My 2023 Bronco Badlands 2DR Build

[raqball]

This will be my 2023 Badlands 2dr build where I can keep track of all the modifications and adjustments I make to the vehicle. If you are looking for a lifted monster with 35's or above then this build will not be for you. I am pretty happy with the stock height and 33"s but at some point, I might swap the 33" (285/70r17) for 34"'s (285/75r17)..

A little back story. I am a long time Jeep owner going all the way back to the early 80's with the CJ 5 and 7 series, then I had a YJ, TJ and a few JK's along the way. I generally never lift them and mainly do cosmetic adds or functional adds that do not require a lift.. This is my daily driver and my off-roading is mainly limited to easy trails and every-so-often, I'll hit some moderate'ish trails. Nothing crazy and no rock climbing or extreme off-roading.

I've always been a fan of the older Broncos but never owned one. When I was in the market for a new vehicle this time, I did briefly consider a 2dr Jeep JL but really wanted the Bronco!

Purchased on 3/8/2024. It's a stock'ish Badlands model with the only factory adds being:

• 10-speed Automatic Transmission
• Modular Front Bumper
• Hot Pepper Red Paint
• Keyless Entry
• Towing Package

Here are my immediate plans for the Bronco:

• Wheel spacers (hub-centric) @ 1.5" (installed on 3-12-2024)
  • Bora 1.75" spacers ordered. They will replace the above after arrival
• Ford Performance 17x8 Beed-Lock capable Wheels 5ea Kit
  • https://accessories.ford.com/2021-bronco-17x8-bead-lock-capable-wheel-kit-badlands
• Ford Safari Bar (installed on 3-14-2024)
  • https://accessories.ford.com/bronco-2021-safari-bar-kit
• Rough Country Rock Sliders.
  • https://www.roughcountry.com/product/ford-bronco-rock-sliders-90804
• 1" Front Leveling Kit
• Rough Country High Winch Mount
  • https://www.roughcountry.com/product/configurable/high-winch-mount-51066c
• Rough Country 12,000 Pro Winch
  • https://www.roughcountry.com/product/pro-series-electric-winch-pro12000s
• Auto Stop Eliminator
  • https://www.autostopeliminator.com/products/2021-ford-bronco-autostop-eliminator

Possible future plans:

• 285/75r17 tires which would bump me up to about a 34" from the stock 33" and still fit the stock sized wheels I ordered w/o any other modifications
• Vinyl floor and cargo mats. I have rubberized flooring so I might just leave it as is.
  • https://accessories.ford.com/bronco-2dr-2021-vinyl-floor-liner-1
• ARB on-board Air Compressor
  • https://www.levittownfordparts.com/sku/m-1830-brc.html
• 12" Infotainment upgrade package. I wanted the 12" screen from the start
  • https://infotainment.com/shop/inter...ttribute_pick-your-bezel-color=Sinister+Black

I am sure there are other things I am missing and forgetting but I'll add them as I go. I'll post up photos of the mods and adds once they are completed.

A photo of the day it was purchased:

Safari Guard Installed:

Front Poke (1.5" wheel spacer)

Rear Poke (1.5" wheel spacer)

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[Ford Motor Company]

This will be my nothing fancy 2023 Badlands 2dr build where I can keep track of all the modifications and adjustments I make to the vehicle. If you are looking for a lifted monster with 35's or above then this build will not be for you. I am pretty happy with the stock height and 33"s but at some point, I might swap the 33" (285/70r17) for 34"'s (285/75r17)..

A little back story. I am a long time Jeep owner going all the way back to the early 80's with the CJ 5 and 7 series, then I had a YJ, TJ and a few JK's along the way. I generally never lift them and mainly do cosmetic adds or functional adds that do not require a lift.. This is my daily driver and my off-roading is mainly limited to easy trails and every-so-often, I'll hit some moderate'ish trails. Nothing crazy and no rock climbing or extreme off-roading.

I've always been a fan of the older Broncos but never owned one. When I was in the market for a new vehicle this time, I did briefly consider a 2dr Jeep JL but really wanted the Bronco!

Purchased on 3/8/2024. It's a stock'ish Badlands model with the only factory adds being:

• 10-speed Automatic Transmission
• Modular Front Bumper
• Hot Pepper Red Paint
• Keyless Entry
• Towing Package

Here are my immediate plans for the Bronco:

• Wheel spacers (hub-centric) @ 1.5" (installed on 3-12-2024
• Ford Performance 17x8 Beed-Lock capable Wheels 5ea Kit (ordered 3-11-2024)
  • https://accessories.ford.com/2021-bronco-17x8-bead-lock-capable-wheel-kit-badlands
• Ford Safari Bar (installed on 3-14-2024)
  • https://accessories.ford.com/bronco-2021-safari-bar-kit
• Rough Country Rock Sliders. (ordered 3-12-2024)
  • https://www.roughcountry.com/product/ford-bronco-rock-sliders-90804
• 12" Infotainment upgrade package. I wanted the 12" screen from the start (ordered 3-13-2024)
  • https://infotainment.com/shop/inter...ttribute_pick-your-bezel-color=Sinister+Black

Possible future plans:

• Winch and winch mount
• If I add the winch then I'll def need a front 1" leveling kit to offset the additional loss of height on the front.
• 285/75r17 tires which would bump me up to about a 34" from the stock 33" and still fit the stock sized wheels I ordered w/o any other modifications
• Vinyl floor and cargo mats. I have rubberized flooring so I might just leave it as is.
  • https://accessories.ford.com/bronco-2dr-2021-vinyl-floor-liner-1
• ARB on-board Air Compressor
  • https://www.levittownfordparts.com/sku/m-1830-brc.html

I am sure there are other things I am missing and forgetting but I'll add them as I go. I'll post up photos of the mods and adds once they are completed.

A photo of the day it was purchased:

Safari Guard Installed:

Front Poke (1.5" wheel spacer)

Rear Poke (1.5" wheel spacer)

Congratulations on your Bronco, Kris. We appreciate you being part of the Ford family!

 

[Rumbloki]

Rear Poke

 

[fiatlux]

Wow, I didn’t realize they removed the optional wheels as a factory item. In my 2023 it was “only” an extra $1000, vs the $2700 they’re now charging as a loose set. Yeesh

 

[raqball]

Wow, I didn’t realize they removed the optional wheels as a factory item. In my 2023 it was “only” an extra $1000, vs the $2700 they’re now charging as a loose set. Yeesh

I don't think the price is all that bad considering it's a set of 5 high quality wheels. That only comes out to about $530 per wheel. That per wheel price would be considered 'cheap' in some circles.

Sure I would prefer the $1K price but it was not in the cards..

The Safari bar @ $600 is the far more ridiculous price IMO.. But I used up 69K Ford points and got it for a little over $200 after using the points.

 

[BigSkyBronco]

@raqball Curious why you went with the RC sliders since the Badlands has sliders already

 

[raqball]

@raqball Curious why you went with the RC sliders since the Badlands has sliders already

Wanted something with a place to step on and something that sticks out a bit further.. They should be here Monday so I will get them slapped on same day if they come early enough.

 

[BigSkyBronco]

@raqball Pics or it didn’t happen

 

[raqball]

@raqball Pics or it didn’t happen

Hopefully Monday for the sliders...

I also have a RC 12K synthetic winch and mount that I need to get on but 1st I need to have a shop do a 1" front level to account for the additional front drop that the winch will cause. The 1" level kit is beyond my capabilities so I'll have a shop do it.

Might have all that done this coming week at some point as I just need to call and schedule the level kit install..

 

[raqball]

Rough Country Rock Rails installed today. I am happy with them and think they look great and much better looks wise than the stock rock rails.

My photos skillz are terrible but here are a few images.

Also, I had high hopes of getting the RC 12K winch and high winch mount installed today but hit a snafu... When the winch mount arrived I never checked the box. Well today when I pop it open, this is what was in the box. The box is in fact labeled as a High Winch mount. The instructions say it's a lift kit for a 2007-2017 Toyota Tundra...

Amazon is sending one that hopefully will be here tomorrow..

 

[raqball]

Good news: The dealership called and the Performance Wheels I ordered are in... My plan is to pick up the wheels tomorrow then either mount the winch or have a tire shop do the wheel swap. If my replacement winch mount comes tomorrow, and it's here early enough, then I'll get the winch and mount slapped on. If not, then I'll have a tire shop do the wheels...

I also ordered 4 Bora 1.75" wheel spacers today. When they come in I'll swap out the KSP 1.5" spacers I have on now for the Bora 1.75"...

 

[KRAKEN]

I like the sliders, looks good. Keep us posted on the winch & wheels.

 

[raqball]

The shop I had an appointment for the 1" leveling kit install called me this morning @ 8am and said he had a cancellation so I went in and dropped it off. They are only about a mile from me so I was these pretty fast.

I just picked it back up, kit installed and alignment done. The alignment was only off by a little but it def needed one. I am now going to start on the winch and mount (the correct one arrived - yay) as soon as my son gets here to help.

After that, I'll hit the dealer (if I get done with winch and mount fast enough) to snag the wheels and maybe get them slapped on as well.. If not then I will grab the wheels tomorrow morning and get them put on then..

Massive progress in just a day!

Alignment sheet:

 

[raqball]

Got the winch and mount installed. I just need to finish it up with the wiring tomorrow..

Wheels collected and installed by the dealer. They look awesome!

I'll get the winch all wired up tomorrow then post some photos of it and the wheels.. I did not take before and after measurements of the front but after adding the winch, the mount and the 1" leveling kit, it looks to be pretty level to my eye.

 

[EGSquatched]

What 1” leveling kit did you use?

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