- First Name
- Joe MaMa
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2021
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- Go Big Blue
- Vehicle(s)
- Bronco Wildtrak
- Your Bronco Model
- Wildtrak
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- #1
Picked up my WT 2 night ago. I will start this build thread with a brief review of it as I break it in and will add to this as the build out progresses.
My 4x4 Background:
I have owned 3 4Runners (1 of them a TRD model 2016, 1 a Limited 2011, and 1 a V8 Sport 2004), 1 FJ Cruiser 08, 5 Wranglers (TJ 06, JK Rubicon 13, JKU Rubicon 15, JLU Rubicon 2018, JL Rubicon 2020) and several 4X4 Trucks from Tundras to Rams Never a Chevy or a Ford. All of these vehicles have seen various forms of builds, from overlanding to rock crawling to even converting one of my JK Rubicons to Coilovers for a bit more high speed running.
Initial Bronco WT impressions:
Build (parts dependent):
Oh yeah a note on the color, I wanted Iconic Silver but chose Cactus Grey based on family input, I should have went with Iconic Silver. I like the Cactus Grey but it draws more attention and conversations as to where the Silver would have flown a bit better under the radar and I am interested in a clear matte wrap over that silver as well for a unique Back to the Future Delorean look.
Thanks for reading and while it was a long wait it was worth it!
My 4x4 Background:
I have owned 3 4Runners (1 of them a TRD model 2016, 1 a Limited 2011, and 1 a V8 Sport 2004), 1 FJ Cruiser 08, 5 Wranglers (TJ 06, JK Rubicon 13, JKU Rubicon 15, JLU Rubicon 2018, JL Rubicon 2020) and several 4X4 Trucks from Tundras to Rams Never a Chevy or a Ford. All of these vehicles have seen various forms of builds, from overlanding to rock crawling to even converting one of my JK Rubicons to Coilovers for a bit more high speed running.
Initial Bronco WT impressions:
- Size - I like the size of the Bronco much more than the Wranglers, it is more akin to the 4Runners, much more like an SUV versus an Off-Road vehicle for my tastes, I would say a good blend of current day and the full size broncos of yesteryear. Interior space is much better than a wrangler, Bronco trounces the Jeep for āelbowā room.
- Engine - until I hit 1K miles I am going to drive it like I have a cop behind me, I have had several twin turbo BMWās and initial breakin is very important on the turbos in my experience so I canāt say how happy I am overall yet with this engine but initial impressions are that it is night and day over the 3.6L, 2.0L Turbo, 4.0L (TJ) Jeep engines, NO COMPARISON for street driving at low speeds, zero lag off the start and plenty of torque for stop light to stop light. Now I Hemi Swapped one of my Wranglers with a 5.7L and this feels similar so far in light daily driving. This engine feels similar to the 4.0L 4Runner engine at low RPM so far, which to me is a good thing. The Toyota 4.0L suffers at higher RPM, it drops torque quick as you get the needle moving up, and this twin T should make great gains at higher RPMās.
- Fit and Finish:
- Exterior Metal parts are high quality, all doors, hoods, and panels line up very well (I have had vehicles not JEEP that had Ā¼ā gap differences from top of door jamb to bottom upon delivery - $50K vehicles) and am impressed. The Gunsights to keep the tree branches off the windshield in the woods (or jungle as they were intended) are high quality and well made. The doors are of decent weight and close well unlike a Wrangler where you have to remind everyone every time not to SLAM the damn door.
- Exterior NON METAL parts: Sasquatch Fenders are just OK, but something that draws my ire a bit is that Ford added some sort of Mud Flap/Flare piece the to rear bumper to extend the bumper out to meet to flare width and it looks like something you would go to Autozone and buy and add onā¦ā¦.very cheap and AFTERTHOUGHT look to it. The MIC Top is not very good, took both front panels and mid panel out to air out the horrible plastic smell of the interior and sat it outside for a day. The panels latches work well but they are not as easy to remove and install as the wranglers, the holes/pins are more difficult to line up, might get easier over time but initial impressions is that it is a first build vehicle and refinements will be welcomed just like from the 2012 JKās to the 2015+ JKās were by the Jeep crowd. The WIldtrak badge definitely feels like a Refrigerator magnet, I will debadge this thing as well as removing the mountains off of the sides (I donāt like them in person, but Iāll do another custom with my company name in the stripe).
- Interior - overall a WIN here over the Toyotas and the Jeeps. Space is utilized well for elbow room, storage, and access to dash items. Steering wheel controls are a bit crowded but this is a mute point compared to the competitors I listed. As for the steering wheel though a few notes, the size if perfect, feels great to the touch, and the bottom center part is almost a dead ringer for the latest Wrangler Rubicon Steering wheel, the hole is large enough to 2 finger steer but nothing more. Overall like the cockpit feel from the drivers seat a lot.
- This is where I am disappointed in the interior: Plastic panels whether it be door panels, dash panels or sides of console are all very thin plastic that scratches EASILY, this is of a lesser quality than a 4Runner for instance and expected but I didnāt expect it to be of lesser quality than a Wrangler. At the end of the day this is an Off-Road SUV so it isnāt a big deal but it was surprising so I am mentioning it with some emphasis.
- ADDITIONAL INTERIOR ISSUES (UPDATED)
- They seatbelts are not on a sliding track. So far it hasnāt affected me like some vehicles being mounted so high (I am on the shorter side of 5ā9ā and I like the seat low for street driving), it is just a difference in the other comparable vehicles so thought I should mention it.
- B&O Sound System and Ford Sync4 - Upgrade over the Toyota systems by a mile, and I would say overall an upgrade over the latest Rubicon system and UConnect (had software issues in all of my UConnect vehicles over the years). Sound wise it is more than sufficient for my middle aged ears and I invest heavily in my home audio systems and headphone systems.
- Tires - Ordered Nitto Ridge Grapplers already, these Goodyear are a typical LOW TREAD OEM tire and not good rubber at that in my estimation. Turning the Bronco they have that feel of a SXS or 4-wheeler on the pavement, if you know you know.
- UPDATES on the GOOD: The more miles I put on it the more comfortable it gets and I mean this from getting used to all of the controls, locations, and manners from the drivers seat. I would say it is very akin to a 4Runner Limited more so than a Wrangler as eluded to earlier. I believe overall the 4Runner is a much better comparison between the vehicles versus the Wrangler. The top/doors coming off is the only reason I would consider it as a competitor to the Wrangler at this point. It is MUCH MORE SUV than old military field transport. I believe this is a good thing for FORD and us, meaning more of these on the road better the prices and aftermarket options. Overlanding LONG distances will be this vehicles BREAD AND BUTTER! This will be a great journey.
Build (parts dependent):
- As already mentioned changing to true 35ā Ridge Grapplers as soon as delivered, took the brush guard off and sold it already (not a fan of the redesign), ordered the 1ā leveling lift for the front for now (has as much rake as a 4Runner, was surprised that pics didnāt show this better than it shows in person), will add coilovers along with front winch eventually to offset load and level it properly. Will order proper sliders when a good design hits the market. Sway bar disconnects when available. I will tune this 2.7 with intake and downpipes after breakin and parts availability to squeeze a bit more power out of it. Depending on the wheeling this gets into it might get another lift and 37ās, but that would require me to get another daily driver as I have in the past when I have went for off-road manners vs a good mix of the on/off. 37ās for everyday on road are overkill and the mall Cops donāt like it.
- 071221 Added Pinch Seam Covers until I can get proper sliders.
Oh yeah a note on the color, I wanted Iconic Silver but chose Cactus Grey based on family input, I should have went with Iconic Silver. I like the Cactus Grey but it draws more attention and conversations as to where the Silver would have flown a bit better under the radar and I am interested in a clear matte wrap over that silver as well for a unique Back to the Future Delorean look.
Thanks for reading and while it was a long wait it was worth it!
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