2024 Big Bend Adventure Journal

[Ford Motor Company]

Clocked my first 5,000 miles on the odometer and first Oil Change.
It's been a fantastic ride so far!
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We love hearing that you're enjoying your Bronco, Lorne! Here's to many more memories with your ride. Thanks for sharing your journey so far with the forum.

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[dhsorrell]

Some Late Night Garage Photos
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Well this has been a great read!

We have almost the same Bronco and have done a few of the same mods so I was very interested in seeing everything else you've done.

The big differences, I went manual, and I just have the mid-upgrade package? You went Lux? I'm not positive. But super to see what you did, what worked well, what you had issues with, etc.

I was laughing to myself at your love of the color and the wheels. I had the almost exact same reactions. Loooove that azure gray, and yes, really thought I was going to regret not getting the Sasquatch package, but those wheels look so great. I did put the Borne Offroad spacers on, just allowing the tires to peak out slightly past the fenders and am super happy with that upgrade. Makes everything feel just a tiny bit more stable.

You really have to get the black horse for the back to match your Bronco badges on the sides! Haha. Looks great with the azure gray. I got the same license plate holder as you and got the retro plates we have here in California that are black with yellow lettering. I put the amber diode dynamic fog lights in to replace the factory ones, and the AuxBeam ditch lights up next to the mirrors. They have a yellow cover, so all that looks great with the license plate.

Anyway, hope you continue this thread. Thanks!

 

[lwilliams34]

Well this has been a great read!

We have almost the same Bronco and have done a few of the same mods so I was very interested in seeing everything else you've done.

The big differences, I went manual, and I just have the mid-upgrade package? You went Lux? I'm not positive. But super to see what you did, what worked well, what you had issues with, etc.

I was laughing to myself at your love of the color and the wheels. I had the almost exact same reactions. Loooove that azure gray, and yes, really thought I was going to regret not getting the Sasquatch package, but those wheels look so great. I did put the Borne Offroad spacers on, just allowing the tires to peak out slightly past the fenders and am super happy with that upgrade. Makes everything feel just a tiny bit more stable.

You really have to get the black horse for the back to match your Bronco badges on the sides! Haha. Looks great with the azure gray. I got the same license plate holder as you and got the retro plates we have here in California that are black with yellow lettering. I put the amber diode dynamic fog lights in to replace the factory ones, and the AuxBeam ditch lights up next to the mirrors. They have a yellow cover, so all that looks great with the license plate.

Anyway, hope you continue this thread. Thanks!

Hey David, Thanks for reaching out and your kind words! It's just been a great experience for me so far. I found myself looking back at it the other day in the parking lot and it's just a killer design. I have the mid package vs the Lux as I don't think the Lux was available on the Big Bend Trim for 24. I didn't want cloth or leather seats. The Marine Grade Vinyl suits me just fine. I originally had Cactus Gray on my order last year; then I saw one at Elkhart Lake and was not impressed. My wife really wanted me to go with the Azure Gray and I have not regretted it.
The Bestop Sunrider and the Stereo Upgrade/Sound Deadening has been my two favorite mods.
Would love to see some pictures of your Bronco. Let me know if you have a build thread as well. You can PM me if you wish or just post here.
My sister lives in Petaluma CA. Hoping to get out west with my Bronco at some point.

 

[dhsorrell]

Hey David, Thanks for reaching out and your kind words! It's just been a great experience for me so far. I found myself looking back at it the other day in the parking lot and it's just a killer design. I have the mid package vs the Lux as I don't think the Lux was available on the Big Bend Trim for 24. I didn't want cloth or leather seats. The Marine Grade Vinyl suits me just fine. I originally had Cactus Gray on my order last year; then I saw one at Elkhart Lake and was not impressed. My wife really wanted me to go with the Azure Gray and I have not regretted it.
The Bestop Sunrider and the Stereo Upgrade/Sound Deadening has been my two favorite mods.
Would love to see some pictures of your Bronco. Let me know if you have a build thread as well. You can PM me if you wish or just post here.
My sister lives in Petaluma CA. Hoping to get out west with my Bronco at some point.

I feel like I should have started journal when I first ordered mine like you did. Maybe I'll just jump in with everything I've done so far. And weirdly, my sister wants to move to Petaluma! haha.

 

[lwilliams34]

Registered for Bronco Off Rodeo at the Moab location in April!
Super pumped about this event and finding out what these Bronco's are capable of.
I've never been to Utah so this should be quite the experience.
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[lwilliams34]

First snow pictures... not much accumulation, just a dusting.
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[lwilliams34]

Was walking back to my Bronco and just had to take a few pnotos
Another great winter picture! I love this car!
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[lwilliams34]

FInally got some decent snow yesterday (5") and took her out for a spin around the unplowed neighborhood streets. I was in wet/slippery mode with 4H enabled and it handled like a champ!
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[lwilliams34]

Took my Bronco in for it's annual Gtechniq Ceramic Coating inspection and maintenance.
I had originally decided to coat the hood with a lower grade ceramic to reduce beading of water. However I found that even with less beading the hood sustained dirt residue stains. I am not referring to actual water stains that etch into the paint.
Regardless, I had the hood recoating with Gtechniq Ultra/EXO for maximum protection.
The ceramic coating is 100% worth it from the stand point of ease of washing, water repellent, and overall looks. The paint has a much deeper, richer freshly waxed appearance.
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[lwilliams34]

Heavy winds today drove my plastic city provided garbage and recycling bins into the side of the Bronco. Slight dent in passenger side door that I will have to address...
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[lwilliams34]

Celebrated One Year of ownership back in Feburary with a new Keychain for the spare Bronco Key. The car has been a blast to drive, no regrets here.
Looking forward to warm weather so I can put the Sunrider top back on!
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[Listedguru]

Celebrated One Year of ownership back in Feburary with a new Keychain for the spare Bronco Key. The car has been a blast to drive, no regrets here.
Looking forward to warm weather so I can put the Sunrider top back on!
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Just got through reading your journal and I must say it was a great read. I don't currently own a Bronco (24 Mustang GT owner) but I sometimes still wonder what would have been had I decided to join the team (2) door Bronco family instead of the Mustang. I will say the Mustang is a blast do drive but I live in SE Michigan so it sat most of the winter.

Looks like you have been getting good gas mileage too which is nice. I'm curious what octane gas have you been running? Just regular old 87 or Premium? I put 93 octane in my Mustang GT but luckily I don't drive it too much as 93 is at least 1.00 more per gallon compared to 87 here in my neck of the woods.

Thanks for posting the journal and for all the tips and mods you've made to your Bronco. I have plenty of ideas should I decide to wade into the Bronco pool so to speak, lol

 

[OscarHTX]

 

[lwilliams34]

Just got through reading your journal and I must say it was a great read. I don't currently own a Bronco (24 Mustang GT owner) but I sometimes still wonder what would have been had I decided to join the team (2) door Bronco family instead of the Mustang. I will say the Mustang is a blast do drive but I live in SE Michigan so it sat most of the winter.

Looks like you have been getting good gas mileage too which is nice. I'm curious what octane gas have you been running? Just regular old 87 or Premium? I put 93 octane in my Mustang GT but luckily I don't drive it too much as 93 is at least 1.00 more per gallon compared to 87 here in my neck of the woods.

Thanks for posting the journal and for all the tips and mods you've made to your Bronco. I have plenty of ideas should I decide to wade into the Bronco pool so to speak, lol

Thanks for the reply and for reading the whole thread! I can be a bit long winded at times, but it is good therapy for me! I have been very fortunate to be able to own both a Mustang and a Bronco. I originally purchased a 2017 GT Vert and had it for a couple of seasons in WI, but alas the weather was only condusive to top down driving at certain times of the summer unless you are a die hard/season tested Vert person. I am always cold and wear winter hats and silk underware from Nov-May, so it wasn't for me.
I ended up purchasing the GT350 which has been amazing, but for those times when the weather was perfect in WI I still longed after the Vert experience. I just couldn't justify both as "fun cars" Enter the Bronco search 2 years ago and started to visualize the fun of a daily driver with the option to drop the top and have the vert experience. The other thing that appealed to me about the Bronco is that it sits up high and so I didn't have that weird "open fish bowl" feeling of sitting in a vert and having everyone looking in on me. I remember one time driving my vert on a beautiful Saturday morning and had a guy in a F150 pickup pull up next to me at the stop light. I was wearing a Batman Logo Tshirt that my son had purchased for me (gotta wear it, right?) and the guy yelled out.. "VERT MAN!"
It was in a condensending tone that I did not appreciate. What the hell I thought... If you don't have anything positive to say don't say anything. As you can tell I'm totally over that situation .
Regarding the gas mileage, I normally put in 87 or 88, but occassionaly with use Premium. I should really be using it all the time. My 350 requires it.
I view the Bronco as my rough and rugged daily driver that I use in my business to haul stuff so it doesn't get babied too much.
I can heartily recommend the Bronco to anyone looking for a great daily driving experience, however it will never replace the feeling of my Mustang.
If you need something to help you fall asleep at night, you can read my GT350 Journal thread here:
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https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/lorne34-shelby-gt350-build-mesteno.134371/#post-2885108

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