Trip Reports

Day Trip on the Rubicon Trail

Rubicon Trail Day Trip

Rubicon Trail
At Loon Lake ready to hit the trail

Rubicon Trail - September 2012
Day Trip on the Rubicon Trail – September 2012

We had six UTVs total including three Polaris RZR XPs, two Teryx4s and I brought my2011 Kawasaki Teryx Project. I have been rock crawling with my2012 Kawasaki Teryx4 all year and it works great, but I wanted a chance to take a run in my Teryx so I could have a chance to do a little compare/contrast.

Kawasaki Teryx on the Rubicon Trail
2011 Kawasaki Teryx

I absolutely love to run these 31×11.50-R15 Pit Bull Growler LT tires for rock crawling.  I have them mounted up on 15″ OMF Performance billet center wheels so I can put them on multiple UTVs with just the swap of the center. These are a HEAVY, and not suitable for fast running in the desert, but for pure rock crawling, they have lots of advantages over smaller OEM tires. Our Teryx features a 916cc Muzzys v-twin with Pro exhaust.  Lonestar Racing long travel suspension and FOX shocks. PRP seats with Pro Armor harnesses. Warn winch and Factory UTV UHMW skid plates. Rigid Industries LED lights and a custom cage from Roggy Enterprises.

Polaris RZR XP 900Kawasaki Teryx4Kawasaki Teryx4
SSV Works, Team Green Kawasaki and SideXSideOutfitterz.com on the Rubicon

A few industry people joined up for the ride –  Trevor and Nate from SSV Works, Reid and Gary from Kawasaki and Wally from Side x Side Outfitterz. Dave and Rich also went with us in their Polaris RZR XPs.

Kawasaki Teryx4Polaris RZR XPPolaris RZR XP

Kawasaki Teryx4Kawasaki Teryx4Polaris RZR XPKawasaki Teryx4
Loon Lake to Little Sluice

We left Loon Lake about 8:30 AM and after a few short stops we ended up at Little Sluice.  Dave and Rich were both game to try it. Rich opted for the high line around some of the boulders, and Dave dove right into the middle of them.  With a little strap tip-over insurance, both made it through with

Polaris RZR XP in Little Sluice
Dave taking on Little Sluice in his Polaris RZR XP – He is running 30″ Super ATV tires and wheels.

After Little Sluice, our goal was to check out Old Sluice before stopping for lunch at Buck Island.

Kawasaki Teryx4Polaris RZR XPKawasaki Teryx4Kawasaki Teryx4

Kawasaki Teryx4Polaris RZR XPKawasaki Teryx4Polaris RZR XP

Polaris RZR XPKawasaki TeryxPolaris RZR XPKawasaki Teryx4
Little Sluice to Old Sluice

Polaris RZR XPKawasaki Teryx4Kawasaki TeryxKawasaki Teryx

Kawasaki TeryxKawasaki TeryxKawasaki TeryxPolaris RZR XP

Kawasaki Teryx4Kawasaki TeryxKawasaki Teryx4
Old Sluice

I haven’t been on Old Sluice in probably 20 years back when I had a Jeep CJ7.  It is a great alternate route and offers some good challenges.  Going up is defintly tougher than going down, and bigger tires are a help. After Old Sluice, we had a late lunch at Buck Island, then headed down Big Sluice to Rubicon Springs.  El Dorado County DOT has been doing a bunch of work on the trail and the upper part is now lined with cobble.  Much easier than it used to be, but the lower part still offers some nice challenges, especially going up.

We made it across the bridge at Rubicon Springs, then turned around and headed back to camp at Loon.


Almost back to camp at Loon Lake

It was a great day trip with some very capable vehicles.  It was a lot of fun to get back behind the wheel of my 2011 Teryx.  Although I prefer the factory power steering and clutch of the Teryx4, I think my Teryx is still my favorite rock crawler.

Rubicon Trail – GPS Coordinates (Google Maps):

Links:

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