Trailer Tailgate Rebuild
Posted: July 6, 2021 Filed under: Maintenance | Tags: trailer Leave a commentYears ago, I picked up an old highway lighting trailer. I lined it with plywood, did a spring over axle, swapped to it 5 on 5.5 and put on a universal hitch.
Over the years, I’ve repaired and replaced the hitch, rebuilt the front side of the trailer after the my Jeep’s bumper fell off and replaced the tailgate and now it’s time for tailgate 2.0.
The trailer has served me well over the years. This is a very early shot of the trail and me hauling in the kiosk for the Long Lake Trail.
Though I’ve not always treated the trailer as well as I should have…
That was an empty trailer, too much speed and one tire hitting a rock. Two snatch blocks and a winch and I had it rubber side down again.
I did replace that slide down tailgate but it was time for a new tailgate. What I had laying around was a Jeep tailgate designated for my ‘project’ Jeep. Well, the trailer needed it more than the project. Out with the old, broken (again), slide in set-up.
Mocking up the brackets, yes, it is an old bedframe. Cheapest angle iron around.
In with the new Jeep tailgate.
I tried to get fancy with an adjustable bolt set-up for aligning the sides of the trailer to the tailgate. It’s just too loose. I need to weld EVERYTHING.
It’s still using the stock latch system.
Next week, off to Pick-n-Pull to get some tailgate straps, so I can hold the tailgate level when open or drop it vertical to unload rock.
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Rubicon Ronin
SPI properties are closed
Posted: July 4, 2021 Filed under: Access | Tags: closure, Private property, SPI Leave a commentI got this through a mountain bike thread. Not sure what is around the Rubicon but good information to know for those going out later in the summer.
SPI Forestlands Closed to Public Access Due to Wildfire Danger
Due to extreme drought and wildfire conditions, Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) has closed most of forestlands to public access. These closures will remain in effect until further notice. Public roads that are on SPI forestlands will remain open, but no walk-in access will be allowed. For those looking for maps of SPI property lines, there are several third-party applications available for purchase.
All California forestlands, closure effective Mon., June 21.
Washington state forestlands in Clark, Cowlitz and Lewis counties, closure effective Thurs., July 1. At this time, SPI lands in Pacific, Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom counties remain available for non-motorized recreational access.
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Rubicon Ronin
Another Video by TRAILNEWBIE – The Noochester Mine Road
Posted: July 4, 2021 Filed under: Travel | Tags: Noonchester, View, Views Leave a commentSo this guy has done a few of these. I need to learn to do quality visoes.
Video about the Buck Lake Trail
Posted: July 4, 2021 Filed under: Access, Travel | Tags: buck Leave a commentThis video just came up on a Facebook page I follow. The first thing I liked was that he turned around when he came to a downed tree across on of the trails, he didn’t go around.
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Rubicon Ronin
Forest Road 03-04 Improvements
Posted: June 30, 2021 Filed under: Access, Maintenance, Travel | Tags: 03-04, erosion, maintenance, TNF Leave a commentFor those of you that don’t know that road, it runs from the Rubicon over to Barker Pass. It was one of the recommended reroutes around the closed staging area last week.
It’s probably twice as far to get to Lake Tahoe than the Rubicon, but it’s twice as smooth. And it just got better.
While the staging area was getting paved, Forest Road 03-04 was getting groomed. The first mile off the Rubicon was always little rough and severely rutted. But the road got progressively better the closer you got to Barker Pass. The last few miles at Barker Pass you could drive a Honda Civic down, it’s that groomed.
Back in 2016, there was water running down the trail causing erosion, allowing sediment to get in to the water system.
Hard to see, but looking back down the trail towards the Rubicon, there is one on many new rolling dips along Forest Road 03-04, so many I lost count.
Just south of the intersection of 03-04-14, looking up the trail, 2016.
Just last week, looking down the same section of trail.
Forest Road 03-04 is classified as a ‘road’ not a ‘trail’, so it is maintained at a different level then say the Buick Lake Trail. The FS got serious with 03-04 this time around. The work done on this trail will allow emergency vehicles to access more of our forests. For the Rubicon, it means we can bring in material with very large trucks much closer to the actual trail.
There are a ton of places to camp along and just off Forest Road 03-04. The most popular is Bear Lake but it’s usually crowded. Some of the other side roads have great views and are always empty of campers. You should check them out.
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Rubicon Ronin
The 'Other' Rubicon 