I can relate, the older I get. How about you 1980's babies?

[Roger123]

I've also found too that after I retired I spend a lot more time analyzing purchases. When I was working it was, "Sure, whatever, just buy it". Now I look at things much more closely and ask how does this make my life better, easier, or how does it bring me joy/ happiness. If the answer isn't yes to all three then it stays on the shelf.

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[EasternSierra]

Great advice and thanks for sharing.

I've put on a lot of small mods, but almost none get into the realm of consequences because (so far!) I haven't messed with the tires, wheels, suspension, steering, or engine.

Stuff like a rear storage compartment (to level the floor for sleeping in back), folding tailgate table, overhead racks, etc. were one-off items for pure convenience. Two items underneath (trailing arm and shock mount skids) fixed very localized vulnerabilities I Iearned about here. Ditch lights fixed a problem I first noticed decades ago with earlier vehicles. Windshield film (hopefully) addresses the windshield vulnerability problem. The Wolfbox cam provides a dashcam plus bumper cam along with improved rear visibility. Suma mirrors also improved visibility and safety. Plastic protectors for high-wear areas save paint and head off rust. These all addressed particular problems without regard to any perceived 'coolness factor'.

Along the same line, I have a few other small mods pending. Brush guard for the grille, modest lighting improvements (no need to light up the mountainside), GMRS and ham radios, stuff like that.

I read here about ideas for mods and reject most as not applying to my case. The ones that look useful get further vetting until I make a go/not go decision.

What I'm wrestling with now is finally addressing suspension and tire issues. 34s or 35s, maybe new shocks/springs to change suspension behavior, but I'm not going too high because I'm an old guy and mobility could become a bigger problem over time. Consequences of whatever choices I make here are a big consideration.

 

[JediMcMuffin]

Going through this right now with the Tremor. I got a bedliner and rear fender well liners isntalled, and I think I'm pretty much ready to go. I think it could stand to have a leveling kit, but am still learning what that'll actually buy me from an Offroad capability perspective (I'm thinking hardly anything). I am not even sure I'll put it on 35s as I want to maintain fuel economy.

 

[MilesTeg]

Also applies to .. buying a vehicle.

Do you really need a Raptor to .. schlep groceries and kiddos? hah.

If you got the money to burn, do whatever. If you're like most people and don't? These questions are great for that computation too.

 

[MayhemMike]

I am literally the last great thing to come out of the 1950’s. My Bronco remains stock. In fact my wisdom gained from age had a major part in how I ordered my Bronco. A friend of mine bought a Bronco several years after the initial release and he would send me daily photos of small add ons he had installed. Spare tire covers were all the rage for him in particular. I replied to him by saying “ the days of running to Pep Boys and buying gizmos to make our rides special are long gone. Those dashboard compasses were once cool but not now”.

 

[BroncoChallenger]

Going through this right now with the Tremor. I got a bedliner and rear fender well liners isntalled, and I think I'm pretty much ready to go. I think it could stand to have a leveling kit, but am still learning what that'll actually buy me from an Offroad capability perspective (I'm thinking hardly anything). I am not even sure I'll put it on 35s as I want to maintain fuel economy.

F150 or Super Duty Tremor? I'm not as familiar with the F150, but the Super Duty Tremor is already pretty level from the factory - I know, I have one.

I echo a lot of people's sentiments on this thread. We got the Expedition as a people mover, and got it with the 'special edition' package to give us captain's chairs and a few other niceties that make things easier. We got the Bronco as a Sasquatch so it would be incredibly capable off road for the majority of what we could get into locally. I got a SD Tremor because while I tow a lot of different things, I also use it to get back into the woods on some questionable trails during hunting season, and I wanted to remove questions of if I could do something or not. It's darn capable, and I don't need to add anything else after the fact.

I used to build and modify cars just because I could years back. Now, I just do a few for fun.

 

[PWillette]

Those dashboard compasses were once cool but not now”.

This made me chuckle...I still have one in my analogue '08 F250

 

[GoHawks63]

63 years old and I've spent a fair share of money over the years and over 25 cars I've owned.

Living in SE Michigan, I doubt I am ever going to reach the limitations of my WildTrak. It will and has been on trails in Northern Michigan and camping. As a result, my mods have mostly been cosmetic. From a functional perspective, I have installed floodlights because where I live, I am regularly driving down dark unlit 2-lane rural roads. I figured the more lights I have, the better chance I have (hopefully) of spotting wildlife before it jumps in front of me.

Yes, I purchased some recovery straps, tire deflators and a portable compressor, but those aren't really mods and will come in handy if I'm ever in a predicament, whether that's on a trail or in a snowstorm. There's a difference between being prepared for what could reasonably happen versus preparing for every possible scenario, no matter how unlikely.

As I've gotten older, I've become a bit more pragmatic. There is always going to be a faster, or more capable vehicle than the one I have. I've just come to realize that's OK. Bragging rights may be fun, but that costs money and if you're not really prepared for and going to use it, then it's all a waste (for me at least).

 

[JediMcMuffin]

F150 or Super Duty Tremor? I'm not as familiar with the F150, but the Super Duty Tremor is already pretty level from the factory - I know, I have one.

I echo a lot of people's sentiments on this thread. We got the Expedition as a people mover, and got it with the 'special edition' package to give us captain's chairs and a few other niceties that make things easier. We got the Bronco as a Sasquatch so it would be incredibly capable off road for the majority of what we could get into locally. I got a SD Tremor because while I tow a lot of different things, I also use it to get back into the woods on some questionable trails during hunting season, and I wanted to remove questions of if I could do something or not. It's darn capable, and I don't need to add anything else after the fact.

I used to build and modify cars just because I could years back. Now, I just do a few for fun.

F-150. I got the base package without the Torsen up front. Of all the epic places I've gone with my Bronco, a rather stock Ranger FX4 and Tundra made it through without so much as a rear locker. So I'm really just simplifying the shit out of things here. I totally get why people want this 5.0L in the Bronco. I'll have another Bronco someday, probably a base model that I build up a bit. It has a good bit of rake from the factory, any leveling kit you install disabled BlueCruise but so far that's been nice to have but not really necessary and there's no way in hell I'm paying a subscription for it.

 

[HighVelocity]

Life 101.

 

[Valhalla]

Badlands, they are too low on squatch, 37's are too low once the arms are armored. I've banged all of it up underneath in the rocks. Got the ultimate axles coming as i have broken 3 fronts. Going to 39's or 40's Will be putting ranger raptor arms on rear is widened 4 inch... necessary no, to use it how I want, yes.

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