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dags1207

Badlands
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David
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2023 Ford Bronco | 2024 Ford Maverick
Your Bronco Model
Badlands
My wife always wanted a Bronco and we ended ordering one back in 2023. We love camping and our previous Santa Fe was OK off-road (better than I could've expected after we lifted it and put all terrain tires on it). We ordered the Bronco for it's capabilities, not for it family friendliness, so we knew what we were getting. However, we did want to make it as family friendly as possible, so here is what we did! (affiliate links below).

  1. We ordered a 2.3L 4Dr Badlands + MIC + Lux + Tow. Having the MGV and rubberized flooring/washout interior makes cleaning messes a breeze.

  2. Side steps: We are a bit vertically challenged, and the rock rail side step attachments were still a bit tall so we got these side steps. We still kept the rock rails for whenever we hit the trails. Nothing special here, but makes a big difference.
    Side steps: https://amzn.to/3Z8K6sl
    Pinch weld covers: https://amzn.to/4cL31wF

  3. Interior Lighting: one of the biggest annoyingness for us. A complete night/day difference! Now we can actually find stuff at night without having to use our phone flashlights
    Interior lighting kit: https://amzn.to/3XtBawD
    Rear ceiling light: https://amzn.to/3T8a8rJ

  4. Cup holders/storage: no rear cupholders (2023s with MGV did not have them) and the net storage is less useful than we thought.
    Low profile front door storage: https://amzn.to/3ZbqVhw
    Removable rear cupholders: https://amzn.to/3Z7DJ8y
    Center console organizer: https://amzn.to/3MPwcUR

  5. Grab handles: a must have regardless
    Paracord grab handles: https://amzn.to/3X2A5tW

  6. AC / Airflow: Under seat vent deflectors didn't do much, but we added additional fans that we are powering from the back 12V outlet. We used the center headrest to attach them.
    Under seat vent deflectors: https://amzn.to/3MBeROZ
    Dual USB adapter: https://amzn.to/4g1yeyi
    Fans: https://amzn.to/3Xr7QGT

  7. Baby monitoring system: We currently have a 2 year old and another baby coming, so we wanted a way to see both in a clean way (we hate seeing wires all over the place). This kit can be used with 1 or 2 cameras (split view), the cables are long enough (I ran all cables down the A pillar and hid them under the trim panels) and it's USB powered, so we can use the dash USB outlet.
    Baby Monitor with 2 channels/cameras: https://amzn.to/3XqqYot
    1/4" Adapter: https://amzn.to/3MtCFo1
    Mount: https://amzn.to/3TbKfaJ

  8. Cargo area: cargo liner and backseat covers are a must, keeps everything clean and make hiding cables easy
    Cargo liner and backseat covers: https://amzn.to/47iEjT5

  9. Entertainment: Just a phone holder
    Headrest phone holder: https://amzn.to/3XbrNQF

Ford Bronco Making my wife's Bronco the ultimate mom car IMG_8949.JPG




Ford Bronco Making my wife's Bronco the ultimate mom car IMG_8954.JPG


Ford Bronco Making my wife's Bronco the ultimate mom car IMG_8952.JPG


Ford Bronco Making my wife's Bronco the ultimate mom car IMG_8950.JPG


Ford Bronco Making my wife's Bronco the ultimate mom car IMG_8953.JPG


Ford Bronco Making my wife's Bronco the ultimate mom car IMG_8948.JPG


Ford Bronco Making my wife's Bronco the ultimate mom car IMG_8947.JPG
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WheresMyBronco

Badlands
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Nice list, I'll have to copy some of those. Also, how did you route the cables for the baby monitors? Did you go through the roll cage trim?
 

adam1991

Outer Banks
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Outer Banks
Clubs
 
I'm still pondering the aluminum or similar grab handles with integrated lighting. Thoughts?
 
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dags1207

Badlands
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I'm still pondering the aluminum or similar grab handles with integrated lighting. Thoughts?
I thought about them, but I was concerned about them getting hot in the Texas summer. I also feel the paracord ones adapt to the contour of your hand
 
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dags1207

Badlands
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Nice list, I'll have to copy some of those. Also, how did you route the cables for the baby monitors? Did you go through the roll cage trim?
I ran them this way (anything red is underneath the plastic trim)

First I took it to the base of the windshield, planning to get some plastic cable holders to make it cleaner (can barely be seen anyways)
Ford Bronco Making my wife's Bronco the ultimate mom car IMG_8955.JPG


Then I stuffed it between the dash and A pillar, removing the handle makes it easier. This is where the 2 cables for the camera split meet the single one coming from the monitor.
Ford Bronco Making my wife's Bronco the ultimate mom car IMG_8956.JPG


Continues all the way down behind the trim, loops back behind the speaker, and all the way back to the firewall. Then goest between the foot rest and rubberized floor as shown. I could've removed the plastic trim but I couldn't figure out how to take that speaker piece out, I had plenty of slack so I didn't want to worry too much about it.
Ford Bronco Making my wife's Bronco the ultimate mom car IMG_8957.JPG


Then it joins all of the other wiring going down along the trim panels
Ford Bronco Making my wife's Bronco the ultimate mom car IMG_8958.JPG


Continues the same way all to the rear. It slips out of the trim transition and tucks behind the seat and inside the rear set protector (keeping the cables in place)
Ford Bronco Making my wife's Bronco the ultimate mom car IMG_8959.JPG
 
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Bugkillah

Badlands
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Keith
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Badlands
Nice set up. My 4 door Basesquatch has become the wife’s daily driver, so I had to get a 2 door Badlands for off-roading. You’ve got a great setup for the Mrs.
 

adam1991

Outer Banks
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I thought about them, but I was concerned about them getting hot in the Texas summer. I also feel the paracord ones adapt to the contour of your hand
ANY summer, I would think. That's why I haven't yet pulled the trigger.

I thought I saw some with composite handles, but I can't find those anymore.

Lotsa paracord handles out there, no question.
 

WheresMyBronco

Badlands
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ANY summer, I would think. That's why I haven't yet pulled the trigger.

I thought I saw some with composite handles, but I can't find those anymore.

Lotsa paracord handles out there, no question.
I had those same handles but without the lights and they definitely got too hot to use during the summer. I replaced them with these Mabett ones that have a rubberized grip and it's the best of both worlds

Only downside is they don't have a light built into them since it sounds like that might be what you're looking for

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D173VMJF?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
 

adam1991

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Sitruc_btb

Badlands
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Curtis
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My 4dr Badlands is a dad wagon. When my son was rear facing in his car seat, I used a noggle to keep him cool. Both kids forward facing now, so they get the center vents aimed at them.
 

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brkdncr

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Undecided
Clubs
 
This seems like the wrong vehicle if you have to make all these adjustments/purchases.
 
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dags1207

Badlands
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My 4dr Badlands is a dad wagon. When my son was rear facing in his car seat, I used a noggle to keep him cool. Both kids forward facing now, so they get the center vents aimed at them.
We looked at the noggle but my wife thought it looks like our attic AC ducts lol. We still aim the center vents aimed at the back.

This seems like the wrong vehicle if you have to make all these adjustments/purchases.
This seems like the wrong thread to comment on then :LOL: Most of these items are not even "children/family" related, but a Bronco design "feature" that Ford missed haha. Is your Bronco completely stock?
 
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adam1991

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Is your Bronco completely stock?
OK, I'm absolutely the LAST guy to be buying a Bronco. But it caught my eye--and I spent week and a half before I bought it finding all sorts of add-ons I wanted and collecting bookmarks.
 

WheresMyBronco

Badlands
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This seems like the wrong vehicle if you have to make all these adjustments/purchases.
Half of these are just fixing things that Ford should've done to begin with, like the lighting, cupholders, rear AC vents, etc
 
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dags1207

Badlands
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OK, I'm absolutely the LAST guy to be buying a Bronco. But it caught my eye--and I spent week and a half before I bought it finding all sorts of add-ons I wanted and collecting bookmarks.
Same, we had a whole wish list of stuff before it even was scheduled. Same thing with my Maverick
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