Originally published August 9, 2007. This report has been reformatted using the original full-size photographs and updated to provide additional historical context.
In the summer of 2007, we gathered 14 UTVs on the Lake Tahoe side of California’s Rubicon Trail to answer a question that was still being debated at the time: Could side-by-sides survive one of the most difficult and famous four-wheel-drive trails in the country?
Our group included eight Yamaha Rhinos, four Polaris Rangers, one Arctic Cat Prowler and one of the newly introduced Polaris Ranger RZRs. The plan was to travel from the Tahoe side of the Rubicon to Rubicon Springs, camp and then climb back out.
Today, seeing heavily modified UTVs on technical rock trails is commonplace. In 2007, however, side-by-sides were still widely viewed as utility vehicles or recreational machines primarily suited to dirt roads, dunes and open desert. Taking 14 of them into the Rubicon was a serious test of their capabilities—and of our ability to repair them far from the trailers.
The Rubicon Trail
The Rubicon Trail is a historic route through California’s Sierra Nevada. Its origins date to the late 1800s, when the route connected Georgetown with resort hotels at Rubicon Springs and Wentworth Springs. As the resorts disappeared and the road deteriorated, the route became increasingly popular with four-wheel-drive enthusiasts.
The first Jeepers Jamboree was held there in 1953, helping establish the Rubicon’s reputation as one of America’s most important technical four-wheel-drive trails. The route is also known as the Rubicon/McKinney Road, an unmaintained county right-of-way crossing a mixture of public and private land.
The trail’s obstacles, granite slabs, loose boulders and isolated location require more than a capable vehicle. Drivers must carry appropriate recovery equipment, tools, spare parts, food, water and overnight supplies. Conditions and access requirements can change, so anyone planning a modern trip should confirm current rules, seasonal restrictions and trail conditions before leaving home.
Fourteen Early UTVs Take on the Rubicon
Our destination was Rubicon Springs, the historic site of a late-19th-century mineral springs resort. Reaching camp from the Tahoe side required passing several mountain lakes, negotiating numerous rock obstacles and descending Cadillac Hill.
Even the composition of the group illustrates how young the recreational side-by-side market was. The Yamaha Rhino dominated the field, while the Polaris Ranger and Arctic Cat Prowler represented the utility side of the industry. The lone Polaris Ranger RZR represented something entirely new: a compact side-by-side designed from the beginning with recreational performance in mind.
The trip became an important chapter in the history of the Yamaha Rhino. It helped demonstrate that the Rhino had redefined what a side-by-side could be, especially when equipped with better tires, suspension, protection and recovery gear.
It was also an early public demonstration of the machine that would transform the performance UTV market. Learn more in our complete history of the Polaris RZR.
Miller Lake
Our first group stopped briefly at Miller Lake before continuing deeper into the trail. The Sierra Nevada scenery was impressive, but the surrounding rocks provided a reminder that this would not be an easy sightseeing trip.
Negotiating Dollar Hole
Dollar Hole gave the drivers an opportunity to test vehicle clearance, traction and tire placement. Compared with modern rock-crawling UTVs, these early machines had limited suspension travel, relatively small tires and modest power. Their compact dimensions, however, allowed them to pick through obstacles that could be awkward for a larger four-wheel-drive vehicle.
The Rubicon quickly exposed the importance of protecting vulnerable components. Tires, steering parts, CV joints and undercarriage components were all subjected to impacts and loads far beyond those encountered on an ordinary trail ride.
Observation Point
We stopped at Observation Point for a group photograph before beginning the more serious descent toward Rubicon Springs. The lineup captured a significant moment in UTV history: utility-oriented machines being used for the kind of technical backcountry travel that would eventually become a major part of the side-by-side market.
Descending Cadillac Hill
Cadillac Hill was one of the most demanding portions of the trip. Descending steep, uneven granite ledges required careful tire placement and control. The trail offered little room for mistakes, especially with fully loaded vehicles carrying camping equipment and spare parts.
The descent also produced the first significant mechanical problem. Aaron Wedeking from PRP Seats forced the steering in a difficult section and broke an aftermarket steering-wheel adapter approximately half a mile from camp.
Several members of the group went ahead, removed the steering wheel and adapter from another Rhino and carried the parts back up the trail. The borrowed assembly allowed Aaron to drive his Rhino the remaining distance to Rubicon Springs, where a more permanent trail repair could be attempted.
Camping at Rubicon Springs
Rubicon Springs provided the group with a scenic and historically significant place to spend the night. Reaching the springs with the early UTVs was an accomplishment, but everyone still had to make it back out.
Trail Welding a Broken Steering Adapter
Aaron came prepared for the possibility of a breakdown. At camp, he connected three vehicle batteries with jumper cables and used welding rods to repair the broken steering-wheel adapter.
Battery welding is an emergency backcountry technique, not a substitute for proper shop equipment or professional welding. It can damage electrical systems, start a fire or cause batteries to release explosive gases. Nevertheless, in this situation, Aaron’s preparation and fabrication experience produced a repair that lasted all the way back to the trailers.
Climbing Big Sluice
After leaving Rubicon Springs, the group climbed through Big Sluice. This section combined large rocks, uneven ledges and tight lines that tested both the machines and their drivers.
Buck Island
Buck Island provided a welcome break after the difficult climb. Stops like this were also opportunities to inspect the vehicles for leaking fluids, loose fasteners, damaged tires and bent suspension or steering components before continuing.
Mechanical Problems on the Return Trip
The trail continued to take its toll on the machines. A tire bead came loose and required a trailside repair—one of the more common problems when running reduced tire pressure for traction in rocky terrain.
The Arctic Cat Prowler driven by Aaron’s father and brother then broke a rear CV joint while climbing Cadillac Hill. A second CV failed soon afterward. With reduced traction and the vehicle under additional stress, the Prowler also broke a tie rod, leaving it with only two-wheel drive and no usable steering.
Another Improvised Trail Repair
A simple weld directly across the broken tie rod would not have been strong enough. Aaron instead fabricated a splint using available metal, including a bolt and screwdriver, and welded the pieces across the break to reinforce the damaged tie rod.
The improvised repair restored steering, but the Prowler still had only two-wheel drive. That might have been enough on a graded road, but several boulder-filled sections remained between the disabled machine and the trailhead.
A tow strap was connected between a Yamaha Rhino and the Prowler. With the Rhino providing assistance, the group was able to work the damaged Prowler over the remaining obstacles and back toward the trailers.
Climbing Back Up Cadillac Hill
The final climb reinforced what the entire trip had demonstrated. These early side-by-sides were capable of far more than many people expected, but conquering the Rubicon required vehicle preparation, experienced drivers, teamwork and the ability to make repairs in the backcountry.
What We Learned on the Rubicon
Tire pressure became one of the trip’s important lessons. Higher pressure can help keep a tire seated on its wheel, but it also reduces the tire’s ability to conform to rocks. That loss of traction can increase shock loads on CV joints, axles, steering parts and other drivetrain components.
The trip also reinforced the need to carry more than ordinary hand tools on a remote technical trail. Recovery straps, winches, tire-repair equipment, spare steering and suspension parts, electrical supplies and basic fabrication materials can make the difference between driving out and leaving a machine behind.
Most importantly, the 2007 Rubicon run demonstrated that UTVs had evolved beyond their traditional utility role. The Rhino, Ranger, Prowler and new RZR successfully carried their occupants and camping gear deep into one of America’s most demanding four-wheel-drive trails.
Protecting Access to the Rubicon Trail
The Rubicon’s future depends on responsible recreation. Riders should remain on the established route, respect private property, pack out all waste, prevent fluid spills and comply with current county and land-management regulations.
Responsible use is especially important on a route with the visibility and historical significance of the Rubicon. Every group traveling the trail represents the broader four-wheel-drive and UTV community.
This story is part of a pivotal period when the Yamaha Rhino aftermarket, Polaris RZR and Kawasaki Teryx reshaped the side-by-side industry. Explore the complete story in our history of the UTV industry in 2008.
Explore more early side-by-side adventures in the UTVGuide.net Trip Reports archive.
