chronic_broncitis

09/19/2026

Thursday/Friday Days 15 & 16

Moved a few exits east on 90 yesterday to the Flying J truck stop since the Pilot was a bit of a dump. Installed new headlight and turn signal housings that I had Amazon deliver to a friend's place here in Rapid City, since I had to replace a turn signal that broke on the first day on the road and has been duct taped in place since. I also upgraded to LED bulbs replace the broken and cloudy lenses and dim halogens.

Also installed a 500W inverter that Thursday/Friday Days 15 & 16

Moved a few exits east on 90 yesterday to the Flying J truck stop since the Pilot was a bit of a dump. Installed new headlight and turn signal housings that I had Amazon deliver to a friend's place here in Rapid City, since I had to replace a turn signal that broke on the first day on the road and has been duct taped in place since. I also upgraded to LED bulbs replace the broken and cloudy lenses and dim halogens.

Also installed today to power my Milwaukee rapid charger and a few other things. Wasn't really planning on pulling the driver's seat out, but it was the only way I could get the floor mat lifted up enough to go through the existing wiring hole and grommet down to the batteries.

Somehow I lost one of the headlight access covers behind the hood that protects the bulbs from water and dirt getting thrown off the front tires. This was especially bad since I just installed LED bulbs that have a built-in fan that is exposed. So I had to make a quick on the road repair using a gallon jug from some windshield washer fluid. I think it will do the job just fine until I can get a new part from Volvo.

I had to run out to a few stores to get some hardware, wiring and other supplies and had to run to the local steel supplier to get a couple pieces of angle for an upcoming repair project in the next few days.

So basically, the last two days have been doing some upgrades and maintenance while I have a bit of down time.

After I got the truck all back together I ran out to Planet Fitness and grab the shower and then hit the car wash to hose off some of the last couple weeks of dirt off the Bronco.

Tomorrow afternoon I should be on the move again...

09/17/2026

Tuesday/Wednesday Day 13 & 14

Chilled out Monday and Tuesday nights at my friends Terry and Nicole's place in Loveland while waiting on some Amazon deliveries. We went out for a few good meals and I got to check out his new Early Bronco build, as well as a couple early Broncos his friend Clay has. We also went up into Estes to Clay's cabin to check out one of those Broncos.

Hit the road this afternoon and slow rolled up through Wyoming and Nebraska and just arrived in Rapid City South Dakota a little bit ago had a truck stop with the highest fuel prices I've seen so far. Luckily, I don't need fuel for a while and will probably top off around Salt Lake City or wherever I can find the cheapest, I hope prices stop climbing like it has the last few days!

The Black Hills will be the base of operations for the next 11 or 12 days as I wait for the Sturgis Bronco rally next week and catch up and hopefully run a trail or two with Steve George, an Early Bronco friend who is a local.

My Bronco nomad friend Kristin Cooper with the other 6G and camper on my trailer flys in on Saturday, then we plan to go do some road trips and dispersed camping before the event.

Tomorrow I plan to pick up some other Amazon deliveries that I had shipped to Steve's here in Rapid City and to install them on the Volvo. Had a turn signal break on my first day and have had to retape it several times to keep it from falling off. So I ordered all new turn signals and headlight housings and all new LED bulbs, and a couple sets of LED driving lights to replace all of the old halogen stuff. So it should be a good project for tomorrow while I have some time to kill.

09/15/2026

Monday, Day 12 part 2

Found a stray hitchhiker along the way south of Denver.

09/14/2026

Monday, Day 12

Adios Buena Vista, until we meet again!

Now off to the next leg of this Broncitis Adventure!

Shout out to Tom, Donna, and Brett for yet another great event as many of us have become accustomed to over the last 20 years. You guys are top notch!

I checked the main tanks in the Volvo and had about 42 gallons left, using about 220 since Houston for an average of a rather poor 6.4 MPG vs the 8.5 I got on the first leg between Pennsylvania and Houston. I opened up the valves to the two 100 gallon auxiliary tanks which will get me through the next leg and then some before I have to hit a fuel station or transfer out of the 100 gallon tank on the trailer.

Saw this cool overland equipped Excursion when I ran out into town this morning.

Well here at SuperCel West I spent a little over 34 hours driving the Bronco over 400 miles and averaging 11.4 MPG.

09/14/2026

Sunday, Day 13

Today everyone packed up and left, but it was a day for me to do some laundry and get a good hot shower in town, then a field repair on the fender and mudflap that got torn up when the tire blew in Florida on Day 2.

Did a bit of other organizing of gear and preventative maintenance to get back into travel mode. Then I went out for a steak dinner at Quincy's which has become a traditional to eat at at least once every time I've been out here for events the last 7 years.

09/13/2026

Saturday, Day 11

Hung out at the rodeo grounds all day and for the various activities, and set up to sell some merch I brought along for a change.

09/13/2026

Friday Day 10

Not many pics today. We ran Hope Gultch which Bill & Kathy were mapping for OnX. It was a nice easy scenic trail off of Cottonwood Pass not far out of Buena Vista.

Got back and set up to sell some merch at the rodeo grounds where the Bronco event is being held. They had a live band, chili cook-off and people hung out for a few hours in the evening.

09/13/2026

Day 9

Long 12.5 hour day running Taylor Pass and Pearl Pass, ending up in Crested Butte for dinner before 1:45 drive back to Buena Vista.

09/10/2026

09/09/2026

Day 7

I put about 150 miles on the Bronco running north of Buena Vista with 4 other 6G Broncos to run Red Cone and then Radical Hill, eventually getting back on pavement in Breckenridge.

This area is a lot of fun and some great views. We did get to see a couple mountain goats, but not the dozens like my Dad and I did when we ran these trails in 22.