Sunday morning coffee “off-road” with Sassy and my Dad

Lrobie10

I showed up at my dad‘s house Sunday morning with sassy. He insisted that I drive onto his front lawn and get her off the pavement. I mentioned that I had been forewarned by bronco nation members not to make her a pavement princess lol. To which he answered, something even worse – a pavement p—-y! Dad!!!!!!! I obliged and we drank our coffee in the cab. We took her for a spin - I used the manual shifting option for the first time. I realized he hadn’t driven her yet - so let him have a turn at the wheel. He was like a little kid on Christmas morning. When we got her back, we found the engine block heater cord under the hood. We also looked underneath at her belly - he says she’s too exposed and needs a lot more protection before she can really go off road. And says I need a winch. And bumpers/guards/rails. lol. And told me all about how many times the gears have to go around to make a tire spin one revolution. He’s wound up!! Just dads and daughters spending time with their Fords! (He’s got a 2011 Mustang V6 Premium MCA edition)

Laura

I love this. Making great Bronco memories with your dad. And it sounds like he's got some great plans for it!

I forget, did Ford give the HLE the same skid plates as the Badlands? (@Lrobie10, you may know this, but just in case since you're still digging in, Ford based the Heritage on the Big Bend platform and the Heritage Limited Edition on the Badlands.)

TK1215

I am guessing your Pop’s didn‘t have one of them “fru fru”, fraps in his mug? He likes his coffee black… like his coffee!🤣

Lrobie10

It’s funny you say this - after I took all the pics I was embarrassed about the Starbucks! I tried some dumb pumpkin spice latte to get 25 points and it was god awful AND ruined the pics!! Usually I do my own Green Mountain Dark Magic pour over coffee at home - with a little half and half lol. Now I’m really annoyed! Haha. I need to find me a good bronco mug - I’ve got hats, shorts, welcome mats, die cast matchbox cars…but no mug. I’m super picky on mugs hahahaha!! Good job calling me out!!

Lrobie10

It’s funny you say this - after I took all the pics I was embarrassed about the Starbucks! I tried some dumb pumpkin spice latte to get 25 points and it was god awful AND ruined the pics!! Usually I do my own Green Mountain Dark Magic pour over coffee at home - with a little half and half lol. Now I’m really annoyed! Haha. I need to find me a good bronco mug - I’ve got hats, shorts, welcome mats, die cast matchbox cars…but no mug. I’m super picky on mugs hahahaha!! Good job calling me out!!

Ditchrunner

Lots of that stuff on the Ford Merchandise site:
https://merchandise.ford.com/collections/bronco/drinkware#Start

Lrobie10

I am new to Bronco ownership and off-roading terms in general. I don’t know what the skid plates are based off - I assume it has what the Badlands would have unless somehow the Sas package changes it? What exactly are they? Are they the plates covering part of the underbelly? He thought the entire belly needed to be protected and covered - he was not happy with what was down there haha! Tell me what I’m looking for and I’ll take pics or check it out and try to explain!

Laura

You're doing great! So the Badlands has a front bash plate, and three other main skid plates: engine, transfer case, and gas tank. I did just find it on Build & Price now, if you go to View Details -- you have the full underbody from factory, which is an awesome start!

Lrobie10

I tried to find the underbody details for the 2023 bronco HLE (you can’t build that one anymore or maybe you never could idk) - can’t find it. But this is what it looks like under there - some areas look protected - some look sorely exposed!!

Laura

Thanks for those pictures, @Lrobie10. Some people like to cover additional areas, including shocks, oil pan, trans pan, etc. Some people like to change the differential cover, but it is tucked up fairly high on the Bronco. And it depends on the level of trails you plan to run, too. One of the most full sets of armor I'm familiar with is from Metalcloak, but I don't think you'll want to go that route yet.

Lrobie10

I’m upset one of the pics has mud all over something and I’m dying to go clean it! Haha. I need to learn so much. I want to learn the basic protections for her first -guard/ rail systems, covers, protection for paint. The dealer tried to talk me into a 2600$ ziebart ceramic protection but a car friend told me I could do on My own for a fraction of the price. But he may have been assuming she will be a “pavement princess” haha. I want her fully protected for beginner off-roading before I do the next step - start to learn how to off road! It won’t be fun to go doing it if I’m afraid I’m going to bruise and irreparably harm her!!

Laura

We all start somewhere, and we hopefully all keep growing, ha! Did you know you get a "free" pass to Bronco Off-Roadeo (you still have to cover travel and lodging). It's a great experience and you would do so well there because you're ready to learn. @TK1215 and others can tell you about their paint protection (it's good for peace of mind; the tires that come on the HLE throw gravel easily), and some on here swear by a windshield film as well. Broncos are prone to fast-spreading cracks, but you're probably used to that coming from Jeep and their flat windshields too.

Laura

We all start somewhere, and we hopefully all keep growing, ha! Did you know you get a "free" pass to Bronco Off-Roadeo (you still have to cover travel and lodging). It's a great experience and you would do so well there because you're ready to learn. @TK1215 and others can tell you about their paint protection (it's good for peace of mind; the tires that come on the HLE throw gravel easily), and some on here swear by a windshield film as well. Broncos are prone to fast-spreading cracks, but you're probably used to that coming from Jeep and their flat windshields too.

Lrobie10

Interesting. so i don't necessarily need to learn BEFORE BORT? I was thinking of going next year in New Hampshire. As beautiful as Moab and TX and NV are - i think NH would be the most similar to the terrain I have in the Adirondack/FingerLake Region of CNY, and my proximity to New England (family in VT,NH) and also Eastern Canada. I was afraid of being green and new and clueless - but maybe it does make sense to have them teach me there ....so I can gain confidence and learn the right way!!! Hmmm you're making me re-think!

Laura

We all start somewhere, and we hopefully all keep growing, ha! Did you know you get a "free" pass to Bronco Off-Roadeo (you still have to cover travel and lodging). It's a great experience and you would do so well there because you're ready to learn. @TK1215 and others can tell you about their paint protection (it's good for peace of mind; the tires that come on the HLE throw gravel easily), and some on here swear by a windshield film as well. Broncos are prone to fast-spreading cracks, but you're probably used to that coming from Jeep and their flat windshields too.

Laura

We all start somewhere, and we hopefully all keep growing, ha! Did you know you get a "free" pass to Bronco Off-Roadeo (you still have to cover travel and lodging). It's a great experience and you would do so well there because you're ready to learn. @TK1215 and others can tell you about their paint protection (it's good for peace of mind; the tires that come on the HLE throw gravel easily), and some on here swear by a windshield film as well. Broncos are prone to fast-spreading cracks, but you're probably used to that coming from Jeep and their flat windshields too.