A Dream Deferred - Ursa Minor Bronco Build

[crzyhawk]

I love that tailgate stove

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[Bruno]

- Mabbett Tailgate with Dometic Stove

what does this look like folded up? how do you connect the propane tank

 

[Felix808]

Nicely done & you just can't beat this picture

 

[BattleBornBronco]

love the steelies, im also running 16" steelies.
prismatic has a powdercoat that is a body color match for me with cactus grey
https://www.prismaticpowders.com/shop/powder-coating-colors/PSS-11342/ford-cactus-gray

love the Ursa top in color match, i dream of an Ursa top, i never considered body color before very inspiring! Im at least a few years out from making that happen

would love to see some interior pics! how is it for getting up in the pass through?

I thought about some color matching on the steelies, might still do it. I go back and forth on it.

the interior is fairly easy to get into. My 7 year old can do it pretty easily and my 4 year old needs a little help. I’ll dm some interior pics when I get a chance. Cool interior though, lights and 12v outlets are nice.

I love that tailgate stove

Me too. Just trying to speed up the cooking part of taking trips. The pull out kitchens are fairly expensive so this made more sense for me, but I’d love one of those goose gear pull out kitchens.

 

[BattleBornBronco]

what does this look like folded up? how do you connect the propane tank

 

[Steve_In_29]

Wait... you've never used a spare yet you won't give it up? That's like saying I bring a spare engine even though I've never needed it.

I'd say a CV axle or steering rack would be better parts to carry. That's assuming you own quality (non china) 3ply sidewall off road oriented tires.

We carry 6 gallons of fuel instead of the spare and use the fuel every trip. Much more useful for us.

I have been wheeling for over 40 years and used spares multiple times during that. Once when on the end of a winch rope to keep me from rolling down the hill as we changed the tire. A friend used TWO spares within a hundred yards of each other one time. I have also used plugs numerous times.

It is FOOLISH to go off road without a spare. ESPECIALLY with a family.
The fad is something I have seen become more popular with the look at me youtube generation. Who post their difficulties to get clicks and money.

 

[BattleBornBronco]

I have been wheeling for over 40 years and used spares multiple times during that. Once when on the end of a winch rope to keep me from rolling down the hill as we changed the tire. A friend used TWO spares within a hundred yards of each other one time. I have also used plugs numerous times.

It is FOOLISH to go off road without a spare. ESPECIALLY with a family.
The fad is something I have seen become more popular with the look at me youtube generation. Who post their difficulties to get clicks and money.

I hear ya. I like to do trails that would be difficult for a normal SUV, but that ain’t sayin much for what I do. If I’m rewarded with a view or a nice water crossing, that’s usually good enough for me. United by Bronco has always interested me and if I ever do that, I’ll throw the spare in.

 

[TruckCamper]

It is FOOLISH to go off road without a spare. ESPECIALLY with a family.
The fad is something I have seen become more popular with the look at me youtube generation. Who post their difficulties to get clicks and money.

Or you could buy quality tires and have ability to repair. Foolish is not having ability to fix things or buying crap tires or running the OE junk.

 

[Steve_In_29]

Or you could buy quality tires and have ability to repair. Foolish is not having ability to fix things or buying crap tires or running the OE junk.

I never skimped on quality tires in that 40 years .

Posted that I had done repairs may times as well.

Running without a spare is a new fad for the "I'm cool" crowd,

 

[TruckCamper]

I never skimped on quality tires in that 40 years .

Posted that I had done repairs may times as well.

Running without a spare is a new fad for the "I'm cool" crowd,

Hardly. It's not practical to haul an extra 100lbs hanging off the rear. Blocks visibility. If you back into a tree the door will be damaged. There's many reasons for not carrying a spare.

But by all means carry your spare. Or better yet... carry 2 because you never know! After all racers do it. Maybe strap one to the roof too for good measure.

 

[gbub]

Wait... you've never used a spare yet you won't give it up? That's like saying I bring a spare engine even though I've never needed it.

I'd say a CV axle or steering rack would be better parts to carry. That's assuming you own quality (non china) 3ply sidewall off road oriented tires.

We carry 6 gallons of fuel instead of the spare and use the fuel every trip. Much more useful for us.

I have been on trips where fellow travelers had flats that could not be repaired. Their spare came in very handy. Otherwise they would have been stuck in the middle of nowhere or had to borrow someone else's spare, which I have seen happen too.

I have carried a spare engine for my race car when racing on the other side of the country. As I recall I did have to use it one time. Traveling from CA to Road America in WI without a spare engine would be a waste of time and money if the first engine failed during practice.

I also carry extra fuel. The amount depends on how deep into the wilderness I am going.

 

[KreeHBronco]

Hello B6G,

Meet Scout, my 1st gen-inspired 2021 7mt Lux Badlands. This is a brief history of her life.

I was a day 1 reservation holder in July 2020, originally placing my reservation with Gaudin Ford in Las Vegas. After trolling these threads way back in 2020, Granger announced their pricing and I moved my reservation to them, thankfully before the order made enough progress to tie me to Gaudin. My order was placed and processed by THE Albert Schmitz (RIP). Granger and Albert were amazing to work with, helping me navigate COVID parts constraints to expedite my bronco build. After removing the tow package and changing from the 2.7l/Auto to the 2.3l/7mt, Ford built her in October of 2021 and she is one of the first 5,000 broncos off the line. Leaving the dealership, my brother plugged the VIN into Carvana and my instant cash offer was $89,000. Hard to believe some early 6G's went for six figures, but she cost me about $49,000 out the door.

With less than 200 original miles, I was driving on the interstate when a Honda's car hood came off and I drove into it going 70+ mph in Nebraska. An accident on the first day of ownership. Devastating, but accelerated the beginning of my build. It smashed the carbonized gray badlands grill and I opted to go with the base matte black grill. It required some trimming as the grills don't have identical fitment, but nonetheless, the bronco had been in an accident and she was modified... she was mine now.

The first 6 months of ownership was fun. Lots of love on the trails and gas stations for the new rig. Through the years I've done trails in Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and Oklahoma (work trip). Most of her scars are in the undercarriage and the pinstriping. She has a new front diff from when the diff exploded, luckily under warranty. Between the trails, she's been a lego set that I never seem to fully put down. I am in no way a mechanic, but I don't remember getting a class to play with legos either so for everyone here who's wondering if they can step into heavy, difficult, lengthy modifications with no experience, you can. You have this forum, YouTube, and other resources. Mistakes are okay. I've made many. I have marred the frame, my panels are not perfectly aligned, and some of my work is sloppy, but it's mostly in spaces of the bronco you don't see and have not affected my use of the vehicle. My goal was to heavily modify the rig without it being too obvious. When the paint-matched Ursa-Minor top is down, it's hard to tell everything that's done to her. For those with a keen eye, she still gets a little love with the new top.

My major mods are
- Paint-Matched Ursa Minor Top (~13k)
- ADV Fiberglass Fenders
- Rough Country Hidden Winch with HF Badlands Winch
- Stage 1 Icon lift and Mikelis 2" Body Lift
- Black Diamond Steelies with 37x11.5 Nitto Recon Grapplers
- ARB Dual Compressor
- Rigid Lightbar, NiLite POD lights
- Turn offroad rear bumper and spare tire delete
- Ford Performance 2.3l Tune
- Mabbett Tailgate with Dometic Stove
- Lensun Solar 65w hood solar w/ controller
- Iceco APL35 and LiTime 100ah spare battery (also powers Ursa Minor top)

My two cents to current and future builders, while there is some truth to "you get what you pay for", I also look at advice I got from a friend while renting a boat on Shasta Lake. The best boat is the one that gets you on the lake. Any bronco or modification to a bronco that gets you on the trail and on your next adventure sounds good to me. Also, I can't get too far in the story without mentioning some folks that helped me along the way. The dream started when a buddy from the National Guard (https://www.instagram.com/gdayjambo/) bought and restored a Troop Carrier with a camper top installed by FitGarage in Bend, Oregon. He never overhauled a classic and nonetheless took on the restoration and traveled to the tip of South America in an aging, imported Troopy. I saw what Ursa Minor had and I made it my dream to camp out of my bronco, too. Another buddy from the Guard (https://www.instagram.com/1965chummins/) rescued me when my diff exploded and has helped me wrench on this bronco. Again, another guy who never restored a vehicle and one day decided it was time. Finally, I had significant help from my work buddy @Jms1 who had the specialized tools I didn't have, gave me install tips, and lended a hand when the job needs 2 guys. There is a community on here and in real life that extends beyond the bronco community, use it.

Moving forward, you can find me at west coast bronco events and trails, I'll probably go to Bronco Super Cel Nevada in October. I'll eventually make a Baja run in Mexico and do the ice highway in Canada. Maybe I'll do some music festivals out of her, who knows. The toil is always worth it in the end regardless of what goes wrong along the way. My AC just failed and I could give two $h!t$, I'll fix that when I have time between adventures. My kids are incredibly proud of the rig and don't be surprised if you have sons and daughters if your daughter likes it more. Mine certainly does. Thank you B6G, we'll see you on the trail and in the forums. Please feel free to ask any and all questions, too.

@BattleBornBronco

I recognize Mt. Shasta and Shasta Lake/dam!! Wow, that is a major build! Looks great.

 

[Steve_In_29]

Hardly. It's not practical to haul an extra 100lbs hanging off the rear. Blocks visibility. If you back into a tree the door will be damaged. There's many reasons for not carrying a spare.

But by all means carry your spare. Or better yet... carry 2 because you never know! After all racers do it. Maybe strap one to the roof too for good measure.

And everything you mentioned is total BS.

Backing into a tree is the sign of a driver with POOR situational awareness skills. ESPECIALLY since 6G Broncos come with rear cameras. Perhaps you should confine your off-roading to snow covered parking lots. Though in that case I guess you are still likely to back into a lamp post.

 

[Finbox]

Ursa Minor is deferring my dream because they will not refund my hundred dollar “refundable deposit”……

 

[hbmarcus714]

I never skimped on quality tires in that 40 years .

Posted that I had done repairs may times as well.

Running without a spare is a new fad for the "I'm cool" crowd,

You obviously just aren't cool enough!

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