KK does the Rubicon

lilmatty · **Posted:** Sun Aug 19, 2007 11:17 pm

Word at Rubicon Springs this past weekend was that a factory KK made it through the Rubicon a week or so ago. Wasn't much left of it afterwards but I guess they can pin a Trail Rated badge on it now.

corwyyn · **Posted:** Sun Aug 19, 2007 11:30 pm

Seem to recall some pics of a Commander they took thru there, it looked like it was bouncing off rocks left and right. :shock:

Guess since its the factory guys driving it they don't care what condition it's in as long as it makes it thru...

renegadekj · **Posted:** Mon Aug 20, 2007 12:07 am

All jeep cares is if it makes it , then they can put the trail rated badge on as a "sales pitch" (more less) so somepeople will think it's actually trail worthy. I bet the stock liberty took a beating when it went through as well?

lilmatty · **Posted:** Mon Aug 20, 2007 12:49 am

Man, I'd never even take our highly modded KJs on that trail. Being a KJ owner as well I can tell you it would not be any fun running that in a KJ.

Pablo · **Joined:** Thu Feb 02, 2006 10:06 pm **Posts:** 1201

Is this like some pagan sacrificial offering to the Jeep gawds or something?

It is nice that they want to sacrifice a Jeep on the trail, but maybe they should take the manager in charge of the new model and tie them to the bumper next time. If the manager lives, they can oversee the next Jeep project, if not-- then I guess they cut too many corners and no trail rating for that Jeep.

Improve trail rating capabilities and get rid of middle management at the same time! Bob Nardelli will be all over it. :twisted:

dynamike · **Posted:** Mon Aug 20, 2007 10:10 am

you guys all sound as if this is a negative thing??????hhuummmmm

"think big picture".....

CaKJFreedom · **Posted:** Mon Aug 20, 2007 1:48 pm

They just did the Cadillac side right?

lilmatty · **Posted:** Mon Aug 20, 2007 1:49 pm

The whoooooooleeeee thing

David Jr · **Posted:** Mon Aug 20, 2007 7:29 pm

Pablo wrote:

Is this like some pagan sacrificial offering to the Jeep gawds or something?

It is nice that they want to sacrifice a Jeep on the trail, but maybe they should take the manager in charge of the new model and tie them to the bumper next time. If the manager lives, they can oversee the next Jeep project, if not-- then I guess they cut too many corners and no trail rating for that Jeep.

Improve trail rating capabilities and get rid of middle management at the same time! Bob Nardelli will be all over it. :twisted:

I'm going to make this my new sig :lol:

.

Anybody have any before and after pics? :shock:

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Tue Aug 21, 2007 1:30 am

I want to see pics!!

expeditionswest · **Posted:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:52 am

Hello all

, first post here, though I do check out this site often, and have been on several projects/trails with Clint and Wil.

lilmatty wrote:

Word at Rubicon Springs this past weekend was that a factory KK made it through the Rubicon a week or so ago. Wasn't much left of it afterwards but I guess they can pin a Trail Rated badge on it now.

Just to clarify...

All the bumpers were attached and only had minor scrapes, all flares were attached. No mechanical failures. Drove back to Reno under it's own power.

Lower door sills were damaged due to lack of rocker protection. DS door panel popped in on big sluice because of traction control induced slide. All doors opened and closed. With rocker protection and a few more hours of daylight, it would have completed the trail relatively unscathed.

I am not saying it had an easy time with the trail, but it was certainly not trashed at the other end.

Rubicon is not currently a requirement for Trail Rated badge (though I think it should be). A set of defined criteria determines if the vehicle meets the rating (traction, fording depth, ground clearance, etc. as tested by Nevada Automotive Testing Center (NATC) )

Thought you would want to know a few more details on the KK "Crossing the Rubicon"

dynamike · **Posted:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:31 pm

AWEsome.......

Thanks for the update Scott!!!

lilmatty · **Posted:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:34 pm

Great update. Thanks.

Like I said at the beginning, it was the 'word' and not necessarily fact.

skrracing · **Posted:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:56 pm

Keep in mind guys the first KJ did not even have a stupid trail badge... The LOST group has proven time and time again where the KJ is able to go. I can tell you for a fact that Jeep Corp keeps a close eye on this site and keeps tabs on pictures and all kinds of things to see where we are taking the KJ. I know that for a fact. Just another reason we need to keep on track in the positive direction.

The new KK will even have some feature to make the rig a better machine. A good driver and a little prep makes for a good trail rig. It's not huge lifts, huge tires but using your head to maybe take a differnt line to get where you want to go. We have tons of pictures from all across the US on some very hard trails in the KJ and if we had followed what so many were saying we would have never even lifted the first KJ to hit those trails.

Keep positive, dont worry about a stupid badge or not ...The badge is only a sticker on the side of the Jeep. The pictures we all post are the real word and that is whats tells everyone that the KJ and the new KK is able to do. Later...Clint

LoganSix · **Posted:** Sun Aug 26, 2007 8:35 am

expeditionswest wrote:

Rubicon is not currently a requirement for Trail Rated badge (though I think it should be). A set of defined criteria determines if the vehicle meets the rating (traction, fording depth, ground clearance, etc. as tested by Nevada Automotive Testing Center (NATC) )

It doesn't matter how many times you tell people what the badge stands for, they never listen. I know I've posted the NATC info at least 3 times in the main forum.

But, thanks for the trail report info.

Signcutter21 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 28, 2007 7:38 pm

cool would love to see the pics of that ride. Clint, did you get to go on that on too? When I grow up I wanna be like you.

mike

oh welcome to LOST Scott

Troysterr · **Posted:** Wed Aug 29, 2007 2:31 am

Signcutter21 wrote:

cool would love to see the pics of that ride. Clint, did you get to go on that on too? When I grow up I wanna be like you.

What ever gave you the idea that Clint grew up???

I hope I never grow up and get to play with Jeeps all the time like Clint some day.

As for the KK, I plan to drive my '02 KJ until it's just a mound of rust in my driveway. But I'm looking forward to seeing some on Golden Spike at LOST Moab '08.

Signcutter21 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 29, 2007 3:13 pm

so true Troy so true.

lilmatty · **Posted:** Wed Aug 29, 2007 5:18 pm

Troysterr wrote:

Signcutter21 wrote:

cool would love to see the pics of that ride. Clint, did you get to go on that on too? When I grow up I wanna be like you.

What ever gave you the idea that Clint grew up???

I hope I never grow up and get to play with Jeeps all the time like Clint some day.

As for the KK, I plan to drive my '02 KJ until it's just a mound of rust in my driveway. But I'm looking forward to seeing some on Golden Spike at LOST Moab '08.

Same here Troy. I've got my rig so 'custom' now that it's going to be impossible to sell. Besides now that the Liberty has returned to the Jeep look the body style for the KJ will be 'classic.'

skrracing · **Posted:** Wed Aug 29, 2007 7:47 pm

I hope I grow up one of these days. Get a real job, cut my hair, and work for the man. No way. Later...Clint
:lol:

KK does the Rubicon

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