Putting a Bronco Black Diamond through the paces at Poughkeepsie Gulch, CO (Badge of Honor Trail)

[Nate Train]

In order to celebrate a year since we took delivery of our Bronco, we wanted to take on something a little tougher. If you've been following us, you might remember that we treated the Bronco ordering and waiting process like people do social media maternity post. Referring to our Bronco as our "Baby" might be a schtick that's about to run out, but the 1st "Birthday" celebration was a fun one.

We went to Poughkeepsie Gulch, which is just a short drive from where we live - about an hour. We enlisted the help of a family friend, who is an experienced Jeeper, to lead the way. Poughkeepsie presented some challenges, for sure, but it was definitely manageable, with only a few scrapes of our skid plates. We didn't do the big obstacle on this trail, The Wall, but I think we'll certainly go back to try it at some point - probably with a few upgrades. Our Bronco has no performance or capability upgrades at all, so we weren't sure we'd make a successful run at The Wall. The aforementioned Jeeper seemed to think it would be achievable, so maybe I'm just a chicken?

I made a video, which is a little long, but I wanted to show as much of the trail as possible. When I research trails, I always find myself wanting more information from the available videos and trail descriptions. Hopefully 45ish minutes isn't excessive. We're still trying to figure out how to be good YouTubers. Relatedly, we finally got to 100 YouTube subscribers! We'd sure appreciate more, if you're so inclined.

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[Fordified1]

You asked in the video if you’re relying on the rear locker too much. The answer is no, because when doing the “Bronco wave” you only have one rear tire touching the ground. And this requires the rear locker to push you through otherwise the lifted tire will just spin, and then you’re relying totally on the light duty (non Sasquatch) front diff to pull you through. So it’s much easier on parts if you use the rear locker. The rear diff is much stronger than the front.
To all but eliminate the Bronco wave, you can manually disconnect the front sway bar and this helps your articulation tremendously.

I have totally removed the front sway bar on our BD which is stock except Eibach coilovers, wheels and 35” tires. But you can just temporarily disconnect the front sway bar when heading to a tough trail.

 

[dgorsett]

We used to do Poughkeepsie in what ever family 4x4 we had, BIIS, Ranger pu, even a nearly worthless Jeep Commando. The Wall has become much more difficult now, we turned awaway lastime in our LJ Rubicon in the rain. My last through run was in a 2000 Explorer downhill, Gravity was my friend.

 

[Nate Train]

You asked in the video if you’re relying on the rear locker too much. The answer is no, because when doing the “Bronco wave” you only have one rear tire touching the ground. And this requires the rear locker to push you through otherwise the lifted tire will just spin, and then you’re relying totally on the light duty (non Sasquatch) front diff to pull you through. So it’s much easier on parts if you use the rear locker. The rear diff is much stronger than the front.
To all but eliminate the Bronco wave, you can manually disconnect the front sway bar and this helps your articulation tremendously.

I have totally removed the front sway bar on our BD which is stock except Eibach coilovers, wheels and 35” tires. But you can just temporarily disconnect the front sway bar when heading to a tough trail.

Oh! That's very useful information! I guess I didn't realize that could be done manually. I'll have to look into that.

 

[woodysfj40]

We've done the Wall quite a few times, my wife crawled in with her old GX470 on 33's, just the ATRAC system. Lots of variables tho.

We ran Poughkeepsie in our OBX a week or so ago. Did need the locker in a couple short stretches. Might run it once more more this trip

 

[Nate Train]

We've done the Wall quite a few times, my wife crawled in with her old GX470 on 33's, just the ATRAC system. Lots of variables tho.

We ran Poughkeepsie in our OBX a week or so ago. Did need the locker in a couple short stretches. Might run it once more more this trip

It's a way fun trail! I'll definitely be doing it again!

 

[Fordified1]

We were just up there a couple weeks ago with our friends group from Texas (4 modified jeeps and us). We missed the day they did Poughkeepsie because I had a ball joint nut fall off (my fault) on Imogene the day before and we were waiting on parts.
Unfortunately we missed doing Black Bear because we left for Texas the morning they did it. We had to be out of our campsite in Silverton that morning.

I watched a couple of your videos waiting on our VB BD to be built. Enjoyed watching them.

 

[Nate Train]

We were just up there a couple weeks ago with our friends group from Texas (4 modified jeeps and us). We missed the day they did Poughkeepsie because I had a ball joint nut fall off (my fault) on Imogene the day before and we were waiting on parts.
Unfortunately we missed doing Black Bear because we left for Texas the morning they did it. We had to be out of our campsite in Silverton that morning.

I watched a couple of your videos waiting on our VB BD to be built. Enjoyed watching them.

Thanks for watching! I may never be a YouTube star, but it's been fun trying to figure it out.

We were going to do Black Bear and Imogene last Sunday, but our Jeep buddy had some suspension issue. We probably could have done it on our own...probably should have.

 

[Fordified1]

Thanks for watching! I may never be a YouTube star, but it's been fun trying to figure it out.

We were going to do Black Bear and Imogene last Sunday, but our Jeep buddy had some suspension issue. We probably could have done it on our own...probably should have.

I really wanted to do Black Bear and show off our Trail Turn Assist. We used it once on one of the passes on a tight switchback that our jeep friends had to back up to make it. We turned right around with one try very easily.
Well fortunately y’all live close enough you can easily do it another day. It may be a couple years before we’re able to come back. Next friends trip is supposed to be Moab or Sedona AZ.

 

[Nate Train]

For

I really wanted to do Black Bear and show off our Trail Turn Assist. We used it once on one of the passes on a tight switchback that our jeep friends had to back up to make it. We turned right around with one try very easily.
Well fortunately y’all live close enough you can easily do it another day. It may be a couple years before we’re able to come back. Next friends trip is supposed to be Moab or Sedona AZ.

For sure. We play around Ouray often. Moab is also pretty close for us, so I think we'll be there more often.

I kind of have wondered about Trail Turn Assist, but don't really know how to use it. Do you find it to be a worthwhile feature? I seem to remember someone suggesting it might be damaging to the moving parts, but that's a pretty hazy memory.

 

[Nate Train]

We've done the Wall quite a few times, my wife crawled in with her old GX470 on 33's, just the ATRAC system. Lots of variables tho.

We ran Poughkeepsie in our OBX a week or so ago. Did need the locker in a couple short stretches. Might run it once more more this trip

Just doing Poughkeepsie built up my confidence a lot, so I might be ready for The Wall sooner, rather than later.

 

[Fordified1]

For


For sure. We play around Ouray often. Moab is also pretty close for us, so I think we'll be there more often.

I kind of have wondered about Trail Turn Assist, but don't really know how to use it. Do you find it to be a worthwhile feature? I seem to remember someone suggesting it might be damaging to the moving parts, but that's a pretty hazy memory.

Only used it that one time other than testing it in a gravel parking lot. A super tight switchback or maneuvering around a very tight obstacle would be the rare time I would use it. It’s not something anyone would need to use often.
All you have to do is press the button and turn full lock whichever way you are going. I think you have to be in 4L for it to work. Probably somewhat stressful on parts, but so is wheeling over difficult obstacles.

 

[Fordified1]

Recent thread about sway bar disconnects.
https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/anyone-add-manual-swaybar-disconnects-to-their-rig.65231/

 

[Squashed]

Just did this trail yesterday was right up there with black bear pass! we watched a couple of Rubicon on 37s do the steep rutted incline and they did not make it over it. I passed since it was the last day of my trip. We did the bypass and came back to it when we saw the jeeps and followed them up though to the wall.

 

[chaseshort24]

IT sounds like you weren't in 4 low?

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