Bronco Options/Features Question

[TruckCamper]

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

It drives proper for what it is... Same as any solid axle rig. It is the design. Purpose is for off road. If you want on road performance buy a Bronco.

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[indio22]

I've been tossing around adding a Bronco to the stable in the near future. I'm wondering which options/features are must haves from the factory that aren't reasonably priced/easily obtainable in the aftermarket. Off the top of my head, I would venture to guess that the 2.7L V6 (prefer the bigger engine option) and 10 speed automatic (honestly just too lazy to switch gears these days) are better off coming from the factory. Are there any others? My current ride is a '19 Ford Ranger Lariat FX4 and honestly, I only wanted the FX4 so I didn't have to worry about an aftermarket rear locker, which really wasn't out when I bought it. Picture of my Ranger attached just because. Full disclosure, I will be keeping my Ranger. I don't think a Bronco would care pulling our Rzr too much. Thanks!

I wouldn't get a Bronco (or Wrangler) as a road touring vehicle, I'm my opinion that's not its forte. Unless having some legit off-roading at destination. Regardless doesn't seem like you need Sas, lockers etc for your usage.

I'd get the V6 and auto trans if doing a lot of towing. And maybe 4-door if you bring a lot of stuff on trips plus added wheelbase for towing.

On another note, what's up with folks scared of driving Wranglers. The way some talk around here, I wonder how I ever survived my CJ/Wrangler "death traps"?! How is my soccer mom neighbor and family handling their JL?

 

[timhood]

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.

Sounds like you are looking at a Black Diamond or Outer Banks, depending on what kind of creature comforts you want. You probably don't even need a rear locker, especially if you get the Advanced 4WD. Sasquatch would be a $5+ overkill. But if you didn't get A4WD, a rear locker wouldn't be the worst thing to have.

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.

You could tow th RZR if you wanted. Power with the V6 would not even remotely be an issue, and a lot of people have towed trailers around 3,500 tow weight. My experience with Ford (though I haven't towed with the Bronco yet) is that Ford historically conservatively rates towing and payload capacities. My F150 was called to do extended duty plenty, and it's still running happily 21 years on. That said, clearly the Ranger has much more capability. But if you want to enjoy the Bronco on those trips, it's not out of the question.

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.

Go with her to test drive a Wrangler and then a Bronco right after. She'll get that crazy idea out of her head real quickly. Be sure and take a bumpy path, maybe cross RR tracks at 45+, etc. People get Wranglers because they think they need all that solid axle off-road capability and are OK with sacrificing on-road driving manners. For your use case, the Bronco is the hands-down winner.

I think you should consider the 12" touch screen a must-have. For one, it offers more functionality, being able to use two functions at the same time. But also, the smaller screen looks like it was a compromise, as there's a trim bezel to make it fit in the opening for the 12" screen. But also, over time, screens have become larger and larger. When we got our Escape, we got the upgraded 8", which still looks decent-sized 11 years later. But the base 5" screen looks tiny. New Broncos only come with the 12" screen now, so if you don't want your Bronco to look dated, and like the extra usability, consider it a must-have.

 

[timhood]

Oh, yeah--when you test drive the vehicles, rest your left arm on the door sill and use your left thumb and two fingers to steer each one. Just kidding! Don't do that with the Wrangler unless your right hand is ready to grab the wheel! On road trips with the Bronco, I set the adaptive cruise control and drive like that a lot. Which reminds me: I think adaptive cruise control is a must-have for road trips. It's one of my favorite features.

 

[mpeugeot]

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.

Because it is wasted money.

The non-sasquatch Badlands has more articulation than the Sasquatch package Badlands. Pull the crash bars on the non-sasquatch Badlands and you can run factory "35's" (aka 315/70R17 tires).

The slight difference in gearing between the Sasquatch and the non-sasquatch Badlands is only 5% (4.46 vs 4.70). It is less than a 200 rpm difference at any speed that matters, and it is not significant with the 2.7 Ecoboost's torque curve.

Better to save the $5k and get the rims and tires that you really want. The factory beadlock capable rims are heavy and not beadlocks without another $1k in parts (and are optional now for the Sasquatch package) and the Goodyear's are stone chucking crap tires with marginal sidewall strength.

 

[mpeugeot]

Sounds like you are looking at a Black Diamond or Outer Banks, depending on what kind of creature comforts you want. You probably don't even need a rear locker, especially if you get the Advanced 4WD. Sasquatch would be a $5+ overkill. But if you didn't get A4WD, a rear locker wouldn't be the worst thing to have.

All Broncos that are equipped with 4A have the rear locker.

So it's either:

standard transfer case (2.72:1) with/without a locker

or

advanced transfer case (3.06:1 w/ 4A) with the locker.

 

[ABQ_Bronco1982]

Yes 2.7 is a no brainer…I will say aux switches…Sasquatch for basic off roading…if you are planning serious off roading do the lockers and sway bar disconnect after the fact so they aren’t computer controlled…if you are planning road use only, think about a different vehicle…party on!
[/QUOTE

Contrary to popular opinion, I would venture to say there are more Broncos on the road that never go off roading than those that do. I think its a great vehicle for on road use only, family loves it and taking the top off is awesome.

 

[Combustion_King]

I pull my 2017 RZR 900 all the time, as well as a 2 up Sea-Doo trailer with 2 3 seater PWCs. Bronco pulls them like its not even there.

I have a 2.7, 10 speed.

 

[Oldhippie]

“Contrary to popular opinion, I would venture to say there are more Broncos on the road that never go off roading than those that do. I think it’s a great vehicle for on road use only, family loves it and taking the top off is awesome.”

Not to hijack the thread…the OP already indicated the bronco was as far away from a Jeep his wife was willing to go…so a mute point for this thread…But…I am glad you and so many others enjoy their Broncos so ford can keep building them for folks who do like to go off road can have the choice of a Bronco…but the fact is there are many actual luxury SUVs in the $50k range (like a Bronco) that have more features, are more comfortable and handle better it makes little sense to pick a Bronco as a road vehicle…that said the wife often actually likes to take the Bronco on road trips more than her boring BMW…noone said people are smart…

 

[Oldhippie]

I really think the op choice would be between an OB with Sasquatch and a BL without Sasquatch both with 2.7 and Lux…I would pick the OB for planned use mostly because of leather and body painted hardtop…good luck!

 

[mpeugeot]

I really think the op choice would be between an OB with Sasquatch and a BL without Sasquatch both with 2.7 and Lux…I would pick the OB for planned use mostly because of leather and body painted hardtop…good luck!

The Badlands has the option of the body matching hard top and in more colors than the OBX. You also can get "leather" and carpeted floors in the Badlands.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

…but the fact is there are many actual luxury SUVs in the $50k range (like a Bronco)

Two words.

removable top
(... is a requirement for OP/wife )

That should narrow the field somewhat.

Beyond that, people want what they want ... if everything was decided by a spread sheet / checklist/ pure use-case basis, we'd all be driving "very sensible" cars like Outbacks or RAV4's.

Soul suckingly boring ... but very sensible.

 

[Oldhippie]

The Badlands has the option of the body matching hard top and in more colors than the OBX. You also can get "leather" and carpeted floors in the Badlands.

Yeah I missed the painted hardtop on the badlands but still do not see leather and carpet in the 2025 build and price? At any rate that would bring the price up more over the OBX…

 

[dgorsett]

All Broncos that are equipped with 4A have the rear locker.

So it's either:

standard transfer case (2.72:1) with/without a locker

or

advanced transfer case (3.06:1 w/ 4A) with the locker.

I also would note having 4A in no way reduces the need for a locker.

 

[mpeugeot]

Yeah I missed the painted hardtop on the badlands but still do not see leather and carpet in the 2025 build and price? At any rate that would bring the price up more over the OBX…

It’s right there in the build and price.

$2410 - you get the power seats with it.

Apples to Apples comparison, the 4 door 2.7 Bronco Badlands is less than $1k more than the OBX Sasquatch with the same paint matched roof and leather interior.

You also get a lot of stuff on the Badlands that you don't get on the OBX, like the sway bar disconnect and bash plates.

If you configure it any other way, the Badlands is the better value and less expensive. I certainly wouldn't pay the $2400 for the "leather trimmed" seats.

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