Tempted by a bronco

[BajaTJ]

Its an STS trailer. Its a 5x8 foot box which normally comes as a 2000 lb rated trailer but I had it built with a 3000 lb axle. Everything on the trailer is either aluminum (box and tailgate) or galvanized. So its light enough to push around the yard when raking leaves, but I can carry 3000 lb of gravel in it.

Its an awesome trailer. Also a great size since I can carry plywood/drywall flat, but its not too big.

The RZ is a 1985. I bought it used in 1987 with 900 miles on it for $900. I've got about 8000 miles on it now. It was my first street bike ever.

This is the bike at a friends house. The TA125 GP racer in the background he bought new in 1969ish.
He's also got a Canadian (R Zed) R model with a full fairing. You can see the tank in the back right.

I don’t want to take this too far off track. I’m going to look at those trailers. Looks like just what I want.

Crazy cheap! A friend had a yellow RZ350. At the time I had an ‘85 1000R Honda, then a ‘86 GSX750R. I rode his once and always thought I’d own one some day. I really thought I needed an RZ500. ?

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[dcmdon]

Sometimes procrastination works in your favor. In 1990 I bought a set of Toomey Pipes for the RZ. These were the best made and highest performing expansion chambers you could get.

It gave you an extra 1500 rpm up top and a 15 hp power bump. They also weighed 30 lbs !!! less than stock. I never put them on. In fact I just put them on last year. So they are pristine. Its a lot of fun.

Pm me if you want to chat more about it or the trailer.

 

[Ghetto Fab.]

My wife: "I saw a neat vehicle today I thought was cool, I'm pretty sure it was a Ford. I think it said blazer on the back."

I actually like the new bronco, at least the way it looks. The interior isn't too bad and being IFS it might work out well for my wife. She's wanted a jeep for a long time, she really just wants a lifestyle vehicle thats more interesting than her subaru. I could actually see us using it on trips and exploring with it a bit.

I work with jeeps at work and we now have a bronco too. I have not driven the bronco yet, but I guess I need to bring it home to show the wife. My observations:

• Its about the same size as a JL. Seating area looks comfy for most, but less storage in the back.
• It has no bumpstops. I guess they are built into the coilovers, but being an offroad suspension guy this just doesn't work well for me. To me it makes the bronco seem more car like than truck.
• The IFS is ok. IFS can work offroad. They need to stop giving us car steering systems though. Ford has over 20yrs of offroad racing experience with IFS suspensions, you'd think they could have figured this one out. There was a lot of hype over using IFS and justification for it offroad by the media, and honestly its all marketing hype. This IFS isn't any better than any other IFS and has all the same pitfalls as any other. What makes IFS better than solid axle is its steering abilities at speed, but they keep cutting corners on us so its also IFS's biggest liability. Sad.
• Tons of glass screens in the dash. Its neat I admit and maybe the direction of things to come. One of my coworkers mentioned that its a great vehicle to take the family out to the middle of nowhere and watch a movie while you fix the broken tie rod end or steering rack.
• I like the styling of the hood, but not for any actual wheeling. The jeep hood has much better sightlines since its narrow and turns down on the sides. The bronco hood is wide and actually turns up on the sides further cutting off vision.
• The soft top is kinda a joke. I don't know what they were thinking with the rear tailgate access. You have to lift up the whole rear of the top to get in. The Bestop top is way better. I would honestly just see if you can buy one without the ford top and just get the Bestop one instead.

Anyways, I do like them and think its neat to see another vehicle like jeeps out there. If you want that lifestyle vehicle but don't really intend to offroad it much then a bronco could be a good choice. If you want to actually use the vehicle for wheelin trails your better off starting with a jeep in my opinion.

 

[Jeepbreath]

I would be tempted also if they had one with a truck bed. Otherwise they’re not the same vehicle.

 

[legacy_etu]

Has the demand dried up on these already? I went by the Jeep/Ram/Ford dealership chain this weekend and they must have had easily 15 Bronco's on the lot. Just curious as I have no interest in 'em.

 

[Snake Eyes]

Looking at a 2.3 black diamond with additional mid package, modular bumper, and tow package.

Are there any glaring short comings compared to my willys such as drive train or suspension issues? The way I'm seeing it now is the black diamond matches what I have and adds a few things I want to add.

What I gain:
wash out floor - intend to add armorlite in my jeep eventually
marine grade vinyl seats - looking at similar material seat covers for my jeep
rear locker - lsd in my jeep
I like the look of the bronco(opinion)

What I lose
truck bed - pretty big deal but I figure I actually use the bed to capacity once in a blue moon, borrowing a small utility trailer from a family member seems to fix that issue
hard top - I think there will be a significant increase in noise but I have looked many times at moving to a soft top on my jeep. Removing my hard top is not necessarily taxing but it would be nice to have a simple fold down and quick deployment that travels with me
premium audio

I really like my jeep and the only thing other than rubicon or majave gladiator that would get me out of my current truck is a bronco.

This all really depends on how much the deal wants to deal with me. I'm looking at roughly 1-2k increase on my note after trade in.

My friend has a Bronco and the only thing he had an issue with, which is happening to a lot of the soft top owners, is that the inside of the soft top comes apart once hot weather hits. His just peeled right away from the other part.

The dealers are gluing them back up which sometimes works and sometimes does not. If it does not they have to get a new soft top ordered, which of course has the same factory glue.

 

[dcmdon]

Has the demand dried up on these already? I went by the Jeep/Ram/Ford dealership chain this weekend and they must have had easily 15 Bronco's on the lot. Just curious as I have no interest in 'em.

I don't think so. The way to tell would be to stop by that dealer with 15 on the lot and see if they aren't selling because demand is low. Of if they have 15 because the dealer knows they won't be getting any more in for 8 weeks and they have $5000 of ADM added to the sticker.

 

[legacy_etu]

I don't think so. The way to tell would be to stop by that dealer with 15 on the lot and see if they aren't selling because demand is low. Of if they have 15 because the dealer knows they won't be getting any more in for 8 weeks and they have $5000 of ADM added to the sticker.

Just checked their website. Yup. $5k ADM.

 

[dcmdon]

Hah.

They wouldn't be doing that if they knew they had another 20 coming in at the end of the month.

 

[BAT]

I don't think so. The way to tell would be to stop by that dealer with 15 on the lot and see if they aren't selling because demand is low. Of if they have 15 because the dealer knows they won't be getting any more in for 8 weeks and they have $5000 of ADM added to the sticker.

Yep the one's on the lots around me are just sitting there cause they have the price so jacked up you just want to throw your money away.

 

[FormerToyotaGuy]

I would be tempted also if they had one with a truck bed. Otherwise they’re not the same vehicle.

100% agree. I loved my FJ which I think of the Bronco as being a updated version. However, having a truck bed is a must for me. If they made a Bronco with a bed I would maybe consider it...otherwise no thanks.

 

[dcmdon]

In my case a truck bed isn't necessary. If I'm doing truly "truck-ish" stuff I use my trailer. Which is a better truck than most trucks.

I needed cargo space. Initial reports said it had a lot more cargo space than a Wrangler. But when I saw it in the flesh, it was only a little bit larger. Still too small to take my dog crate lengthwise, which is a key requirement.

I'm tired of carrying the crate in the back seat or taking my wife's Volvo wagon hunting. It fits lengthwise in her car but it doesn't fit in a bronco or wrangler.

The Gladiator with a topper swallows it with tons of room to spare.

 

[AmosMoses]

How strong is the front drive train compared to the wrangler?

 

[dcmdon]

How strong is the front drive train compared to the wrangler?

I guess it depends on what you are measuring when you say strong?

Tie rod ends are a known problem. but most other stuff seems to be doing ok. The front differential on the Sasquatch versions are Dana M210s.

 

[Bonanza]

How strong is the front drive train compared to the wrangler?

It's fine stock. But IFS limits become known quickly when you add bigger tires. The tie rods have been snapping left and right on these, but seems to be an easy fix. TrailRecon and the Litebrite folks traded theirs in already-- not that it means much, but their take is somewhat interesting. For me, teetering on 3 wheels is very uncomfortable and makes me not enjoy wheeling. The sensation of almost rolling over is nerve wracking.

But make no mistake, Broncos are cool. I like em. I would never buy one based on the lack of rear sent vents for my kids, but I think Ford did a great job.

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