Badlands Build | Family Hauler with Light Trail Duty

[a_Panda]

Hi all,

I wanted to make a thread documenting the ongoing build of my Bronco. First and foremost this is a family hauler to get my kids and I from adventure to adventure. I am an avid enthusiast: hiking, mountain biking, boating, skiing and just generally being outside. I ordered the Badlands primarily for the combination of the wash out interior and signature lighting. It's a non-sas, mid package truck with a hard top, the 2.3L engine, and a manual transmission. Shown below is the truck the day after I picked it up.

And current (after a fun run)...

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[RC Bronco]

Welcome to the party! can’t wait to see what you do to your rig!

 

[2020FordRaptor]

Welcome to the forum! Good luck on the build!

 

[a_Panda]

It's been about a month of ownership now. Felt very luck in terms of timing. Ordered in January of 2022 and delivered in October of 2022. Came with some light damage to the roof rack that my dealer took care of really quickly.

I already had a set of Fifteen52 wheels waiting for it. Added Diode Dynamics lights to the mid bumper. Added the Tailgate Reinforcement from HammerBuilt. Added Quadratec bump stops for the spare tire. Wrapped the corner lights to black those out and painted the Bronco emblem on the back flat black. Also removed the fender badge stickers and added paracord grab handles. These were probably less necessary than I thought they would be.

I tried custom painting the Ford emblem, but wasn't happy with how it turned out. All my own fault for rushing it.

I'll probably make a post for the lights and one for the tailgate reinforcement, but here is what the truck is looking like now.

 

[a_Panda]

Big win this morning! Added the hvac controls with temp display.

Thread here... https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/thre...ure-display-dial-retrofit.60490/#post-1699133

 

[a_Panda]

Pictures from the 'Long Way Home' Rally showing the rooftop box. Took these the morning after showing the fun from the run. Also had an issue on the hammerbuilt spare reinforcement. It was rusting at the corners of the logo and the threads. Ended up cleaning with CLR and packing with silicone to keep water out.

Added IAG front flares after this as the rear doors were getting frozen shut with mud and ice through the night. Also if interested, the roof box is a thule force xt xl. The color and surface texture looks great next to the hardtop!

 

[Macjr]

Really nice build! I’m loving those fifteen52 wheels. May get a set for myself. Looks like a purpose build just for what you need. Enjoy it!!

 

[a_Panda]

Really nice build! I’m loving those fifteen52 wheels. May get a set for myself. Looks like a purpose build just for what you need. Enjoy it!!

Thanks! I picked these wheels in particular for the retro mod vibe that I think fits the rest of the bronco super well. Looking through a bunch of forum pictures there are some days I wish I went with something bronze to offset the black on black on black vibe, but 90%of the time I think I nailed the look and stance.

 

[Macjr]

Thanks! I picked these wheels in particular for the retro mod vibe that I think fits the rest of the bronco super well. Looking through a bunch of forum pictures there are some days I wish I went with something bronze to offset the black on black on black vibe, but 90%of the time I think I nailed the look and stance.

You should have no regrets!! These look epic!

 

[gorgin4325]

I just saw a Thule Force XT XXL and it is massive. I think I’m going to get the XL. Your pictures really helped. Any regrets? Do you wish you had gotten the XXL?
Thanks

 

[a_Panda]

I just saw a Thule Force XT XXL and it is massive. I think I’m going to get the XL. Your pictures really helped. Any regrets? Do you wish you had gotten the XXL?
Thanks

No regrets, it's still huge but looks proportional.

 

[gorgin4325]

No regrets, it's still huge but looks proportional.

I appreciate it. Now I feel better about pulling the trigger on the XL!

 

[gorgin4325]

I just had a Thule Force XT XL installed on a Broaddict rack. Thanks to @a_Panda for all the help.

 

[a_Panda]

I just had a Thule Force XT XL installed on a Broaddict rack. Thanks to @a_Panda for all the help.

Looks perfect, but I'm biased, lol.

 

[omi205]

Thanks! I picked these wheels in particular for the retro mod vibe that I think fits the rest of the bronco super well. Looking through a bunch of forum pictures there are some days I wish I went with something bronze to offset the black on black on black vibe, but 90%of the time I think I nailed the look and stance.

DUDDDDE. Those wheels!!!! I have the sas package on my badlands but I dont like the actual wheels (rims) that come from FORD (with the beauty ring). Im actually looking for something like this. Going to look into this brand. Just need to see if they will fit the sas package tires since I want to keep the tires. Oh...Love the build man. Just how I like it. I dont like deviating too far off the factory look. Some nice wheels. Decent suspension. Rock rails. Fogs. but overall it's still a Bronco. Love it!!!

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