What Would YOU Do?

[RC Bronco]

I had this idea the other night and thought it might be a fun and thought provoking topic, so here goes!

Say you just purchased a stock Bronco, let’s go with something middle of the road to make things more interesting - a non-Sasquatch Black Diamond

Given this starting point, how would YOU spend $15,000 modifying it?

What activities do you plan on doing with it? Would it be a daily driver for you? What levels of trails would you be willing to tackle with it?

The upgrades can be anything from wheels and tires to suspension to interior accessories - whatever your heart desires

My thought for this thread is that it could give some ideas as to what is most important to spend money on for X activity, or just spur conversation as to why one should consider doing X instead of Y

Go wild and share your dreams with us!

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[PWillette]

- 74 Weld Steering Rack
- Icon HD tie-rods
- Adjustable coilovers w/ 2' of lift
- 35" x 10.5" tires on +12 offset wheels
- Rear trac bar relocation bracket
- Rock Jock front sway bar
- OEM Rock Rails

 

[RagnarKon]

Black Diamond was my original plan, but the oddities around manual transmission pricing eventually pushed me up to Badlands.

Here was my original list:

1. Winch
2. Interior storage system (ie. American Adventure Lab, Mountains2Metal, DIY, whatever)
3. 35s with wheels
4. Suspension upgrade for increased weight (ie. ARB Old Man Emu)
5. Amber fog lights

And that would probably put me around—if not slightly higher—than $15,000.

 

[Durangatan]

I purchased a base Sas. Added rack, full skid plates, rock rails. Works perfectly fine for driving around the ranch and backcountry roads (what tourists call “trails”) in SW CO.

 

[HOSSMAN]

I'm gonna creep the strip and cruise the mall with my 4 15's bump'n ya know that's right!

 

[Oldhippie]

I would trade It for a Sasquatch equipped one with the lockers and rack already there then do bumpers, winch, skids, stereo, lift 37s and on…see list below…

 

[Felix808]

- 74 Weld Steering Rack
- Icon HD tie-rods
- Adjustable coilovers w/ 2' of lift
- 35" x 10.5" tires on +12 offset wheels
- Rear trac bar relocation bracket
- Rock Jock front sway bar
- OEM Rock Rails

I would trade It for a Sasquatch equipped one with the lockers and rack already there then do bumpers, winch, skids, stereo, lift 37s and on…see list below…

5 minutes ago

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I would trade It for a Sasquatch equipped one with the lockers and rack already there then do bumpers, winch, skids, stereo, lift 37s and on…see list below…
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Ordered 10/27/21: 2dr, base, Sasquatch, 2.7, roof rails, aux switches, Eruption Green: moved to my22, 9/14/22. changed to ‘23 2dr Heritage, race red, 2.7, roof rails, aux switches, scheduled build date 8/28/23; moved to 10/02/23 cancelled by ford 11/7/23
ordered backup: green 2 dr non Sasquatch badlands 2.7, high, tow, roof rack, as a backup 5/25/23, badlands scheduled 6/1/23 with build date of 7/20/23, at dealer 8/22/23. Yes crazy fast… did not buy…because…forget all that…picked up an unclaimed 2023 red 2dr Big Bend with v6, Sasquatch, and tow 7/26/23…happy birthday to me…
Major upgrades so far: JCR Front Bumper, JCR Rear Crusader Bumper, JCR Rock Sliders Crusader, Warn VR Evo 10 winch, Tricky Motorsports frame horn kit, Full Ford skid plates, LOD Transmission Skid, Zone 3-Inch Lift Kit, RockJock Trac Bar Relocation, broken innovation Diff drop, Allied Expedition Tailgate, DV8 License Plate Bracket, Husky Floor & Cargo Liners, Bronco Script OEM Silver, ACUNTCTO Front Grill, Oracle tail lights, Diode Dynamics 3" pro SAE fog & Driving lights, Baja Designs, S2 Sport ditch lights, KC 6” Daylighters above windshield, Superbrightleds rear worklight, Stereo upgrade: (Kicker: CSC44,CSC65,48CWR84,KEY200.4,Key500.1 +JensenJA2B), Icon 17x8.5 0 offset wheels, 37x13.5r17 MT Baja Legend tires, Ford procal tuner, Hoss 3 rack with 74weld stage 1 kit, badlands electric sway bay disconnect…

I think you both went over budget

 

[PWillette]

I think you both went over budget

I'm actually a bit under. The rack big dollars obviously but...

- The adjsutable Eibach 2.0s can be had for $1,800.
- Good set of C or D rated 35s can be had for $1,800 or less for 5.
- Decent wheels of your choice can be had for $2,000 or less for 5.
- Icon HD tie rods can be had for $700.
- Rear trac bar relocation bracket can be had for under $200.
- I believe the Rock Jock front sway bar can be had for under $1k.
- Numerous OEM rock rails available in for sale thread...$400ish plus shipping.

I suppose I didn't leave much left for install labor.

 

[TX-Dennis]

I think you both went over budget

They probably work for the government.

 

[indio22]

I had this idea the other night and thought it might be a fun and thought provoking topic, so here goes!

Say you just purchased a stock Bronco, let’s go with something middle of the road to make things more interesting - a non-Sasquatch Black Diamond

Given this starting point, how would YOU spend $15,000 modifying it?

What activities do you plan on doing with it? Would it be a daily driver for you? What levels of trails would you be willing to tackle with it?

The upgrades can be anything from wheels and tires to suspension to interior accessories - whatever your heart desires

My thought for this thread is that it could give some ideas as to what is most important to spend money on for X activity, or just spur conversation as to why one should consider doing X instead of Y

Go wild and share your dreams with us!

I wouldn't spend $15K. But I would do the following:

• skid plates (if not included with Black Diamond)
• better front/rear bumpers (if Black Diamond has the plastic variety)
• 35" tires (consider different wheels if wanting more offset/style)
• 1-2" puck lift with leveling
• kayak/canoe rack
• rock rails
• hitch (cheap for bike rack)

You can go on lots of trails with that setup. I'm basing that on a decade in Colorado, off-roading beat up CJs that had similar or worse specs. I'd mainly only start upgrading Bronco from there, if encountering trails where legit there are issues continuing.

 

[Ninjak]

OK, lets do this.

1. Fabtech Unibal 4' lift with Coilover 2.5 resivoir shocks. 5203.01
2. fabtech rear swaybar 467.00
3. Black Rhino 17's Amoury Rims x5 1415.00
4. Cooper Discovery SST Pro 37 x5 1985.00
5.(Rock Sliders or Rails of your Choice)
6. Front steel Bumper, ADD Bomber Rigid 1999.98
7. Rear Steel Bumper, ADD Bomber 1749.98
8. Ford Procal. 699
9. DV8 Rear Tire Carrier and Accessory 849.00

This puts you at 14,366. No. 5 is for rock sliders or step bars. Rockslide Engineering will put you over budget but worth it.

This will get you a rig that can do trails, ride smoothly, some rock crawling, (mileage may vary) all while looking good doing it. Also functional.

 

[dgorsett]

I did your scenario with my 2d non Sas Big Bend with locker Auto and 2.3, so kinda your Black Diamond scenario with the cloth and wheels I wanted.

LRE AT tires-I got 265/70x17 Falkens-Would do 34x10.5x17 Toyos with your money
1.5/1.75 lift-I used Bilstein 5100s-6112's if you're buying
Ford Rock Rails Mabett Bolt on Steps-I'd do it again
RC Hidden Mount with Rugged Ridge 9k-Probably again, maybe bumper mounted
RC Rear and Matching Black Horse (Barricade) Tubular Bumpers-the same, maybe mount winch
Curt Trailer Hitch and Wiring-I'd order the factory for $500
ASFIR Trans Skid, Barnes shock skids-same
Flat tow set up, Blue Ox Base, Curt wiring, RVI Brake-same
Ford Tailgate table-maybe I'd go a different brand IDK
Pelican V700 storage-same
Ford Roof Rack-same
Mabett Door pockets-same

Now I've spent maybe $6 K so I have $9K left. I'd get a disco stabilizer bar. Since we're starting with a Black Diamond with 4.46s this time (which now that cloth is unavailable I would) I would get a locking FDU probably Spicer and a Hoss 3.0 steering rack and have money left. Using my Big Bend I'd have to get a rear as well so I could probably eat up the rest of the $.

 

[Offroadalliance]

Plenty of ways to spend $15k and get very different outcomes. Comes down to what the use of the vehicle will be. A good set of coilovers for some clearance, 35s if youre dailying or 37s for harder use, some skid plates, lighting and a steering rack will get you darn near anywhere you want.

15k is just shy of portals, whats the thoughts about portals and retaining the entire OEM drivetrain warranty and safety's Ford put in place, you get more ground clearance than any $6-10k lift kit on the market, youre the stance of LT with matching rear track widths and you can turn 37s with the gearing reduction with much less stress and strain on the OEM powertrain?

 

[PWillette]

15k is just shy of portals, whats the thoughts about portals and retaining the entire OEM drivetrain warranty and safety's Ford put in place, you get more ground clearance than any $6-10k lift kit on the market, youre the stance of LT with matching rear track widths and you can turn 37s with the gearing reduction with much less stress and strain on the OEM powertrain?

I like your thinking but I'd have to at least address the steering rack and tie rods.

 

[gonyr]

I'm inherently kind of lazy. So instead of modifying, I'd spend the $15k extra to get a wildtrak instead and just call it a day.

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