Two Bronco Raptors run the Rubicon in One Day

[JohnGalt]

Ran the Rubicon last Thursday with a Rubicon experienced Jeep 392 on 40s leading me and an almost bone stock Bronco Raptor on base wheels. The video is long, but it covers the whole day with lots of Video from my dash showing the other Raptor and me negotiating our way through, quite a few third person perspective clips as well. This was my first time doing the entire Rubicon.



Learnings…
It’s doable in a day with an experienced leader. I got lots of help throughout the day and got to follow the other Raptors lines. It was a distinct advantage.

But it’s going to be a long day. Nothing you can’t handle, but you’re pushed over and over and…. It never really lets up until you clear Cadillac Hill

The Raptor did great, but it’s not a built Jeep on 40s!

Having some poke from +6 rims and 13.5” tires kept my flares off the rocks. I had a damage free day. The other guy popped a fender with his stock setup. If your running stock

The base rims leave the valve stem exposed, the other Raptor had row stems fail in 100 yards.

While the trail is very doable, it will punish you if you make a mistake. The other Raptor got in a very precarious situation stuck between two boulders. A good plan and execution led to a safe drama free recovery, but it was stressful at the time!!

I got through damage free, the other Raptor took some rash, wrecked a flare and knocked another loose but it was relatively minor considering the situation it was in.

 

[Bschurr]

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Squatchrocks]

Nice! That's my bucket list trail. Good to know they can handle that punishment without mechanical breakdown. What sliders were you guys using? I don't think I would trust the factory ones on that trail.

 

[TurboS]

Nice! That's my bucket list trail. Good to know they can handle that punishment without mechanical breakdown. What sliders were you guys using? I don't think I would trust the factory ones on that trail.

Welcome to BroncoRaptor.com! We have a wealth of Bronco Raptor specific information on this site and several members, like @JohnGalt above, that I consider experts in off roading with the Bronco Raptor.

 

[JohnGalt]

Nice! That's my bucket list trail. Good to know they can handle that punishment without mechanical breakdown. What sliders were you guys using? I don't think I would trust the factory ones on that trail.

My buddy was using factory sliders without steps. He ran it before with steps, bent them like crazy then bent them back.

I have RCI 20 degree frame mounted. They did their job well, but I now have intermittent contact between my drivers slider and the pinch seam. I’m waiting for them to open shop so I can figure out that fix.

 

[CodeOrange1]

Watched the video yesterday, very cool! Having someone lead looked to be very helpful for sure.

 

[Greybeard]

Am I smelling a broncoraptor.com group trip with sponsors in the future? I'd be in for that too!! Maybe add an overnight stop.

What I do know - I play with Jeep's on 40's often with no issues back when my toy was stock. Now I am a little modified and shouldn't have any issues out there!

There'd be plenty of sponsors or YouTubers out there that would love to come film our antics. I know a few in SoCal that would jump at the opportunity.

 

[Dgchurch]

I was the other raptor on the trail with johnny B galt.. very doable in a bone stock raptor. as mentioned the first time i did it i didn't take the running boards off. they got bent up but a crow bar and a cheater straightened 'em out just fine. this time i took them off and ran the stock sliders. some scratches but zero dents. i was very impressed with them to be honest, they exceeded my expectations.

it was VERY interesting watch my stock set up go with the other raptor on 38's and a +6 offset and beadlock wheels (compared to my 37's, +34 and non beadlocks). my fender flares have seen better days and with a better tire & wheel set up would not have scraped throughout the trip. i just ordered some method bead grips with 0 offset and recessed valve stem positioning. once i have that installed i'll run the stock ko2's for a while before playing with new tires and fixing up the fender flares. my hope is that i will gain enough tire outside the flare to prevent further flare damage. shall see.

the wheels i ordered are 26lbs compared to the 32lb stock wheels. so shaved circa 24lbs, which is nice after all the weight i've added with fmi skids, diff cover, slides, tools, etc...

the only other mod from the first trip is an add phantom rear bumper. it gave me better departure angle and did it's job throughout the day. my stock bumper took some license plate frame/plastic damage and the driver rear got bent up slightly. nothing to impede the swing gate from functioning but it was warning enough for me so i swapped it out.

the warn 10s winch sold on the ford performance store and mounted with the ford performance parts on a stock front bumper were stars of the trip. literally winched my rig into a 47 degree up hill pitch and up 2-3 feet on the berm away from the road. zero damage to winch, mount, bumper, frame, etc... don't skimp was my takeaway.

i think that's it but if anything else comes to mind i'll circle back. it was a great knowledge gain and share trip all around.