How could I, a man who has resuscitated four basket–case Jeeps and driven them on epic trips from Detroit to Moab and back — a man so obsessed with Jeep that he studied engineering just to help design the new Wrangler — desecrate the holy land with a Ford Bronco Raptor? How can I go on to look at myself in the mirror? It isn’t just that I brought a Ford, it’s that I brought a brand new Ford, further fueling suspicions that I have, indeed, “gone Hollywood.” How do I explain myself? HOW?!
I’m here driving Jeep concept vehicles today at the 57th annual Easter Jeep Safari.
I drove Magneto, the Wrangler with an electric motor bolted to a manual transmission (it was interesting; more on it later):
And I drove 1978 Jeep Cherokee 4xe Concept — the first wide-track “SJ” Jeep Cherokee that I’ve driven in years given that mine has been dead forever:
But despite me wearing a Jeep denim longsleeve over top of a Jeep T-shirt whilst driving two glorious concept Jeeps, I can’t kid myself. I have brought a plague to the seven-slotted holy land. You can see it in the background above. It’s this beast on the left:
The guilt of my betrayal has kept me up all night. Actually, what really kept me up all night was the fact that the 10.5 hour drive from LA to Moab actually took 17 due to my recent struggles with fatigue. Things are different when you run a website vs. when you just write for one; the days of 11 hour-straight roadtrips are behind me; I’m just not well-rested enough.
Anyway, as many of you know, I’ve completed my move from Detroit to LA, but I’m still not unpacked, and my brain is still racing at 1000 mph wondering what the hell is going on. It’s all a bit much. The result of this move is that I haven’t wrenched on a car in months, so my five-speed manual $350 Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ (shown above) remains in shambles.
Though I could have taken my Jeep J10 to the Easter Jeep Safari, the reality is that it’s too long to be great off-road, and I wanted to join my friend Brandon — who works for Jeep — on the trails for some good “wheelin’.” Plus, I knew my friend Fred would be out there, as would my friend Jay (an Autopian reader) and others. So, instead of asking Jeep for a Wrangler, which is a bit predictable, I figured I’d switch it up and ask Ford if I could borrow its big, baddest off-road SUV, the Ford Bronco Raptor, for my drive from LA to Moab and back. The Blue Oval was kind enough to hand me some keys.
Maneuvering the Bronco Raptor around a city is a bit tricky, mostly due to the vehicle’s width:
Fueling up was a bit painful. Just look at these gas prices!:
17 MPG isn’t bad, though. My biggest issue was fatigue. The Bronco Raptor’s rather rough ride quality (to be fair, its tires were about 5 PSI overinflated base on what I saw on the screen) didn’t help things, neither did the constant wind noise, the boring (but effective) automatic transmission, and the general slop in the tall suspension that required me to keep my eye on the road at all times.
But I love the Bronco Raptor. It’s an incredible blend of disparate off-road skills like rock crawling and high-speed desert bashing; you point the 37-inch tires where you want to go, and then you let the machine crawl. It’s a cheat-code.
But how will the Bronco compare to solid front axle-equipped Jeeps that feature more overall articulation? We may find out in the coming days as I off-road the everliving crap out of this Bronco, along with my friends in their Jeeps. Will the Bronco be able to keep up on the rocks? We may find out soon.
But first, I have to recite 995 Hail Marys to the Jeep lords.
(It is worth noting that many of the first mass-produced Jeeps were indeed built by Ford. WWII Jeeps were a Bantam design, but manufactured by Ford and Willys. The famous stamped grille that came to define Jeep even to this day? That was a Ford idea). Hopefully that convinces the Jeep gods not to send me to the dark, cold junkyard down below.
I think the people at Ford had a good laugh when you requested a Ford for a Jeep party.
That’s what I thought too. They couldn’t have said yes fast enough. I bet their only regret was not having something in bright yellow so it could really stand out even more amongst the Jeeps.
That bronco looks ridiculous. Not necessarily in a good way.
If I can propose and alternate title?
“D.T. give up Jeep for lent.”
That ought to cover it, right?
Wouldn’t have been my first choice if you really wanted to sweet talk Jeep out of their SJ CAD file.
So when is The Autopian’s Moab meetup? Let us know if you are headlining any events or generally hanging out this week.
Tomorrow. Let’s do Hell’s Revenge!
Top of the World on Thursday. You can pull me through the really hard stuff in the girth mobile.
I have the perfect Mopar to hit the trails with a sweet front wheel drive system, long long wheelbase, and a class setting 5.1 inches of ground clearance. Chrysler’s Pacifica, guaranteed to scrape the front spats on driveways with any approach angle.
I’d be happy to meet up at the Sand Flats or even buy you a burger at Milt’s Stop and Eat. Elk burgers are 10 out of 10.
Excommunicado for David Tracy? Off road car chase scenes in Moab in cars with chunks of rust and rat poop flying off as projectile weapons? Like a slow motion cross between Mad Max and John Wick?
Enough with the guilt!
Comparative journalism is part of the gig!
‘Know the enemy’ so to speak.
You’ve put yourself through a personal ‘trail by fire’ the past year and passed with flying colors!
Just enjoy yourself.
WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO OUR BOY
The whole point of why I liked David is that he wrenches and builds stuff, which is more than most journalists do. I hope cali doesn’t ruin him.
I think you’re severely underestimating David’s love for wrenching.
BOOOO David. You set the expectations way too high in the past; how dare you not risk your health and sanity inhaling large quantities of rust and mouse droppings to wrench for 4 days straight and drive some totally not street-worthy Jeep to Moab!
In all seriousness, I’m glad you’re over here running this much better website, but I will forever miss the Moab builds of the past. And you’ve done it in a Wagoneer and a 2wd postal Jeep, so your truck would not have been the only poor off-roader you’ve taken (but I get not wanting to take it there, if for no other reason than to not destroy it by accident).
But don’t give up on the overlanding build! Hopefully you’ll get things running smoothly enough to delegate and get back to that ZJ!
I am looking forward to hearing more about a manual electric. Kinda my dream, not in Jeep form, but the concept of it. I wanna just replace my 22RE with one, and a potentiometer.
It’s a Ford Jeep. A “Feep”, if you will.
“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner: Autopian Edition!”
Hah! Love it.
I’m curious if a well-aged pop culture reference escapes David as do so many more contemporary ones.
Jeep TJ owner here. If I saw David on the trail behind the wheel of a Bronco at Moab I’d say, “Good on you for trying the competition.” David’s earned enough cred he could drive a moped at Moab and I’d still cheer.
Dave I followed you from Jalopshit to here. California is ruing you dude just like it did to two of my close friends. RUN, RUN as fast as you can!
Unclench that sphincter.
I don’t think you did anything wrong. If anything it’s good to have some good-natured competition, and for Jeep to remember where they came from.
How did the Raptor do at Moab?
Rumor has it that David has been relegated to driving a 2023 Chevy Blazer for forty days and forty nights to atone for his sins.
Egads, man. That’s a fate worse tha—zzzzzzzzzz
Sorry, the mention of the “Blazer” put me to sleep.
Well he does need the rest….
I mean, he already bought the rough draft of the Bolt.
Worse, trailblazer!
Who else brought a comparison vehicle?
It may be in bad taste for some, but it is good for everyone, strengthens the breeds. Oh also good for the Autopianoids. (-:
The child in me would have magnetic signs made up for the Bronco doors. Official Jeep Rescue Vehicle. Find out who has a good sense of humor.
David, Wade with the Jag from Saturday’s show. It was a great pleasure to meet you in person. (Folks, David is just the nicest, most down-to-earth person you’ll have the honor of meeting)
Regarding the “crime” of taking a Ford to a Jeep event, I already got to torture the poor guy on Saturday. My question to him was, “given the questionable state of Ford quality these days, would you rate the Bronco as more or less likely to break down on the way to Moab than some of the other rides of (ahem) questionable reliability you’ve driven there?” David had a great take on how press vehicles are gone over with a fine-tooth comb so he figured the Bronco should be in pretty good shape.
Personally, I think it’s fine and if Jeep is confident about what they’re doing they should have no problem putting up their best against Ford’s best. Moab is a spot where the solid axle Jeeps may have some advantages but it will be interesting to see how the Bronco fares in traditional Jeep country. Besides, everyone is going to look at all the cool Jeep concepts and forget about the Bronco anyway.
David mentioned his J10 in the article. He had the truck at the Saturday show, and I took the opportunity at one point to check it out more closely while David was elsewhere. For all the reputation of David Tracy rustbuckets, I think the J10 is pretty awesome and the bones are there to build out a super nice truck (my jokes about the gun rack notwithstanding).
The 1978 Jeep Cherokee 4xe Concept arouses, um, feelings. That is a sexy beast.
David, have fun at Moab!
Not gonn lie David, I had to re-read your thought bubble 3 times as the 1st 2 times my brain missed the ‘r’ in Brought!
Same. My lizard brain compounded the offense and pearl-clutching exactly the same way.
I think it was an awesome idea. Both vehicles compete for the same dollars, so your impromptu tete-a-tete is tres apropos.
FWIW, DT, you’ve got more Jeep bona fides than Jeep, these days. They should be strewing your path with blossoms and welcoming you with ambrosia and strong drink.
FWIW your Jeep bona fides are well and truly established. Frankly, I don’t know how they could get any more establisheder. 🙂
Have fun at Moab!
I’m surprised they don’t make you park in Green River…
I’m curious how the manual + electric combo was? It sounds like fun!
Does the Bronco at least have any rust on it, anywhere?
There’s gotta be some on the driver’s seat, now. Maybe just flakes, but he’s seeding the thing.
It probably does now!