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popo_patty

Big Bend
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Hey y’all, finally got back out for some Rubicon redemption after a friend (broncodetours), hit me up to go tackle it last minute. @Snacktime and @SS Bronco @NORCALGXP and @Brandon Miller couldn't make it out so off I went with just the two Broncos.

We hit the trail 10am on Thursday and originally intended on just an in and out but at camp at Buck Island decided to continue pushing through as we were making good time and the only ones in sight along the trail except a F-550 poop truck (that ironically had a Bronco Built Wild sticker on it:). It also meant that the only vehicles in the trail for a minute were Fords;) Take that Jeep.

All in all, we had a fantastic time and I put all my armor to the test.

My friend was on 35’s running ADS suspension, Core 4x4 arms, JCR front bumper and ADD rear. Metaltech sliders and RCI skids. No issues on the trail though he had to go a good bit slower as he had never been on before and this was his hardest off-road trail to date plus the almost stock height. Very impressed with his wheeling and he made it through with only slight body rash!

I was on 37’s, Metalcloak bumpers, Califabrication sliders, Talons garage transmission skid and random assortment of other armor from Ford and Icon. King suspension tuned by Accutune and a few other odds and ends.

I was on a mission to test my sliders and showcase how they should be built to be used as a tool as much as they are for armor as well. I’ve seen too many sliders bending into the body on the Broncos.

I smacked hard multiple times, used them as pivot points, used the kick outs to push my tire away, even fell between two rocks hard and became wedged on the sliders once. Not a single issue, they held their shape and kept me trucking and off the rocks. Same for the Metaltech sliders.

I also wanted to test my Talons garage transmission skid so I set the Bronco down on it twice to see how it would hold… it held:)

Metalcloak rear bumper dragged a few times but no issues. Front bumper had clearance for days and it barely kissed the rocks.

I’m also very happy with my Foutz lower control arm gussets up front. No more bending my brackets on the rocks!

After doing the rubicon many times in my Jeep, I’ve noticed a few things.

The Jeep is faster and easier to navigate the obstacles. The Bronco, however, was very stable, landed well coming off the rocks without any sway (I credit the accutune kings for that) and was waaay more comfortable on the trail. If pressed to pick between the two for the Rubicon it would be a hard choice. It just planted when landing off an obstacle vs my Jeep that would bounce around and sway.

I only felt sketched out once trying an obstacle I probably had no business trying and honestly felt more confident about avoiding damage then in my Jeep (due to the sway).

All in all I had a blast and didn’t retain any body damage. I did start to crack my rear, upper control arm bracket as I’ve seen happen to a few earlier Broncos now. I’m told they now have gussets to prevent this. Guess I’ll have to add my own. Here are some photos and some of my rock scrapes. Can’t wait to go again!

Ford Bronco Another Bronco on the Rubicon Thread 0EBF0945-2505-43E3-B26B-00E832AEBC00


Ford Bronco Another Bronco on the Rubicon Thread 0B365672-6117-433C-BCAA-5312123D0F01


Ford Bronco Another Bronco on the Rubicon Thread 5155E5C8-0046-4651-9949-31188D3CB2D9


Ford Bronco Another Bronco on the Rubicon Thread 37126035-8BD6-48FB-B556-F697B5339F14


Ford Bronco Another Bronco on the Rubicon Thread 0C2A5C09-6923-4220-8BD8-97EB8D48DA59


Ford Bronco Another Bronco on the Rubicon Thread 48EF2BA5-E2C7-4A27-AB0A-B4B0620A87C1


Ford Bronco Another Bronco on the Rubicon Thread 0C578079-9C6F-4B23-A9FD-E8E67A632F56


Ford Bronco Another Bronco on the Rubicon Thread CA157B6B-BD5C-4C3D-9191-96E1EA229B56


Ford Bronco Another Bronco on the Rubicon Thread FC3EF985-94C8-4B2A-BC1C-FB34A89821D8


Ford Bronco Another Bronco on the Rubicon Thread CC179717-C2DB-4C4E-AF7E-1A74A6404B62


Ford Bronco Another Bronco on the Rubicon Thread 66F5428A-F223-4357-9697-0C7C8B9A2B28


Ford Bronco Another Bronco on the Rubicon Thread EE7074DA-9EC1-4C2E-9C7F-0C988DE21648


Ford Bronco Another Bronco on the Rubicon Thread 10195737-CF32-4530-9C29-E9A6D547FF99


Ford Bronco Another Bronco on the Rubicon Thread 39538051-B6B2-4664-9EE2-5E5E28763382


Ford Bronco Another Bronco on the Rubicon Thread 16F7141D-3991-451D-B686-D9C2670C88AB


Ford Bronco Another Bronco on the Rubicon Thread 589589B9-B251-4AB9-AACC-420BA8B4C2FD


Ford Bronco Another Bronco on the Rubicon Thread B86E5CA1-0F0C-4271-A2F3-6C44BDC01197


Ford Bronco Another Bronco on the Rubicon Thread EAAC2C63-7ED1-468A-806D-C4B16E3527A0
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Great stuff. And I just noticed your buddy running square fenders. Nice.
 

Felix808

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After 746 days, a MY22 4-door Badlands Bronco :-)
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Great Pictures!
 

NORCALGXP

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@popo_patty

Looks like I missed out on an amazing trip, we have just got to love living so close to one of the best known trails around. Only 1 /1/2 hours from Home, one my favorite places to wheel right up there with Moab. It was the Rubicon trail that made me go to 37s, on 35s it just beat the shit out of the undercarriage and Bumpers. Last weekend when we were out on the trail it was so much easier over the boulders. Thanks for the photo of the crack in the mount I need to check mine after two years of wheeling. Rock on.
 
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popo_patty

popo_patty

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@popo_patty

Looks like I missed out on an amazing trip, we have just got to love living so close to one of the best known trails around. Only 1 /1/2 hours from Home, one my favorite places to wheel right up there with Moab. It was the Rubicon trail that made me go to 37s, on 35s it just beat the shit out of the undercarriage and Bumpers. Last weekend when we were out on the trail it was so much easier over the boulders. Thanks for the photo of the crack in the mount I need to check mine after two years of wheeling. Rock on.
I’m thinking a snow trip before it gets deep. Let’s go!
 

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NORCALGXP

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I’m thinking a snow trip before it gets deep. Let’s go!
I'm thing snow trip once it gets deep. Heading to Moab in 20 day got to get the rig ready. Your buddy on 35s has really good flex. Wow stock tires impressive.
 

SS Bronco

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Looks like a great time, what a treat to have the trail to yourself. We are so privileged to have a world class trail in our back yard.
 
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popo_patty

popo_patty

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Yes, can we please get a link to these fenders?
I’m confused on which ones you’re talking about. The fender flare deletes or my KBD fender flares that I’m running?
 

Roofus

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I’m confused on which ones you’re talking about. The fender flare deletes or my KBD fender flares that I’m running?
I’m guessing the KBD fender flares. Yeah, not the fender deletes.
 

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VoltageDrop

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That looks awesome! What causes the crack?
 
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popo_patty

popo_patty

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That looks awesome! What causes the crack?
21’s and 22’s have a lot of stress there apparently that the engineers didn’t catch. 23’s and on are gusseted. I’ve only seen a few people have that crack and they wheeled a looot.
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