Tempted by a bronco

[dcmdon]

Anyone who says the Bronco is large has not spent any time walking around one and has DEFINITELY not sat in one.

It is nowhere near large. It is slightly larger than the Wrangler. The square fenders make it look larger from the drivers seat but that's it. The interior is marginally wider and that is also it.

The Bronco is based on the Ranger, fyi.

Bronco - 173" long and 76" wide with a 100 inch wheelbase

Wrangler - 166, width is 74. with a 97" wheelbase

Gladiator - 218!!! inches long, 74" wide with a 137" wheelbase.

As a point of Reference, the F150 with the short bed is a true full sized truck has the following dimensions.

F150 - 231" long, 80" wide, with a 145" wheelbase.

I had a deposit on a Bronco. Finding out that the interior cargo space was no larger than a Wrangler and couldn't fit much of what I need to carry on any kind of family weekend trip is mainly why I bailed on the Bronco and shifted to a Gladiator with a topper.

As far as width, nobody in my family is large. The Gladiator interior is plenty big and frankly better for us. I'd rather have the MUCH nicer interior quality of a Gladiator Mojave than any version of the Bronco, which is plasticky and cheap feeling.

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[dcmdon]

One point in the Bronco's favor that I forgot to mention. On 4 door models, there is a 2nd row freedom panel type roof. So you can remove that to let the sun shine on 2nd row occupants without removing the rest of the top.

Of course the hard top will squeak and leak, but they will sort that out eventually.

 

[Garemlin]

My Black Diamond just arrived at the dealer the other day. Salesmen sent me this pic. According to the Ford tracker it was still awaiting transport.

I'm walking away. Don't have a warm fuzzy with all of the QC issues.

 

[FrankFrqnkFrank]

My Black Diamond just arrived at the dealer the other day. Salesmen sent me this pic. According to the Ford tracker it was still awaiting transport.

I'm walking away. Don't have a warm fuzzy with all of the QC issues.

That’s the trim level I would’ve ordered.

 

[Rahkmalla]

My Black Diamond just arrived at the dealer the other day. Salesmen sent me this pic. According to the Ford tracker it was still awaiting transport.

I'm walking away. Don't have a warm fuzzy with all of the QC issues.

The best part of the BD was the factory steelies! No wonder you don't this one, it has the extra cost worse wheels.

 

[Garemlin]

The best part of the BD was the factory steelies! No wonder you don't this one, it has the extra cost worse wheels.

I ordered it that way. I like the optional wheels. Do not like the steelies.

 

[Lush]

I absolutely love the looks of the Bronco, but I really did need the truck bed so it got ruled out. That, and having to wait so long that my trade in would have likely lost its value helped me just pull the trigger on the JT now.

 

[Orange01z28]

Anyone who says the Bronco is large has not spent any time walking around one and has DEFINITELY not sat in one.

It is nowhere near large. It is slightly larger than the Wrangler. The square fenders make it look larger from the drivers seat but that's it. The interior is marginally wider and that is also it.

The Bronco is based on the Ranger, fyi.

Bronco - 173" long and 76" wide with a 100 inch wheelbase

Wrangler - 166, width is 74. with a 97" wheelbase

Gladiator - 218!!! inches long, 74" wide with a 137" wheelbase.

As a point of Reference, the F150 with the short bed is a true full sized truck has the following dimensions.

F150 - 231" long, 80" wide, with a 145" wheelbase.

I had a deposit on a Bronco. Finding out that the interior cargo space was no larger than a Wrangler and couldn't fit much of what I need to carry on any kind of family weekend trip is mainly why I bailed on the Bronco and shifted to a Gladiator with a topper.

As far as width, nobody in my family is large. The Gladiator interior is plenty big and frankly better for us. I'd rather have the MUCH nicer interior quality of a Gladiator Mojave than any version of the Bronco, which is plasticky and cheap feeling.

I've seen these specs so many times but the Bronco looks large

Which makes it even more of a bummer since it's smaller in capacity

 

[OngsterA]

'as wide as an F150 Raptor' sure won't fit in many trails. Nice sounding exhaust though....but still not as great as a 392

 

[bleda2002]

It looks wider because with mirrors the bronco is 86 inches wide so the bronco looks a foot wider versus the wranglers 77 inches. The wrangler also has the tapered front and the 75 or so inches includes the fenders. With fenders the bronco sasquatch body is 80 inches and it's got that big wide hood to just look big and heavy instead of tapered.

 

[Summitsearcher]

We almost got a Bronco for my wife. We had a 68 when we got married, but we ended up getting rid of it since we had too many Jeeps. haha. I think they are rad, and with 35s or 37s, look great in a 4 door. Quality issues and wait time have us on pause with it, and will likely wait another couple of years to see how they refine those shortages and quality issues. Price is also Waaaayyy up there compared to initial prices. Our Gladiator will always be around as we use it to haul our Newfoundland Poodle(130 pounds), tow trailers, and camp out of the back of it, and a billion other reasons we need a truck bed. Today for instance, we brought home 28 bags of mulch....my wife's 2022 Pathfinder with all 6 rear seats down couldn't hold that, so I would have needed a trailer.

”130 pounds” ? That’s a lot of dog food. What goes in must come out! Shovel ready project.

 

[BajaTJ]

How about swapping out the MTs for some K02s. That will improve the ride immensely.

By the way, if you have the room, you can't beat a trailer. $2k gets you a very nice trailer that can haul as much weight as an F250, more cargo space (5x8), and the load height is 1/3 as high.

I got rid of my pickup truck in 2008 and bought a trailer. No ragretts. I've got a cap for the Gladiator, so if I've got any heavy hauling to do, its going on the trailer.

What trailer is that? Love those RZs!

 

[Dls79]

We ordered a Bronco the first day that a reservation could be made back in 2020. We ordered a Badlands Sasquatch 4 door 2.7 with Lux package and towing package. We typically drive Fords as my wife and her family are either current Ford employees or retired from Ford. Our 2018 JLUR was our first non Ford in many, many years. I currently have a 2021 JTR. Our Bronco finally arrived two weeks ago. A couple weeks prior to taking delivery of the Bronco, my wife and I attended a Ford sponsored off road event where we were able to drive demo Broncos. During the off-road event and since receiving our Bronco I have the following impressions;
1. Fit and finish on Bronco is better then either of our two Jeeps. Especially the paint.
2. More interior room. I am 6.4” tall and could not drive our JLUR until I installed the Misch Big Boy seat brackets (I have no issue with headroom in the JLUR)
3. The Bronco’s 2.7 Turbo is more peppy then either JLUR or JTR with the 3.6.
4. There are limited Bronco specific accessories at this time. This will probably change as more get into circulation.
5. For me, I prefer the Jeep leather seats over the Bronco’s leather seats. The Bronco seams to have wider, flatter and harder front seats.

My wife asked me a few days ago which vehicle I preferred. I told her that if I had to opt for one, it would be the JTR. I am not really sure why I would pick the JTR over the Bronco. It may be that I am more familiar with the JTR or it may be because I have set the JTR up with my everyday carry stuff (GMRS, dash pouch with pen, notebook, cigar lighter, emergency cigars, etc. I also can securely carry my truck guns, first aid supplies, tools and recovery gear). I have also met some nice Jeep people and occasionally go on rides with them.

 

[dcmdon]

What trailer is that? Love those RZs!

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.

 

[Snake Eyes]

NHTSA Opens Investigation Into Ford Bronco Over Catastrophic Engine Failures

https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/nhtsa-odi-investigation-ford-bronco-catastrophic-engine-failures/

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