I Thought I Knew My Bronco…Then I Took It to Off-Roadeo in Texas

This past weekend, my wife and I checked out the Bronco Off-Roadeo at Horseshoe Bay near Marble Falls, Texas…and yeah, I thought I knew off-roading. Turns out, I knew just enough to be dangerous.

I bought a Bronco from Arrow Ford recently, and with that purchase came a free entry into the Bronco Off-Roadeo. Score!

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From Pavement to “Oh Hell, That’s a Rock Wall”

There are only four Bronco Off-Roadeo locations in the entire U.S., and we hit the Texas one. Cold, drizzly, not exactly postcard weather, but honestly? Perfect for getting muddy and making questionable decisions.

MORE: Experience The Texas Hill Country At This Amazing Glamping Destination 

Training Wheels Come Off Real Quick

After about an hour getting familiar with the Broncos, we went through a safety briefing and a few “warm-up” obstacles. And by “warm-up,” I mean stuff that already had me gripping the wheel like it owed me money.

Then lunch hit. Then…things got real.

Five Hours of Rock Crawling (and Mild Panic)

We spent the next five hours climbing rocks that had no business being driven on. I’m talking steep, uneven, “are we really doing this?” kind of terrain. Things were puckering for sure.

Was it fun? Absolutely. Was it stressful? Also absolutely.

Luckily, the instructors out there were top-notch. They walked us through everything, like how to approach climbs, how to trust the vehicle, and how not to completely embarrass yourself in front of your spouse.

My Bronco Can Do WHAT?!

Here’s the biggest takeaway: my own Bronco is way more capable than I ever gave it credit for.

I learned things like left-foot braking (which, by the way, feels weird at first but is a total game-changer for control and torque). I’ll admit, I looked like I was learning to drive all over again, especially in steel-toe boots I definitely regret wearing.

Worth Every Bump, Bruise, and Bounce

By the end of the day, I was sore, tired, and grinning like an idiot. Hours of bouncing around on rough terrain will do that to you, but man, it was worth it.

Between the off-roading and soaking in the Texas Hill Country at Safari For The Soul, this trip was an absolute blast. And yeah…we’re already talking about going back.

If you’ve got a Bronco, or you’re even thinking about it, do this. Seriously.