Hopefully you investigated insurance coverag of the animal damage to your Bronco. My policy covered thousand dollar rodent damage the same as if I'd hit a Deer.
Have you found skinny 33s in a suitable load range for a Bronco? I use 255/85R16 on my F250 but I haven't seen them in lighter load ranges, I haven't looked very hard.
I had a similar problem with a Mercedes van warranty, I was able to buy it in another state. There's lots of weird state restrictions and varying dealer policies involved.
Not with Ford, but with other manufacturers, it's pretty standard. It's hard to find a place without access to Ford dealers these days. In my opinion they should pay for a competent technician when you can't find one at your local Ford (or other) dealer.
If Ford pays out of warranty claims to owners that chose not to buy their extended warranty they make fools out of their customers who did, and of course discourage owners from buying the extended warranty, that Ford sells, in the future.
I have a late build 25, I bought a Dorman plug from Napa just to have a spare, I guess it won't work? Does anybody have the serial # break when the new pan/plug went into use?