Since you are reading this story on the Bronco Nation news page, we already have one thing in common…We love Broncos! My addiction started in the early 90s when I bought my first. A 1967 with 289 V8 and three-speed manual on the column. I immediately fell in love with its rugged stance and the promise of conquering any terrain I put it into. The ole girl did not disappoint! To and from the deer lease in Mississippi, up down over, and through the hollers, eventual wheeling, and hard-core rock crawling trips to over 25 states. Together we formed a local Bronco club and attended events hosted by other Bronco clubs. We even made it to some of the major national events like the 35th and 40th anniversaries! The two of us covered a lot of miles, tons of trails and most importantly made memories of a lifetime!
Joining the Bronco Off-Roadeo Team
Thanks to a Bronco Nation event, I got to visit Bronco Off-Roadeo Texas! To say I was blown away would be an understatement. This was Bronco Heaven. Shortly after arriving, I met Mike Clouds, a good buddy from our local Early Bronco Club, and his wife Amy. Come to find out, they work for Bronco Off-Roadeo! Well, it didn’t take me long to ask Mike for a job. I wanted to join Amy and the team as a trail guide.
I got the gig and here I am, a trail guide at Bronco Off-Roadeo Texas, enjoying our beloved 6G Broncos doing Bronco things in the wild every day!
Early Bronco vs. 6G Bronco
Every day during our Bronco owners start of the day introductions, I share my passion for Early Broncos (that’s what us old timers call the First Gen). I like to emphasize the social aspects and friends you meet along the way. Like many of us, I have spent most of my vacations and holidays doing Bronco things with family and friends. Both my kids have been strapped into baby seats in the back of that ’67 more times than I can count. From local ice cream runs, to the trails of Tennessee, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Alabama, and many many more. On all of our adventures, we have always had a group of like-minded Bronco owners with us. Collectively we have gathered in one place or another to continue the trail rides, conversations, and friendships. In some cases for over 30 years! Today we are so fortunate to have the Bronco Nation where we can meet virtually, share ideas, and perhaps meet in person somewhere at an event. The Bronco Community is a wonderful unique group!
Guests and owners attending Bronco Off-Roadeo often ask me, how does the 6G compare to the Early Bronco? We’ve all heard an old timer or perhaps a grandparent tell us how they walked 6 miles uphill and barefoot through the snow to get to school…..my turn.
Aside from my wife, kids and dog, my ’67 is the love of my life! It is the first Bronco I bought and I still wheel it HARD!
The Evolution of a '67 Bronco
The first Generation (1966-1977) Bronco was a purpose-built utility vehicle introduced to beat the competition in performance, styling, and comfort. Let’s just say that compared to today’s standards we might say they are extremely spartan. A very tough and capable vehicle compared to anything else on the market. It was a winner for sure as Rod Hall and Larry Minor proved that by winning the Baja 1000 in 1969! However as I wanted to expand my horizons and take on more and more challenging terrain, I quickly learned we could make it even better!
So the upgrade journey began. You want to go over bigger rocks? You need bigger tires. You want to run bigger tires? You need to add a lift. Oops, those bigger tires look cool but they rob power so you need to regear the differentials. Wait...when I’m tilted on a rock or climbing in loose terrain only one tire is spinning and it has no traction. Time for lockers. Bang! Now I have tons of traction but my axles and locking hubs keep snapping. Are you baggin’ what I’m raking here? To REALLY “Go Over Any Type Terrain” takes some upgrades. The tougher the terrain you have in mind, the more upgrades are required! Let’s just say my 1967 is still an Early Bronco, but unrecognizable from the day she rolled off the assembly line. She went from a 92” wheelbase to 105”, 28” tires to 40”, ½ ton axles to one ton, dual transfer cases for extra low gearing, 4 link suspension front and rear, coilovers on all four corners, and a healthy fuel injected 351 Windsor engine. All in pursuit of crawling on rocks!
Off-Road Differences Between New and Early Broncos
When 6G owners ask me how the new Broncos compare to the Early Broncos off-roading, I tell them “You kids today got it easy!” Seriously though, with very few exceptions and mainly due to concerns of body damage from extremely tight rocky trails, the new Bronco, especially the one equipped with the Sasquatch package, can conquer just about any trail that my full-blown dedicated rock crawler EB can go. Plus you will have a comfortable ride to and from, enjoy the AC and heat, and all the creature comforts on and off the trails!
After owning and driving every generation of Bronco, I’m proud to say today’s model is the ultimate evolution of the G.O.A.T. vehicle that Lee Iacocca and his team set out to create in the early 60s.
Come see me at Bronco Off-Roadeo Texas and enjoy your Bronco doing Bronco things as it was intended!
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