And here's the proof http://www.4x4abc.com/ML320/ml320_rubicon_trail.html

<IMG SRC="smilies/eek.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

Man I thought this was funny

Try this link....... http://www.4x4abc.com/ML320/ml320_rubicon_trail.html

<IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

What a dumm-ass...... <IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0"> If I see that M-class with that license plate I will pee on it! <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/laughing.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/laughing.gif" border="0">

[ 09-10-2001: Message edited by: GloNDark ]

Got fish eye? I was getting a headache just looking at this guys whacked out, distorted photos. The sneaker-wagon didn't give me a headache but it did make me a little sick to my stomach. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

<IMG width=358 height=240 SRC="http://www.pirate4x4.com/ubb/uploads/mercedes.jpg">

maybe i just don't get it? whats your point? how does a guy driving his benz over the con change anything?

It did hurt it a little: <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">


<IMG width=425 height=278 SRC="http://www.pirate4x4.com/ubb/uploads/rubicon_carry_in72.jpg">

<IMG width=420 height=283 SRC="http://www.pirate4x4.com/ubb/uploads/MLplank_72.jpg">

[ 09-10-2001: Message edited by: Old Scout ]

<IMG SRC="smilies/laughing.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/laughing.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/laughing.gif" border="0">

My Mom has one of those things and it is a Gadget ridden POS.

You can flex it out on a sidewalk!

Funny!

Originally posted by camo:
<STRONG>maybe i just don't get it? whats your point? how does a guy driving his benz over the con change anything?</STRONG>


He's just mad because he cant get his rig to flex like that <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0">

he removed the bumpers, used wooden ramps and towed it through the tough spots. Thats alot of pointless work if you ask me

http://www.pirate4x4.com/ubb/uploads/MLplank_72.jpg

Holy lack of ground clearance!

Kinda funny, but the guy even admits that it has no business being there at all, if you read it <IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0">


<IMG width=360 height=240 SRC="http://www.pirate4x4.com/ubb/uploads/1220 benzcrap.jpg">
<IMG SRC="smilies/confused.gif" border="0">

<IMG width=434 height=395 SRC="http://www.pirate4x4.com/ubb/uploads/1220 benzcrap2.jpg">
Oh, OK...

Ah, but look at his trail buddy.....none other than the worlds finest production 4x4 ever, bar none!!

Ah, but look at his trail buddy.....none other than the worlds finest production 4x4 ever, bar none!!

I didn't see any Toyotas in those pics? <IMG SRC="smilies/confused.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

Originally posted by BillaVista:
<STRONG>Ah, but look at his trail buddy.....none other than the worlds finest production 4x4 ever, bar none!!</STRONG>

The G-Wagen still looks a little low!

I use a ML430 as a tow rig... maybe the role will be reversed and I'll use my Toyota to tow it through the Con. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> Then again... maybe not.

Originally posted by BillaVista:
<STRONG>Ah, but look at his trail buddy.....none other than the worlds finest production 4x4 ever, bar none!!</STRONG>
I thought the finest said Unimog across the hood.
I trash my 75 K5 beyond repair I'm just driving across town and buying a old 404 Mog and be done with it. Place here sells them for around $6K. Can't argue with the 38 inch tires and front and rear lockers factory. Trails I run are wide enough for my K the 404 will fit.
That SUV benz can rot on the dealer lot before I would buy it. Overpriced POS.
The G wagons are kewl but as with most Benz products the price is way out of line. Can't believe that somebody would lay out close to a 100k for a truck Benz has been building almost unchanged for 25 years. Granted it a VERY capable truck but I can't believe somebody took one wheeling and risked such an expensive vehicle.

<IMG width=420 height=283 SRC="http://www.pirate4x4.com/ubb/uploads/MLplank_72.jpg">


<IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0"> OH BROTHER! <IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0">

For the most part it is not anything more than a cake walk. But there are some "fun" spots on the trail.

That benz SUV is really a 4 wheel drive mini van. The has more money than common sense. What a POS.

My Dad has one of these. Its only saving grace is it has some sort of active traction control system on all four wheels. He uses it for winter tahoe trips etc and has a Ford Ranger X-cab for regular off-roading thou.

Jason <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

http://www.pirate4x4.com/ubb/uploads/MLplank_72.jpg

Did anyone notice his kick ass traction device under the front tire there? Man I NEED to get me one of those! See everyone, ramps do work outdoors on the trail! LOL

Harold Pietschmann has some pretty capable rigs if you've seen the articles done about them and his business in old issues of 4WD&SU. I think he would agree with everyone that's posted above, as you can see from his write-up on it:

So, why did I take my ML320 on the Trail? Well, more or less to prove that SUVs have no business being on the Rubicon Trail.

Since front and rear bumpers of the ML320 limit approach and departure angles - I took them off.

Since the rocker panel has very little ground clearance - I carried wooden ramps with me:

None of todays SUVs has any business to be on the Rubicon Trail. No stock SUV will escape the trail unscathed.

During the summer I am on the trail every day and I have seen them all:

Buggies, full size pick up trucks, ZJ and WJ Jeep Grand Cherokee, Kia, Hummer - you name 'em, I have seen them. The all made it, but the price was high. Most of them had damage - ranging from a few Dollars to several thousand Dollars worth.

A handfull made it without scratches - but the tremendous work to maneuver an SUV with glossy paint through "attacking rocks" and "hostile trees" is a sheer nightmare.

Only when a 4WD makes it through the Rubicon Trail unharmed and with no extra effort by the driver (like any stock Jeep Wrangler does) - only then manufacturers should be allowed to claim: Our "XVZ 2000" can do the Rubicon.

So when Jeep claims, the JGC can do the Rubicon, they are right: it can - but it should not!

So when I report here that I took my ML320 on the Rubicon - I shouldn't have!

The ML's limited ground clearance and the marginal wheel travel make it very difficult to negotiate the Rubicon's nasty boulders. On more than one occasion we decided to tow rather than to gun it. Forcing your way through is neither an elegant technique nor is it healthy for any of your vehicle's components. Note, that we used the super capable Mercedes Gelaendewagen for support.

Don't get me wrong: I have no intention, to badmouth the Mercedes-Benz M-Class or it's abilities.

This short photo report is only to show the limits of this revolutionary new SUV. The ML's strength is definitely on pavement - on any pavement, be it icy, rainslick, dry, muddy or sandy the 4ETS traction management system provides a level of safety that is rivaled only by the 1999 J GC with QuadraDrive (Quadra Drive II).



Give the guy a break. Yeah, he's got tons of $$$ but he's still one of us.

[ 09-10-2001: Message edited by: No Tengo Dinero ]

sheeit... that's cool.. take that load of crap out there and mash it up!! if i had the money i'd say the hell w/ it and do it myself.. he's got tons of sense and knows how to have a looney good time.. stupidity is the mother of all great stories...

IF THE BENZE CAN MAKE IT SO CAN MY SUBARU

WOOOOO HOOOOO <IMG SRC="smilies/laughing.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/laughing.gif" border="0"> I WAS STARTING TO GET WORRIED <IMG SRC="smilies/laughing.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/laughing.gif" border="0">

i can see some people read the site, and maybe some others should to. he wsa showing that todays SUV's should not go on the rubicon, he stated that none of todays SUV's are set-up to run it stock and he wsa using his M-class to prove it. i think before you bash the guy, maybe you should read what he has to say. (i will agree he shouldn't have turned the photo on it's side bu toh well.)
-Carl

Originally posted by froadin4rnr:
<STRONG>he wsa showing that todays SUV's should not go on the rubicon, he stated that none of todays SUV's are set-up to run it stock and he wsa using his M-class to prove it. -Carl</STRONG>

I agree, at least he was trying to discourage people from clogging the trail with ill-equipped SUVs.

What he should have done was post some pix of some of the damaged vehicles he mentioned. That might make someone think twice, if they value their ride.

As it is, he might encourage some people.

i agree with what he has to say. but he needs to shut the fawk up about zj/wj's.
hes prolly talking about stock ones, but ive seen some sick modified zj/wjs do some hard ass stuff.
~JOhn

I get the point, but boy did it take a lot of work to make.

He only went like through gatekey and up the slabs too, didn't go up walker or to the sluice from what I understand. I also feel that stock, no SUV should be on there and my ZJ prooved that beyone a doubt this summer. It had lockers and 35's and still the t-case blew up and clogged the trail. I got that crappy stock t-case outta there and I'm ready to go at it again next summer when I'm back from school. The guy knows his shit though, I think it's pretty cool that even though he babied it through he at least did it you know. Oh well. Kinda cool pics, sucks that he had to turn that one sideways.
-Nate

[ 09-10-2001: Message edited by: CannonBall ]

I'd hate to be the one piling those wooden ramps along the trail. He shoulda had his rig helicopeterd to the Sluice and bragged about his ordeal there. Same difference IMHO. <IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0">

Originally posted by CannonBall:
<STRONG>He only went like through gatekey and up the slabs too, didn't go up walker or to the sluice from what I understand. I also feel that stock, no SUV should be on there and my ZJ prooved that beyone a doubt this summer. It had lockers and 35's and still the t-case blew up and clogged the trail. I got that crappy stock t-case outta there and I'm ready to go at it again next summer when I'm back from school. The guy knows his shit though, I think it's pretty cool that even though he babied it through he at least did it you know. Oh well. Kinda cool pics, sucks that he had to turn that one sideways.
-Nate

[ 09-10-2001: Message edited by: CannonBall ]</STRONG>
Are those pics of your rig flexing talken at MV? <IMG SRC="smilies/smokin.gif" border="0">

Where did your rig bust on the con?

<IMG SRC="smilies/jeep1.gif" border="0">

I saw a guy try to get a YJ into Barret Lake last weekend. He had a mild lift and BFG ATs and didn't bother to air down or disconnect his swaybar because he "didn't think it would be this hard at the beginning".

Don't take it out on the SUV crowd. There's just as many idiots driving Jeeps <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0">

DS