Cross-Country to Baja: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

[dkittel]

Beautiful pictures!

Thank you!

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[dkittel]

You did bring the shocks home with you right ? Take your bill and the shocks and you should be able to get reimbursed.
You didn`t have the shocks that come apart for the recall......

WE decided to leave the three good shocks with our mechanic in the event someone else might need one in the future here. Trying to find replacements took so much time. We'll definitely bring it up with our dealer, but our expectations are pretty low. Just happy we have good shocks now and continue our journey with renewed confidence.

 

[dkittel]

Props. Pretty ballsy to take a brand new vehicle on such an epic trip. Well done! Now go change your oil, and have them check the diff fluids while they’re at it. Good luck re: the reimbursement — I concur with go ask at the dealership, because no harm in asking!

It's just been pure fun (aside from the aggravation of the shocks. The space afforded by the four door has been perfect for our use case, and the vehicle has been surprisingly comfortable for long drives day after day.
Tires have been rotated. Oil change, air filters and fluid checks are on the to do list.

 

[Bronco Toad]

What an ass try to looking in your windows.

Sounds as it has been a good trip so far.

 

[lindertw]

a missed opportunity with that rear shock, lol

epic trip, and great photos - thanks for sharing

 

[dkittel]

What an ass try to looking in your windows.

Sounds as it has been a good trip so far.

morning coffee snort through nose accomplished! :}

 

[rws]

@dkittel thanks for sharing your epic adventure! Very inspiring as my wife and I prepare our Route 66 trip (as much of the original route as we can navigate) later this year. I grew up in the Southwest (NM) however, I've never ventured south of the border. As a dirt bike rider, Baja has always been on my dream list. Perhaps, I should find some time to add Baja as a side exploration once we finish the Route 66 trip into Southern California.

Enjoy your future adventures, and thanks again for sharing and inspiring.

 

[RedTailHawk]

Too funny! I’m currently in the middle of a very similar trek. I started from Northern Virginia and had a friend from DC ride with me on my cross-country trip. I am driving a 2024 bronco raptor and pulling a Futura trailer with a heavily modified 1967 VW beetle. I planned the trip several months ago and wanted to avoid any chance of winter weather so I went from Virginia down to Georgia and hit some vintage car museums and a VW car show just north of Atlanta. Then worked my way across the southern states of the US making some great stops along the way and hit my second VW show in Yuma, Arizona. Then parked my trailer and VW in San Diego and took the Bronco Raptor on a 5 day Baja run with a group called Expedition X Offroad. It was amazing. I had my Bronco Raptor 4-5 feet in the air hitting some jumps. I’m currently back in the states in San Diego with my Bronco Raptor still fully coated in Baja dirt, mud, sand, and dust. I’m trying to leave it that way until I get all the way back to Virginia. It looks amazing when dirty. I will be cruising around Southern California in my VW Beetle and hitting one more car show in LA (hoping to go 3 for 3 on car show awards).
Then I’ll start the journey back home, hitting a couple scenic and iconic spots like Joshua Tree, Cadillac ranch and slug bug Ranch, meet up with friends on the Bourbon Trail and then head home. After I complete all that I will post a similar trip report just like you did. Safe travels!

 

[ECMBronco]

Awesome pics and thanks for sharing. I've stopped a few of the places in your photos with my pup too! Glad you brought the dogs. I'm sure they loved it just as much as you did.

 

[dkittel]

@dkittel thanks for sharing your epic adventure! Very inspiring as my wife and I prepare our Route 66 trip (as much of the original route as we can navigate) later this year. I grew up in the Southwest (NM) however, I've never ventured south of the border. As a dirt bike rider, Baja has always been on my dream list. Perhaps, I should find some time to add Baja as a side exploration once we finish the Route 66 trip into Southern California.

Enjoy your future adventures, and thanks again for sharing and inspiring.

Safe travels and have fun! Definitely think Baja in the future - it's an amazing place.

 

[dkittel]

Too funny! I’m currently in the middle of a very similar trek. I started from Northern Virginia and had a friend from DC ride with me on my cross-country trip. I am driving a 2024 bronco raptor and pulling a Futura trailer with a heavily modified 1967 VW beetle. I planned the trip several months ago and wanted to avoid any chance of winter weather so I went from Virginia down to Georgia and hit some vintage car museums and a VW car show just north of Atlanta. Then worked my way across the southern states of the US making some great stops along the way and hit my second VW show in Yuma, Arizona. Then parked my trailer and VW in San Diego and took the Bronco Raptor on a 5 day Baja run with a group called Expedition X Offroad. It was amazing. I had my Bronco Raptor 4-5 feet in the air hitting some jumps. I’m currently back in the states in San Diego with my Bronco Raptor still fully coated in Baja dirt, mud, sand, and dust. I’m trying to leave it that way until I get all the way back to Virginia. It looks amazing when dirty. I will be cruising around Southern California in my VW Beetle and hitting one more car show in LA (hoping to go 3 for 3 on car show awards).
Then I’ll start the journey back home, hitting a couple scenic and iconic spots like Joshua Tree, Cadillac ranch and slug bug Ranch, meet up with friends on the Bourbon Trail and then head home. After I complete all that I will post a similar trip report just like you did. Safe travels!

I'm familiar with EXO - looks like a good time. Thanks for sharing the pics and trip.

 

[RedTailHawk]

I'm familiar with EXO - looks like a good time. Thanks for sharing the pics and trip.

Where are you located? I live in Ashburn Virginia.

 

[dkittel]

a missed opportunity with that rear shock, lol

Ha - one more thing for me to add to the repair kit!

epic trip, and great photos - thanks for sharing

 

[Badrap]

Great pics and thanks for sharing. Looks like an epic journey to say the least despite the suspension woes. Life is good most times if you make it so!

 

[Easy-v]

Curious as to how long this entire trip took you? Great thread btw, awesome pics!

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