80" Width On The Trail

[Scouty]

I ran the Rubicon for the first time 2 years ago, and plan to go again this year. The last time, the Scout II I drove was 62" wide, did pretty well for the first time. This year the Scout II is 80" wide. From what I remember from the last trip, I was able to sqeeze through many obstacles, this year I think I may be going over them instead. My question is, does a wider vehicle make the trail easier or harder in your opinions?

[Pat]

It is a wash, I like a little narrower for must stuf but is sure is nice to have the stability. I do see alot of guys who go real wide with huge tires so they can drive over everything with no skill what so ever.. alot also tear up the trail doing this, not good... My build right now I am running stock width toyota with IFS and keeping it low as possible.. it make the trails way more fun cause you have to work, hahaha

[renolaw]

I use full size chevy axle in front and a full size ford sterling 10.25 out back. Use H2 wheels w/ 5.5" back spacing to better tuck the tires in a bit. From sidewall to sidewall, i'm right at 80". I find there are a number of places on the trail that are just that wide--any more narrow and u have to go up and over. In other words, many obstacles seem well suited for 80" and the jeep just barely squeeks thru. Any wider and i'd be climbing the wall. The widey way is not necessarily any easier, since ya gotta constantly be watching both front tires (not that we don;t already) but wider axles want to grab every side obstacle and climb. 80" is a challenge, but any wider and i'd pass.

good luck, u should be fine-- don't forget ur respirators, its really smokey all over the northern sierra lately. pray for wind, but that may make the fires worse.

mb

[42s on u]

I'm 93" wide, I need it cause aparently I have no skills and I like to tear up the trail Whatever...

I've never had a problem being that wide, yea I have to go over more things instead of going between. Oh well, not a big deal. Plus the stability is great. there's my.02

[RCKRATZ]

my rig is 84" wide. Nothing too tight that makes it an issue on the Rubicon. I liked my setup better when it was 76ish wide though....

[randii]

Originally Posted by 42s on u

I'm 93" wide, I need it cause aparently I have no skills and I like to tear up the trail

Testy, testy... he said he'd pass, not that you needed to. It's all good...

My little 35-inch tires squeeze more nimble between things on my narrow width, but that's a pretty good thing, since I occasionally flop. Maybe I need to be wider. I know I'm damn envious of full-width stability.

In any case, Rubicon and Fordyce both are fine for full-width, IMHO... and I love to watch the different sizes run the different lines. I think it would be a real loss if everyone had the same wheel-base, tire offset, and overall width... It'd be like driving on rails.

...which is probably how some people would like us to enjoy our out-of-doors, like they do in Yosemite, from behind the windows in a bus.

Thank God that Rubicon is not that!

Randii

[Scouty]

Thanks for the feedback. I have to admit the reason I went to a wider stance rig, was because I hated feeling like I was going to flop everytime I came to an off-camber situation . After this next trip I might see the advantages of stock width axles, but I'm sure I will feel less tippy.

Thanks

[Pat]

Originally Posted by Pat

ALOT also tear up the trail doing this, not good...

Originally Posted by 42s on u

I'm 93" wide, I need it cause aparently I have no skills and I like to tear up the trail Whatever...

read the whole thing there BUTT hurt It said alot not 42's on u

[42s on u]

Not but hurt just bringing light to the fact that you were profiling, and profiling is WRONG...!

[Pat]

Originally Posted by 42s on u

Not but hurt just bringing light to the fact that you were profiling, and profiling is WRONG...!

If would have been profiling I would have said all, But with your defencive responce maybe you are feeling guilty of something


But the fact is there are tons of people who destory our trails narrow rigs and Wide.. there are alot of people who talk the talk of protecting them but ALOT are just talk here on the internet, and it is true there are lots of people who build Monster rigs that will drive straight over Almost anything to cover up for their lack of skill, then there is the guy who brings his little sammy and does just as much damage as anyone..

So Notice to everyone, NO one said 42's on U was a unskilled driver, Hope your butt Feels better

[Scouty]

Didn't mean to cause a narrow vs wide "damage to the trail" debate. Just wanted to hear opinions on whether one was easier then the other. The damage debate never entered my mind since I thought most here have the common goal of protecting the trail to ensure it stays open.

[Pat]

its not so much narrow or wide, more like dumb ass VS. responcible.. Have fun either way and take care of our trails.. by the way I like alittle extra width for the side hills too

[42s on u]

Originally Posted by Pat

If would have been profiling I would have said all, But with your defencive responce maybe you are feeling guilty of something


But the fact is there are tons of people who destory our trails narrow rigs and Wide.. there are alot of people who talk the talk of protecting them but ALOT are just talk here on the internet, and it is true there are lots of people who build Monster rigs that will drive straight over Almost anything to cover up for their lack of skill, then there is the guy who brings his little sammy and does just as much damage as anyone..

So Notice to everyone, NO one said 42's on U was a unskilled driver, Hope your butt Feels better

Thanks Can I have a cookie now too?-------------------------

I was just yankin' your chain bud.

[Pat]

Originally Posted by 42s on u

Thanks Can I have a cookie now too?-------------------------

I was just yankin' your chain bud.

what kind do you want? Oatmeal or choclate Chip?

[42s on u]

Chocolate chip

[MiniSimp]

Back to the topic; I'm 80" wide on 37's and didn't notice any problems except for the tight right turn around the rock on the slabs.

[bagman]

Originally Posted by MiniSimp

... didn't notice any problems except for the tight right turn around the rock on the slabs.

Oh the tight right turn. Kind of vague?

Im 90" and have no problem. I guess I am one of those nonskilled drivers considering the 47's under my rig. The big tires dont make the trail anyeasier, just different. Some lines are easier some are harder...

The only reason I went so big myself is because you never see the crowd cheering on a IFS Toyota on 33's....But when the smoke starts to role off the 47's and rockwells, or when you side step the clutch, stick in third and leap up Soup Bowl, people tend to freak out in a good way.

[Pat]

funny, you say that, About 6-7 years ago while hanging out at the box there were a few rather wild rigs for the time fighting the box, not making it, breaking, just having a real hard time, once they got yanked out of the way some guy comes along in his cj5 with 31's, I shit you not 31's, And with out ever spinnig a tire he spanked the box and the crowd went apeshit.. It was one of my most favorite moments on the rubicon.. I think seabass44 was there along with many others from pirate, ah good times

[SeaBass44]

Originally Posted by bagman

Oh the tight right turn. Kind of vague?

Im 90" and have no problem. I guess I am one of those nonskilled drivers considering the 47's under my rig. The big tires dont make the trail anyeasier, just different. Some lines are easier some are harder...

The only reason I went so big myself is because you never see the crowd cheering on a IFS Toyota on 33's....But when the smoke starts to role off the 47's and rockwells, or when you side step the clutch, stick in third and leap up Soup Bowl, people tend to freak out in a good way.

so you built your rig for the crowd attention

Originally Posted by Pat

funny, you say that, About 6-7 years ago while hanging out at the box there were a few rather wild rigs for the time fighting the box, not making it, breaking, just having a real hard time, once they got yanked out of the way some guy comes along in his cj5 with 31's, I shit you not 31's, And with out ever spinnig a tire he spanked the box and the crowd went apeshit.. It was one of my most favorite moments on the rubicon.. I think seabass44 was there along with many others from pirate, ah good times

yup, was sweet

[bagman]

Oh I know it happens who can forget the little sammy at the first Carnage on the Con. The Box is special like that. No matter what you have some times you make it and some times you dont, no matter what you have. I have driven all types of rigs tall, wide, low, big tires, little tires, big motors, 44bangers, crappy gearing, drive through the brakes gearing and my wide rig with big tires works for me where I wheel. I mean Ive only been to the Con, Fordyce, the Hammers, Moab, countless unnamed canyons in NV, some deep deep Sierra snow, and Sand Mtn, just to name a few. No its not the best rig but it works. Back to skill, though I think it takes just as much skill to drive a big rig as it does to drive lil one. The examples of the CJ and Sammy are examples of good drivers though, guys that know their rig and drive them often.

[Pat]

Originally Posted by bagman

Oh I know it happens who can forget the little sammy at the first Carnage on the Con. The Box is special like that. No matter what you have some times you make it and some times you dont, no matter what you have. I have driven all types of rigs tall, wide, low, big tires, little tires, big motors, 44bangers, crappy gearing, drive through the brakes gearing and my wide rig with big tires works for me where I wheel. I mean Ive only been to the Con, Fordyce, the Hammers, Moab, countless unnamed canyons in NV, some deep deep Sierra snow, and Sand Mtn, just to name a few. No its not the best rig but it works. Back to skill, though I think it takes just as much skill to drive a big rig as it does to drive lil one. The examples of the CJ and Sammy are examples of good drivers though, guys that know their rig and drive them often.

You know I was thinking, the trail sure seemed easier when I put bigger tires on all of my many rigs, them rocks seem smaller as well as all them wholes the tires like to fall in

[bagman]

Ha. Honestly I have been thinking about building another rig. Cuz everyone needs two wheelers. Maybe another 1 gen toyota, crawler, 35's, arb. To get back to my "roots".

[Pat]

Originally Posted by bagman

Ha. Honestly I have been thinking about building another rig. Cuz everyone needs two wheelers. Maybe another 1 gen toyota, crawler, 35's, arb. To get back to my "roots".

it is hard to get away from them little toyotas till you get them on donner grade

[outlawMANN]

I wouldnt know I have only had a first gen yoter..If you wanna get back to your roots let me know Ill trade for the week end

[bagman]

Originally Posted by SeaBass44

so you built your rig for the crowd attention


:

Yup.

Now go make so switch panels