John Canfield
Site Team
We wanted to start the 2013 Chili Challenge with the hard rated Cayenne Crawler trail that we did last year to see what if any difference our axle improvements (and the RubiCrawler) have made in wheeling capability, so this was going to be an interesting day.
To sum up the differences: WOW, OH WOW!
Rubi was quiet for a change
- no banging, or other unusual noises and this part is very difficult to describe - it seemed to 'float' over obstacles or maybe it was the suspension working together. The changes we've made have taken the difficulty level down a big notch on this trail.
Last year we struggled a bit on the last mandatory obstacle on the climb out of the canyon so this one was going to be the tell-tale for the rig. For the first attempt on the two-step steep climb I got up the first step with no issue with the RubiCrawler engaged, 4-low and 1st gear. We did not not have the momentum necessary to climb out. (I have seen very few people crawl this obstacle.)
I got re-spotted and decided to use the RubiCrawler with 4-low and 3rd gear for more momentum. YES! I climbed right out! Oh yeah!! It took me maybe two minutes this year to do the obstacle, last year it was two or three times as long.
We didn't do the optional obstacle as some tried in the below pictures - I didn't have my aluminum corner armor installed yet and if I beat the rear fender flare up it would bend the tub. We'll give it a try next year.
To sum up the differences: WOW, OH WOW!
Rubi was quiet for a change
- no banging, or other unusual noises and this part is very difficult to describe - it seemed to 'float' over obstacles or maybe it was the suspension working together. The changes we've made have taken the difficulty level down a big notch on this trail.Last year we struggled a bit on the last mandatory obstacle on the climb out of the canyon so this one was going to be the tell-tale for the rig. For the first attempt on the two-step steep climb I got up the first step with no issue with the RubiCrawler engaged, 4-low and 1st gear. We did not not have the momentum necessary to climb out. (I have seen very few people crawl this obstacle.)
I got re-spotted and decided to use the RubiCrawler with 4-low and 3rd gear for more momentum. YES! I climbed right out! Oh yeah!! It took me maybe two minutes this year to do the obstacle, last year it was two or three times as long.
We didn't do the optional obstacle as some tried in the below pictures - I didn't have my aluminum corner armor installed yet and if I beat the rear fender flare up it would bend the tub. We'll give it a try next year.
