We pulled into Moab Friday afternoon after spending a few hours in Bryce Canyon NP and via Hwy 12. Excellent call 1KPerDay, fantastic road and now I am really missing my motorcycle. Ever since we left I-15 I have been saying "Damn this would be great on a bike!"

Yesterday was the Rodeo itself. Did some INSANE things from my perspective as someone who has never off-roaded before. Definite learning experience and confidence builder. Real first class operation they are running from start to finish.

They give you a Bronco logo Yeti Rambler mug on check in, talk about the history of the Bronco, do a little Off-Road 101 then head out on to the trails for about 5 hours of practical training and application. They provided sandwich fixings for lunch on the trail then a dinner at the end. To their credit they did not try to sell you anything, but did have a plethora of Ford and other companies Bronco Branded products (Yeti, etc.) hats, shirts, etc. Managed to get out without spending too much on goodies, just the obligatory ball cap (for me) and paid their photo guy $50 to send me some pics taken during the course of my driving. Will post those up once I get them.

SO glad we did that the first day. Today we headed out to Dead Horse Point (another good call 1KPerDay and Holdem), then headed down through "Pucker Pass" (would never have attempted to go through that if not for the Rodeo the day before) to Potash Rd. It wasn't listed in the Guide, but it was the most direct way to get from Dead Horse down to Potash Rd.

Info on Pucker Pass here: https://www.dangerousroads.org...ed-road-in-utah.html

From Potash Rd, into Canyon Lands NP, the Shafer Switchbacks, up to Island in the Sky and Grand View Rd viewpoint (good calls by IntrpidTraveler and Konata88)

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
...Canyonland views were amazing - the views make you feel small and insignificant. Hard to explain.

We had the same feeling today. To many stops to count just to take it all in. Lots of photos, some stops were just to look and appreciate.

quote:

Originally posted by IntrepidTraveler:
...
You're right, off-roading is a bit of a "just one more piece of gear" activity. In fact, "Jeep" stand for "Just Empty Every Pocket". I'm sure that "Bronco" has a similar meaning. But then, you are already into shooting and photography, so you should be used to that.

Don't let the Schaeffer Road scare you. Just put the Bronco in 4WD Lo and 1st or 2nd gear and let it creep itself down.

We went "Up" the switchbacks, Bronco (especially after the rodeo) is VERY confidence inspiring. The one I drove in the Rodeo was better equipped for off-road (Big Bend with Sasquatch pkg) 35" tire, better shocks and a little lift. My Outer Banks only has 32" tires, but the higher tech pkg. The 360 camera system is nice for parking but it really shines offroad! You can see where your front tires are going to go, front camera give you a "grill eye" view at all times in 4L, a the mirror cameras let you see your front tire sidewalls so you know you are where you want to be. VERY nice for a neophyte like me.

Bronco also has "One Pedal Trail Assist", basically off-roading cruise control. 4L or 4H and you set you speed (1-20mph) and it accelerates and brakes with no pedal input at all, you only have to steer and it just steadily creeps along.


Tomorrow we are headed for "Hurrah Pass" and "Chicken Corners". Looks like a lot of it will be low and on the other side of the river from where we were today up above it. A little more challenging I think, but still esy/moderate so shouldn't be any worries.



Friday night we had dinner at Moab Diner, great food, fast service, and reasonable price.

Powers77/Mikus36 - We had dinner tonight at Milt's, another good call. I had the Chili Burger, onion rings, and a root-beer shake. My buddy went with the Elk burger. We were both quite pleased with the grub.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 911Boss,

Bryce Canyon








Headed for Moab




Colorado River headed to the rodeo




Rodeo shots






Pucker Pass






Potash Rd









Shafer Switchbacks

Beautiful country.
Awesome pix. Thanks for posting.
But I can see why they say Pucker Pass…

quote:

Originally posted by ScotP7:
Beautiful country.
Awesome pix. Thanks for posting.
But I can see why they say Pucker Pass…

My pic doesn’t even do it justice. I have dash cam video, won’t be able to post it up until I get home though.

Wow, beautiful country. Sounds like a great time.

Hope that you’ll have the chance to post more pictures!

Silent

Awesome pics, man! That looks like a great time.

Sounds like a great trip. You are right about doing parts of that via a MC. Makes for an awesome trip.
I absolutely love that part of the country. Can't wait to get much closer to there in retirement once family obligations allow.

The last four people that I spoke with, really like and enjoy their Ford Bronco's .


All four admit that they will never leave the street/ highway intentionally.

Three of them said it was their third vehicle "fun" truck.

Good to read about your fun time.

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
The last four people that I spoke with, really like and enjoy their Ford Bronco's .


All four admit that they will never leave the street/ highway intentionally.

Three of them said it was their third vehicle "fun" truck.

Good to read about your fun time.

I hve a friend who has a Bronco for specifically offroad and overlanding but he is afraid to. He was warned that certain replacement parts (ones that commonly break or are damaged offroading) are on a 13 month waiting list.

Very nice, glad you're enjoying Utah.

Wow, very nice pics! I love seeing the vehicles getting used out in the wild.

I love the soft top. Dumb question: what are the orange handle looking things on the hood? Are they tie down anchors?

I need to get out there again. With all the thrash going on, it's a great feeling looking out at the vast, majestic landscape and realize, to paraphrase Casablanca, "it doesn't take much to see that the problems of ... people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world"

Maybe because we didn't expect much but we enjoyed dinners at The Blu Pig.

Sounds like an awesome trip you're having!

Pretty dang cool

Looks like a hoot!

Looks like fun, IIRC both the big Bronco & the baby Sport get this pkg?

We were car shopping recently & ended up with an Expedition Max. I was thinking about a Yukon XL, but don't see the need for 2 giant SUVs, so I've been thinking back along this line.
Need to find a Badlands Bronco Sport to look at to see if it'll be too small for me.

Great pics! Glad you had a good time. Come back on your motorcycle.

Schaffers is the start of the White Rim Trail. If you ever have an opportunity to go back (and can get the obligatory permit) you should do it. Some of the best camping we’ve ever done.

Here’s a picture of Airport Tower in our Jeep Gladiator Rubicon (sorry, couldn’t help myself !)

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
Wow, very nice pics! I love seeing the vehicles getting used out in the wild.

I love the soft top. Dumb question: what are the orange handle looking things on the hood? Are they tie down anchors?

They are called trail sights. They are placed there, so the driver can easily see where the front corners of the vehicle are pointing when maneuvering tight trails. They can also be used as extra tie down points. Also they can be used as limb savers by connecting a wire from them to the roof to push tree limbs or branches upward and over the roof to prevent low lying branches from scratching up the side of the vehicle on wooded paths.

Great pics boss!

Learned something new. I wonder if they have aftermarket trail sights for my truck.

quote:

Originally posted by jsbcody:

I hve a friend who has a Bronco for specifically offroad and overlanding but he is afraid to. He was warned that certain replacement parts (ones that commonly break or are damaged offroading) are on a 13 month waiting list.

There is a lot of chatter about broken tie rods, and yes parts availability is limited at this point. I was concerned as well, but the issue is being exaggerated. Only really occurring with folks going to 37” tires, 3-4” of lift, etc. and adding a lot more stress without doing anything to the stock rods.

After market is already responding with braces for stock or complete replacements that are beefier for the added stress of aftermarket components.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
Wow, very nice pics! I love seeing the vehicles getting used out in the wild.

I love the soft top. Dumb question: what are the orange handle looking things on the hood? Are they tie down anchors?

I need to get out there again. With all the thrash going on, it's a great feeling looking out at the vast, majestic landscape and realize, to paraphrase Casablanca, "it doesn't take much to see that the problems of ... people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world"

Maybe because we didn't expect much but we enjoyed dinners at The Blu Pig.

Sounds like an awesome trip you're having!

Absolute blast. Out on the trail today (Hurrah Pass, Chicken Corner) I was amazed at how absolute quiet it was. Luckily even in pretty easy went for almost two hours without seeing another soul. We ate at the Blu Pig tonight, it is basically in the parking lot of the hotel we are at.

Swamp dog was correct about the trial sights. I learned at the rodeo they also are inline with inside side wall of front tires so you have an idea where they are at.

quote:

Originally posted by SIGnified:
Looks like a hoot!

It is. Already decided I will be back once everything in my life settles down some, I get some upgrades in place and can spend 2-3 weeks instead of 3 days.

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
Looks like fun, IIRC both the big Bronco & the baby Sport get this pkg?

We were car shopping recently & ended up with an Expedition Max. I was thinking about a Yukon XL, but don't see the need for 2 giant SUVs, so I've been thinking back along this line.
Need to find a Badlands Bronco Sport to look at to see if it'll be too small for me.

My understanding is Bronco Sport is built on Escape frame, but having an Escape, I can tell it is bigger.

Yes, they do a Sport rodeo as well, but the Sport obviously doesn’t have the same capabilities. So it is done on milder terrain.


They had about 15 or so Broncos and 6-8 Sports that I saw at the facility lot. A group of Sport folks finished up shortly after we did so guessing they started behind us.

quote:

Originally posted by 1KPerDay:
Great pics! Glad you had a good time. Come back on your motorcycle.

Alas, my motorcycling days are over. Probably for the best, conservatively estimating I have close to 500K miles on motorcycles over the years. Had my share of mishaps, but luckily never had serious injury, even when I should have.

I sold the bike (Kawasaki Concours 14) for medical reasons (foot and knee issues made it difficult to control when stopped). My wife literally cried with happiness when I did. I never had any idea how much worry and fear she dealt with when I headed out on my rides and she was so relieved I decided to sell it she actually broke down when the new owner drove away on it.

She never once asked me to sell it, never said anything when one bike was traded for the next, never told me how much it bothered her. She knew how much I enjoyed the long distance trips and wasn’t going to ask me to stop.

No way would I put her through that again. Bike was more fun to ride, but first the Mustang and now the Bronco are definitely more comfortable. Plus she can come with me in the Bronco, she couldn’t ride on the bike due to her own medical issues. I miss it, but the memories are enough.

quote:

Originally posted by swampdog:

They are called trail sights...

Yup…

quote:

Great pics boss!

Thanks, more in my next post

Some shots from today, Hurrah Pass and Chicken Corner