A car mechanic's review of a Wildtrak Bronco

[Broncodave]

Everybody is missing the biggest thing he said. "Don't wave at other Broncos! Leave that for Jeep owners"

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[MDbeachguy]

i laughed when he was saying the aluminum panels would rust

 

[PDiddy]

After watching this I went and did a close inspection of my badlands and my JT. Neither are perfect, when it comes to seams. Nothing to worry about, but not It gnat’s ass either. must be an American made thing. Extended warranties are your friend.

One other thing I noticed, both are still hella sexy, made in America, beast with their imperfections. Merica baby!

 

[PartyMarty]

It would've been nice if he was able to review a BD, BL or WT with the full bash plate option to get his opinion on the "full vehicle steel bash plates" as Ford says they cover the transfer case (2 and 4dr) and gas tank (4dr only). That does look like a major gap in off road protection IMO.

 

[SamG]

Anyone know who’s bronco this is?
I LOVE that light bar - and I know where to find it. It’s a KC highlite - but I really need to know where the mounting brackets came from

 

[rws]

... C I'll def check myself when I pick up mine (sometime in 2052 I think)...

This made me laugh out loud! Sometimes I wonder when my WildTrak and I will meet for the first time.

 

[RedHotLava]

Seems the main concerns I've picked up from reading articles are:

a) lower control arms - exposed bolts could potentially shear when wheeling
b) tie rods - too small / skinny
c) coolant hose not clamped well / rubs on exposed bolt inside which can cause leaking
d) the panel alignment / paint issue in some spots
e) MIC hard top 2.0 weathers faster than expected with exposed edges

A+B are wheeling specific - just need to be careful there, C I'll def check myself when I pick up mine (sometime in 2052 I think)... D+E - not sure what you can really do.

The exposed bolts on the LCAs is a real problem if you plan to wheel and touch rocks. You may not think so now, but when you smash and scrape rocks and all of a sudden you can't unscrew something that is now smashed, you'll think differently.

Someone in the aftermarket world needs to capitalize on that somehow, either LCA where the mount is completely recessed or something. From an Off-Roading lens, I see so many issues like this, that I have a hard time believing anyone with off-roading experience had any final overview or influence on the finishing touches underneath.

Not everyone, not many at all, are going to be taking these vehicles for high speed baja style off roading at all, and I think that's what a lot of people envision when they say "I can totally go off-roading with this" meaning rock crawling is left out of the mental vision.

 

[Draughon]

The exposed bolts on the LCAs is a real problem if you plan to wheel and touch rocks. You may not think so now, but when you smash and scrape rocks and all of a sudden you can't unscrew something that is now smashed, you'll think differently.

Someone in the aftermarket world needs to capitalize on that somehow, either LCA where the mount is completely recessed or something. From an Off-Roading lens, I see so many issues like this, that I have a hard time believing anyone with off-roading experience had any final overview or influence on the finishing touches underneath.

Not everyone, not many at all, are going to be taking these vehicles for high speed baja style off roading at all, and I think that's what a lot of people envision when they say "I can totally go off-roading with this" meaning rock crawling is left out of the mental vision.

For some reason, ever since someone pointed out those exposed bolts, I can't unsee them and it bothers the hell out of me.

Wouldn't take much of a rock size to crunch them and seriously eff them up.

 

[S4DDLUP]

Wild Cat lol I like it.

 

[RedHotLava]

For some reason, ever since someone pointed out those exposed bolts, I can't unsee them and it bothers the hell out of me.

Wouldn't take much of a rock size to crunch them and seriously eff them up.

I don't understand what they were thinking with the LCA Shock mounts and the rear shock mounts....

That LCA is one of most high traffic scrape areas when you approach and clear rocks and with the force and momentum of the vehicle coming down, forward, backward, sideways.... those things are definitely going to get ground down, smashed flat, bent, you're not going to be able to get a tool on them to unbolt after some rocks bangs. No bueno.

 

[fergthulhu]

For some reason, ever since someone pointed out those exposed bolts, I can't unsee them and it bothers the hell out of me.

Wouldn't take much of a rock size to crunch them and seriously eff them up.

Same...once it was pointed out, now it's all I see.

 

[TurkeyRun]

So..... he's on an "off road course" and.... following a golf cart?

 

[Philly]

I like that he is worried about rust on aluminum parts

Also, Jeep doesn't paint under their tailgate hinges either and the world hasn't ended yet so I think we are good. My 2010 JKU has lived its entire life in salty Michigan winters and of all the places showing rust, that is not one of them.

 

[Vandy]

He didn't really figure out where the water leak was coming from. Anyone know?

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