Past Trail Rides of 2-Big Broncos 4x4 Club

March Of Dimes Rally
September 9-10, 2000

Great Lakes Chapter

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March Of Dimes Rally -- Antigo, WI

Directions

Overview

Participants

1. Jim Hunter in "The Brush Cutter"
2. Norm and Tracie out front in "DaFilly"
3. Dustin in "Chiquita Banana"
4. Joel bring up the rear in his GMC
5. A couple friends of Norm's - Chad and Julie

The Details . . .

Getting There

The Rally

Jim and Dustin awaiting departure	Dustin completing last minute maintenance
One cool, custom machine	Custom seats, dash, GPS, and more
Having a great time in the mud	As he says "That was worth it!"

At the start you are given a packet of clues to figure out the route.  Then if you don't make any mistakes (yeah Right!) and drive the correct speeds (Right Again!) you would arrive back at the finish in the correct time.  The closest driver or team to that time is the winner.  We had a lot of fun playing in the woods, mud, sand, dirt, grass, hill climbs, narrow trees...etc.  This was also livened up by the checkpoints where they make you get out of your truck and do something stupid, like roll tires around a prescribed" off-road" course, lol.  We had a few adventures.  I tried to roll my Bronco climbing out of a pit.  I turned to much into the hill and had one rear tire 5 feet off the ground!  Norm said he thought for sure I was going over onto my lid!  Norm got stuck in a mud hole not once not twice but three times! or maybe it was only twice... I can't remember... I was laughing too hard at Norm's swim in the mud!  I was nursing a dying alternator at that point and it finally died.  Luckily, we were only about a mile from a road.  Dustin strapped my Bronco back to the road.  Then, since both my batteries were dead, Chad loaned me one of his... very much appreciated man!  I then limped back to town and sought parts while the rest of the group finished the last bit of the rally.

We met back at the hotel a little while later.  After some finagling (don't ask) I obtained a stock alternator.  While the rest of the crew cleaned up and headed back to the fairgrounds for the after rally fun, I worked on getting my Bronco street worthy again.  I had to rewire for the old style alternator again. after a couple of trips into the Fleet and Farm for parts, I was driving again. I met up with Dustin and we headed back to the fairgrounds.  I returned the battery to Chad and we watched the fun and awards.  I left around 1100 pm for home.

That is where my adventure really began. Homeward bound to follow...

Returning Home "Adventure"

About 10 miles out of town it started.  I was watching my voltmeter and noticed that instead of climbing as the batteries should be charging, my voltage was falling already.

It was falling very slowly so I figured I would keep going (mistake #1) and try to get to Wausau where I hoped to find something open that late for parts.  I kept watching my voltmeter as I was driving.  This meant that I did not seethe deer jump out in front of me until it was almost too late!  I swerved to the right to miss the deer and hit the second deer that I had not even seen!  I hit her right in the shoulder with my super bumper.  She was dead instantly, crushed her rib cage and snapped the neck.  There was absolutely no damage to the Bronco! I love that structural steel tubing!  I just cleaned a little fur off the brush guard and pulled the doe off to the shoulder. I got back on my way and limped to Merrit.  My voltage was down to 11V so I was getting worried. These EFI motors just plain stop at around 10.5V.  Ask me I know.  So I was almost to Wausau, so I kept going.

I went past an exit with a Fleet & Farm and tried for the next exit to turn around (mistake#2) I made it to the next exit and got off.  I pulled to the first traffic light and began a U-turn.  That is when I hit 10.5V and it died.  In the middle of an intersection!  So I get out and try to push my behemoth out of the intersection, with my back, I don't think so!  So then with cars narrowly missing me a couple times (not even enough juice for the hazard flashers), I crossed over to the deep cycle battery which still had 11V.  I got it to start and jumped back on the highway and headed back to the previous exit. I got off and found that Fleet & Farm was closed!  I went in to the gas station and asked for any place that may be open that would have a battery.  The woman working there told me that the Walmart was open 24hrs. She told me it was about 4 miles further down the highway.

With no other ideas present, I decided to walk to Walmartand get a battery (mistake #3).  It was getting cold and I didn't have a jacket (dumb) but I just made like a Marine and headed down the road.  After 8.5 miles I still did not see a Walmart and I was getting rather upset with my situation.  That is when the State Trooper pulled up behind me and turned on his lights.  I walked over and told him my situation.  He had me sit in the back of his patrol car while he checked out my ID.  He asked me if I also had a Wisconsin license.  I said no why?  He said there was another Jim Hunter that matched my description from Black River Falls, WI.  So after some convincing he finally accepted my story.  Apparently, there was some kind of warrant out for this other Jim Hunter.  Anyway, he tells me that the Walmart is another couple miles away and it closed at 10:00 pm!  Now I am really beginning to get depressed!  He says he'll give me a ride back to my truck if I want.  He also informs me that I can't walk along the public highway.  I told him I wasn't hitchhiking.  He says it doesn't matter.  So much for "Public" highways.  I convince him to take me past the Walmart first (for grins).  We get just get off on our exit when a car going the other way swerves.  The trooper takes off after this guy with me in the back.  He pulls him over in front of another gas station.  He asks me to wait at the gas station while he deals with this guy.  Of course, he test positive for booze and gets arrested.  The trooper comes over and tells me sorry but I lost my ride.

I go into the gas station and ask about the Walmart.  This guy also say it is open 24 hrs. since Memorial Day.  So I call Walmart and find that it is indeed open.  Then I call a cab and get a ride over there.  The cabbie tells me that they charge by the minute while they wait so I run into Walmart and grab a battery.  I bring it to the only open checkout (mistake #4) and the girl who has the IQ of a brussel sprout tries to ring me up.  She charges me for two batteries.  I pointed out her error and she was baffled.  She had to call her manager from the back room who took 12 minutes to get to the front while I am pacing and getting angry. She comes over and hits ONE key!  ARG!  So now I head back to the Bronco.  I paid the Taxi $20, OUCH!

I install the new battery and the Bronco starts right up.  I hit the road again thinking all is well (mistake #5) I get back to Walmart to drop the old battery off for the $5 (money is getting very tight by this time) and hit the road.  I go maybe 2 miles and I see the voltage is dropping again!

I pull into a truck stop and yank the alternator.  Oh, by the way it is now raining like the end of days and it is hailing the size of marbles!  Braving the hail I get the alternator out.  I swap in a spare regulator and try again.  I watch the voltmeter as I start the truck.  It goes from 12V to 14V as soon as it starts but only stays there for maybe 1 second.  Then it drops back down to 12V!  It was now 2:00 am and I had just had it!  I couldn't even think straight anymore!  I jumped into the back of the Bronco, made some space in with my gear and curled up and went to sleep (Good Idea #1)

I woke up at 8:00 am and reevaluated my dilemma.  I wired the new alternator with the new regulator straight to the new battery and unhooked everything else. I checked for tight connections and I gave it a shot...  It fired up and the voltage held at 14.4V

I jumped in and headed home...

I got to Janesville, Wi and stopped for gas.  I put my last $12 in the tank.

I made it to Belvidere, IL when I realized I wasn't going to make it back home on what gas I had remaining.  I stopped at a friends house there and bummed $20 from him.  I put it in the tank and drove home.  Got here at 1:00 pm and kissed my wife and kids and was VERY thankful to be home!

Submitted in pain and disgust by...

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