In case y'all have chosen not to visit the original thread, I clearly stated that:
it was Matt's first time wheeling, his first time in a 4X4 and he wanted to try something difficult (with his swaybars attached). He was taking a $30,000 new rig into something real difficult.
We did not encourage him, in fact we tried to talk him out of it, but he wanted to challenge himself- and that's what it's all about... not what brand you drive or how great you think you are.
Denigrating the effort is probably inappropriate because the video truly doesn't do it justice. I have seen several rigs flopped in the same area, in fact a capable Jeep laid it on the side after Matt went through.
Furthermore, I realize I wasn't doing anything to try & help the vehicle itself... Although I am on the large side, I wasn't kidding myself one minute. No one can do anything to stop a vehicle from laying over. On the rare times I will hop aboard during an obstacle, I will ride along so I can feel what the driver is feeling and be able to communicate with him. I keep myself in a postion to bailout. When faced with an obstacle and a driver needing coaching, it is easier for me to go along as a rider than to worry about my footing and trying to feel what the vehicle is doing and trying to converse with the driver.
Is it safe? Nope. Should everyone hop aboard for the ride? Nope.
Unfortunately, it is a bad habit (how bad is always up for debate) I learned 25 years ago as a 17 y/o kid with an M-16 & an patrol pack riding the back bumper of jeeps.
So, enough debate about me and my lack of grace, photogenic qualities and/or common sense- this post was simply to show:
1. Someone actually wheeling a stocker aggressively
2. The characteristics and abilites of the vehicle right out of the box
Matt earned Kudos for taking a challenge and doing well.
Comparing an IFS rig to a solid axle rig is asinine. The FJ is not built the same as a Rubi- both are fine vehicles built for different markets and both have distinct advantages over the other.
I will gladly give any of you posers (Jeep or FJC) an insider's tour of BMRA... maybe a night run on Scorpion's Pass?
