IronBender Does Moab!

Actually it was more like Moab does IronBender. Joe and I first attended the 40th down in Victorville, CA. From there, I went on to attend the Moab Bronco Safari. This was my first time in Moab, I wasn't disappointed!! The sites were beautiful, I got to meet a lot of people that I've been talking to over the internet for years and got to go out and play in my Bronco, a little.

I started off with a quick run up Hells Revenge. A fairly easy trail with a couple of some what challenging optional obsticles. In the pic to the left you can see me attempting the Escalator on that trail. I neded up having to winch myself up the final waterfall I just didn't have the wheelbase. Luckily I just put on my BC Broncos quarter protectors!!

After Hells Revenge, I did a night run on a trail called Pickle. On the first waterfall I broke a Dana 20 output shaft. Luckily I had my 300M BC Broncos unit in my box waiting to go in. I slapped it in and made the waterfall. From there, no problems. A cool trail in a small canyon. I got to the last waterfall and tried the left line. Made the first part of the waterfall no problem, tried the second part a couple of times, no luck. So I applied some more go pedal. Boom! Busted ring gear on my 60! Good thing I fixed my winch before the trip!

I spent a couple of days getting parts and making repairs. Finally I was back together and ready to go check out the infamous Area BFE. Dan Wright invited the whole group out to check out the offroad park. It was very cool! I got there, unloaded my Bronco, did a few donuts to break in the new ring and pinion and headed down for a climb. I got my front tires up, gave it some pedal, BANG! Another ring gear toasted. I limped back up, loaded it on the trailer and had a beer.

Luckily the day was not over. I headed down to see Tyson Tipton, EJ, Dan Wright and the Moab Outpost buggy do upper Hellderado. I spotted for Tyson. I didn't know the trail or his Bronco, I should have turned down the request. We got through but not w/o a couple of "dings" in the paint. Tyson then climbed the last waterfall w/ his winch and to make it a challenge thought he'd do it with his rear line lock engaged. I gotta say, I was impressed with his rig. We got EJ up (barely) and then the buggy walked right up, unassisted (nice). Then it was Dan's turn. Last year Dan had all 4 tires off the ground doing this climb. This was to be good! Dan floored it and went head over heels backwards. Almost took out a couple of people below him. His Bronco was fine, he and Mike were fine, good times! The reason he said he went over? He couldn't reach the shifter to put it in reverse (NP 435). Look for a GearBanger in Dan's buggy soon!