Advice for would-be Bronco off-roaders

[Ramble_Offroad]

Great Thread !!!! I'm in my early 50's and have been wheeling since before I could drive. I've broken most rules and learned my lessons the hard way. Have wheeled 2WD trucks where 4WD guys wouldn't go. Locked, not locked, wheeled alone, Done things when most would say no way. Now I am trying to pass it down to my son. Hard to keep him off the Xbox. My TJ had come down with a bad case of rust-belt-itus so I have been using the 4 wheelers to teach my son the basics before the Bronc makes it to the stable. He loves it. always wants to use the locker so I had to show him what it is for. I drove over the pile. They were some big rocks.

He said when he first used it "boy this thing is hard to steer" ..........he is learning.

All good advice here One thing I would add is you can't be afraid to use it. .......damage happens. Not saying one should "trash" their new ride, but shit happens, damaged can be fixed.

To quote and old flick........ A man has got to know his limitations.

Yes! Very good point. Trucks are tools or toys, not jewelry. Pinstripes, wheel rash & trail damage is well earned and unavoidable.

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[Free Pizza]

Oh man. I hate to say my thoughts. For months I've been thinking there are going to be Bronco fail videos. Just like the large collection of jeep fail videos. Try not to be the 1st Bronco to end up on YouTube .

 

[Norm A.]

All these people talking about “needing” 35s, beadlocks, lockers front and rear. I just over here like, “I bet my van could make it”

That was some Crazy S__T hope he had a skid plate on his gas tank ?

 

[broncoenthusiast]

Just my 2 cents about wheeling and it's probably been said already... picking a good line gets you a long ways...

 

[OX1]

Just my 2 cents about wheeling and it's probably been said already... picking a good line gets you a long ways...

Until you slip off that line (even the dry rocks near me are slick). Very easy on a 5000+ lb rig.

 

[JMiles74]

After 6 months on this forum I can see that there are lots of potentially new off-road enthusiasts looking to get into Broncos! This is exciting and it’ll be great to see the 4x4 community grow in general.

I also see lots of “what’s this do”, “do I need this or that” type questions, so I thought I would lend my 2 cents on my general philosophy after having been heavy into off-roading the last ~15 years or so. With my below suggestions, I will assume that you may someday want to do some serious trails - not just gravel roads and an occasional mud rut.

1. The number one thing I want to tell you is that I believe it as FAR more advantageous to pony up as much money as possible to purchase the stoutest factory driveline that you can get in your rig - if you even remotely think you may wheel aggressively. I’m talking about making sure you spend your money on things that AREN’T easy to change or add on in the aftermarket / used market world.
   • The prime example of this would be axles. If you think you will someday want to run 35”+ tires, do everything within your power to get the M210 axles. An example of this in the Jeep world would be the Dana 35 axles - which are a serious drawback when one wants to get serious about wheeling. Especially with lockers.
2. Which brings me to my next point - lockers! The #1 single biggest improvement I made to my ‘79 Bronco was adding a rear Detroit-style locker. It’s simply AMAZING what happens when you get all tires turning in all conditions. Therefore - I HIGHLY recommend putting down the cash for lockers. Lockers are both difficult and expensive to add aftermarket. Adding a front locker also takes you to a whole other level.
3. Sway-bar disconnect. You NEED a sway-bar disconnect. You do NOT need the fancy-pants electronic disconnect Bronco offers as there will be aftermarket versions available cheap, but you cannot underestimate the value of this extra articulation. Adding an aftermarket version will likely be a nice intro to DIY vehicle modifications. Disconnects I think will be even more important with the Bronco due to the already lesser articulation compared to a solid front axle.
4. MINIMIZE any lift that you add. It’s amazing how much fun you can have on a small lift and 35” tires. You likely do not need >2in of lift in this Bronco to keep you happy and entertained for a LONG time. Honestly, I would recommend stock Badlands height and no lift for as long as possible. The primary reason for this is keeping your center of gravity as low as possible. High CGs equate to bad off-road handling. Good driving skills overcome lack of lift in many situations.
5. You do NOT NEED BEADLOCKS! I regularly run 12psi in the rear, and 15psi in the front. This is plenty low to get adequate deformation of the tire (see above picture). I have only had 1 problem with unseating a bead, which was due to winch operator error (I winched myself sideways when it wasn't necessary). Until you're doing expert level stuff, save your money for those lockers

In summary - I’m part of a Jeep Club and I CONSTANTLY see people buying expensive D44 crate axles, paying for lockers with install labor, etc., and generally speaking they always wish they would have just bought a Rubicon to begin with. It can eliminate a lot of headache if you’re think you might get serious. Starting with the best available hardware to begin with has a lot."

As a soon to be newbie to off-roading nation this is exactly what I needed to hear.

I need a 4dr and i wanted to stretch my $50k budget as far as I could and to spend on the mechanics of the Bronco and not so much on the asthetics.

The automatic swaybar disconnect is where i was having the most issues deciding between a 2 dr badlands and a 4 dr black diamond sasquatch.

Finally, this information helped me decide to go with the Black Diamond 4dr Sasquatch. This provides me the suspension for the bigger tires and the front/rear lockers. I am also getting the 2.7L as well.
Glad to know i can easily add the swaybar disconnect later.

Thank you again, its nice to hear from an experienced off-roader that has been there done that!

Cheers! ???

 

[DoorlessDriver]

I thought I would lend my 2 cents on my general philosophy after having been heavy into off-roading the last ~15 years or so.

Much appreciated & good content—thanks for that!

 

[Hey19]

I, like many here, have been off roading for many years (got hooked as a recovery specialist in the Army in the 60's) and I learned that one of the most important factors in getting where you want to go is the ability and experience of the driver.
You can have the fanciest rig on the trail but still break it or get it stuck without trail knowledge, like the guy who got his jeep stuck on a ridge top. Most of the people here will never do serious rock crawling, and that is fine. I have seen many drivers get in very dangerous situations simply due to bad decisions.
I live next to the Rubicon and you would not believe the number of times I have pulled rigs out of spots they should not have been in in the first place. By all means join a club, this is where you will get some great advice and experience. Everything the OP posted is great advice, and if followed will go a long way in making your off road time fun and exciting. Stay Safe....

Thank you for your service! I was a recovery specialist in the Army in the 80s. H8 identifier after my MOS number. Actually recovered and towed the M113 with my M816 5 ton wrecker numerous times. Moved on to M88 medium recovery vehicle after that. Good times.

 

[vrewald14]

Great thread, thanks.
My build is a Black Diamond, MT/2.3. It will be towed a lot behind our Motorhome and will carry us into to town and sightseeing areas away from crowds. I see it used for some off roading but as I have gotten smarter over the years I don’t see me looking for huge mud holes to prove I can cross.
With that being said, should I upgrade to the ”Advanced 4x4 transfer case”? Could this prove beneficial in the long term?

Thanks

In Texas or other warm weather states, I’m not sure the advanced transfer case will make much of a difference to you. I see it as being the most useful when there is snow and ice on the ground so four wheel drive is needed, but not all the time. You could put it in 4A and then let the Bronco shift in and out of four wheel drive whenever it detects the tires slipping.

I’m sure there are other situations this would be beneficial, but, being from Michigan, this is the first thing that comes to my mind.

Gear ratio as well.

Yes - this advanced transfer case will be highly valuable in my opinion. From the mechanical aspect, the biggest advantage is that ultra-low gearing. Transfer case modification is VERY difficult post-purchase to getting "the best" transfer case upfront would be high on my list - I should probably add it to Post 1 haha.

Somewhat secondly, from a feature / convenience perspective, the on-the-fly auto engagement is a huge benefit. Especially for those "slippery" situations mentioned above.

 

[The Memedalorian]

You left out the most important rule:

Have Fun.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/732522...tion_buyer&utm_term=301043&utm_content=141392

 

[RevealItAsap]

Whilst offroading, always aim for minimal wheel spin. Traction is important. Its a mistake I see newbies doing all the time, don't just worry about scratching your vehicle. Traction is very important

 

[KirchTX]

Traditional 4x4 system and a rear locker will get you pretty far into the boonies (BD). Depends on what you want to do. Over-landing, exploring and camping, basic black Diamond should be plenty*. With a skilled driver, could be a decent crawler too.

this is me thank you.

this thread is easily the best I’ve read on this site. Thanks to OP and all contributors.

 

[2017 Silver Lobo]

You left out the most important rule:

Have Fun.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/732522...tion_buyer&utm_term=301043&utm_content=141392

That is the most badass Jerry can I've ever seen. Especially since it has a bottle of Jameson.

 

[2017 Silver Lobo]

Great Thread !!!! I'm in my early 50's and have been wheeling since before I could drive. I've broken most rules and learned my lessons the hard way. Have wheeled 2WD trucks where 4WD guys wouldn't go. Locked, not locked, wheeled alone, Done things when most would say no way. Now I am trying to pass it down to my son. Hard to keep him off the Xbox. My TJ had come down with a bad case of rust-belt-itus so I have been using the 4 wheelers to teach my son the basics before the Bronc makes it to the stable. He loves it. always wants to use the locker so I had to show him what it is for. I drove over the pile. They were some big rocks.

He said when he first used it "boy this thing is hard to steer" ..........he is learning.

All good advice here One thing I would add is you can't be afraid to use it. .......damage happens. Not saying one should "trash" their new ride, but shit happens, damaged can be fixed.

To quote and old flick........ A man has got to know his limitations.

A quad is a great way to start to understand lines and equipment capability. If your son is stuck on Xbox you could try a relevant game to maybe catch his attention. For instance I just got a game called Snowrunner, it's a physics based off-road simulator. Obviously it's not the real thing, however making rookie mistakes in a game is far less expensive. Happy wheeling!

 

[long_road]

I feel like "Off Roading" is a really broad term. It can mean so many different things to different drivers.

For me, there are sort of three sub cultures within the greater Off-Roading hobby/community. At the top end, you have Rock Crawling. I think of that as something almost entirely different/separate from "off roading". For rock crawling, you definitely want big tires, strong drivetrain, upgraded body protection, good gear ratios, etc. Then you have "Trail Riding". This is 90% of the type of "off roading" I do. Mud, ruts, maybe some downed trees, a shallow water crossing here or there, etc. And then below that you have "Overlanding", which I think of as kind of a silly term... back in the day that was just called "going camping". Ha. It's really turned into a thing in the last decade or so. For that, the off-road capabilities are secondary to the gear/set-up you fit to the vehicle for being able to camp, cook and relax when you're not actively moving.

Where you live plays a huge part in it too. I live in the southeast (North Carolina). The trails around here - in the blue ridge mountains, out in Uwharrie, etc - are radically different from what you guys out west get to play around on. We just have dirt, trees, slick rocks and lots of varying grades and inclines.

I'm torn between a Black Diamond and Badlands. Definitely getting the 2.3/MT either way. Part of me wants the beefier driveline/front axle from the Badlands, but the reality is I'd probably never go anywhere that I "need" it. Heck, I've run a 5sp Subaru Crosstrek with 150hp, no low gearing, and just stock Subaru axles all over every trail in my area and have never once gotten stuck or needed assistance. Only failure was it couldn't climb certain really steep grades. We also have a 2005 Jeep LJ with open diffs, dana 30/44 front/rear on 32s... and it's an absolute beast.

I have a feeling the stock BD will be impressively capable compared to what I'm used to. The Badlands will probably end up being unnecessary weight and complexity for my needs.

I want something halfway between a Trail truck and an Overlander. I just want to be able to road trip, camp, and wheel for fun here and there. I'm thinking a stock 4dr Black Diamond is probably the best fit for that.

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