Seat Position and Visibility Disappointment

[AP_2004]

I'm 5' tall and concerned about front visibility. Will be test driving a Bronco tomorrow. Being able to see the hood is kinda important.

I’m 5’1 and had no issues with front visibility when I test drove an OBX. The hood is pretty wide but the seats raise up high enough to give more than enough visibility imo. I actually had to lower the seat some initially. Hope you enjoy your test drive!!

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[USBDLNDS123]

I have not had the opportunity to drive the bronco yet. My question is, do the trail sights-or whatever they are called that are located on the left and right sides of the hood assist in your awareness of the bronco's width while driving? It sounds like some folks have a hard time knowing how much space they have or how far their fenders/front quarter panels extend.

I just returned from the off-rodeo and found the trail sites helpful to gauge approximately where your outside edges are. The cameras on the 12 inch screen also helped in addition to the mirrors.

 

[Scohin]

I’m 5’1 and had no issues with front visibility when I test drove an OBX. The hood is pretty wide but the seats raise up high enough to give more than enough visibility imo. I actually had to lower the seat some initially. Hope you enjoy your test drive!!

I'm 5'4" and didn't have issues with the automatic seats. And tested the manuals awhile back and had no issues

 

[USBDLNDS123]

A bit! at least imo. Coming from a JK wrangler it feels bigger and higher up, for sure. I believe this may come from the hood being flatter and doesn't taper off and down like a Jeep. The trail sights are cool and helped me to know where the corners of the vehicle END, as far as width it kinda helped with the passenger side, the driver's side is obviously a bit easier to gage.

It remains to be seen how it feels with the SAS (I drove a badlands but ordered a BB SAS) but having only drove it one time it feels bigger on the inside than it actually is on the outside.

I would definitely agree with the bronco feeling bigger on the trail than it actually is. Took some adjustments but had a great time driving this at the bronco off rodeo

 

[JT58Bronc]

I am a little concerned about the seating position and leg room to steering wheel position. I am 6', all legs. So in most vehicles I can get the seat back far enough although I am too far from the steering wheel. I need a lot of telescoping in the steering. For example I do not fit in Toyota Tacoma- too far from the steering wheel even fully telescoped out. Granted it only has like 1" of telescoping.

On the Bronco did the wheel telescope enough, or were the seats able to be raised at all with a lever?

My current 2019 Silverado Base truck I did not fit very well at all when I first got it. It does not have telescoping steering and I sat way too low and could not see over the hood very well. Was a fairly easy remedy- I fabricated spacers and had to trial and error different sizes front and rear to get ideal seating position- height and also so that my legs were comfortable and I was not too far from the steering wheel. It took at least 5 trys. The ideal combination end being 1" spacers in the front made out of square tubing and 3/8" round spacers for the back of the seat. Perfect in all aspects now.

 

[Cheshire]

@RhodeIslandRed

"Ground clearance on the sasquatch wasn't enough for me. No tape measure; just looking under the front end. I'll be lifting my non-sas Badlands and 35s on day 1."

Question: How exactly does a lift increase ground clearance?

 

[Compta38]

I'm sitting here wondering how a Big Bend got the 12 inch screen.

 

[dweskamp]

I'm 6'4 seat was fine way down. I raised to the highest and could drive it like a tank with my noodle above the roof.

 

[ZackDanger]

@RhodeIslandRed

"Ground clearance on the sasquatch wasn't enough for me. No tape measure; just looking under the front end. I'll be lifting my non-sas Badlands and 35s on day 1."

Question: How exactly does a lift increase ground clearance?

Depends on where you measure and what you value...

On the IFS a lift will increase clearance on everything except for the lower control arms/steering and suspension components.

On a SFA/SRA it will increase clearance on the underside of the body but not the axle or other suspension components...

So if you're measuring the "vehicle clearance" it works better on the IFS then a solid axle... but even on a solid axle, it raises clearance on everything but the axle, which is nice because all you have to worry about clearing is the in line with the wheels, so you just put the wheel over the obstacle and then you'll be okay.

But I get the point you were making.

 

[Cheshire]

Depends on where you measure and what you value...

On the IFS a lift will increase clearance on everything except for the lower control arms/steering and suspension components.

On a SFA/SRA it will increase clearance on the underside of the body but not the axle or other suspension components...

So if you're measuring the "vehicle clearance" it works better on the IFS then a solid axle... but even on a solid axle, it raises clearance on everything but the axle, which is nice because all you have to worry about clearing is the in line with the wheels, so you just put the wheel over the obstacle and then you'll be okay.

But I get the point you were making.

I get some stuff will be raised, but technically it doesn't increase ground clearance, i.e. how high a curb can you drive over without touching. I've done a decent amount of off roading in the day and never had anything bigger than 32" tires. Call me crazy, but the 35s on the Sasquatch will be plenty for me.

 

[BlackBeauty]

I agreed with the Defender to Bronco switch as I am in the same situation.

I arrived at one of the Bronco events at a dealership and sat in one for the first time and felt like I couldn’t see above the steering wheel…I’m 6’1”
Thankfully I found a handle on the seat (lower section by the door) and pumped it up until my head was sticking out of the top like a giraffe, problem averted!!
I still subscribe to the Defender forums because I like to read about other peoples misery while I have an extended warranty!!!

 

[RhodeIslandRed]

I agreed with the Defender to Bronco switch as I am in the same situation.

I arrived at one of the Bronco events at a dealership and sat in one for the first time and felt like I couldn’t see above the steering wheel…I’m 6’1”
Thankfully I found a handle on the seat (lower section by the door) and pumped it up until my head was sticking out of the top like a giraffe, problem averted!!
I still subscribe to the Defender forums because I like to read about other peoples misery while I have an extended warranty!!!

I forgot to throw that comment in there. As great as the Defender is when it is working, they need way too many repairs to be sustainable for me any more. I also am looking forward to a warranty and hopefully something more dependable. It can't possibly be worse in that category.

 

[omg_bbq]

If this was truly a Big Bend then it only had the 8" screen, as High Package isn't available on anything below an OBX.

Exactly, now I'm wondering if OP got the screen size wrong or was driving an OBX or something hah

 

[RhodeIslandRed]

Exactly, now I'm wondering if OP got the screen size wrong or was driving an OBX or something hah

I just got the screen size wrong. It was a Big Bend with Sas.

I went back over and looked at it again today after some of this feedback.

 

[Tricky Dick]

But here was my big takeaway and I don't know how many people this applies to or that can relate. The driver position and the visibility are kinda gross. It is a lot like a car. It feels a lot more like my mdx than my f250. And maybe that is by design. Maybe that's what the original was like. I don't know/remember.

I know this is a Jeep-killer and maybe this is what it's like in the Jeep. I'm coming from Defenders (not the new monstrosity) and I am used to sitting upright and seeing everything, everywhere. In the bronco, you are somewhat reclined and your legs are out in front of you. Your seated position is low and the windows are short. It doesn't feel like cockpit I'm used to being in when on-trail.

I disagree completely. The seat adjustability range is large enough that the seating position is whatever you want it to be. All you had to do was raise the seat to get the trucky position.

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