Okay, so I'm watching this Jeep commercial and the ad goes something like this:

"Every Jeep is trail-rated. If your truck isn't trail-rated you are driving a piece of crap."

So what are the qualifications here? I want the little "trail-rated" sticker on my X! Does the X need to take a test to get trail-rated? Do I have to drive the Rubicon without getting so much as a scratch or do I just have to roll over some obstacle course in the parking lot at the Jeep dealer? Anyone know how to get "trail-rated?"

Isn't "trail-rated" a Jeep trademarked term?

Basially Jeep made up the term and started calling all their vehicles "trail-rated", so that they could sound special.

My X rolls over "trail rated" POS Jeeps

My X is:



Looks like 5 areas are covered:

• Traction
• Ground Clearance
• Maneuverability
• Articulation
• Water Fording

As soon as I saw this latest ad game I knew I had to get one of these badges to rib Jeep owners.
Now where do I get one of those badges?

Jeep dealer? :p

Answered my own question:

Wouldn't you know it eBay has everything!

Ebay's got them:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=50446&item=2450170909

You beat me by mere seconds!

It's a running joke on JU as well.
Just don't include the TJ in your "ribbing".

I couldn't resist, I bought one!

"NEW JEEP TRAIL RATED 4X4 NAMEPLATE. EVERY JEEP IS SUBJECTED TO THE RUBICON TRAIL BEFORE IT IT PUT TO ASSEMBLY. THUS BEING TRAIL RATED. ALL THE NEW 2004 JEEP WRANGLER, LIBERTY, AND GRAND CHEROKEE'S COME WITH THIS NAMEPLATE FROM THE FACTORY! BE THE FIRST WITH YOUR LATE MODEL JEEP TO PROUDLY SAY YOUR RIG IS TRAIL RATED AS WELL! THIS PRICE IS FOR ONE NAMEPLATE ALTHOUGH MORE ARE AVAILABLE. IS YOUR JEEP TRAIL RATED?"

Grand Cherokee has run the Rubicon, stock? I'll have to find pics of that!

I'm gonna grab one of those things for my bumper, thats funny!

The GC's with Quadradrive and the upcountry suspension package will go places that will give Xs trouble. Solid-axle flex front and rear and gerorotor diffs at both ends will take you places.

Jeep tests all their products on the Rubicon, they just don't say how far they get with them. They ran the wussy Liberty on the Rubicon too.

God only knows how many thousands of rocks they had to stack for the Liberty

Pics of the libery testing on the rubicon.





This looks like big sluice


Article

I find the ad campaign cheap and embarassing. Only Jeeps can be "Trail Rated" by DaimlerChrysler, since it's their slogan. Hopefully the American buying public is smart enough to understand that.

What they should have done is create a system with a sanctioning body, and allow all manufacturers to participate.

What they did is create a very cheap way to say other SUVs aren't off-road worthy, when that is completely untrue.

Uhmmm, what should we call it? An "X-Rated"? Oops, already taken.

From the article:
How much travel do xterras have? My 2nd gen 4runner has about 8inches stock and the 3rd gens have about 9inches with aftermarket shocks.

Something funny in this picture:



The symbol for articulation shows absolutely no articulation

I agree. I was thinking the same thing. Great post!

I have to say when I first saw the adds remarking how every Jeep is "trail-rated" I was pretty interested in how they came to that conclusion....So I immediately went to the Jeep home page and started poking around...Yeah they have like 5 catagories to rate each vehicle on in order for them to become "trail rated" but they dont say what the guidelines for each catagory!!! Like the "ground clearance" catagory...all they mention are non-specific things like "must be able to go up and over real world obstacles"...for all I know that means to them that a Jeep has to be able to clear some little kids wiffle-ball bat left in the road to be declared "Trail Rated"....What a joke!!

It's a marketing campaign.

These are the same people who ran a commercial showing a 100%-submerged Cherokee being used as a bridge by female hikers to cross a stream . . .

If you guys keep whining about "truth in advertising", I can see Ian creating a new, and quite busy, forum . . .

Bump!

This had to be done. You decide which is better.

The first one is a bit hard to read - but I like it the best.

It would be cool if there were a place (cheap) to get some die-cast... or maybe just some stickers that really look like it.

where?

Kaiser - On the NE corner of 15th and Independence in Plano there is a riceboy shop called Concept Racing that has a sticker cutting machine. They even have a 'preferred' shop in Garland they send 'the tuff stuff' to.

Here you go...

Firth, you make that and I'm buying it. Dan

I'll shoot $100 towards getting those decals made...we'll tell Chrysler the emblem is a symbol of having had raunchy sex in the X

Just pull up Ebay and put in "trail rated" as your search terms. It should bring up several buy-it-now auctions for the emblems.

Nick.

if you make those, ill buy one for sure. probably two...

Changing a jeep symbol to make reference to the X, reminds me of people who put Type R stickers on anything except an ITR. Sure it's funny to see them on an old beat up metro, but when people put them on Civic's, Cavaliers, and sunfires, it just makes you shake your head.

Well - you have a point there... that it might not be too classy to actually put one on your truck... but it's funny nonetheless

I was going to use mine to cover up a spot on my rear diff the spare I had down there rubbed shiny.

My parents had a 2003 JGC, they put 12k onn it and sold it. They have never had so much trouble with a vehicle. They tried to evoke the lemon law, but because Chrysler kept taking the truck back for repairs they (Chrysler) were making it diffficult for my parents to do much about it.

They had it in the shop 6 times in the past year. Here's what was replaced or repaired:

Master cylinder, front and rear brakes and rotors (twice) Somehow, a pin in the transmission broke stranding my mom in downtown Atlanta. The truck wouldn't go into any gear but reverse, but the main problem was the brakes.

The brakes were dragging, wearing on one side but not the other, causing it to pull whenever the brakes were applied..and on and on.

My cousin also bought one, a 2001. He also says it's giving him problems.

It may be trail rated, and I like regular Jeeps, but buyer beware!!

Before the X, I had a regular cherokee. It was a great vehicle off road. Disconnect the front sway bar and let it flex like mad. Having said that, it developed a leak at 45k in the rear diff pinion seal, required a 3" lift to fit 31"s, had a notoriously weak rear end, and hit the bumpstops routinely with two people in the back seat (nevermind three). Despite these things I would have bought it after the lease had the resale value not gone way down after the Liberty came out. Talk about a piece of shit. We rented a Liberty to do a little testing. The front LCA's hit anything over 4" tall, and thank god there was a skid on the front. No traction, plenty of horses w/ a resulting loss of low end torque, and tippy too. Jeeps are hit or miss. I have heard stories of cherokees lasting close to 400k, and even outlasting their door hinges. There are many more that fall into the category like the Grand mentioned in an earlier post. The only thing I miss with the X are the power and SFA. All in all I am much happier with the X, and think it will last longer...

All you have to do is print the "x-rated" emblem, cut it out, laminate it (to protect it from water) then stick on some magnetic strips. Instant sticker. That's what I'm gonna do----and wear my "rating" proudly!!!!

Heres what you really need.

Pure genius! I like this badge the best!

like the "X-Rated" badge kinda cool but trail rated is a marketing gimick in my humble meaningless opinion. personally i would take a solid front axle, ample powered jeep over my X but i am a Jeep person at heart.

just got back from Staples with some sticker paper to print some of these up on...first one came out really good...but purple in color compared to the scan...any ideas once I get the colors right on how to water/fade proof these things??? a clear spray coat perhaps??

Ok, got the colors right...just need to water/fade proof them...think like 3 and 1/3 by 4 incesh is pretty good to go on the back window of an X....

I'd say this is the easiest way. At Walmart they have magnetic sheets in the crafts dept... affix your laminated sticker/printout to these sheets and cut out the emblem from the sheet. Instant fridge magnet or emblem to stick on your rear hatch.

thought of and read that...my only issue with that is that a magnet on my fridge can't be seen by the outside world and a magnet on my x can be stolen/moved or worse...get sand underneath it and then move....scratches galore...

OK, finished waterproofing them, not sure about the fade resistance of them....will put one on the back of the X this afternoon and put up a picture of it tonight...if anyone is interested in one just PM me your address and I will mail one for free...not that it would be that difficult to do it yourself...but figured I'd be nice and offer....

Not trying to be an ass but why bother? The Jeep "Trail Rated" badge is nothing more than a marketing campaign, just like Pepsi's "The Choice of a New Generation".

The Xterra is a Nissan not a Jeep. It is what it is. If you are that taken with Jeep marketing pitches then buy a Jeep.

Anyway, to each their own. Have fun.

But don't you see?? that is the whole point!!! To make fun of the Jeep marketing program by doing a sarcastic take off of their badge!!! It is supposed to anger/annoy/question Jeep owners in general and Grocery Getters in particular!!

I want to see somebody sue Jeep for not covering trail damage under the warranty. Since they are now openly claiming that their vehicles are "Trail Rated", I believe that trail use falls squarely under "intended usage" and not under "abuse" - which is what they always say trail use is.

Sorry. I don't see the point. I don't understand this whole Xterra vs. Jeep thing anyway. Each vehicle has is pluses and minuses. I chose the Xterra because of it's offroad performance and the ability to take the family on vacation. The price tag didn't hurt either.

Besides, any real Jeeper knows that "Trail Rated" badge means nothing. Do you really think the TRUE Jeepers want that crap on their sheet metal. I doubt it.

That was an advertising campaign designed to dupe the soccer mom into think her Jeep is better then any other 4x4 out there. After all, it is TRAIL RATED. Gimme a break. If you want to tell if a vehicle is trail rated just look at the mods and that should give you an indication of it's trail worthiness.

Again, I'm not trying to be agressive. I just don't understand.

Vince-

Agreed, "Trail Rated" is a badge to make the mall mom's feel "cooler". And that's why this parody is a hoot. To me, the off-color "X-Rated" stabs at the whole silliness of rating, while not making it a Sneetch contest.

Sneetch? A starbellied Sneetch?

You? Not agressive? Man, you are getting older...

No, nor
a Rated Sneetch of
any sort.

I think that is the first liberty ive seen off road.. nice! i mean that as a compliment.

not trying to cause any drama but if you like my Kj, check out some others at Kj Jeep.com

tons of other pics alot more liberties more qualified then mine.

looks pretty cool. I like seeing any 4x4 off road.

If you make one of those, I'LL take one!

LOL. Yup, got um this weekend. I'll post a link to the guys web site.

By the looks of your screen name, and no description of an xterra, do you have a KJ? and if so why would you want this sticker? just curious....

I pulled up behind a very clean lifted Scout the other day. It had a sticker that said, "Jeeps are for Girls"! I would like to see someone graph that into an emblem. Any takers?
Dan

Ohhh that's right. Jeeps are magical offroad. Especially those that combine the vitues of IFS with unibody...

Why are you here again?

Hello fellow Illinoisian.

Don't mind these guys some are touchy.

Because I think it's funny and I'm not above poking a little fun at myself - yes, I do have a KJ. They have their limitations, but like most vehicles, those limitations can be overcome. I personally think that these badges are stupid and as pointed out earlier in this thread, they are a marketing gimmick, plain and simple.

Burgpath - thanks for posting that link!

His sticker page isn't up yet, ergo, I cant post it. Since your itching to get your hands on one, heres his main page. Email him and let him know your interested.

http://www.armory.com/~duff/

Your welcome.

Hey - I may be killed for asking this here - but do you know how large of a tire you can put on a stock '03 KJ? My GF just bought one (she liked it BETTER than the 01 Mineral Blue 4x4 SE Xterra that I was trying to get her to buy )

She's been looking around and can't find any solid info.

A quick google for a jeep forum and a subsequent search revealed the following:



Hope the image showed up...

That chart is actually based off of information from an 02 (Daimler Chrysler in its infinite wisdom, lowered the liberty suspension an inch starting in April 02). You could run the 245 70 but might get some VERY minor rubbing when backing up and turning tightly.

Yeah, I heard about the lowering - that sucks!

Thanks for the info!

heh, heh...245-70's...isnt that roller skate size tires??

That or skateboard tires.

I run 32's on mine. What is the biggest tire you run on your X

32s stock, although a few have 33s with no lift (but on 33s 10.5 inches is the max).

What kinda lift are you running to clear the 32s? Any trimming?

I got a 2.5 lift. then did a clevis lift for an extra 1.5 in the front. Did some trimming just for full turn in 4 Lo and reverse. Going to a Arb bumper so got to just trim the rest of the fender this weekend.

You guys just don't understand the true meaning of "trail rated" on all new Jeeps.

I had a friend that bought a new Jeep Golden Eagle, I believe it was called. He owned it for about a year before getting rid of it. He drove it from IL to TN once when it was just a month old, but broke down on the way back home. It stranded him constantly.

And that is the meaning of "trail rated". It's not a DRIVING trail, it's a WALKING trail. If you own a jeep, you are guaranteed to end up with it broken down, and you on the walking trail.

See what a set of tires can do

First off fellows, it's a badge not a sticker, so if your gonna rag on something that you have no clue about, at least get it right.

Ok, yep, I own a 04 Liberty. After hearing the nightmares from a X owner (across my street), I didn't even price one. They look nice and the cargo room seems to there but I already have a minivan and wanted something I could tow behind my RV with 4 down and no mods. People buy what they need and can afford. By expending 5 pages to a little badge telling people that "hey, our 4x4 can walk the walk". Not that other's can't walk the walk off road but DCX just beat everyone to the punch. If you want a real laugh, anyone see the CRv commercial? The one about the guy who thinks he's a wolf?

Oh also, before I forget, if you can't beat'em, join'em.. Check out this CRv wannabe

New smaller X-trail....

Don't put those "trail raited" badge designs away just yet, you might need'em.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

A KJ owner calling an Xterra a minivan!!!

Even fellow jeep owners don't think a KJ is a real jeep. Dude, listen up: unibody wagon!

come on guys, let's calm down .

and about that liberty at the auto show, that thing's got a front solid axle too. kind of cool looking actually.
but personally, it's just not worth the reliability issues if it ain't a wrangler. no offense liberty-owners.

that liberty looks pretty cool, but if you ever have to back up through a snow bank, you are sure to clog your tail pipe. The way the xterra is designed, its hard to get anything lodged in it... just a little detail, but its those little details that make the difference...

i like the liberty, but i would never get one... if you are going to get a small jeep, get a wrangler. the liberty doesnt seem to offer anything new to the market, its a step in the wrong direction for jeep.

just my opinion...

http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=e0e1adf5120219af32d061a03787563e&forumid=30

even on there own sight, its all about complaints and broken parts... not to rag on the liberty... but i just am surprized at the amount of complaints. but i guess we have complaint sections too, but it doesnt seem nearly this active.

I find it interesting that we have KJ owners watching the XOC forums... Besides a lot of great off-road pics, what does this board have to offer them, except for maybe some regret for not buying an X???

Which Liberty?
The one in the link posted above by the KJ owner is clearly IFS; the 1st picture shows the lower control arms just inboard of each tire:

Yeah, those X-trails really suck...

OK, i think I have an opinion that most here would agree on....It's always been my belief that if I needed to go just a short distance over rough terrain that I would want a Jeep Wrangler of one sort or another....dont know if there is a more capable, inexpensive, off road vehicle out there....that being said...If I am going to drive same said vehicle more than just a few miles that the LAST vehicle I would want is a Jeep of ANY sort...in fact I think that is one of the major reasons that many of us bought an X....not only is it pretty damn capable off road(though I dont thing any of us would argue that it is as capable as a Wrangler) but it is also highly reliable, has lots of room, and is just as inexpensive as a Jeep...

Any of you folks catch those Jeep "Trail Rated" commercials during the football playoffs? One showed a Rubicon climbing over a tree that had just fallen across a bride (pretty cool). The other showed a bunch of kids riding battery powered "jeep" big wheels. In the commercial, the Jeep folks made a direct comparison to "all those other SUVs" that pretend to be "Trail Rated" and off-road capable like the jeep is. The camera then panned to another kid driving a yellow non-Jeep battery powered big wheel. Of course, it looked just like an Xterra.

-dp

I'd be very careful knocking the Liberty in its offroad abilities as compared to an X. There are many X owners on this forum who can attest to the Liberty's offroad abilities. But I won't mention any names...
Tom

You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me?



-dp

i would assume the liberty is pretty capable, but its no wrangler...

its probably pretty similar in ability to the stock xterra, but there is a huge difference in reliability. i also think the xterra has an advantage in ground clearance, approach angle and departure angle. but i am sure you could list some advantages of the liberty... maybe ...

i also agree with spalind comments on why i bought my xterra.

Approach and departure are better on the KJ. It also ramps better when comparing discoed to discoed. On the reliabiltiy issue,honestly, I think the KJ can take more abuse. I visit this site daily, I know the Xs and Kjs deficiencies. It seems like the Xs have more problems when hitting the hardcore stuff.
Tom

It can take more abuse, huh? Could you clarify if that is because of the weaker axles or unibody construction? Reliability wise just look at the statistics, it's no contest.

The only real weakness of the X (other than IFS) is the stock steering system. But it's not that weak and for $350 you can get upgraded aftermarket components that are extremely tough.

I like the new VW Toureg commercial, where they actually show it wheeling over tougher terrain than even Jeep has shown in a commercial.

More power to the VW! Gotta show the love!! (J/K!)

Not only does it resemble an X, but it is yellow.

OK, for those of you eagerly(yeah right...) awaiting your "X-rated" stickers in the mail I finally got my film developed and can post a pic of it on my X...2 notes...#1 the film turned out a bit bright and the sticker is darker and not nearly as washed out as it appears in the pic, and #2 they are being sent in their "square" form and you can decide wether to leve them square or shape them into a circle...

and...


More are available if anyone else wants one!!!

WOW. 7 Pages dedicated to one little badge. I'm impressed fellows. Not even the cute utes over at Honda can match this in thier "us vs THEM" section. Anyway, here a little something borrowed by Motortrend.

Jeep "Trail Rated" Badge Appears on Vehicles and in New Advertising
September 19, 2003

Motor Trend

The Jeep brand today announced "Jeep Trail Rated," a new way to communicate to consumers the extensive level of off-road requirements that all Jeep 4x4 vehicles must meet. The new 2004 Jeep 4x4 vehicles -- Grand Cherokee, Liberty and Wrangler -- with Trail Rated badges start arriving in dealerships next week.

"Jeep Trail Rated is an industry-leading methodology to objectively measure and predict off-road performance for all Jeep vehicles," said Jeff Bell, Vice President Jeep, DaimlerChrysler Corporation. "We created Jeep Trail Rated to communicate the legendary Jeep capability that is designed into every Jeep 4x4." Jeep Trail Rated is supported by the Nevada Automotive Test Center (NATC), which has 45 years of off-road vehicle testing experience, including the creation of standards for the U.S. military."

Everyone likes to think the car they buy is the best choice. People buy Jeep because it's a Jeep. Just like those who buy and only drink Coke. RC, Faygo, SAMS cola just wont do. You buy your X's, Jeepers buy Jeeps. I will say this. I've never owned a jeep till now. I've owned an International Scout, but that's another story. I love it's tight ride. It handles like a dream and is just fun to drive. Both on and off road. I don't think my car is better than anyone elses but will defend my choice.

As far as "spying" on other SUV forums. Well, guilty as charged. Some guy over at the jeep site said "thought this was funny" and put a link to your web site. There have been remarks over there about things that are said here but no one has really put down the X, other than it's not a Jeep. No one can argue that HARDCORE offroaders go with the Jeep brand because of it's ability and price.
If you look at your recall list and compair it to the Jeep, starting with 2002, the only recall has been the lower ball joint. I too would feel upset if another company was poking fun at my choice of car, just like the "minivan stereotype thing". It's all about marketing and from the looks at the 7 pages here, it works. Keep having fun....

The KJJeep web page that started me coming here...

I've been enjoying this thread.
My wife had an '87 Pathfinder and loved it. Pathfinders are now too big so she bought an Xterra and loves it! I don't know how the Xterra does off road because she is smart enough to not let me drive it. I have a highly modified Wrangler (TJ) and do most everything from exploring to hard core with it.

I really like the modified X-Rated badges. If some one were to actually have some of those made just like the Jeep ones I would buy a bunch for me and my friend's Jeeps. The Jeep "Trail Rated" is a joke amongst most Jeep owners that actually wheel.
Even saying a stock Rubicon can do the Rubicon Trail is a joke. Of course during the Jeep Safari held on the Rubicon a stock one can do it. I would hope so as they rock up the trail so most any SUV could do it.
Anyhow, they're all fun and if they go where you want to go with the junk you want to carry without breaking, then you've got what you need!
My wife comes to this forum occasionally and was asking me about the phrase, "It's a Jeep Thing, You Wouldn't Understand". You see it all the time on soccer mom's Jeeps and it's lost any meaning. It actually came from guys who would buy Jeeps, put thousands of thousands of dollars into them so they could do hard core trails and then bash them all to hell. If some normal person would ask them why they would put 35 grand into a Jeep and then take it out and wreck it, about all they could say was, "It's a Jeep thing, you wouldn't understand."
I'm one of those nuts but I wouldn't wear one of those stupid stickers. I think they are insulting. Most people will understand if you take the time to explain it to them. Actually it's quite easy. "More money than brains". Bwaahahahaha!

Here's some pictures:







Take care,
Ron

Nice pics, Ron.

SWBRON, nice shot of Italian Creek Road

Good Eye Ian!

I love Colorado and the Rockys! I'll tell ya, so many time I wish I had the Xterra so I could bring more stuff! I spent a week wheelin' out of Crested Butte doing the passes and camping on the trail. My wife's idea of camping is the 30' fifth wheel.
Here's some more pictures of that area. Ignore the Jeep, it could be an Xterra just as well.

Top of Taylor Pass:


Schofield Road:


Camping on Crystal Creek out of Marble:


Fish from Crystal Creek:


I can't wait to get back to the Rockys this summer!

Dang I really need to get of here, Lubbock Texas that is. When I was younger My dad taught at the Air Force Acadamy and we would camp all the time. Nothing that extreme. Breath takeing.

This reminds me of the one below from a while back:

Different spots, right?

Ron, those pic's are GREAT! Thanks for sharing them!

Another thought about this topic just came to me. Stay with this thought process for just a minute:

I live in Tennessee.
Tennesseans are VERY hard workers, most having grown up working on the farm.
Tennesseans are the worst drivers in the US. Anyone who doesn't believe that has never been here.
Tennesseans are the laziest hunters on the planet, only taking game that can be shot from the window of their vehicle.

The Xterra is made in Tennessee by hard working red-necks. It is driven in Tennessee by red necks who don't know how to drive, but drive it anyway. It is driven by red necks into places normal people would NOT drive, because no Tennessee red neck hunter is going to WALK into the woods to shoot a deer, nor is he going to carry that deer out on his shoulder.
Yet, the Xterra survives.

The Xterra is not just 'trail rated'.

The Xterra is 'Bubba rated'.

That is too funny. I picture some poor sapsucker walking down the trail with a backpack full of parts. Perhaps occasionally whacking a rock with something.

Very close. The flag in front of my bumper is the flag in front of the TJ. It's actually American Flag Mountain. The whole area is my second favorite to the San Juans in Colorado.

Here's Taylor Pass looking West toward Ashcroft and Pearl Pass.



Here\'s the whole area at my old Xterra Journal.

Actually, before the Liberty, Jeeps had no problems running the Rubicon in stock form (ie. solid axles). The Liberty got through though but there was more rock stacking.

There used to be some very long threads on JU about the Rubicon front Dana 44 axles.
It seems its not a true Dana 44 but a Dana 30 with a Dana 44 pumpkin. That's all fine and well but the weakness in a D30 is usually not the size of the ring and pinion gears but the axle ears and u-joints. They're just too small for lockers and serious rock crawling.
These new Rubicon owners were out doing trails like they see on TV and were busting axles right and left. Warranty? "You took it off road, how can we know it wasn't abused?"
Now these guys have to fork out a grand or so to install a Warn hub conversion with alloy axles or some other afer market axles like many of us non Rubi guys have had to do. That really sucks!
More Colorado!




Here's a link to some Colorado pictures from a trip my wife and I took last summer if you're interested. Feel free to poke around my FotoTime site.

http://www.fototime.com/inv/D671B71CF473970

Ian,
I started lookin at your photos. They're great! I need to take some time and organize and add to mine some day. I think I'll be spending some time on your site the next few days.
I think my wife will be spending the day seeing how well Xterras do on the Colorado trails!
Thanks,
Ron

Oh yes, Camp Bird ROAD is a real toughy. Took all the X had to get to this spot.

Must be a Jeep thing?
P.S. I own a TJ and that is not impressive. Got anything from Black Bear?

Maybe on YOUR side of the state, Don't include ours! To think I thought this type of "state" stereotyping was a thing of the past.

bn300,
Thanks for the kind comments. Yes, I consider Camp Bird a very tough County Road. Bwahaha!
I didn't come to this forum to show what my Jeep can do or start arguements with the nice folks here, so I won't.
If you bother to read my previous post you'll see I like all wheeling, from exploring to hard core. If you would like to see some hard core, go here:

http://www.fototime.com/inv/D671B71CF473970

Look at the Montrose, Upper Helldorado, Hammer Trails or some of the other albums.

Ron

SWBRON, that's the first picture in Colorado I have seen that I can't identify. Where is it ?

Sure

Ian,
That's Gunsight Pass out of Crested Butte. The picture is a three picture stich. It's really a wide panorama. It's a fun trail. I wanted to go over the top but wasn't sure if the trail would continue or if I would have to come back the same way. I was alone and the off cambor switchback looked precarious. There were no tire tracks at all. There's a road closed sign before you even get to the top.
This is the backside trail I wouldn't do alone:


There's a little known trail out of Marble that's really fun. It goes up to the top of Treasure Mountain. You can see the Schofield road and spring ice jam from up there. It's mostly steep 2 point switchbacks. It's so seldom used there's wild flowers growing in the middle of the road in the spring! The road to Marble is at the bottom of this picture:



Here's the trail in July:



If you want to do it ask the locals in Marble or PM for details.

Ron

Someone was asking about Black Bear. I've never done it. The snow was too heavy at the top. I did get a good picture of a fox up there:



This is as far as we could get:

I have no doubts about Jeep prowess, we have had several in and around the family over the years.

I was just tickled by the notion that they test EVERY jeep on the trail BEFORE they assemble it.



Oh and p.s.

Sweet, sweet pics.

Can I have some of that this summer?

IF making it thru the Rubicon is the main test to become "trail-rated" then the Xterra passes...

http://www.xterraownersclub.com/cgi-local/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=001214#000000

http://www.xterraownersclub.com/cgi-local/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=001266#000000

Huey from NCCX is planning another rubicon run this summer.

I've seen that picture several times (with different vehicles) and it scares the bejeesus out of me... I don't know what it is really like to drive - but it looks scar-r-r-eeee--y

It's a bit intimidating the first time but after that it's really fun.

Ahh I about peed my pants when I read that.. and didn't get to any other posts

In that case I want one :p

Chill, dude -
I am a Tennesseean by CHOICE, and love this area. I am not blinded to it's problems, though, by my love of it.
ONE of the reasons I give for driving NOTHING but Nissan's is that they are built here in Tennessee. I will take a vehicle built in Tennessee over anything Detroit has ever produced.

DCX runs all Jeeps that they build on a little course. Given that the course looks a little "Manufactured" its pretty decent.Its more of a "Look at me I am cool" type thing. Trail Rated is just a little scam to increase sales. Given that DCX is not doing to well at the moment the trail rated status should help boost their sales up just a little bit.

Hi everyone,

Sorry to bring this thread out of the dark. Since no one stepped up to make one for sale, I worked on a nice vinyl cut of a "X-Rated" Decal. It took me a while to find a balance between the original "Trail Rated" one to a vinyl version. I think I got a balance between detail and simplicity.

Here you go:


I hope you like them.

If interested, please check out: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=50447&item=2478411936

Just want to make the designing and production effort worth while. Thank you.

Nice!!!

That is so funny.....

Fuck Jeep's "trail rated" Libertys and GC's. Here's my trail rated sticker:

Hey that looks familiar.

C'mon folks.

Why the need to copy a Jeep marketing ploy? Are you guys really that insecure about the capabilities of the Xterra?

My Xterra is not a Jeep, therefore, it is not Trail Rated. Being Trail Rated is marketing propaganda spewed by DaimlerChrysler in the hopes that offroad newbies will buy into it. The term Trail Rated means nothing in the real world except that Jeep came up with a cool and inticing marketing campaign. After all, you guys bought it, hook, line and sinker.

The Xterra can do 90% of what a Jeep can do. If you don't believe me then ask Hustler from UXOC about Mickey's Hot Tub and Potato Salad Hill (two major obstacles that hardcore Jeepers have claimed an Xterra could never complete).

I like my Xterra the way it is. It is a valuable onroad vehicle that can get me from point a to b in relative comfort and a very capable offroad vehicle that can hang with Jeeps 90% of the time. And for that other 10% of the time, I'm not really interested in beating the shit out of my truck.

My friend bought a hooked up Jeep Renegade last year.
Even *HE* hates the trail-rated commercials because it came out after he got his jeep.
So he's saying, WTF? I spent all this money and just cause my jeep dont have the logo it aint a real jeep? F*** that!

Indy

DueNorth, that's a hoot. I normally think that sort of stuff is corny, but I like that one.

Brent

I bid for one! I like'm!

Hey, lots of people think the Xterra is sexy. Glad you like them.

Now I am trying to think of something for those 4x2s. Are they even X-Rated? Maybe they are R-Rated. :p

For the people who used the Buy It Now option, you should be getting your decals shortly.

Thank you.

Don't bother.

Having a 4x2 is kind of like having only one ball. Sure, it still does what you want it to, and it's still fun to play with, but you don't really want to point out to other people that you only have one ball.

Not true. Taken from the FAQ at Rubicon Owners Forum:

Many people are complaining that the Rubicon did not come with a real Dana 44. Put your mind at ease, it is a real Dana 44.

The Dana 44 refers to the housing, differential case and axle. What many people are complaining about is they feel that the outer axles, steering u-joints and bearings are not Dana 44. Well they are, since 1996 Jeep upgraded the Dana 30 outers to the equivilent to Dana 44's. So at this point both the D30 and D44 front axles used by Jeep are the same design as far as the outer portions go.

You do have a stronger differential with the D44.

No the Dana 44 is not the same as what Ford may use or the same as what Jeep may have used on the old Wagoneers, but it is still a Dana 44.

-----------------------

I've seen a few Rubi owners break axles online, but it's not a big problem. If you look on ROF you'll see maybe 3 or 4 people total. I have an '02 Xterra SE/SC and an '04 Rubicon.

Due North,

Will you be at Calico this weekend? If so, can you bring me a sticker and I can pay you then??? Let me know.

Thanks,
Danna

Damnit!! I have one on my truck and like them so much, I bid on two more.....I was outbid, and I'd bet money that this thread is why!

Angelwolf, I plan on being there Friday night. See you there.

Glad you like them Hawk.

Lol, I thought the "trail rated" commercials were fishy too.

One question...are they "street rated?"

So are you guys offering the X-rated stickers or not?

Since im a 2 wheeler I naturally like this one the best. Can someone make this so it is white and i can print it on black sticker paper.Im not a pro-photo editor.

I just finished another batch.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2479344156&category=50447&sspagename=STRK%3AMESSE%3AIT&rd=1

Although it is computer cut, it is hand weeded (removing the excess vinyl) and it takes some time to do it right.

Thank you.

Ordered... thanx.

I bought one when he had them up last week. Very high quality and a very low price.

Just ordered one.Can't wait to get it.

I think Sandman has the right retort!!!

Please make some more because I would like to have one!

ME TOO

lol what a bunch of bitter tools

For those who wanted one, here's the link to the latest batch: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2479866414&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT

All the decals should have all been shipped out last week. If anyone didn't receive theirs by Tuesday, please contact me.

From the feedbacks, it looks like a lot of you like them. Thanks you all for your support.

Mine looks good on the X. I'll try to post a picture, but the rest of this week is very hectic for me - so don't hold your breath.

Where on Jeeps are the "Trail Rated" badges installed?

Here is a pic of mine (before lift, tires, etc). You can see the badge in front of the door well above the Jeep logo near the bottom.

Just ordered one thanks.

Got my sticker today very nice.

will you be doing another run?

I would be interested in a pair of stickers as well. Hadn't read this thread in a while and just noticed the stickers. I like em.

I want another one (black this time), are you gonna make any more?