I see you guy's want to do the Rubicon this summer. Well welcome to the REAL WORLD OF OFF-ROADING!!!
I would like to make some suggestion's to you and don't take these in the wrong way, I just want to make sure that you know what your getting yourself into and that you have a great time doing this trail. I have done the trail 5 time's in the past few year's and have done the Little Sluice once. I have seen a lot of thing's happen on this trail, even with the best built rig's. If you do not have any rock crawling experience, then this is not the trail you want to learn how to. You will be guarantee body damage so be prepare for it. Below are a list of thing's that I have found to be important (at least for me) that you might want to know.
First: You want your rig to be the best mechanically. By that, make sure you have gone over your rig or have a professional mechanic check it out for any worn part's. Make sure all of your hose's and belt's are good. I know that you probably do this already for other trail's, but this trail is even more important to make sure that everything is in excellent working condition. You don't want to have anything brake down on you if possible. Your out in the wilderness and to get to the closest town which is Lake Tahoe can be a long and costly experience. Even the best built rig's can still brake down, I know I seen it.
Second: Spare Part's? What do I bring for spare part's. That's a good question, because you never know what going to brake if it does. I know for one that if I broke something in the pass, that I bring that part along again. Here are some part's that have broken on other rig's that I have been with. Blown out ARB locker's; Broken driveshaft's, blown hub's; Torn rear diff. cover's;
Torn off exhaust pipe's; blown tire's or sidewall ripe's; running out of gas; over heating problem's. I know that you can not bring everything, so you will have to know your own vehicle well enough to know what to bring along for spare part's. Forgot one more thing, radius arm's that have broken ( Superlift is well known for this, just ask Fakrwee).
Third: Is my rig capable enough to do the Con. This is the most important thing you must have on your truck to be able to do the Rubicon, and that is you must have a rear locker. If you do not, then don't even try to do it.
Also it help's to have at least 33" tire's or better and a suspension lift of some sort. If you have a front locker, that's great but not needed if you have a rear locker already. Be sure you have a tow strap in case you need to pull your buddy through if his or your truck brakes down. A high lift jack, extra transmission fluid, oil, brake fluid, belt's and coolant's. Don't count on your cell phone to work out there if you need help, it probably won't work.
Fourth: What to pack? For one you will need to bring all of your food (including ice & Water) with you for the number of day's that you plan on being out there. Cooking utensil's also (stove, lantern's etc.) You will also have to bring your own shovel and toilet paper (no bathroom's) and you must remove all trash that you make and take it with you. You can not be guarantee that you will be able to have a camp fire at nite. You will have to check with the Forestery Service before you start the trail to make sure you can. Be prepare for any weather change's.
Fifth: Extra thing's to pack if you want to.
Along the trail you will find a few lake's that you will pass or want to spend the nite at. If you have room you might want to bring along a raft, swim suit, etc. Fishing is not good (been there and done that), hiking is good.
Camera, bug repellant.
Sixth: You were wondering how many day's to do the trail. It all depend's on a number of thing's. We usually do it in 3 day's. The first day we go 1/2 way and camp at one of the lakes. The second day is R&R or repair day if needed. And the last and third day is getting out of the trail which is doing Cadillac Hill out of Rubicon Spring's. If you have any brake down's then it could take longer or if you have a large group of people it can also take longer. If your really good and have done the trail many time's before you can get through it in one day, but that might be pushing it. If it's your first time you want to take it easy, so give yourself plenty of time to enjoy the area.
So I hope I didn't bore you with this info, and I hope you have a great time doing it. Please be sure to show us your picture's when you get back.
