OHV Season Preparations
Posted: April 26, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentThere is still a ton of snow on our trails. Hopefully I’ll have a first hand account by tonight.
So, it’s time to go over your rig and get it ready for the OHV season that might start by July. Just kidding. It’s here now but is your rig ready?
Mine had/has a few issues I’ve been putting off until now. The other day I started in on the list: replace left knuckle, new front leaf spring bolts, new HD steering bars, power strip under hood (no more bundle of wires on the battery).
Well, I got in to it but it’s not done. It was a bit of a fight to get the knuckle off but I won.
The old knuckle got a little bent on a big boulder I hit a little too hard. Your not supposed to be able to see the under side of the steering arm from this view. It had quite a bend and twist.
The new knuckle went on without much of an issue.
On to the steering. Out with the old, in with the new (used).
Looking closely at the shorter component, you can see there is a weld at the adjuster and the threads. I noticed that when I bought the Jeep some eight years ago and new I had to replace it soon. Well this season, after multiple trips down to the Springs, Barrett Lake and Fordyce, I figured it was time.
I’ve already told the story about my Barrett Lake trip where I broke a U-bolt. Here is the result. A really tweaked center bolt from my leaf spring.
I’m also replacing the spring hanger/bottom plate set-up with a cool unit from Ruff Stuff. I’ll add those pictures later. I also have the parts for a auxiliary power strip but haven’t started in on that yet. Maybe after I replace the dead battery. It was a long cold winter.
Please take the time to go over your rig to find and take care of any issues that you may find. You don’t want to be that guy on your first trip out for the season.
Rubicon Ronin
Trail Conditions – March 2017
Posted: March 13, 2017 Filed under: Access, Travel | Tags: snow wall Leave a commentI just got word that someone has broken through the wall at the residential area:
At the staging area. Those are the two pit toilets in the background!
Though you won’t get far. I think that’s right at the staging area (the creek would be Water Bar #1) but I’m not sure.
Please remember to Tread Lightly! if you venture out on the Rubicon. Don’t spin your tires in the dirt or mud. That will cause erosion and the sedimentation that gets in the water my find its way to Tahoe and the anti-OHV people will use it against us.
Use the winch, take a strap, wheel in as far as you can but don’t give the other side ammo to use against us.
Rubicon Ronin
Oppose SB 249, Save our OHV $$$$$
Posted: March 7, 2017 Filed under: Access, Maintenance | Tags: grant, OHV, politics, State Parks Leave a commentRecently, I’ve posted about the possible end of the CA State Parks OHMVR Division and CORVA’s (CA Off Road Vehicle Association) promotion of a bill to keep that OHV funding source in place.
https://theotherrubicon.wordpress.com/?s=CORVA
There is now a bill that has been put forth to END this grant funding for OHV.
http://cal4wheel.com/sb-249-opposition
If you do nothing else this year for OHV, make a call or send an email to your local elected representative to support the continuation of the CA State Parks OHMVR Grant Program and oppose SB 249.
As a citizen of Nevada, not California, it’s a little tricky for me to contact “my” elected CA representative. But I will use the CA address of my family cabin at Tahoe and submit that I recreate (read as bring money to spend) in CA and the continuation of this grant program with promote me to continue to recreate in CA.
This is HUGE people. I don’t often ask for my readers to act. This blog is for your enjoyment and education. I didn’t start this blog to promote myself or any ’cause’. I try not to rant too often. But, I am promoting this cause because if we lose our OHV funds, our trails will close do to lack of maintenance.
The old saying is: “If you don’t vote, you can’t complain.” Well the new quote will be: “If you didn’t speak out to save the CA State Parks OHMVR Grant Program, you can’t complain when your OHV sticker funds go to maintain a State Park that doesn’t allow OHV use and our OHV trails get closed.” Not as catchy but you get my point.
Contact your politician and tell your friends to do the same.
Rubicon Ronin
14′ wall and more on the way!
Posted: March 2, 2017 Filed under: Access | Tags: Placer, rubicon trail, snow, winter Leave a commentI ventured out to the Rubicon today (3/2/2017) and found the largest wall I’ve ever seen at the entrance to the Rubicon.
The directional sign we put in last year seems to be tall enough, so far.
Looking down the last street toward the entrance to the Rubicon Trail. Notice the height of the snow on either side of the road.
But when you get to the Rubicon, the snow is now 14′ tall!
My truck is about 6′ tall. At least the Rubicon Trail sign is visible.
What concerns me are the HUGE rotary blade marks in the wall. Private snow removal guys don’t have machines that big. Only the County has those.
I’ve already fired off a letter to Placer County Supervisor Montgomery to get the County to come out with a front loader to remove snow to the point that it matches the snow loads in the rest of the neighborhood.
We’ll have to wait and see what happens.
But for now we get to wait for the storm that is going to hit Saturday night.
Spring begins March 20th!
Rubicon Ronin
OHMVR Grant Cycle
Posted: February 19, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentOHV Grant Funding
The grant cycle has started. Several agencies have help open houses to ask the users what they want done with their trails this summer.
Please take the time to contact your local office and provide polite input as to how you would like to fee your funds spent.
The CA Off Road Vehicle Association (CORVA) has moved forward on the effort to renew the grant program. This great program was scheduled to sunset after this year. These funds are critical for us to maintain our trails and keep them safe and thus open.
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The entire (short) bill text can be found here: Read Bill. It is usually short and just removes the provision that details the sun-setting of the program.
It wouldn’t hurt to have you contact your representatives to ask for their support of this bill. This bill does not use general taxes for funding, the funding comes from sales and green sticker fees. It is self contained.
Rubicon Ronin
The 'Other' Rubicon 