Results from the weekend

[noahsdad86]

Well after cutting the fenders up and removing the sway bars we took off for a weekend of wheelin and camping. The Bronco did absolutely great in the mountains, I was getting much better articulation on the suspension which was great and even after cutting the fenders the 33's still get way up there now so I might hold off on bigger tires for a while so I can lift a little too. Then on Sunday we woke up to 6-8 inches of fresh snow. So off we went again for more fun. Then it happens...... a little too confident in my abilities and the abilities of a mostly stock bronco... I am running on what I think is a trail in what I think is the middle. I hit a rock. It did not feel like much that second but then my buddy behond hits me on the radio saying I hit a spare tire someone left out here. Then I get out and notice that its the same type of tire I run. Oh wait it is my tire... I had bent my steel rim and pulled the tire right off. Thank God I felt inclined to buy a highlift jack before this trip. The passenger front rim was burried in the ice and snow all the way to the hub. But we put the spare on and made it out just fine. And now I know I can wheel pretty good on only three tires, which of course was the intent of knocking the other one off of the rim. Easy fix though, bend the rim and get the tire back on. Oh wait no shops open on Sundays in those mountains. So off I go on a bald spare headed for home on ice covered roads. I know I know what kind of intelligent person carries a bald spare? Well I found out first hand that I also need a spare. Off the damn road and down a small embankment I went. Right between two sign posts. Did NOT hurt a thing other than my pride. So back in 4wd and backed out of there. Threw my big heavy duty chains on and down the mountain we go. Thank God I bought those for this trip too. I did not have to use them going up but since I was running a bald spare and my kids were in the car I did not want to take any chances. So I make it home no worse for the wear. Only thing I have to fix is a bent steel rim. 10 bucks at a shop to put the tire back on. Very impressed in my bronco this weekend. Then I wake up yesterday and some little hoodlum has broken out my passenger window. After everything I put my truck through I incur more damage and more expense parked in front of my apartment. Life is a bi*(@ but at least my family was safe thanks to the bronco and some decent prior planning.

 

[bidibronco]

Sounds like a fun day at the office if you ask me! Sorry about your window though, I hate people that do that crap.

 

[noahsdad86]

Yeah I was miffed to say the very least.

 

[mongo]

Theres always some ARS to bring you down after a nice weekend.Last summer after a full weekend of trails and mud boggs in our wrangler,with NO problems,Driving some butt-head in an overfilled landscape truck throws a pebble in my windshield.Shattered it.Anyhow Sorry for the break in ,But sounds like you guys had fun

 

[noahsdad86]

Here are some pics my wife just sent to me. Check out my buddy's little tent. All that snow was sitting on him. That tire change sucked.

 

[Justshootme84]

That's a fantastic wheeling story!!! Great pics, too!!!

 

[Seabronc]

Neat pictures, sounds like you had a great time /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

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[green meanie]

Neat pictures, sounds like you had a great time /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />
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Nice story. I'm jealous /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> Sounds like you not only had fun but some adventure too.

sorry about the ******** that had to break the window.

 

[Roadkill]

Love the pictures! I would love to try my hand at "snow wheeling" but don't get much oportunity for that here in Central Texas. We do get the occasional ice storm but those are about as far as you can get from a fun wheeling environment.

 

[Broncobill78]

Yup, yrs ago while visiting a friend up at Umass Amherst I had some pinhead toss a snowball w/a stone in it at my rear side window & shatter it. It was one of the ones with both a slider AND a vent window. ******* college kids, they have no idea what $hit costs.

Getting caught without a spare when you NEED one is one of those lessons you only have to learn *once*. Also a good reason to never go out in the snow alone. And I certainly don't mean to harsh anyone's buzz because it sure is a good story & thankfully it turned out well, but as a father of 3 I feel strangely compelled to point out what *could* have happened and to implore everyone to think ahead when anyone's ass but their own is on the line. But after all, what's the fun in having a truck if you can't go & do stupid $hit with it ?

Gotta love a dead-nuts reliable, straight mechanical hi-lift jack when the chips are down. I've had winches fail & come-alongs jam but never once had a hi-lift let me down. I love anything mechanical & reliable. I've used them as jacks & also as winches (very SLOW winches, but still winches nonetheless) and they've always carried the day. I've done this in the Green & White mountains (I guess New England folks are partial to colors) and yup, winter weeling is ALWAYS an adventure, but always remember that fate favors the prepared.

 

[noahsdad86]

Bill is absolutely right in what he says. And I always wheel with a friend. Note the period, if there is no friend I drive like a grandma on Sunday, especially with my little ones in the car. And yes luck does favor the prepared. This is a lesson I learned the hard way many years ago, and the reason I carry so much extra tools and parts with me. Given the worse situation possible the other day I could have thrown my little ones in my buddy truck and got them to warmth and safety. But I was prepared and after a short albeit cold tire swap we were on the road again. Snow wheelin is a ton of fun but sometimes more precarious considering the cold temps, the white outs, and the fact the trails disappear given enough snowfall. Be careful out there guys, if you think and plan ahead I promise you will end up ahead in the long run. Oh yeah and 125 to have a company come replace my %#@*#&^% window. They had to come to my home since I am in Cleveland for business and my wife can't drive the Bronco. She says its too hard to start.