The last time up, which was at least 5 years ago, there was chicken wire at the trailhead. At least someone thought their undercarriage should be protected. I've never had a problem, I've only stayed there once overnight. I find Grandview Campground preferable.
As Steve said the road condition depends on the when it been scraped. I've been up it in an Explorer and T-Bird, you go a lot slower in the 'bird.
Sharp rocks are an issue; therefore, I would not recommend going up there with tires on their last 1/4" of tread and having a good spare. With that said, the only place I remember having bad washboarding is above the Patriarch Grove turn off, where the road is its steepest.
