over first. A fun day can quickly turn into limping your busted mess of a vehicle out of the woods if your not careful.
spencenasty
New member
Eh, probably some pinstriping.
After the first time, you won't really care as much.
Take off the RB's and that hitch step.
After the first time, you won't really care as much.
Take off the RB's and that hitch step.
It really all depends on how you drive. I'd suggest wheel with a more timid group. If your friend spent that much on damage, then maybe he was going to hard, or being reckless. I've been there and never broke anything so far. The 5th gen runners are amazing, i'm sure you'll have a good time.
Shoot me a PM and let me know when you go to Rausch, i'd be down to join. I'm also waiting for the weather to get warmer since I like staying at Twin grove for the weekend.
Shoot me a PM and let me know when you go to Rausch, i'd be down to join. I'm also waiting for the weather to get warmer since I like staying at Twin grove for the weekend.
propain
New member
Spoke to my buddy with the '15 rubicon, asked him how he did it. I dont remember if he said he was on the black or green trail, think it was the black, but his rear diff slammed down on a rock and it busted the rear diff seals, he continued to drive not knowning the diffs seals were busted and fluids leaked out, he drove on the highway and it seized on him as he was driving, locking the rear tires lol....
Ouch!
Ouch!
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propain
New member
RB's and hitchstep are coming off.
Going to add Rocky supersliders. Going to order tommorow or maybe right now. Guess i can removed RB's and install the supersliders myself.
Does the spare tire under the truck get in the way??
Really look forward to going, cant wait!
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mace.
New member
Nope, I'm running the super sliders right now. I don't think any of the sliders out the have interference issues with the spare tire. You can do install solo with some jack stands to help get them lined up. Extra set of hands speeds the process up.
propain
New member
My bad, i meant does the spare tire get in the way of ground clearance while off-roading?
Andy in Pa
New member
I am not sure how much its tucked in there for your year, but with the level of off roading you'll be doing you should be OK. When you start running Blues/Blacks at RC it may be time to consider moving the spare tire.
Take a look at my post in this forum. We had quite a snowy day of wheeling this past weekend. lots of fun.
Boyds4Runner
New member
Late in the reply here but thought I would chime in with my actual experience at Rausch Creek.
All have provided good advice and it looks like you already have a level headed idea on taking the trails.
I took my TRD to Rausch with just 2 months ownership and one payment made. It was in the snow on a guided 101 class ride. Nothing hit on that event but again we were on 8 inches of snow and any water puddles were frozen solid enough that we weren't breaking through.
Next time around in June 2015 it was an amazing ride still with everything stock. There was a little bit more contact especially in the water holes. Bausch Creek has basketball sized boulders in the water and you can't seem them but you can sure hear and feel them.
Slow and slow is the way to go there. The less speed, the less bounce you get once off the obstacle when the suspension compresses to absorb it. Lots of scrapes on the under-carriage after that trip but no damage or bent parts other than the running boards like OP posted in the picture. Running board steel hangers on the passenger side did get bent badly but the board remains flat and solid.
Finally in November 2015 went again but this time with full skids (A-Arms, mid, transmission, transfer-case and gas tank.
I got way more rock contact then!
Attributable to having aired down as well as being stupid about thinking my skids made me bullet proof! I also got a nice goose egg shape to the rear portion of the driver side running board on what I thought was a small hump in the trail. Took the running board off once at home and straightened that back out.
Rausch Creek is very rocky, even on the green trails.
I would definitely go with skids underneath especially the A-arm skids as those tend to be one of the first contact points with rocks. The rear diff is pretty strong steel so it's pretty hard to bust it but of-course it can be broken with carelessness.
After those trips I did end up getting the Toytec 2" lift kit. I am definitely looking at sliders next. I have small kids to cart around so I do need something with steps. Between the skids and the lift I have spent more money than I can justify to the wife so the sliders will have to wait until next year.
Go slow and prudently at Rausch Creek and you will get through fine. A bolt or two underneath may get bashed making them difficult to wrench later (i.e. lower, rear shock mount). The body paint WILL get scratched as sometimes the best line to take puts you close to the brush.
Remove the rear hitch rubber cover if you have one, I have lost one on the trails somewhere. The rear, spare tire does make contact but can act as a slider sometimes thus keeping the rear plastic bumper from getting grabbed and ripping off.
As for the Nitto Terra Grapplers that came with the TRD they worked great. All of the 4x4 functions (A-Trac, e-locker, Terrain select, crawl-control) were fun to use. I used them all at Rausch Creek.
Good luck and enjoy. I am trying to get a group of my neighbors to head out to Rausch Creek. Let me know if you head out maybe we could join up!
All have provided good advice and it looks like you already have a level headed idea on taking the trails.
I took my TRD to Rausch with just 2 months ownership and one payment made. It was in the snow on a guided 101 class ride. Nothing hit on that event but again we were on 8 inches of snow and any water puddles were frozen solid enough that we weren't breaking through.
Next time around in June 2015 it was an amazing ride still with everything stock. There was a little bit more contact especially in the water holes. Bausch Creek has basketball sized boulders in the water and you can't seem them but you can sure hear and feel them.
Slow and slow is the way to go there. The less speed, the less bounce you get once off the obstacle when the suspension compresses to absorb it. Lots of scrapes on the under-carriage after that trip but no damage or bent parts other than the running boards like OP posted in the picture. Running board steel hangers on the passenger side did get bent badly but the board remains flat and solid.
Finally in November 2015 went again but this time with full skids (A-Arms, mid, transmission, transfer-case and gas tank.
I got way more rock contact then!
Attributable to having aired down as well as being stupid about thinking my skids made me bullet proof! I also got a nice goose egg shape to the rear portion of the driver side running board on what I thought was a small hump in the trail. Took the running board off once at home and straightened that back out.
Rausch Creek is very rocky, even on the green trails.
I would definitely go with skids underneath especially the A-arm skids as those tend to be one of the first contact points with rocks. The rear diff is pretty strong steel so it's pretty hard to bust it but of-course it can be broken with carelessness.
After those trips I did end up getting the Toytec 2" lift kit. I am definitely looking at sliders next. I have small kids to cart around so I do need something with steps. Between the skids and the lift I have spent more money than I can justify to the wife so the sliders will have to wait until next year.
Go slow and prudently at Rausch Creek and you will get through fine. A bolt or two underneath may get bashed making them difficult to wrench later (i.e. lower, rear shock mount). The body paint WILL get scratched as sometimes the best line to take puts you close to the brush.
Remove the rear hitch rubber cover if you have one, I have lost one on the trails somewhere. The rear, spare tire does make contact but can act as a slider sometimes thus keeping the rear plastic bumper from getting grabbed and ripping off.
As for the Nitto Terra Grapplers that came with the TRD they worked great. All of the 4x4 functions (A-Trac, e-locker, Terrain select, crawl-control) were fun to use. I used them all at Rausch Creek.
Good luck and enjoy. I am trying to get a group of my neighbors to head out to Rausch Creek. Let me know if you head out maybe we could join up!
CAN-03runner
New member
The stock skids are OKish for your first times out. get some aftermarket if you are really concerned or get them when you know you like 4wheeling.
Your buddys' Rubicon has built in rocker protection. Before anything else you should consider rock sliders as the rocker panels are very vulnerable. It doesn't take much to slip or roll a rock and land right on your rocker panel. I put this above skid plates since even the stock skids are something, whereas the rocker panel has no protection.
The rear diff and axle housing are pretty strong, as you can jack the truck up from that point. The rear facing side of the diff maybe a little less stout.
The front lower control arms might get scrathed up, but they are plenty strong, they hold the weight of the truck too.
The rear lower control arms leave a little to be desired. They can bend if you slide them on a rock a few times.
My call would be stronger rear lower control arms and rock sliders. Maybe the rear control arm skids and shock skids. Unless you stick only to safe green trails at rausch.
Your buddys' Rubicon has built in rocker protection. Before anything else you should consider rock sliders as the rocker panels are very vulnerable. It doesn't take much to slip or roll a rock and land right on your rocker panel. I put this above skid plates since even the stock skids are something, whereas the rocker panel has no protection.
The rear diff and axle housing are pretty strong, as you can jack the truck up from that point. The rear facing side of the diff maybe a little less stout.
The front lower control arms might get scrathed up, but they are plenty strong, they hold the weight of the truck too.
The rear lower control arms leave a little to be desired. They can bend if you slide them on a rock a few times.
My call would be stronger rear lower control arms and rock sliders. Maybe the rear control arm skids and shock skids. Unless you stick only to safe green trails at rausch.
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