How hard is the Rusty Nail trail?

[Crinco]

As of Easter, the first obstacle on RN had NO rocks to stack and was a 40" under-cut ledge, the bypass (if you can call it that) was so dug up it was as bad as the original route. I would NOT take a rig on this trail without at least one locker and 35" tires, no Dana 35 C-clips either. Best to go run a trail that the rig is set up for and not spend all day in town searching for parts and getting home in the middle of the night after repairing/rebuilding your rig.
There is a reason for the number system placed on these trails, we are doing him an injustice if we even suggest he might be ok to take a near stock (under-equipt) rig on this trail. I love to go to Moab and have a good time as much as the next guy, but everyone should stick to the trails their rig is built for.

 

[JackKeslerCustoms]

As of Easter, the first obstacle on RN had NO rocks to stack and was a 40" under-cut ledge, the bypass (if you can call it that) was so dug up it was as bad as the original route. I would NOT take a rig on this trail without at least one locker and 35" tires, no Dana 35 C-clips either. Best to go run a trail that the rig is set up for and not spend all day in town searching for parts and getting home in the middle of the night after repairing/rebuilding your rig.
There is a reason for the number system placed on these trails, we are doing him an injustice if we even suggest he might be ok to take a near stock (under-equipt) rig on this trail. I love to go to Moab and have a good time as much as the next guy, but everyone should stick to the trails their rig is built for.

This is good to hear. I used to love this trail when I first went on it, but then it seemed that the first obstacle got re-arranged so that you could drive right up to the right without any undercut. maybe a 3.5 at best. when I first read the first post I would have said yeah, have a blast. The last time I did it, you could have easily got a newby in a rental rubi up it.

BTW, I'm not one of these guys that's worried about stacking rocks to make the trail easier, I say if it will keep you from breaking, stack away. And I definately don't want to start that debate up either. But it sounds like this trail has come full circle. It went from knarly to easy to knarly. That's awesome.

Back on topic though, If I've got wife and kids with, we love to run PSM, GS, GBR. And we take the easy lines, we don't have ANY major carnage, and we make it back in town in time for dinner. There is nothing wrong with easier trails when you have kids with. Mine love to get out and play, but don't have as much fun as I do when there is a neccessary 4 hour trail repair. Moab rim is another favorite of ours, but last time I did it, the Z turn was twice as hard as it used to be, I would still do it with kids, it's not that bad, but I was surprised to see it that chewed up.

 

[mbryson]

.....

BTW, I'm not one of these guys that's worried about stacking rocks to make the trail easier, I say if it will keep you from breaking, stack away. And I definately don't want to start that debate up either. But it sounds like this trail has come full circle. It went from knarly to easy to knarly. That's awesome.
...........

I was always taught (and it makes 100% sense to me) to leave the trail as you found it. If you stack rocks, put the rocks back where you found them. (that was even a UROC rule when I was spotting)

 

[JackKeslerCustoms]

I was always taught (and it makes 100% sense to me) to leave the trail as you found it. If you stack rocks, put the rocks back where you found them. (that was even a UROC rule when I was spotting)

Agreed.

 

[crazyyo]

i did it open front .....and 33's

 

[Bart]

The only reason I thought it be ok is because he said it was a slightly modified Rubicon, as in 2 locker in Dana 44s, great off the shelf rig. I would never send a stock rig that was open. My bad, stay away from Rusty Nail.

 

[CJ Matt]

i did it open front .....and 33's

Looking at the 4th picture from the left there was a lot of stacking too. I went with an experienced group and still had all of the carnage. The only guy that didn't break was the best built and most experienced though. Most tried the hard lines and that is when things broke.

 

[Spidey]

So what are the official names of the obstacles. Is riff raff the first one that has the bypass or is that the gatekeeper? Which is which?
IMO it really comes down to the driver. I saw one guy that had 37's struggle and take the winch up this trail in an 08 rubi. I also watched a YJ with 35's do this trail without slipping a tire. Word of advice, the common route may not be the common sense route do to common sense not being very common. Get out and study your own line possibilties. Good Luck.