2D Bronco OBX impressed some Jeepers at Merus Adventure Park

tkennyb4 · Nov 17, 2023

Handled the Blue Tour like a champ! Impressed some jeeper

Ford Bronco 2D Bronco OBX impressed some Jeepers at Merus Adventure Park IMG_4515

Ford Bronco 2D Bronco OBX impressed some Jeepers at Merus Adventure Park IMG_4520

Ford Bronco 2D Bronco OBX impressed some Jeepers at Merus Adventure Park IMG_4522

Ford Bronco 2D Bronco OBX impressed some Jeepers at Merus Adventure Park IMG_4526

Ford Bronco 2D Bronco OBX impressed some Jeepers at Merus Adventure Park IMG_4542

Ford Bronco 2D Bronco OBX impressed some Jeepers at Merus Adventure Park IMG_4545

Ford Bronco 2D Bronco OBX impressed some Jeepers at Merus Adventure Park IMG_4554

Ford Bronco 2D Bronco OBX impressed some Jeepers at Merus Adventure Park IMG_4511

Ford Bronco 2D Bronco OBX impressed some Jeepers at Merus Adventure Park IMG_5985

-creepers with the Trail-turn Assist.

LCW · Nov 19, 2023

Serious question - bend any tie rods?

I’m genuinely curious as some forums make it seem like they’ll bend just looking at them.

If someone wheels without being abusive and within the capability of a stock/stockish Bronco, is the risk low?

Haven’t wheeled my Badlands yet but I wheeled my JL Rubicon a bunch. I’m honestly more hesitant with the Bronco.

Mattwings · Nov 19, 2023

The tie rod issue is much overblown. I have been with hundreds of Broncos off road over the last 2 years. I have never seen a tie rod break. I did see a rack (or the after affects) break it’s internals with full35s and about 2” of lift. It made the trail, but failed a few hundred miles later.

LCW · Nov 19, 2023

Mattwings said:
The tie rod issue is much overblown. I have been with hundreds of Broncos off road over the last 2 years. I have never seen a tie rod break. I did see a rack (or the after affects) break it’s internals with full35s and about 2” of lift. It made the trail, but failed a few hundred miles later.

Thanks!

Well there could be some cases where guys beef up the tie rods and end up making the rack the fuse. Much cos

buzpro · Nov 19, 2023

tkennyb4 said:
Handled the Blue Tour like a champ! Impressed some jeeper

-creepers with the Trail-turn Assist.

Love that front light bar you got, what is it?

userdude · Nov 19, 2023

tkennyb4 said:
Handled the Blue Tour like a champ! Impressed some jeeper

-creepers with the Trail-turn Assist.

Been out there on blues three times this year, Merus is awesome! Who was your guide?

Arrowbear Rider · Nov 19, 2023

Mattwings said:
The tie rod issue is much overblown. I have been with hundreds of Broncos off road over the last 2 years. I have never seen a tie rod break. I did see a rack (or the after affects) break it’s internals with full35s and about 2” of lift. It made the trail, but failed a few hundred miles later.

Ditto.

Five days at the Bronco Safari in Moab and almost a dozen more days on trials like OP's photos and no tie rods. Other breakdowns including an axel, but those came from obvious mistakes and the like.

A forum member with a 3" body lift has no CV angle problems, another with a 2" suspension lift has CV angle issues and both invested in upgrades to the rack and bushings and...

I'm running a stock Sasquatch and have done many days on trails like the OP's photos... with a big smile on my face too.

broncohopeful · Nov 19, 2023

Well, it is a 2 door!
Finally some 2 door love on this feed.
Note the scale of vehicle design. Looks great!
Thank you!

tkennyb4 · Nov 19, 2023

LCW said:
Serious question - bend any tie rods?

I’m genuinely curious as some forums make it seem like they’ll bend just looking at them.

If someone wheels without being abusive and within the capability of a stock/stockish Bronco, is the risk low?

Haven’t wheeled my Badlands yet but I wheeled my JL Rubicon a bunch. I’m honestly more hesitant with the Bronco.

I didn't have any problems at all. I think you're probably safe as long you're not doing heavy rock climbing where you're dropping the weight of the vehicle on a corner or performing high-speed foolishness. I think you would have to be pretty careless to damage them.

tkennyb4 · Nov 19, 2023

userdude said:
Been out there on blues three times this year, Merus is awesome! Who was your guide?

We were with Jeff and Shelly bull. Good people!

tkennyb4 · Nov 19, 2023

buzpro said:
Love that front light bar you got, what is it?

Thanks! It's a Zroadz bar with KC Flex Era 1's

https://zroadz.com/i-23915783-2021-...h-zroadz-led-light-pods-part-z325431-kit.html

mouse82 · Nov 20, 2023

Ford Bronco 2D Bronco OBX impressed some Jeepers at Merus Adventure Park IMG_4841

Ford Bronco 2D Bronco OBX impressed some Jeepers at Merus Adventure Park IMG_0007

Glad to see other Broncos getting after it in MERUS. We spent three days there at the end of October. Loads of off camber and butt pucker moments. All worth it to be the first Bronco to complete the three day "Trail Recon Extreme Challenge" and earn the 30th badge. Not a badge chaser but that is one I am proud to have on the Bronco.

nolimits · Nov 20, 2023

LCW said:
Serious question - bend any tie rods?

I’m genuinely curious as some forums make it seem like they’ll bend just looking at them.

If someone wheels without being abusive and within the capability of a stock/stockish Bronco, is the risk low?

Haven’t wheeled my Badlands yet but I wheeled my JL Rubicon a bunch. I’m honestly more hesitant with the Bronco.

Skip to approx 4:30 and watch for about 4 minutes. Legendary Vaugh Gittin, Jr provides a more thorough explanation. Towards the end, pay attention to the stick example as it really brings it home.

Short version…do a PROPER lift. Once you get your angles out of whack it’s a ticking time bomb. Add bigger tires, especially 37’s and you really compound the problem.

I have a BL non-SAS. As you may know it actually has more articulation than the SAS but it’s rolling on 33’s. The SAS suspension gives you about 1/2” lift over non-SAS but also gives you 35’s. The tires aren’t exactly 33” and 35” but we will assume so for simplicity of conversation. So the SAS is about 1.5” taller than non-SAS overall yet it has 1/2” less articulation. IMO Ford designed it that way to keep your angles in check with the bigger & heavier 35’s. If I were to slap 35’s on my non-SAS on my stock suspension I would need to strap to keep from drooping too much and effectively causing a similar problem to the cyber orange rig that snapped their tie rod in that video.

Lots of cats trying to look cool but again, a proper lift is critical. Also, the tie rod snapping is a cheap fix compared to the rack so if you’re choosing evils, tie rod breakage isn’t the end of the world. If you watch more of the video you will see they continue wheeling while a friend brings parts & tools and they go back and repair.

TeocaliMG · Nov 20, 2023

LCW said:
Serious question - bend any tie rods?

I’m genuinely curious as some forums make it seem like they’ll bend just looking at them.

If someone wheels without being abusive and within the capability of a stock/stockish Bronco, is the risk low?

Haven’t wheeled my Badlands yet but I wheeled my JL Rubicon a bunch. I’m honestly more hesitant with the Bronco.

I've been on multiple level 6 and 7 trails with a stock rack and no reinforcement on tie-rods, and half of those trails have been with 37" tires. If you don't try to force the steering too hard or get aggressive with the skinny pedal, you can do some pretty amazing stuff. Having minimal lift always helps too. I imagine if I was on a 3-4" lift with 37's that may have pushed things too far.

P.S. You can probably wheel a stock Badlands on 33"s about as hard as anything. Just limited on what you will be able to get up and over.

TeocaliMG · Nov 20, 2023

nolimits said:
Skip to approx 4:30 and watch for about 4 minutes. Legendary Vaugh Gittin, Jr provides a more thorough explanation. Towards the end, pay attention to the stick example as it really brings it home.

Short version…do a PROPER lift. Once you get your angles out of whack it’s a ticking time bomb. Add bigger tires, especially 37’s and you really compound the problem.

I have a BL non-SAS. As you may know it actually has more articulation than the SAS but it’s rolling on 33’s. The SAS suspension gives you about 1/2” lift over non-SAS but also gives you 35’s. The tires aren’t exactly 33” and 35” but we will assume so for simplicity of conversation. So the SAS is about 1.5” taller than non-SAS overall yet it has 1/2” less articulation. IMO Ford designed it that way to keep your angles in check with the bigger & heavier 35’s. If I were to slap 35’s on my non-SAS on my stock suspension I would need to strap to keep from drooping too much and effectively causing a similar problem to the cyber orange rig that snapped their tie rod in that video.

Lots of cats trying to look cool but again, a proper lift is critical. Also, the tie rod snapping is a cheap fix compared to the rack so if you’re choosing evils, tie rod breakage isn’t the end of the world. If you watch more of the video you will see they continue wheeling while a friend brings parts & tools and they go back and repair.

I would like to tweak a couple things stated here. 1: the sasquatch has less travel and Badlands for tire clearance. Not protection of the suspension geometry. The added travel of the non-sas Badlands is in jounce which is already less extreme geometry than rebound. OEM's have very stringent standards regarding tire clearance. Most of us are willing to tolerate much tighter fits or even some rubbing between tires and wheel liners/frame, but not the OEMs.

As for what Vaugh Gittin Jr was saying: I would also point out that any lift whether its "proper" or not, if it changes your tie rod angles off-road it is almost certainly increasing the chance of breaking a rack or tie rod. Spacer lifts have additional downsides, like over-extending your CV's in rebound, and of course that goes for the steering as well, but no suspension lift is immune to increasing the risk of steering breakage. Flat angles make a happy rack.

I am now running 2" lift on Icons, aware of the risks, but I think 2" lift or less combined with suspension awareness while wheeling will be alright. Carry spare tire rods regardless!

2D Bronco OBX impressed some Jeepers at Merus Adventure Park

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