Let's Be Honest About Our Intended Use

[timhood]

Now I'm not trying to bash anyone here, but lets be honest with ourselves...
I'm not trying to talk anyone out of buying what they want, just trying to start a discussion about what YOUR intended use and needs are and how they align with the trim/options you have in mind.

Honestly, ours will spend most of its time in the urban jungle. But it will get most of its off-road use on the kind of beat up, rutted-out dirt-and-rock roads that a lesser SUV could get though, if only slower and more carefully. I wanna take those roads faster and not spend an hour just getting to the slot canyon or other activity. I'm willing to go over minor rock obstacles and such, but I don't see us doing Moab-level rock crawling. I am considering whether an extra set of wheels and tires might make sense. Let's call it used but not abused. ?

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[Deltapony123]

My daily driver. I loved the 70’s Bronco and didn’t have one. Getting one now! All grown up since the 70’s, My paycheck...my Bronco!
I have an F450 to pull my horse trailers and my horse is my off-road vehicle.

 

[Goocci gang]

There's absolutely no functional use for the diamonds on my wife's rings, but I damn sure needed to have them in there.

Damn straight.

 

[Kellystoy]

With all this discussion of trims, options, and prices, There's a lot of hamsters running around in peoples heads thinking about what they're going to go with. I see people asking questions about should I get (insert) trim with these options or this trim with these options. Now this is good, we're thinking about what we want to spend our hard earned money on, but lets take a minute and think about our needs and intended use of the Bronco.

Now I'm not trying to bash anyone here, but lets be honest with ourselves. How many of us are going to spend $50k-$60k on a totally optioned out off-road trim and go out to the trails to beat on it like it's a 30 year old Toyota? For a lot of people this will be their first off-road vehicle, and off-road has many different definitions depending on who you are. We all might have intentions of going to Rubicon or Moab to tackle the toughest trails, but in reality fire roads and mild dirt trails that sedans can get by on will probably be the extent for the average person. Now before you hardcore off-roaders flip tables, yes I'm aware there are some people out there that will push the limits, but they will most likely be a small majority.

I'm not trying to talk anyone out of buying what they want, just trying to start a discussion about what YOUR intended use and needs are and how they align with the trim/options you have in mind.

I am turning 50 and always wanted a jeep to bum around in (hang at the beach- go for long drives). Hubs is against a jeep due to the rusting out. I seriously want this for the top down doors off- if my Bronco sees a dirt road it will be by accident. I chose the Big Bend because the grill looks better then the base. I am driving my dad and hubs nuts with Bronco talk as I could care less about the capabilities it will have- I also don't understand any of anyway. This is my mid life crisis toy and better then a corvette in my opinion.

 

[Hamhands]

I reserved a 4 door base model, will probably be bone stock except for lockers if possible, grey hardtop and maybe automatic. I'm using mine to haul my jon boat and trailer to the lake. I will also use it to navigate service and logging roads to get to hunting areas, I also expect the bronco to get me around in the snow. I will ask the bronco to carry me through mudholes and other terrain just for the fun of it.

 

[kbBronco]

With all this discussion of trims, options, and prices, There's a lot of hamsters running around in peoples heads thinking about what they're going to go with. I see people asking questions about should I get (insert) trim with these options or this trim with these options. Now this is good, we're thinking about what we want to spend our hard earned money on, but lets take a minute and think about our needs and intended use of the Bronco.

Now I'm not trying to bash anyone here, but lets be honest with ourselves. How many of us are going to spend $50k-$60k on a totally optioned out off-road trim and go out to the trails to beat on it like it's a 30 year old Toyota? For a lot of people this will be their first off-road vehicle, and off-road has many different definitions depending on who you are. We all might have intentions of going to Rubicon or Moab to tackle the toughest trails, but in reality fire roads and mild dirt trails that sedans can get by on will probably be the extent for the average person. Now before you hardcore off-roaders flip tables, yes I'm aware there are some people out there that will push the limits, but they will most likely be a small majority.

I'm not trying to talk anyone out of buying what they want, just trying to start a discussion about what YOUR intended use and needs are and how they align with the trim/options you have in mind.

Thank you for this, as much as my initial reaction was load me up, I genuinely only want the look. That feel of an old Bronco, top off music blaring. I definitely don’t need to get much over standard to recapture this vibe!

 

[alexraw]

I reserved a OBX but will most likely go down to a BD. I will use it mainly for daily driving with the occasional mud, trails and road trips/camping.

 

[North7]

There's probably a better thread for this, but as a complete noob, how do you guys find these trails/old logging roads, etc.?

All Trails is a great start, then there are other similar websites and apps.

https://www.alltrails.com/

 

[targas]

I'm in a quandary here, my "plan" was to replace my JK with the Bronco and sell my JK. The problem is, we do extreme trails in the JK so I need to come to the realization that I probably need to keep my JK and have the Bronco as a mall crawler.

To be a true replacement, I will need to swap axles to support 40's and all the other stuff that's required to make that happen. I wouldn't even consider taking the Bronco in stock form out where we go without heavy upgrades, and then the 60k vehicle quickly becomes 80k +. Quite frankly, it's not going to be worth it.

That said, I plan to keep it nice and do mountain passes, drinking my tomato juice waving to all the other overlanders.

So OP is correct, my expectations have changed for this vehicle.

 

[Fuzion2Bronco]

Yesterday I was in Burger King Parking Lot and I stopped in the empty lot to eat my Hot Chicken Fingers and Hot Jalapeno Cheddar Bites with my kids and when we are done, I just hit the Gas slowly and I hear something very hard and I'm like oh no! what did I hit. I slowly backed down and got off the car-Pilot and went to the front passenger side and saw it was the parking curb and I checked the Front Fender and the Step Board and found No Scratches or Damage. Phew! nothing happend and immediately thought if Only I had my Bronco I would not have backed off but just went over it like its nothing.?

That is not my PILOT but just an illustration how BIG is the Curb ?

 

[Tory Brecht]

I drove 2 different 4Dr Rubicons from Austin TX to Panama and back, two winters in a row. Spent a few months doing it each winter and it was amazing. I'd highly recommend in the Bronco! Nicaragua was the place I liked most.

My wife’s aunt has a home in Nicaragua- not far from the Costa Rica border. It is the most beautiful place I’ve been on this planet, and I travel a lot. I imagine current day Nicaragua must be like what California was 100 years ago.

 

[Aboen]

Commuter + pismo beach 2-3 times a year, snowboarding in Tahoe 3-4 times a year.

 

[Cheshire]

My wife’s aunt has a home in Nicaragua- not far from the Costa Rica border. It is the most beautiful place I’ve been on this planet, and I travel a lot. I imagine current day Nicaragua must be like what California was 100 years ago.

Nice pic, looks awesome!

 

[Cencal Bronco]

I am definitely using as a DD. And I drive a lot for work. That being said, I wish I could get the tires from BD on a BB. I feel that is all I would need.

 

[steevenk]

This a fun one to hear everyone's responses too, and really badly makes me want to explore more off roading.

There's probably a better thread for this, but as a complete noob, how do you guys find these trails/old logging roads, etc.? Also I'm in Illinois right near Indiana, so if anyone has trail recommendations in the area I'll be very curious and start compiling a list!

I am in Chicago. If you are looking for forest service roads you should look up all the state and national forests in Michigan, the UP, and Wisconsin. These areas typically allow dispersed camping and have plenty of dirt roads and trails. When you go to their websites go to the map section and find the MVUM maps. Those maps show you where you can drive a road vehicle. There will also be countless trails that aren’t on the maps but be careful because they are most likely not maintained at all and you may find quickly that your vehicle can’t fit since they are ATV trails or similar.

There are apps too. Avenza Maps also allows you to download those maps, or similar ones, to use with the phones gps.

Manistee National Forest in MI is only like 2 hours away. In WI you have Chequamegon and a couple others. The UP is like all state and national forest land. Camp pretty much anywhere as long as it is 100 ft from a service road. You will also find many “sites” already set up from previous campers.

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