Bronco Options/Features Question

[DBX2]

Ideally, I wanted to use it as a Tourer. A ride we could travel in to see some more National Parks and other sites but still have the functionality to do passes in Colorado, or off road trails like Hidden Falls in Texas. I am not a rock crawler, that's for sure. I thought pulling our Rzr would be out of the question. Our Rzr is 2000lbs, and I am not quite sure what our trailer loaded down with gear would be, but was hesitant on pushing the 3500 limit of the vehicle. And, finally, my wife personally wants a Wrangler, but I am not a fan of their road manners, so this could be a happy compromise.

True, we don't know Snow, but we know its cousin, Dusting! Happy to receive the meager 3 to 5 inches we did, to the dismay of some of my fellow Okies.

NO Wrangler. We’ve had many. Love to hate them. Hate to love them. Have your wife rent one for a few weeks. Use as a daily driver. Increase your insurance because the steering will get you in an accident; develop a relationship with a chiropractor because your spine will be permanently jarred; and open your wallet because the initial cost will be more than a good solid Bronco!!
My wife was the primary driver of all our Wranglers over 30 years. She is the primary driver of the Bronco and will NEVER give it up. Someone could give her a Wrangler and she’d sell/donate/trash it. I hated them. Much more plastic inside and out than the Bronco. The Bronco is roomier, much smoother in ride and easy to drive/steer. We’ve got a Bestop soft top that she can flip up/back down easily. She got stuck more than once in rain with the Wrangler top down and struggled to put back up by herself.

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[Scoop]

Why non-SAS Badlands? I would only recommend that if you plan to do a lot of suspension modifications. For the use you describe and what you say about your wife's desires for a Jeep, I would certainly get a Badlands with Sasquatch. Ours is a great touring vehicle. Much better on the road than the three 4-door JKs we have had before the Gen6.

 

[jrollo7]

Welcome. So what ARE you going to do with it? (I think it could pull that easily...)

The 2.7 is a solid engine, the 10 speed is great. Rear lockers are nice....I like the Advanced 4x4, esp. this morning in the snow. Tho' in OK, you don't know snow!

Advanced 4x4 is a must to go along with 2.7 and automatic. SAS is great too. Get the painted hardtop. AuX switches if you’re planning to add additional lighting, sound, etc. LED lights.

 

[Headsong]

I like where your head is at! But, it has to be a compromise with the missus, and she wants a Wrangler. She wants to be able to take it anywhere and wants the ability to take the top off. I'm not a Jeep fan, especially the ride, and I like the style of the Bronco, so this is my compromise.

Sir, this is NO compromise! You already said you're not crawling rocks, so that said, this can go anywhere a jeep can, INCLUDING the highway!! lol And when she wants to drop the top....have her drive past....love my softtop....

 

[dgorsett]

It would be new. I am weird and like to know everything that has been done or happened with the vehicle. I run a particular oil and filter and fuel in all my Ecoboosts and like to know that it has been serviced the way I want. I have been doing my best internet researching and I had it narrowed down to between a Wildtrak and a Badlands without Sasquatch. Obviously, the pricing is a bit of a gut punch, hence the post to see what are the must haves from the factory to see if I can get away with a lower trim level and just add what I want in the aftermarket.

OK, you kinda said it there. If its Wildtrak or Badlands without Sas, Badlands 100%. I think the Badlands non Sas is the sweet spot of Broncos. It has lockers, not too low not too high gearing, perfect tire size, disco stabar and (now) HD steering, you can't go wrong. If you wanted to save a buck you could go with a Big Bend with the Black Diamond package. It will have good gearing and one locker, but is only available in 4 door for '25 and (maybe?) only 2.3. It would be the functional equivalent of your Ranger FX4. And you are right about substituting the Bronco for your wife's wanted wrangler. I rented a Wrangler last year and handling was atrocious compared to my Bronco.

 

[Top Off Doors On]

OK, you kinda said it there. If its Wildtrak or Badlands without Sas, Badlands 100%. I think the Badlands non Sas is the sweet spot of Broncos. It has lockers, not too low not too high gearing, perfect tire size, disco stabar and (now) HD steering, you can't go wrong. If you wanted to save a buck you could go with a Big Bend with the Black Diamond package. It will have good gearing and one locker, but is only available in 4 door for '25 and (maybe?) only 2.3. It would be the functional equivalent of your Ranger FX4. And you are right about substituting the Bronco for your wife's wanted wrangler. I rented a Wrangler last year and handling was atrocious compared to my Bronco.

Ned Kelly - I am exactly in the same place you are, and we've done what dgorsett suggests. My wife had a Wrangler in the 90s and was always talking about getting another. I wanted to surprise her this Xmas so I drove a couple of Jeep Rubicons and I was shocked at how poor the steering was. As a touring vehicle I would find it exhausting to be constantly "driving" to keep it going in a straight line.

I personally wasn't sure about the Bronco until I drove one, so instead of a surprise, I had to let my wife in on her gift so I didn't end up buying something she would be disappointed with. She absolutely loved the Broncos we test drove, but we couldn't find what we wanted in a 2024 and have ordered a 2025 4-door Badlands non Sasquatch with the MT (we both love MTs and have a 2023 Tacoma 6 spd), MIC hardtop and Lux package. Ours will only see gravel and dirt roads and never any rock crawling. I personally don't like the looks of the 35" tires on the Badlands - IMHO the 33" KOAs look aggressive enough to make it stand out from the other non Sas models.

We're in a fortunate enough position to be able to make this primarily a fair weather vehicle. We spend summers in Oregon with access to miles and miles of back roads, and very little high speed primary highway driving. The luxury combined with the ease of popping off the front and mid panels was a huge deciding factor. Yeah, for us this is a SUV with capabilities that we'll never use, but we wanted luxury and advanced tech in a sporty great looking machine.

 

[AZ_Craig]

If going 4dr (not a real Bronco). I'd only consider the Raptor. It is truly a different rig. Most comfortable. Powerful. Capable.

Part of me almost agrees with this. Sell the Ford Ranger. Use the proceeds to put towards a $20K discounted 2024 Raptor. Can tow 4500 pounds and plenty of power. Will be a beast in all offroad situations except really tight squeezes. Super comfortable on road. I've already taken mine on a 1400 mile round trip ski trip and honestly enjoyed my time in it more than my last 2 5th gen 4Runners.

 

[AZ_Craig]

Ned Kelly - I am exactly in the same place you are, and we've done what dgorsett suggests. My wife had a Wrangler in the 90s and was always talking about getting another. I wanted to surprise her this Xmas so I drove a couple of Jeep Rubicons and I was shocked at how poor the steering was. As a touring vehicle I would personally find it exhausting to be constantly "driving" to keep it going in a straight line.

Reading this made me laugh since I'm in the same position right now. I was seriously considering a Jeep Rubicon 392 or a fully loaded 4xe Rubicon X. I ultimately decided the cargo space advantage of the Bronco since we were going to have to use this as our "family trip car" for the next couple of years at least until my Kia is off lease was too big in tandem with really preferring independent front suspension (note: I've previously owned a 2012 JKU, and a 2016 and 2020 4Runner).

I am in a rented/loaner Jeep Wrangler Sahara 4xe with my Kia in the shop (now pushing 35+ days off the road in the first year of my lease). I AM SO HAPPY I DID NOT BUY A JEEP. The Bronco feels like a freaking sports car (especially my Raptor) compared to the Jeep in turns. It would have been fun to punch on a 392 in a straight line, but front solid axle is just horrible for a primary vehicle and I'm sticking to that opinion moving forward. Stellantis needs to do some serious work on their next generation Wrangler since Ford has raised the bar drastically.

 

[TruckCamper]

Raptor is an incredible value. If you plan on any amount of modifications your standard bronco will exceed Raptor cost. And you'll gain no resale value.

We do all our own work. Our 2dr is well over $20k in parts added. Nearly half that is suspension (Icon electronic valve) which is not even close to Raptor 3.0 Fox live valve in comfort, travel or performance.

However, if you do decide to modify the Raptor be prepared for expensive parts. We have over $40k in parts so far...

My wife loves the Raptor... We love the 2dr as well (fun, light, playful). Completely different vehicles and personality. That's why I don’t consider a 4dr a Bronco...

 

[Top Off Doors On]

Stellantis needs to do some serious work on their next generation Wrangler since Ford has raised the bar drastically.

Ain't that the truth. I went to an offroad shop where the owner specializes in trying to improve the steering of the Wrangler for people like me. He owned two Gladiators and was very forthright that the improvements he could make might not be enough for what I was looking for.

There is lots to like about the Rubicon. As a classic, Stellantis should have worked hard to stay ahead of the competition.

 

[AZ_Craig]

Ain't that the truth. I went to an offroad shop where the owner specializes in trying to improve the steering of the Wrangler for people like me. He owned two Gladiators and was very forthright that the improvements he could make might not be enough for what I was looking for.

There is lots to like about the Rubicon. As a classic, Stellantis should have worked hard to stay ahead of the competition.

I 100% agree, the articulation advantage of the Jeep, especially with a Rubicon trim and at least 35" of having the front solid axle is fantastic in rocks and severe off-camber offroad situations. Personally I prefer how they look to Broncos also, albeit the JL is starting to look a little long in the tooth now entering it's 8th year if my math is right.

The problem is, front solid axle is such a step backwards in terms of driveability and comfort in all other situations. It really makes me question why the hell so many people have Saharas as mall crawlers on highway tires. I can guarantee 99% of those people would be better served driving around a loaded RAV4 than that vehicle (but of course, you buy for the image and perhaps the perceived capability).

I really thought I wanted a Jeep; until I drove a Jeep 392 and 4xe immediately before doing a Bronco Wildtrak back to back with a Raptor and realized everything I'd lose going that way.

 

[TruckCamper]

Ain't that the truth. I went to an offroad shop where the owner specializes in trying to improve the steering of the Wrangler for people like me. He owned two Gladiators and was very forthright that the improvements he could make might not be enough for what I was looking for.

What do you guys expect? It's a solid axle with lots of steering linkage and old school gearbox. Same as HD trucks use like the Super Duty.

It will never handle like a rack and pinion style steering system. It's not a sports car.

Use it for what it is. Biggest issue I see is the Jeep axle and steering is not strong enough for 35s let alone 37 or 40s. You need a HD axle, steering box and all linkages. Otherwise enjoy breaking parts and death wobble. Haha

 

[HoosierDaddy]

It would be new. I am weird and like to know everything that has been done or happened with the vehicle.

LOL, nothing weird about that at all.

I run a particular oil and filter and fuel in all my Ecoboosts and like to know that it has been serviced the way I want.

I did the first oil changes at the dealer just for solid "proof" in case of warranty work.

Otherwise, I'm a WIX filter guy (or filter from whatever dealer) and buy several at a time ... air, oil and cabin , to keep on hand.

Oil, I'm not super fussy about , full syn, Penz, Valvoline or I hear even the Costco stuff is a solid performer.
I like the advice of , "pick one you like and change it often and you'll be fine."

I did get some Mobil 1 on sale a few weeks back.
I normally don't like to change brands once I start doing it myself.
So I need to pick one now and stick with it.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Also, if you want to take long trips at highway speeds, get the hardtop. You can't run a roof rack with the soft top very easily (there is the Gobi rack, but it's not cheap or easy).

This is why I would get the dual top option ... not that you'll find one on the lot.
.... or buy one with a hard top and find an OEM soft top in the marketplace ads.
I LOVED having that soft top I was "coerced" into by Ford. It surprised me.

The OEM soft top is a solid piece of gear. I've only heard one person say the aftermarket Bestop was better and that guy got shouted down pretty hard by the crowd.

That being said, my main reason for the MIC would be for winter , but I was surprised by how much I LOVED having the soft top .... so incredibly handy for the spur of the moment times you want to pull the top.
The softy handled the winter just fine.
It was noisy at highway speeds , but it didn't really bug me that much.

My observations are, the MIC is noisy at low speeds with all the creaks and rattles, whereas the soft top gets loud on the highway.

You'll love the non-squatch Badlands ... or equivalent!

 

[Top Off Doors On]

What do you guys expect?

In truth, not much - just a $80k vehicle that looked great and drove straight down the highway.

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