Rubicon 2024 Damage Report

[tobyw]

After giving the Donkey a good once over, I thought it might be fun to share what the aftermath of the Rubicon looks like, and perhaps even more fun to compare how the variety of rigs faired... I will go out on a limb and say that, sans the rear axle debacle on the XJ, the dollop of Wilcox owns both ends of the damage spectrum

First, the Donkey:

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As you can see, the low underbelly and wide girth resulted in some pretty significant scars, and to say that my skid plates and rock sliders got a workout would be the understatement of the century. But, that is after all exactly what they are designed to do, so mission accomplished on their parts And, in a disappointing turn of events, I will say that my home-built skids stood up significantly better than the aftermarket fuel tank skid that I purchased

Now... in stark, stark comparison, here is the aftermath on the XJ:

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Wait... are you kidding me?!? One lousy dent in the rear bumper, a little scratch down the passenger rock slider, and a caved in passenger fender due to inadequate bump stops?! Driven by an 18 year old?!?! If this isn't proof that we are doing it flat wrong, I just don't know what is

[Dryside]

On the whole I'd say we came out of it fairly well. The fuel tank took a beating and holds a bit less than it did. Several parts had their rough edges worn off. A sway bar link was bent as well as the axle tab. The link was pounded back to usefulness in the hotel parking lot in Reno.

[Dryside]

Somehow didn't notice the loose upper control arm bolts until we got home. Scary!

[tobyw]

A disconnecting 3-link might add more articulation than a disconnecting swaybar... Maybe you're onto something here

Hopefully Chris and Jimmy will chime in and share what they found

[Roman]

Those control arm bolts are straight up scary!
You drove home from Reno like that's or tow?

Toby, looks like you and the boy child swapped rigs...

[tobyw]

Toby, looks like you and the boy child swapped rigs...

Funny you should say that... technically, we did, at least for the road trip home With his rear axle hanging on by a literal thread, I spent a couple of hours making arrangements for an alternate way to get the wounded XJ home and ended up with a flatbed trailer and a 2024 F-150 to tow it with:

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He drove the Donkey home. All things considered, particularly the sweltering heat, this ended up being a pretty good resolution

Oh, and I've said it before and I'll say it again: don't EVER buy a rental

[Dryside]

That was the shocking thing. Drove straight through all the way home. Didn't find them until it was on the lift and had kind of an OS! moment.

[Roman]

That was the shocking thing. Drove straight through all the way home. Didn't find them until it was on the lift and had kind of an OS! moment.

Nothing like realizing you dodged a bullet!