8-Day 4,000 Mile Round Trip to Southern Utah from Atlanta, Georgia

[BROCK-O]

Pictures below Last week, I completed my second round-trip to Southern Utah from my home in Atlanta, Georgia for some camping and offroading. Specifically we visited Hanksville, Swing Arm City, Factory Butte, and Moab. I made this trek solo in October 2022 but decided to bring two friends along for this one.

One friend drives a built 1989 Jeep Comanche on 33s and the the other is in a new Nissan Frontier Hardbody Edition with a lift on 33s and a rear locker.

I've done many mods to my 21' Bronco Badlands non-SAS 2.3L 7MT since taking delivery in December 2021 including:

• Fox 2.5 Elite Coilovers
• ICON Billet UCAs
• 315/70R17 BFG KO2s
• 17x8.5 KMC Roswell wheels w/+18mm offset
• Rough Country 12k lb hidden winch w/custom front skid plate
• RTR Rock Sliders
• ARB Dual Air Compressor
• Custom rear seat delete
• ARB Zero Fridge w/slide & Milwaukee Packout storage system for tools, camping equipment, spare parts, etc.
• Trailrax Modular Roof Rack
• Inspired Overland RTT
• American Adventure Labs M.A.S.S. Spare Tire Platform
• Ford Performance ProCal tune
• I'm sure there's more, feel free to ask in comments

All-in-all, the Bronco performed flawlessly... again. I have not taken it easy on this truck after almost 3 years and 45k miles. It has not let me down. It handled the trails in Moab including Hell's Revenge, Fins & Things, Top of the World, the Shafer Trail and others with ease. On this trip, after the new coilover install, I managed to scrape only 4 times (sliders, front skid, and the driver's side trailing arm mount). Using my own math, not trusting the guage cluster, I averaged about 16 MPG with my worst run being 12 MPG after dealing with a rough headwind through Kansas, best run was 20 MPG.

My biggest takeaway and probably the only negative is that the rear end sags with so much equipment in the truck, even after adjusting the coilovers to compensate. Performance-wise it didn't hurt anything but my headlights were aimed too high at night and about 1 out of every 20 cars would flash me. I'm estimating I had roughly 450lbs of tools, fridge, tent, and other supplies on-board. I could have shaved a few pounds by leaving some stuff like extra batteries, extra clothes, etc. at home, but we were prepared for anything.

Only had two minor issues with the 89' Comanche; a gas cap that wasn't venting at Hell's Revenge and an electric cooling fan that quit on the pass through Vail, CO on I-70E. Easy fixes. The Frontier went over most of the same obstacles with us with a few bypasses and, unfortunately, we had to make the decision to leave it about 3/4 mile from the end of Top of the World. I think it was capable of reaching the end, but not without causing some unwanted damage in a more technical and tight obstacle.

Enjoy the photos!

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[Karl_in_Chicago]

Cool Comanche!

 

[Buck N Bronc]

Looks like an awesome adventure! Great pics. If I see you around Atlanta I'll wave (I'll be the goofy looking guy in a Heritage clone ).

 

[broadicustomworks]

I want that Comanche!
Great pics!

 

[ManSquatch]

Awesome trip! I did something similar from DC and went all the way to Baja and back. I have to say my favorite part of that trip was Moab and we are doing it again next year.
How do you like the new fox coil overs vs the badlands suspension?

 

[Arokcrwlr]

Made that trek many times from NE GA to Moab. Buddies and I used to go every year, sometimes twice - it is a long haul, but worth it. I kind of miss living in TX which was a mere 16 hr drive.

Love the pics. That Comanche is pretty sweet.

 

[BROCK-O]

Awesome trip! I did something similar from DC and went all the way to Baja and back. I have to say my favorite part of that trip was Moab and we are doing it again next year.
How do you like the new fox coil overs vs the badlands suspension?

Very easy install. I like the quick adjustability with the compression and ride height. Stock badlands suspension did well, but that extra adjustment and piece of mind that the Fox won't rust off is nice.

 

[JaxDiego]

Love it, 2 door, trailrax, IO tent!
I couldn't pull up any farther myself.

 

[swamp2]

Great pics. Obviously an epic adventure. I just got back from Moab, Southern UT & Northern AZ a month or so back, with my son and dog. I'm sure I could google it easily, but where is the epic truck on triangular cliff shot? Got to get one of those pics & experience on my next Moab trip.

 

[Num Num]

Looks like fun. Maybe next year!

 

[Broncory]

Forsyth county N Atlanta suburbs here. Will keep an eye out for ya. Looks like a great trip and I’m approaching my build in a similar fashion. Only 2 months in and massive credit card balance to build with it

 

[BROCK-O]

Great pics. Obviously an epic adventure. I just got back from Moab, Southern UT & Northern AZ a month or so back, with my son and dog. I'm sure I could google it easily, but where is the epic truck on triangular cliff shot? Got to get one of those pics & experience on my next Moab trip.

Top of the World Trail. About 40 min outside Moab.

 

[Valhalla]

You need to come run windrock with us next time.

 

[Tricky Mike]

Great setup and awesome trip.

I'm loaded up for my next big trip starting this weekend and I had to crank the rear coilovers to the max position just to get level.

 

[RIDE]

Nice trip! Giving you credit, most folks from way far off don’t know about Swing Arm City, which is sooo much fun. And knowing you went a ways out of your way to get there from Moab, that wasn’t by accident. Curious if you took the south route from Moab then up through Hite/Lake Powell, or did you go I-70 down to Hanksville and over? Either way, kudos as most folks haven’t heard about it.

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