Base Model Bronco Thread

[DonM]

There has been a change in the home front....taking my F150 into the shop today. Making moaning noise from front left wheel area. Not sure if brake or wheel bearing or something else. Wife agrees that if its an expensive repair, that I can get a Jeep (a 2 door even) as a bridge vehicle to see how we like and if a 2 door would actually be feasible! And of course I found the potential replacement...now to see what the call is on the F150!

If I do get this bridge vehicle and a two door is not that much of a pain, I may have just walked myself into a Base Sasquatch 2 Door with the 2.3 at just under 40K!!

UPDATE - Talked to my mechanic....says its probably a wheel bearing (only based on my description of the sound). Also needs an oil change and its time for all fluids! Looking at $700 for everything. Just not sure if worth it. I sorta want to keep it, but not tied to it. We have money freed up so financially its not an issue if I do a bridge vehicle.

Waiting on wife's input on the "repair" costs!

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[dingle87]

I would like Ford to info

UPDATE - Talked to my mechanic....says its probably a wheel bearing (only based on my description of the sound). Also needs an oil change and its time for all fluids! Looking at $700 for everything. Just not sure if worth it. I sorta want to keep it, but not tied to it. We have money freed up so financially its not an issue if I do a bridge vehicle.

Waiting on wife's input on the "repair" costs!

My 04 F150 has been giving me the same signals. "is it time to part with or can I get more time out of it" type discussions. My family loves having a truck, but not at the expense of the savings account/budget. It's almost a monthly conversation at my house. Good luck!

 

[DonM]

UPDATE - Talked to my mechanic....says its probably a wheel bearing (only based on my description of the sound). Also needs an oil change and its time for all fluids! Looking at $700 for everything. Just not sure if worth it. I sorta want to keep it, but not tied to it. We have money freed up so financially its not an issue if I do a bridge vehicle.

Waiting on wife's input on the "repair" costs!

Recommended to skip fluids, except for oil change and will repair the issue. Unless its an expensive something else!

 

[Thechief86]

Not disputing this, but curious. There are people Overlanding in all kinds of vehicles with no lockers. Guy/Gals are doing it in mini vans, subaru's, 2wd, etc. Why does the locker stop you? A lot of the stuff I see on videos, looks like roads we used to drive on with 2wd pickup with camper on it.

Isnt it about smart driving and picking the Overlanding to match the vehicle?

Not trying to be an ass (though wife says it comes natural to me), but seems like the Base would get to most places just fine. Maybe I am just out of touch with the Overlanding thing, it just looks like camping to me.

I guess overlanding is a bit misleading, but fits what I have in mind. I can "Overland" just fine in my Subaru. I do it all the time. But I want to drive my rig to Moab, Rubicon, Holy Cross, Johnson Valley, Uwharrie, Tellico, etc, and actually wheel the thing, and then drive it home. I also want to drive deep into the desert to camp, and maybe even cross the Darien Gap in my Bronco one day. I truly do hope to navigate through some of the toughest terrain on this hemisphere, and after offroading a Jeep with lockers for the last 2 decades, I'm spoiled. I hate getting stuck just because I got one wheel off the ground or in a mudhole. That said, my base model Tacoma did very well offroad despite a lack of lockers, and the traction control system made up for it fairly well in many cases. The same may ring true on the Bronco. In fact, it will probably be even better.
But if I'm not going to use the Bronco for tougher trails than I could do in my Tacoma, then I don't even need to spend the money. I sold the Tacoma to buy a Bronco, because it should be more capable. I don't want to compromise here. The Bronco's value to me lies in its level of capability for the money. If that ratio is skewed, the value diminishes.
Meanwhile, I've been building my Subaru with a lift and a rear locker, and I'm pleased that this car that I only have about 2 grand in, is as competent an offroader as the Bronco Sport, so it will be my cross-country road trip machine until it dies.
I've cancelled my Bronco reservation (7/18), but might come back in a couple of years when everything is more solidified as far as available options and pricing, and demand dies down a bit.
I love the Bronco, but it is no longer the deal I thought it was going to be, especially knowing now that they blocked the options for a budget build to add the things I couldn't afford at ordering time.
I really wish I hadn't followed the roll out so closely and gotten my hopes up as much as I did. Then I wouldn't be so disappointed to learn that I can't afford it.

 

[Hoofnmouth]

I guess overlanding is a bit misleading, but fits what I have in mind. I can "Overland" just fine in my Subaru. I do it all the time. But I want to drive my rig to Moab, Rubicon, Holy Cross, Johnson Valley, Uwharrie, Tellico, etc, and actually wheel the thing, and then drive it home. I also want to drive deep into the desert to camp, and maybe even cross the Darien Gap in my Bronco one day. I truly do hope to navigate through some of the toughest terrain on this hemisphere, and after offroading a Jeep with lockers for the last 2 decades, I'm spoiled. I hate getting stuck just because I got one wheel off the ground or in a mudhole. That said, my base model Tacoma did very well offroad despite a lack of lockers, and the traction control system made up for it fairly well in many cases. The same may ring true on the Bronco. In fact, it will probably be even better.
But if I'm not going to use the Bronco for tougher trails than I could do in my Tacoma, then I don't even need to spend the money. I sold the Tacoma to buy a Bronco, because it should be more capable. I don't want to compromise here. The Bronco's value to me lies in its level of capability for the money. If that ratio is skewed, the value diminishes.
Meanwhile, I've been building my Subaru with a lift and a rear locker, and I'm pleased that this car that I only have about 2 grand in, is as competent an offroader as the Bronco Sport, so it will be my cross-country road trip machine until it dies.
I've cancelled my Bronco reservation (7/18), but might come back in a couple of years when everything is more solidified as far as available options and pricing, and demand dies down a bit.
I love the Bronco, but it is no longer the deal I thought it was going to be, especially knowing now that they blocked the options for a budget build to add the things I couldn't afford at ordering time.
I really wish I hadn't followed the roll out so closely and gotten my hopes up as much as I did. Then I wouldn't be so disappointed to learn that I can't afford it.

Like they say you can do it the hard way or the smart way,lockers for everyone?

 

[ronstar]

I'm rethinking my BL decision. I don't need most of the extras that BL offers. I don't intend to do any rock crawling or major off road driving. And I'm thinking that the cloth seats will be better than vinyl in hot and cold extremes. I just want a cool looking truck that I can take the top off. And something that will get me through some snow. It's going to be just a toy - I'm keeping my F-150.

Which leads me back to the base. I only see 2 downsides to the base. Small tires and no nav system. I can fix the tire situation by getting a squatched base.

But I can't fix the lack of a nav system. The wife is adamant that she has to have a nav system. And it has to be built in - not some system that relies on a phone connection.

Anyone know of a way to get built in navigation aftermarket?

 

[KH_59]

But I can't fix the lack of a nav system. The wife is adamant that she has to have a nav system. And it has to be built in - not some system that relies on a phone connection.

Anyone know of a way to get built in navigation aftermarket?

Where does the current wife rank in the list of priorities?

 

[wvmtneer]

I'm rethinking my BL decision. I don't need most of the extras that BL offers. I don't intend to do any rock crawling or major off road driving. And I'm thinking that the cloth seats will be better than vinyl in hot and cold extremes. I just want a cool looking truck that I can take the top off. And something that will get me through some snow. It's going to be just a toy - I'm keeping my F-150.

Which leads me back to the base. I only see 2 downsides to the base. Small tires and no nav system. I can fix the tire situation by getting a squatched base.

But I can't fix the lack of a nav system. The wife is adamant that she has to have a nav system. And it has to be built in - not some system that relies on a phone connection.

Anyone know of a way to get built in navigation aftermarket?

I plan on purchasing a Garmin gps for the accessory rail on top of the dash.

 

[Drafting_Monkey]

I'm rethinking my BL decision. I don't need most of the extras that BL offers. I don't intend to do any rock crawling or major off road driving. And I'm thinking that the cloth seats will be better than vinyl in hot and cold extremes. I just want a cool looking truck that I can take the top off. And something that will get me through some snow. It's going to be just a toy - I'm keeping my F-150.

Which leads me back to the base. I only see 2 downsides to the base. Small tires and no nav system. I can fix the tire situation by getting a squatched base.

But I can't fix the lack of a nav system. The wife is adamant that she has to have a nav system. And it has to be built in - not some system that relies on a phone connection.

Anyone know of a way to get built in navigation aftermarket?

Doesn't the base come with Apple CarPlay? I'm fairly new to this on my 2020 insight ex but it works well with google maps or Waze to get me where I want to go. Sorry if I'm wrong but wouldn't this be the same in the base Bronco?

 

[ronstar]

Where does the current wife rank in the list of priorities?

Great question! She ranks higher than the extra $7k that I would have to pay for a squatched Big Bend with Mid package. That's the tough part.

 

[ronstar]

Doesn't the base come with Apple CarPlay? I'm fairly new to this on my 2020 insight ex but it works well with google maps or Waze to get me where I want to go. Sorry if I'm wrong but wouldn't this be the same in the base Bronco?

I was looking into this and so far I don't see where Apple CarPlay is on the base. It works great on my F-150. If the base has it, I'm in.

 

[DonM]

I was looking into this and so far I don't see where Apple CarPlay is on the base. It works great on my F-150. If the base has it, I'm in.

Everything indicates it is on the Base. I'm just not sure if it gets wireless CarPlay like the higher trim levels. CarPlay and AndroidAuto and convertible and 4x4 are my only real requirements. If I start off-roading I'll just build a cheapie Cherokee like my buddy did. Unless I can find an older GX460/470 at a good price.

 

[Hoofnmouth]

I'm rethinking my BL decision. I don't need most of the extras that BL offers. I don't intend to do any rock crawling or major off road driving. And I'm thinking that the cloth seats will be better than vinyl in hot and cold extremes. I just want a cool looking truck that I can take the top off. And something that will get me through some snow. It's going to be just a toy - I'm keeping my F-150.

Which leads me back to the base. I only see 2 downsides to the base. Small tires and no nav system. I can fix the tire situation by getting a squatched base.

But I can't fix the lack of a nav system. The wife is adamant that she has to have a nav system. And it has to be built in - not some system that relies on a phone connection.

Anyone know of a way to get built in navigation aftermarket?

Why not use your phone for nav?

 

[AzScorpion]

I was looking into this and so far I don't see where Apple CarPlay is on the base. It works great on my F-150. If the base has it, I'm in.

The Base has Sync 4 which comes with Apple CarPlay.

 

[ronstar]

The Base has Sync 4 which comes with Apple CarPlay.

Everything indicates it is on the Base. I'm just not sure if it gets wireless CarPlay like the higher trim levels. CarPlay and AndroidAuto and convertible and 4x4 are my only real requirements. If I start off-roading I'll just build a cheapie Cherokee like my buddy did. Unless I can find an older GX460/470 at a good price.

Good to know! I have an old Bronco6G spreadsheet that shows Sync 4 in all trims, and shows Apple CarPlay as an option in Big Bend and standard on up. Not sure how accurate this spreadsheet is.

Why not use your phone for nav?

I want to see it on a bigger screen, and I have a data plan where I pay by how much data I use.

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