Braptor’s cherry got a few dents

Badrap · May 19, 2025

Hit some of the blue trails at AOAA yesterday. 3A and 28A specifically broke the new gal in with some wheel scrapes. Out of the factory box and stock, the Braptor is impressive on steep rock climbs to say the least. Those flares gotta go though.

Ford Bronco Braptor’s cherry got a few dents IMG_0209

Ford Bronco Braptor’s cherry got a few dents IMG_0208

Ford Bronco Braptor’s cherry got a few dents IMG_0207

Ford Bronco Braptor’s cherry got a few dents IMG_0205

Ford Bronco Braptor’s cherry got a few dents IMG_0195

Ford Bronco Braptor’s cherry got a few dents IMG_0197

Ford Bronco Braptor’s cherry got a few dents IMG_0202

vbrad26 · May 19, 2025

Ah yes. My wheels look the same, wear it with pride.
Except mine came from my wife at the Starbucks drive-thru.

BUCKIN6VA · May 19, 2025

How easy is it to find your way around AOAA? I want to try a Blue guided run my first time up there. It's a long haul for me, though (a few hours+). BTW I never even considered how scraped the BRaptor flares would get on a trail. That has to hurt!

Badrap · May 19, 2025

BUCKIN6VA said:
How easy is it to find your way around AOAA? I want to try a Blue guided run my first time up there. It's a long haul for me, though (a few hours+). BTW I never even considered how scraped the BRaptor flares would get on a trail. That has to hurt!

The entire park is pretty well mapped with color coded trail numbers everywhere. They give you a map of the eastern and western portions and all the numbers are on there with corresponding markers on the trees at the various trail heads. There are a few trails that are marked on the trail but not on the map - unless I came into it from another direction. Bring reading glasses for the map if you’re an older dude like me. I have been wheelin’ Jeeps my whole life and actually grew near the park. IMO, some of what they call a “moderate” or blue trail, are pretty gnarly. You definitely need a lifted vehicle with at least one locker for a few of the blues. I had to turn around on a few of the greens because I was too wide, even though they classify it as a “full size” trail. I think “full size” in their mind is synonymous with “Jeep” which obviously is a narrower rig than the Braptor. Truth be told, this place is epic with plenty of extreme crawling if you have the balls to push it. I’ll close by saying that the parking lot was packed but we rarely ran into anybody else while on the trails and then, it was mostly SxS and dirt bikes. Go - I think you’ll have a blast.

1979 · May 19, 2025

Had a blast there last summer in my Badlands and my kids JKU picking up a couple badges for her Jeep. She’s since upgraded to a newer JLU and I swapped the Badlands for a Braptor so I guess there’s reason to go back. RIP flares.

Totally agree that some of the blue trails can get pretty gnarly.

MNBigfoot · May 19, 2025

smithjones6365 · May 19, 2025

Those blue trails at AOAA aren’t a joke—scrapes are just part of the Raptor initiation, right? And yeah, those flares never seem to survive long out there.

Badrap · May 19, 2025

smithjones6365 said:
Those blue trails at AOAA aren’t a joke—scrapes are just part of the Raptor initiation, right? And yeah, those flares never seem to survive long out there.

You can have a helluva good time on just the blues. I walked some of the blacks as I was “thinking” about it but I had my wife with me and she was shitting pickles on some of the blues. Truth be told, the blacks looked like you’d need a custom rock buggy or at least be willing to totally trash the shit out of the Braptor body. Maybe I’ll go back when she’s paid off and hit a black or three. I still have my JK which we’re taking up there again this weekend - mild lift and a winch and long paid off! Perhaps I’ll roll it (literally) down a black!

Bschurr · May 19, 2025

Good times @Badrap - I have a few Jeep Badge of Honor emblems from there.
AOAA is great however, some of the trails do get really tight especially for the Braptor but, it looks like you wear it well!

MadMan4BamaNATL · May 19, 2025

Badrap said:
You can have a helluva good time on just the blues. I walked some of the blacks as I was “thinking” about it but I had my wife with me and she was shitting pickles on some of the blues. Truth be told, the blacks looked like you’d need a custom rock buggy or at least be willing to totally trash the shit out of the Braptor body. Maybe I’ll go back when she’s paid off and hit a black or three. I still have my JK which we’re taking up there again this weekend - mild lift and a winch and long paid off! Perhaps I’ll roll it (literally) down a black!

Not sure how long you’ve been doing this, but hats off to you for getting after it in your Braptor. Black trails are usally for 40s or 42s and some places should only be done with a cage.

Remember, scratches give character and at least the rash on the wheels shouldn’t bother. The hits on this fenders are a tad concerning, but some may buff with an orbital.

Cheers to a good day of wheelin! :beer:

Badrap · May 19, 2025

MadMan4BamaNATL said:
Not sure how long you’ve been doing this, but hats off to you for getting after it in your Braptor. Black trails are usally for 40s or 42s and some places should only be done with a cage.

Remember, scratches give character and at least the rash on the wheels shouldn’t bother. The hits on this fenders are a tad concerning, but some may buff with an orbital.

Cheers to a good day of wheelin!

Been wheelin’ in Pennsylvania coal country in jeeps and land cruisers since I was 10 - started with dad and now 62. The capability of the stock Braptor is damn amazing. It will get you into and out of trouble in short order. The flares and mud flaps will probably get torn off sooner rather than later - if I lose one, I’ll match by removing the other side. Scrapes and dings don’t matter to me, although given the price of this rig, I did briefly think about it. But now, she’s christened and ready for hard stuff - the Braptor was always going to be getting beat up, just haven’t had the time. Got to get a winch and some beefier sneakers but she’s stout out of the box. Retiring this year and we plan on hitting every sloppy, muddy, rocky and nasty trail I can squeeze it down. I didn’t buy this thing to leave it to my kids - at least not in one piece

ezapar 2 · May 19, 2025

Ford Bronco Braptor’s cherry got a few dents IMG_0686

stampede1 · May 19, 2025

Your scrapes look the ones I got when mine was new and I was navigating a not very wide trail in Moab. I probably won’t have to worry about the fender flares because most of my wheeling will be high speed, Baja style desert running. I just got back from Ocotillo Wells where I had the place practically to myself. Nothing like traversing open desert and sand dunes at high speed. The Bronco Raptor is a force of nature. Is this a great country or what?!

MadMan4BamaNATL · May 19, 2025

Badrap said:
Been wheelin’ in Pennsylvania coal country in jeeps and land cruisers since I was 10 - started with dad and now 62. The capability of the stock Braptor is damn amazing. It will get you into and out of trouble in short order. The flares and mud flaps will probably get torn off sooner rather than later - if I lose one, I’ll match by removing the other side. Scrapes and dings don’t matter to me, although given the price of this rig, I did briefly think about it. But now, she’s christened and ready for hard stuff - the Braptor was always going to be getting beat up, just haven’t had the time. Got to get a winch and some beefier sneakers but she’s stout out of the box. Retiring this year and we plan on hitting every sloppy, muddy, rocky and nasty trail I can squeeze it down. I didn’t buy this thing to leave it to my kids - at least not in one piece

Love it brother!

Going to follow you on here. You’ve just become one of my favorite Braptor owners on the forum.

THE_SAVSQCH · May 19, 2025

Badrap said:
Hit some of the blue trails at AOAA yesterday. 3A and 28A specifically broke the new gal in with some wheel scrapes. Out of the factory box and stock, the Braptor is impressive on steep rock climbs to say the least. Those flares gotta go though.

Wow! Great photos! I could never do that to BBR though!

Drives me bananas when mine is dirty, I’d die if I scratched it!

I bought BBR because doors and roof come off not for off roading though. That’s why I full ppf’d it.

Thanks for sharing photos.

Braptor’s cherry got a few dents

Badrap

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vbrad26

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BUCKIN6VA

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Badrap

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1979

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Badrap

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