Cantina for the 'Con (Rubicon Trail) Labor Day weekend

[rubicon4wheeler]

The Cantina for the 'Con is an annual Labor Day weekend fundraiser to generate money to keep the Rubicon Trail open and healthy. It's not as much a 4-wheeling event as it is a 4-wheelers' event, although anyone and everyone can head out onto the Rubicon after stuffing themselves with tacos and buying a zillion raffle tickets.

It's a huge event, and fun enough that this will be my 4th year in a row attending. You'll know you've found me when you see me lounging in the shade of my 710M's softtop and my belly about to burst.

If anyone's interested in the event, more info can be found here in the Pirate4x4.com forum.

[rubicon4wheeler]

After the Rubicon, I met up with some other friends and did the Strawberry Ridge Trail. Here is their photo album, including some shots of my Pinz:

http://gallery.me.com/james.leighton#100049

[KINSPINZ]

Great pics!!! the Rubicon event looks like a blast. I saw some pics of your pinz on Pirate. How did it do on the Rubicon?

[rubicon4wheeler]

Great pics!!! the Rubicon event looks like a blast. I saw some pics of your pinz on Pirate. How did it do on the Rubicon?

No problems at all. I touched the underside of the toolbox (behind the battery box) to a rock enough to scrape some paint, and I kissed the body right behind/below the front bumper on a rock, but other than that there's nothing bad to report. It's a good thing I have a stout front bumper, though!

Even though Steyr never gave a thought to the rockcrawling capabilities of the Pinz, it does quite well on easy and moderate trails like the Rubicon. Plenty of clearance, compact body, amazing maneuverability, adequate gearing, and full diff locks make the Pinz surprisingly capable on the rocks. Sure, a solid-axle creeper-geared Unimog is a better vehicle for the Rubicon, but most of the trails in the Sierra Nevada mountain range are too tight for anything bigger than a 710. That's why I didn't get a 712; anything bigger than a Jeep is going to have fitment issues!

[KINSPINZ]

Dont have to tell me what there capable of. But it is a nice reminder. I Imagine you didnt run the little sluice though ? I have heard its tight. I have seen alot of Mog's on the con and not many Pinzy's. I would love to get out there and run that trail, its legendary.

[rubicon4wheeler]

I have too much respect for the Pinzgauer to beat the crud out of it going through Little Sluice.

I won't even take my 4Runner crawler on 37's through there. That obstacle is for the big boys on 44's+

[KINSPINZ]

I totally agree.