A funny thing happened on the way to the trail…

Yesterday, I got an email about an impromptu trail maintenance need on the Rubicon Trail. It seems the 112mph winds last week dropped a number of trees along the Rubicon Trail between Miller Lake and Cadillac Hill.

FOTR put out the word, I heard through the Sierra Stompers, and the volunteers rolled out to help. I was one of those volunteers that loaded up and rolled out to help but I didn’t roll too far.

Unfortunately, west bound on Highway 80, 7:15 in the morning, I developed a major vibration, as I approached Truckee.

An hour later, AAA picked me up and took me home.

My best guess is that something came loose in the transmission. The vibration was as violent as death wobble, been there done that, but felt more rotational than side to side. Although I had a check engine come on and the engine was not running smooth when I pulled over, I was able to start the engine, while waiting for AAA, and use the heater. Since it was in the 20 degrees alongside the highway, I didn’t get out and start looking for the reasons for the vibration.

When I got home and gingerly backed the TJ down my driveway, I felt and heard a thunk, thunk, thunk. I know, really technical. But it was driveline pace not engine pace. I’ll look into it next week. Too depressed at the moment and there’s college football on TV. Go Huskies!

AAA is awesome. Every Jeep owner should spend the money, get the upgrade and have 99-mile tow service.

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Rubicon Ronin