The 2010 Jeep diesel pickup they didn't make

[RobertN]

Rubicon is a classic lexicon of four wheeling and a "Jeep trail"; a "hard rock" trail due to granite boulders strewn about. At one time, it had been a main road(gravel) to Lake Tahoe. A new main highway was built(US-50), and the old road abandoned.It was barely a road to begin with; it quickly degraded with harsh winter weather. The parts of the "trail" were blocked by rock.

This also coincided with the end of WWII, and Jeeps being available to civilians. A local group of new "Jeepers" started driving the trail. Over the years, it became harder an harder to follow. It was a very challenging four wheel drive only trial. Those original Jeepers(Mark Smith) started a yearly Jamboree trail ride that is continues to be extremely popular and brings participants from all over.

The trail is called Rubicon because of its proximity to the Rubicon River. The trail remains open, partly because it is still on the county books as an unimproved road.

It is the most famous "Jeep" trail, hence the Jeep Wrangler "Rubicon" edition. For decades, Jeep has tested their vehicles yearly on the trail, including the Cherokee. For a SUV, the Cherokee's do well off-road, although Rubicon granite usually rearranges a body panel or two.

There are many other hard rock trails, even nearby to Rubicon, but it was the first to gather notoriety.

Rubicon Trail - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rubicon Trail Foundation
Jeepers and Jeep Jamboree
Interesting video from Little Sluice
Little Sluice - Rubicon Trail - YouTube

What is a "Rubicon" ?

 

[Renze]

DI engines with variable cam timing run very little intake manifold vacuum. Pumping losses are gone.

The reduced air flow caused by the valve timing causes the pistons to really SUCK air through the valves to get the required stroke volume through them. No matter if the throttle valve or the cylinder head or valves are regulating the rpm or power by regulating the amount of air drawn into the cylinder, the piston will pull a vacuum... all what variable valve timing is doing, is increasing the air flow at higher rpm thus reducing vacuum losses at full power, high rpm, not at cruising speed. Any engine has vacuum losses, 4 valve cylinder heads increase the fill rates of intake strokes from 80% to about 95%

 

[buickanddeere]

Rubicon is a classic lexicon of four wheeling and a "Jeep trail"; a "hard rock" trail due to granite boulders strewn about. At one time, it had been a main road(gravel) to Lake Tahoe. A new main highway was built(US-50), and the old road abandoned.It was barely a road to begin with; it quickly degraded with harsh winter weather. The parts of the "trail" were blocked by rock.

This also coincided with the end of WWII, and Jeeps being available to civilians. A local group of new "Jeepers" started driving the trail. Over the years, it became harder an harder to follow. It was a very challenging four wheel drive only trial. Those original Jeepers(Mark Smith) started a yearly Jamboree trail ride that is continues to be extremely popular and brings participants from all over.

The trail is called Rubicon because of its proximity to the Rubicon River. The trail remains open, partly because it is still on the county books as an unimproved road.

It is the most famous "Jeep" trail, hence the Jeep Wrangler "Rubicon" edition. For decades, Jeep has tested their vehicles yearly on the trail, including the Cherokee. For a SUV, the Cherokee's do well off-road, although Rubicon granite usually rearranges a body panel or two.

There are many other hard rock trails, even nearby to Rubicon, but it was the first to gather notoriety.

Rubicon Trail - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rubicon Trail Foundation
Jeepers and Jeep Jamboree
Interesting video from Little Sluice
Little Sluice - Rubicon Trail - YouTube

Thankyou for the history and info on the Rubicon. It was quit interesting.

 

[buickanddeere]

The reduced air flow caused by the valve timing causes the pistons to really SUCK air through the valves to get the required stroke volume through them. No matter if the throttle valve or the cylinder head or valves are regulating the rpm or power by regulating the amount of air drawn into the cylinder, the piston will pull a vacuum... all what variable valve timing is doing, is increasing the air flow at higher rpm thus reducing vacuum losses at full power, high rpm, not at cruising speed. Any engine has vacuum losses, 4 valve cylinder heads increase the fill rates of intake strokes from 80% to about 95%

Intake cam gets retarded and the engine pumps some air from the combustion chamber to the intake. Instead of reducing airflow into the cylinders with the throttle plate.
The losses of the pistons pulling against closed intakes in negligible due to the limited travel. And the exhaust valves are still open so isn't pumping losses . Variable cam timing is used on the gassers now instead of an EGR valve. Comes into play with variable cam diesels too.

 

[Scooby074]

Jeep has been kicking the Diesel pickup around quite a while now. Several years ago in 2005, they had the Gladiator concept. Too bad they didnt make it at the time.

 

[wmonroe]

Jeep has been kicking the Diesel pickup around quite a while now. Several years ago in 2005, they had the Gladiator concept. Too bad they didnt make it at the time.

I drooled over the gladiator for a long time. It interests me more than a wrangler actually, build on the same length as a four door wrangler and just make the bed whatever size will fit behind a two door and four door cab. A body on frame, jeep wrangler truck, rubicon package, diesel engine, 6 speed manual....I'm in love.

 

[Scooby074]

I drooled over the gladiator for a long time. It interests me more than a wrangler actually, build on the same length as a four door wrangler and just make the bed whatever size will fit behind a two door and four door cab. A body on frame, jeep wrangler truck, rubicon package, diesel engine, 6 speed manual....I'm in love.

Yeah.. A lot of people like it for its size. Funny it never made it to production.

 

[buickanddeere]

We can blame meddling by technology hating and man hating PC environmentalists in the EPA for ruining a lot of good things.

 

[Topkicker]

Jeep has been kicking the Diesel pickup around quite a while now. Several years ago in 2005, they had the Gladiator concept. Too bad they didnt make it at the time.

I'm surprised the Gladiator never went into production. Could easily be built at the JK plant along with the other Wranglers. Mopar offering a conversion kit to make your JK Unlimited a truck is kinda crazy IMO. They already have the part dies to make the sheet metal and shorter hard top. Why not just make the truck at the assembly plant and offer it to the public??

 

[Piston]

I know it's awkward looking, but I really liked the "mini unimog" looking jeep concept that they had when they unveiled the Gladiator concept, or around the same time anyways. Anyone know what that model was called?