Finally Here! The Ford Trail App for Bronco

magicrobots

Gotta say the app is pretty polished for being created by a kid in some ford exec's basement

Not a basement….they prefer “dungeon”

This may have already been asked, but can you import GPX files into the app. I have a lot from my Gaia days that are not on there yet.

JoergH

Ok, this may have nothing to do with the app directly but I noticed that you put it into rock crawl mode, but the app says your in 4A not 4L. Did you change that manually?

Ah yeah... good eye.

I made the first lap around the yard in Rock Crawl mode, but the rear differential bound up (since it was locked) while making the turn to the left after the bush, and the whole Bronco did shake/shimmy. That caused the phone fall out of its "mounting point", the GoPro fell off the dash completely, all of my junk in the back of the Bronco got thrown around, and I left a huge streak of tire tracks in the grass.

So... a couple curse words later I did the lap again in 4-Auto. Lesson learned—lockers destroy backyards and make a mess of half-completed projects. 😎

ELinNH

I was thinking more about trail bumps. I tried using my iphone (10) on my Harley. It vibrates but doesn't make high frequency vibes . It still it manages to up set my phone. I heard strange noises so I shut it down.

As you say the 2.7 is pretty smooth. When using it on road or off road, I would be more concerned about the road surface and the build of the phone mount than any engine vibrations.

Agreed, I've used an iPhone for years in off road vehicles, and the bumps and "bangs" have never upset my phone. As the article points out, it's specifically the high frequency vibrations, and that's not something you get doing something like rock crawling. Even desert running is probably not enough to upset the phone.

Having said all of that, I have to say I'm disappointed in the app. First, I was expecting something that was built into my infotainment system, and not something that relied on CarPlay/Andriod Auto. I was also expecting something that leveraged the camera's in my Bronco, not the camera on my phone (yes, I know about the limitations of raw video, etc. there's got to be a way to handle that since Sync can display it on my 12" screen in the Bronco). Right now, I'm using a GoPro as my "dash cam", ReelSteady is my friends, I'm not sure that an iPhone is as good at handing those bump as the GoPro is.

For a phone app this is definitely NOT a replacement for OnX, for example, which has TONS more features and functionality. At least not yet. If Ford wanted to use a phone app, they should have either bought or made some kind of special deal with OnX or Gaiagps and then integrated in some of the Bronco telemetry. First, I think that would have taken less than 3 years, and second it would have given them a much more capable product out of the box.

Bird Dog Overland

This may have already been asked, but can you import GPX files into the app. I have a lot from my Gaia days that are not on there yet.

As far as I could tell, you cannot. But if you figure it out let me know.

To be honest, if you are a heavy OnX or Gaia user, I don't think this new apps' navigation features will be sufficient enough to replace those apps. If I were to guess, Ford's intention was to make off-road navigation more approachable for the masses, and Gaia/OnX can be a bit overwhelming if you are new to it. (Either that, or they just didn't have time to add an import function for the initial launch.)

RagnarKon

As far as I could tell, you cannot. But if you figure it out let me know.

To be honest, if you are a heavy OnX or Gaia user, I don't think this new apps' navigation features will be sufficient enough to replace those apps. If I were to guess, Ford's intention was to make off-road navigation more approachable for the masses, and Gaia/OnX can be a bit overwhelming if you are new to it. (Either that, or they just didn't have time to add an import function for the initial launch.)

I agree. See my comments above about how I wished Ford had made a deal with OnX. Whereas import is important, being able to share routes I've built or the trails I've run with others is even more important, and something I would think is a necessary feature for "the masses". I lead trail runs, and being able to export a gpx file for others that are running with me is critical.

RagnarKon

To be honest, if you are a heavy OnX or Gaia user, I don't think this new apps' navigation features will be sufficient enough to replace those apps. If I were to guess, Ford's intention was to make off-road navigation more approachable for the masses, and Gaia/OnX can be a bit overwhelming if you are new to it. (Either that, or they just didn't have time to add an import function for the initial launch.)

This is exactly my experience. I signed up for the free version of both of those and looked at them and my eyes crossed and I never opened them again. This is so much more accessible and useable to me.

magicrobots

This is exactly my experience. I signed up for the free version of both of those and looked at them and my eyes crossed and I never opened them again. This is so much more accessible and useable to me.

Really? I find OnX pretty approachable. In some ways it looks like the developers of the Ford app took lot of ques from OnX. Especially the curated trails. Now that OnX has snap to trail it makes route planning pretty easy. They also have a lot of YouTube training videos as well. But in the end I agree. The more features you have the more complicated it will seem at first. That’s true for most software. So, as Ford starts to add more features, which I hope they will, then the more complicated this app is going to seem. That’s a great reason to get in on the proverbial ground floor now.

Not compatible ever to load for my Bronco Sport? Bronco Sport exclusion again? I have a BS BB and even can not even got invitation for the off rodeo... that is exclusion ... period....

Megakatx

Not compatible ever to load for my Bronco Sport? Bronco Sport exclusion again? I have a BS BB and even can not even got invitation for the off rodeo... that is exclusion ... period....

I am surprised they didn't make it compatible for the Bronco Sport, but might have been too much to do on the first release.

Bronco Sport is still running Sync 3, and I would assume it needs Sync 4 to run. But you'd think they would at least make the trail maps available to the Bronco Sport folks.

How do you send a trail to your car to actually route there? I don’t see any button to route to the trail.

Sulley

How do you send a trail to your car to actually route there? I don’t see any button to route to the trail.

I found it. Man that’s a really terrible flow. I don’t understand why you guys like this app. I have an onX subscription and it’s way better. Just sad that it doesn’t have trails in most of Canada.

Mandogus

I like what i'm seeing on the App. Sadly it reminds me Massachusetts sucks as I got two trails nearby and they require permits.

I hear you, Idaho only has a handful of trail on the app, hopefully more to come! Also I'm not sure where they get the permit information, because a couple of trails near me say permits are required, but I know that is not the case.

RagnarKon

I am surprised they didn't make it compatible for the Bronco Sport, but might have been too much to do on the first release.

Bronco Sport is still running Sync 3, and I would assume it needs Sync 4 to run. But you'd think they would at least make the trail maps available to the Bronco Sport folks.

From watching the setup videos, and how they have you bouncing between the Sync app and CarPlay for setup, there's probably a limitation due to Sync 3. As far as I know, Sync 3 allows you to use AppLink -OR- CarPlay, but not both at the same time. I've played with the AppLink SDK a bit to see what I could add to some of my apps, but it just seemed like if a user has to disable CarPlay to use the AppLink features, that's too big of a trade-off. CarPlay is just far too useful to think about disabling it in order to use one specific AppLink app.

Either way, it is surprising that Bronco Sport owners can't use the app - even in a "disconnected" mode where you still get access to the maps, but you don't have the vehicle-specific info.

Sulley

I found it. Man that’s a really terrible flow. I don’t understand why you guys like this app. I have an onX subscription and it’s way better. Just sad that it doesn’t have trails in most of Canada.

Eh, I’m giving them some leeway. Not sure how many people remember the initial release of OnX but that was a hot piece of garbage for the first year or so… and you would have been crazy to pay for OnX over Gaia.

Obviously this new app is lacking a bit, BUT… it’s free if you have a Bronco and it’s their first release. The real question is if Ford will continue to invest in an app that doesn’t make them money, or if they’ll do what just about every automobile manufacturer (including Ford) has done in the past and abandon their apps after the first year or so. Only time will tell.

RagnarKon

Eh, I’m giving them some leeway. Not sure how many people remember the initial release of OnX but that was a hot piece of garbage for the first year or so… and you would have been crazy to pay for OnX over Gaia.

Obviously this new app is lacking a bit, BUT… it’s free if you have a Bronco and it’s their first release. The real question is if Ford will continue to invest in an app that doesn’t make them money, or if they’ll do what just about every automobile manufacturer (including Ford) has done in the past and abandon their apps after the first year or so. Only time will tell.

It's not free, you've already pre-paid for the R&D when you bought the truck 🤣

Tried it out today. Took me to the trail head, from there it stopped working. Something about not recognizing apps. Asked me to go back to Sync and find apps, but still didn't find anything. Then lost cell single on trail and nothing worked, even though I thought I downloaded trail to phone. But hey, at least it got me to the trail head.

At first viewing (from my recliner), this app looked really cool and I’m still excited about it BUT WTH is this (see pic)?? Every time I get in my Bronc I get this message. I’m confused as hell and only get it going by going back and forth from phone to app on screen in vehicle and somehow blindly get it to work. I can’t even repeat the steps I take to get it going. I can just see going on a trail run with buddies and they’re all ready to go and I’ll be jerking around trying to get the app going. There has to be a user friendly way to use this. I’m sure someone has figured it out and can help explain it to me!?!?

BroncoFred

At first viewing (from my recliner), this app looked really cool and I’m still excited about it BUT WTH is this (see pic)?? Every time I get in my Bronc I get this message. I’m confused as hell and only get it going by going back and forth from phone to app on screen in vehicle and somehow blindly get it to work. I can’t even repeat the steps I take to get it going. I can just see going on a trail run with buddies and they’re all ready to go and I’ll be jerking around trying to get the app going. There has to be a user friendly way to use this. I’m sure someone has figured it out and can help explain it to me!?!?

Disclaimer: I was/am just as frustrated as you are. But one thing I did that I read on this forum. Is delete/Uninstall the BRONCO TRAIL APP off your phone. Then download it again, and accept all the permissions it ask for.
Then go back to the Bronco and try it again. I did this and for the first time, mine actually SYNCED UP with the Bronco and I was able to get through the "GATE KEEPER" successfully. And actually got my phone to record the "cool" telemetry the app offers..

NOT TRAIL TESTED!!
But so far it was a win, in my garage..lol

BroncoFred

At first viewing (from my recliner), this app looked really cool and I’m still excited about it BUT WTH is this (see pic)?? Every time I get in my Bronc I get this message. I’m confused as hell and only get it going by going back and forth from phone to app on screen in vehicle and somehow blindly get it to work. I can’t even repeat the steps I take to get it going. I can just see going on a trail run with buddies and they’re all ready to go and I’ll be jerking around trying to get the app going. There has to be a user friendly way to use this. I’m sure someone has figured it out and can help explain it to me!?!?

That hung me up too. I disconnected my phone from sync 1/2 dozen times. Went into settings in the app on the phone hunting for that permission. I found it. Reconnected and then hit the app on the Bronco screen and a map came up and not this message. I'm a basic tech idiot. I was so lost in this process and cannot give any step-by-step instructions. Sorry!