It was clear I had under estimated the challenge of driving "Knuckles" my '85 FJ60 down the Old Sluice.

I'm gladly taking suggestions on possible "lines" to get past the BIG pinch rock. Thanks Joe and Craig.

The plan was to turn left and go around the big rock (VW Rock?).

Yeah sure. The back of the wagon was still close to the rock on the right, pivoting around the rock on the left wasn't happening and my front was already hitting the big rock. Later someone asked why not take the "bail out" route to the left. Yeah, right.

Did I mention I need lower gears? The wagon is stock except for 4.56s which just compensate for the 35s.

The approach to this rock is STEEP. I used my license plate to grind up onto the rock.

OK, now that you're up there what are you going to do?

I'm thinking keep the driveline off the rocks and get the Hell out of here.

GO JIM! GO!

The "spotters" didn't know what to think. They couldn't help me now so they just crossed there arms and watched. :eek:

I jumped out and took a quick look myself. Noooooo problem, I said, and jumped back into the driver's seat.

I figured I'd just drive forward using the slider in a big way.

It's only about 6 feet down into the hole on the other side.

Wagons have looooooong sliders and I used every inch. :D

The ARB air lockers helped to pull me along.

Remember, I said "every inch"....

I'm wondering what's going to happen when the rear wheel starts to climb?

! No problemo !

I think we're going to make it!

Just waiting for my butt to bang.

"It's a wagon thing - you wouldn't understand."

:smokin: :smokin: :smokin: :smokin: :smokin: :smokin:
:flipoff2: :flipoff2: :flipoff2: :flipoff2: :flipoff2: :flipoff2:

Whew.. :rasta:

That was fun, but I really need a beer, let's get on down to Buck.

Photo credits to my co-pilot Ken Hanna. Thanks Ken!!! :)

Thanks to Ken for the rear corner protection too - yes, it works.

And, BIG thanks to Shipwreck for being so cool when I said I was going to follow him down Old Sluice.

I'll get some more Rubithon pictures up onto my web site eventually. I still need to finish unpacking the grocery getter after the ~400 mile drive home.

Cheers,

:beer: :beer:

:usa:

Yeah, that is a nice phot sequence!

:smokin: for sure! That picture where you wereon your slider and had the wheels cranked had "Birfield" written all over it!

Fancy work there "Wagon Boy!"

Jim, watching that photo sequence had me cheering and clapping. What a great job, congrats. Now post some more pics of the rest! :D

Originally posted by pismojim
Just waiting for my butt to bang.
"It's a wagon thing - you wouldn't understand."
Enough said. Great pics man-

Great pics there Jim! It looks as though you and Knuckles were gettin it awn! :smokin: I can hear the wonderful sound of metal grinding on rock as I look at those pics.

How the heck is Mr. Sommerville doing these days? I decided to skip the Rubithon this year as I've grown a bit bored of sitting in traffic. ;) Getting to visit with everybody would have been worth it though so I will probably be there next year. Maybe I'll just load up the motorcycle and avoid the traffic jams. :shrug:

Hey Jim a bunch of us Santa Cruz folk will be at Pismo this weekend if you and the wife aren't doing anything come out and play in the dunes. We should be camped around mile marker three I think, but hell you can't miss the Dog House anyway right? :laughing:

Later

Jimmy

:beer: :beer: :beer: To you bud, that was sweet:D

That is Insane! I've never seen a 60 do something like that. Who knows what my 60 actually does as I usually can't see from the driver's seat, but I know it isn't that crazy!

Great Job Jim!

Watching you come down Old Sluice was a kick!

Remember everyone, this is the last major obstacle in the sluice. Before reaching this point he had maneuvered Knuckles through a half mile of continuous boulders, ledges, tight trees and water holes. Jim was workin' it even before he reached this point.

He tried a couple times to maneuver around the big rock, but there was no way the 60 could take the line that most shorties do. When he got the right front wheel up on the rock a few people asked him if he was going to try and back up to shift the end around.
Jim paused for a second, looked down over the end of the hood and said; "Nope, I think I'll just keep going."

Too Cool!


:beer: :beer: to you.

Originally posted by pismojim
The wagon is stock except for 4.56s which just compensate for the 35s.
So tell me, Jim, which part of your sprung-over wagon, on 35s, with custom armor and lower diff gears, is "stock"? I wish my 40 was as stock as that! :D

Sweet pics! Hurry up 'n post the rest!

That is one awsome photo sequence!!! You almost make it look graceful :smokin: If that was me I think I would have been on the cell phone trying to find a hellicopter to air lift me out of there :eek: cool pics!!! :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer:

Originally posted by Polarweasel

So tell me, Jim, which part of your sprung-over wagon, on 35s, with custom armor and lower diff gears, is "stock"?

The paint is stock (well, sorta) and still very shiny! :D

Hiya Jim. Thanks for the pics! Looks like ol' Mr. Joe S. was doing a good job spectating your trip through the Sluice...He was probably thinking that his 55 would have aced it, huh? :)

I decided to skip the Rubithon this year as I've grown a bit bored of sitting in traffic.
Jimmy - It's not that crowded in Old Sluice! :D
BTW, the marauder bar/bonfire was BORING this year - missed you.
a bunch of us Santa Cruz folk will be at Pismo this weekend
I'll try to make it out. Probably in the red FZJ80.
I've never seen a 60 do something like that.
LCsixty - Niether had I :eek:
The old wagon just keeps impressing me. :flipoff2:
"Hey it IS a Land Cruiser !!!"
So tell me, Jim, which part of your sprung-over wagon, on 35s, with custom armor and lower diff gears, is "stock"?
All the glass... :D

Originally posted by ToyTech


The paint is stock (well, sorta) and still very shiny! :D

Hiya Jim. Thanks for the pics! Looks like ol' Mr. Joe S. was doing a good job spectating your trip through the Sluice...He was probably thinking that his 55 would have aced it, huh? :)

Actually, in pics 5 & 6, he's thinking WTF is this poor bastard going to do now?

When the Klune-V guys were in the Little Sluice Joe seemed to have plenty of spotting ideas. (the 176:1 FJ40 cleaned it - sweet) But, he got pretty quiet when I was about half way through here.

Don't you love it when the spotters just shrug when you look at them? :D :flipoff2: :D

Come on Jim.. I'm guessing ol Knuckles had a much easier time than Kuper's truck bouncing thru! Just past that rock I hopped into Kuper's Sprung Under FJ60 with 33's and stock gears and drove down part of the sluce.. All I can say is it's doable in a stocker but not advisable..

Originally posted by tornadoalleycruiser
Come on Jim.. I'm guessing ol Knuckles had a much easier time than Kuper's truck bouncing thru! Just past that rock I hopped into Kuper's Sprung Under FJ60 with 33's and stock gears and drove down part of the sluce.. All I can say is it's doable in a stocker but not advisable..

Look again Erik, this "Old" sluice not "Big" sluice. This is where Craig (red FJ40) and I left you guys late Thursday afternoon. You and Alan went down the "slabs" toward Buck Island Lake. Kuper didn't go this way. You're probably thinking of Friday morning going down "Big Sluice".

You're right the first drop into Big Sluice isn't too bad in Knuckles but the tight mid sections can be a PITA in any wagon.

I was very impressed with Kuper's ability to keep that wagon moving. He is a GREAT driver no doubt about it. Anyone taking a SUA 60 through the 'con deserves some respect, especially when they keep the body work as clean as Kupers.

Giving me a heat attack just WATCHING that clean body and the big rocks. I need a :beer: after that.

Cool Sequence!

Tom :usa:

Jim You are correct sir! I'm from Missouri so I don't really know my way around! Guess I'll just have to hit the ol Con a few more times to get my directions correct! ..
Course part of my confusion might have been our late night camp fire chats fueled with your import beverage of choice! :)

Definitely a different section of the trail than I rode on.

Most Impressive.

But I thought you were stock geared?

4.88 beats 3.73 any day!

:eek: :rolleyes: :D

Still can't believe We made it :bounce2:

Originally posted by pismojim
Anyone taking a SUA 60 through the 'con deserves some respect, especially when they keep the body work as clean as Kupers.

I was going to mention Krusty Cruiser's trip through two years ago (SUA, open, bald 31s :p), but the body work got "worked" seriously :D Hell, Andy's 60 was hammered before he even got to Pinch Rock! :eek:

Hahaha :laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing: That poor 60 was ta-ta-tattered when ol' Andy got threw with it! Even the hood got taken out when Ian's brakes failed on Cadillac and he rolled back into into it! :eek: :laughing:

That was one great Rubithon! :sigh:

Now if he'd ever finish the black beast perhaps he might be seen on the trail again. Hint hint nudge nudge Andy.

Too fawking funny Jim.

Later.

Jimmy:beer:

Originally posted by ToyTech


I was going to mention Krusty Cruiser's trip through two years ago (SUA, open, bald 31s :p), but the body work got "worked" seriously :D Hell, Andy's 60 was hammered before he even got to Pinch Rock! :eek:

Originally posted by ToyTech


I was going to mention Krusty Cruiser's trip through two years ago (SUA, open, bald 31s :p), but the body work got "worked" seriously :D Hell, Andy's 60 was hammered before he even got to Pinch Rock! :eek:

:D Ha! I was thinking the same thing, that's why I said "clean body work". :D That year was my first trip through, - no offense- but I couldn't bear to watch Andy and "silver cloud?". It just wasn't the visual image I needed in my head at the time.

BTW, as far as I know Kuper made it without a strap! Must have been those tornadoalleycruiser slider monkeys. :D

Also, the SUA blue and white FJ 55 (name, name, name, ?????, sorry) did geat too. But I could hardly take my eyes off the FZJ80 on 37s in front of me. It kicked butt! :flipoff2:

Dog House wrote:That was one great Rubithon! :sigh:

1999 wasn't too bad for the Dog House either.

This one still amazes me:
:flipoff2: Dog House in the Little Sluice Box (http://home.off-road.com/~cruiserhead/doghouse.html) :flipoff2:

"Some were drawn as if to see a train wreck, but others came to see a legend in the making." :smokin:
:D :D :D

Originally posted by pismojim
Just waiting for my butt to bang.

"It's a wagon thing - you wouldn't understand."

HAHAHAHAHAHA, aint it the truth!!
WICKED PHOTOS

my butt could never snag on anything, cause, it would mean i had to drive down some hardcore steep shiat first :eek:

super sweet jim!:D :smokin:
there's definetly a cold:beer: waiting for you at the 45 run!;)

Originally posted by orangefj45
super sweet jim!:D :smokin:
there's definetly a cold:beer: waiting for you at the 45 run!;)

:cool: Excellent, that sounds like an invitation, no need to crash the party to see the 45s. :cool:

Hmm, maybe I could borrow this one:
http://realcruiser.com/bigfalls/52002/P5200472.JPG

Or at least bum a ride.:D
What do you think Jason?

Jim, next year we take Knuckles up the old sluice aye?
Just fallow Sherman!;) :) :p :beer: