If You Could Go Back Before Buying Your Bronco, What Would You Do Differently?

[dougcjohn]

Went looking… was looking at an Outer Banks SAS, gloss black with paint matched Top & Fenders.

Ford had a $1000 incentive for Jeep Owners. My Wife liked the “nice green, pretty interior and curvy fenders” unit a few down the row.

Explained it was substantially more… but internally wasn’t pushing hard against it.

Drove home in Shelter Green BRaptor.
After a few pmts… not sure it’s worth it for my needs… but I sure like it… it’s a keeper!
Last Vehicle for me… approaching 70, so wouldn’t change a thing and wouldn’t sell it.

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[Nate Train]

I'd make an order much earlier and get a Badlands. Would have probably gone for red, too, if the right red was available. I've basically built mine up to nearly be a Badlands, but it would have been nice to save all that money before some of the price increases.

 

[Squatch]

I would have filed a lawsuit using every states unfair and deceptive trade practices laws to force Ford to rename all moar doors and sports to something that doesn't imply they are anything like a Bronco.

 

[Neps]

Oh where to start:

First I'd wait for a 2024 so the steering rack was upgraded since Ford can't get any dealers to install the upgraded rack. I've been attempting to find an installer for two years w/o any luck.
I'd skip the dual tops.
Wait for the Black Painted top or color matched top.

 

[EvilJim1971]

I ordered for 21, 22, 23... And 23 AGAIN.
2 door base with switches in velocity blue.
2 door base Sasquatch with switches in cyber orange.
2 door base with switches in race red.
Then they introduced the Heritage Edition, which wasn't a lot more than base optioned like I wanted... And cheaper than the Big Bend optioned the same way.
Plus it came with the modular roof and white accents.
So no... My 2 door manual Heritage Edition in Race Red with removable side windows is the EXACT bronco I wanted.

 

[telenerd]

Bought an adjustable coil over instead of monkeying with Bilstein 6112. In the end I ended up getting the 6112s for free from Ford due to a warranty issue but I should have just went with Ride Shocks to begin with.

I also got pissed off at my rear seatbelts trying to remove my back seats in my 2 door and ended up cutting them out. I have no intention to reinstall the rear seats but kinda regretted cutting them out. I’m now looking at buying cargo drawer system for the back so my stuff is organized instead of in a big motor cross bag.

 

[RR25HB]

Randomly thought about this today: If I could go back to the day before I bought my Bronco, would I do anything differently?

Honestly, I might have picked a different color. I really want to experience a different vibe, though the current one is growing on me because it's so classic.

What about you? If you could go back to that moment, what would you change? Fewer mods, or a different build entirely? Would you do it all the same, or maybe skip the Bronco altogether? (Probably not, right? lol)

Probably would have picked a different dealer to work with and maybe selected a Badlands ... but I still do love my SAS HE very much and it'll do 95% of what I might have done with a Badlands.

 

[suparee]

That sucks. Must have been a tough lesson to learn.

Nothing.

I might have avoided stopping in the turn lane that led to my first Bronco's demise.

That sucks. Must have been a tough lesson to learn.

 

[ejpaul1]

Randomly thought about this today: If I could go back to the day before I bought my Bronco, would I do anything differently?

Honestly, I might have picked a different color. I really want to experience a different vibe, though the current one is growing on me because it's so classic.

What about you? If you could go back to that moment, what would you change? Fewer mods, or a different build entirely? Would you do it all the same, or maybe skip the Bronco altogether? (Probably not, right? lol)

Its a tough question as I NEVER really got the car I wanted, this one was the first one I got seemingly just that. Honestly, i think Id have been just as happy with the 4 CYL as I have a 2.3 in my ranger but the 2.7 is sweet. Id have likely asked the dealer to throw in the slide out tailgate. Really thats about it.

 

[Combustion_King]

Nothing, i ordered it exactly as i wanted, which is why my wife gives me the death stare for not getting a 4 door.

 

[EvilJim1971]

Nothing, i ordered it exactly as i wanted, which is why my wife gives me the death stare for not getting a 4 door.

I hear that there are other potential wives out there... That would appreciate a man of distinction and wisdom.

 

[tsquared5]

I would have gone with the Sasquatch package. I was an early reservation holder and ordered everything based on research and not actually seeing a Bronco in person. 33s are big tires on most vehicles, but for me they just weren’t doing it for me on the Bronco. It’s been a four year process in adding wheels I liked, then moving to 34s, then Bilstein 6100s, and finally just some 35s last week. In the end it’s now a unique-to-me Bronco, but if I could go back I would, and I would’ve spent less money in the process.

I have the non sas Badlands and considering 34s. Any tips? Which tires did you buy and any idea of the effect on real speed vs the speedometer? I’m assuming they fit well and no crash bar issues. Thanks.

 

[bronc_moose]

I would have driven a 2025 badlands and looked harder for the washout floor. Would have been interesting to compare the Hoss 2.0 vs 3.0 more closely.

 

[BadlandsJ]

I have the non sas Badlands and considering 34s. Any tips? Which tires did you buy and any idea of the effect on real speed vs the speedometer? I’m assuming they fit well and no crash bar issues. Thanks.

If I hadn't gone with the Bilstein 6100s, I would have stayed with the 285/75r17 (34s). I barely noticed a difference vs the 35x12.5r17 I just put on. The small lift of the 6100s just barely make the 34s look a little small, but just barely. Everyone else said they looked great.

I had Ridge Grapplers, C load, on +30 17x9 wheels. front crash bars had to be replaced with high clearance ones from Icon, but the factory rear crash bars stayed. It was close, but I went off-road with no problems. I think a lower offset than +30 and you'd have to remove the factory rear crash bars.

Speedometer was accurate up to highway speed, but around 70-78 it was one mph off, around 78-85 it was two mph off. I got use to it being a little off, but I just got the Ford Procal Tool and change it for the 35s and it was so easy. If you don't want to spend the money for the Procal Tool, or deal with Forscan, you can live with the speedometer being off, but it is nice to have it be correct.

All that being said, it you stay at non-sas Badlands height, the 34s really look great. You could go with 305/70r17 for more width, but you'd need to remove both crash bars or go with the high clearance versions.

Top two photos are 285/75r17, bottom photo is with 35x12.5r17.

 

[tsquared5]

If I hadn't gone with the Bilstein 6100s, I would have stayed with the 285/75r17 (34s). I barely noticed a difference vs the 35x12.5r17 I just put on. The small lift of the 6100s just barely make the 34s look a little small, but just barely. Everyone else said they looked great.

I had Ridge Grapplers, C load, on +30 17x9 wheels. front crash bars had to be replaced with high clearance ones from Icon, but the factory rear crash bars stayed. It was close, but I went off-road with no problems. I think a lower offset than +30 and you'd have to remove the factory rear crash bars.

Speedometer was accurate up to highway speed, but around 70-78 it was one mph off, around 78-85 it was two mph off. I got use to it being a little off, but I just got the Ford Procal Tool and change it for the 35s and it was so easy. If you don't want to spend the money for the Procal Tool, or deal with Forscan, you can live with the speedometer being off, but it is nice to have it be correct.

All that being said, it you stay at non-sas Badlands height, the 34s really look great. You could go with 305/70r17 for more width, but you'd need to remove both crash bars or go with the high clearance versions.

Top two photos are 285/75r17, bottom photo is with 35x12.5r17.
View attachment 798126

If I hadn't gone with the Bilstein 6100s, I would have stayed with the 285/75r17 (34s). I barely noticed a difference vs the 35x12.5r17 I just put on. The small lift of the 6100s just barely make the 34s look a little small, but just barely. Everyone else said they looked great.

I had Ridge Grapplers, C load, on +30 17x9 wheels. front crash bars had to be replaced with high clearance ones from Icon, but the factory rear crash bars stayed. It was close, but I went off-road with no problems. I think a lower offset than +30 and you'd have to remove the factory rear crash bars.

Speedometer was accurate up to highway speed, but around 70-78 it was one mph off, around 78-85 it was two mph off. I got use to it being a little off, but I just got the Ford Procal Tool and change it for the 35s and it was so easy. If you don't want to spend the money for the Procal Tool, or deal with Forscan, you can live with the speedometer being off, but it is nice to have it be correct.

All that being said, it you stay at non-sas Badlands height, the 34s really look great. You could go with 305/70r17 for more width, but you'd need to remove both crash bars or go with the high clearance versions.

Top two photos are 285/75r17, bottom photo is with 35x12.5r17.
View attachment 798126

Awesome! Thanks.

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