The Rubicon Trail just east of Sacramento, CA is famous for its ability to eat 4-wheelers alive. Rigs of every manufacturer who dare to face this rocky mistress quickly find themselves up to their axles in trouble. One thing’s for certain; the Jeep brand still reigns King of the Rubicon.

Crunch, bash, clang! These are the most common sounds you’ll hear out on the Rubicon Trail—usually followed by yells for a winch. For years, off-roaders from around the globe have made a pilgrimage to this 4-wheel Mecca located in Northern California. And, for years, the Rubicon Trail has been chewing ‘em up and spitting out the seeds.

The Rubicon stands as the true test for off-road performance. Thousands of drivers have attempted to conquer her in nearly as many vehicles. Home-made buggies, mammoth monster trucks, bone-stock SUVs, and purpose-built rock crawlers all come to test their mettle against the mighty Rubicon. But, no matter how much prep goes into the vehicle or the driving, the trail always rears her ugly head to devour what’s rightfully hers.

Legend has it that even a few sacrificed rigs won’t appease the insatiable Rubicon. Like medieval villagers offering virgins to angry dragons, the folks who know the trail accept swallowed vehicles as a simple, albeit expensive, part of nature’s design. And, along with losing your ride, the Rubicon has an uncanny ability to shred your pride, leaving you a deflated lump reduced to hitching your way out of the California wilderness.

One vehicle that consistently give the trail a run for her money is the Jeep. That old stand-by and original off-roader seems built just to kick Rubicon butt. In fact, Jeep is the only manufacturer with the gall to name one of their models after that mighty trail. And, they take it a step further by actually using part of the trail as their proving grounds. Any vehicle born and bred on these trails is one surly contender.

Even so, before you go crawling around this trail, you better get your rig prepped. A little planning goes along way and some kick-butt accessories will get you even further. Let’s start with lights. Get caught out here after sundown and you’ll understand what dark really is. Another must-have accessory is a good winch since the steep climbs and axle-busting boulders can put the death grip on your rig. A powerful winch is your only hope if you find yourself staring up from the losing-end of the “Sluice Box.”

It’s also wise to get some nerf bars or a set of rock sliders. These bad boys protect the body from violent collisions with the rocks and boulders on the roughest parts of the trail. A set of fender flairs may also be in order, so you don’t roost your buddies with windshield-shattering dirt & gravel buckshot.

The best bang for your Jeep buck has got to be the Trail Jammer kit from Edge Performance. In fact, the Edge Trail Jammer should be on top of your wish list of accessories no matter where you drive your Jeep. The kit delivers a trifecta of performance goodies all tuned specifically for Jeep vehicles.

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