MODIFIED FORD BRONCO SUVS SHOULDN’T USE TRAIL TURN ASSIST

BuckYeah

It seems apparent that if you follow the manual's advice, Ford will honor warranty claims for breakage. Once you start modifying or replacing components, you exponentially risk losing your coverage. The more you deviate from what the engineers originally devised, the greater the chance you'll be disappointed. It's an unfortunate reality.

While at BOR last week I spent some time talking to my guide (Jaime) who races at Baja (1000 and 500), and said he had never known anyone to break a suspension component (we were talking about tie-rods specifically) who was operating within the engineered parameters of the vehicle…

People break stuff when they go too fast over too rough of stuff… or go where they shouldn’t.

Of course for many off-road enthusiasts, the possibility of breaking stuff is a risk worth taking for the thrill of the ride and ability to do what others can’t or won’t…

Having just completed BOR, I can certainly see the allure of building a serious off-reader…. My guide also made the case that the Bronco 6G is a road vehicle capable of much more, but that if he were going to ”build” a personal off-road warrior vehicle he would start with a Jeep (in part due to the head start)…

Sulley

That's not the definition of "Built Ford Tough" I think most people want.

Agree to disagree

Bluestreak57

Agree to disagree

Lift me baby

Sulley

Lift me baby

Absolutely, but lift with knowledge and a little bit of discernment. As with anything, let the buyer beware. There’s lots of untested and unneeded stuff out there trying to tickle our fancies…

Bluestreak57

Absolutely, but lift with knowledge and a little bit of discernment. As with anything, let the buyer beware. There’s lots of untested and unneeded stuff out there trying to tickle our fancies…

Agreed. Mimetic desire is also a factor. Establish a need, THEN purchase. Taking reasonable precautions to outfit your vehicle for the terrain for which it’s heading is sound practice. The trick is to recognize when you’re buying enough stuff or if you’re just overspending!

BuckYeah

Agreed. Mimetic desire is also a factor. Establish a need, THEN purchase. Taking reasonable precautions to outfit your vehicle for the terrain for which it’s heading is sound practice. The trick is to recognize when you’re buying enough stuff or if you’re just overspending!

You can never have too many tools or fishing lures.No one takes you as a serious bass fisherman unless you have at least 15 pounds of plastic worms.

Good point, @Bronco V-8. By the way, I speak from experience with regard to establishing a need before spending money. Twice, if not more already. I bought big ass mud flaps even though I’ve got full paint film protection on my Bronco because I didn’t want excessive paint chipping on my rockers. I also purchased those BroncBuster tie rod sleeves for fear of breaking my tie rods, even though the threat of doing so is pretty much a concern of those who’ve lifted their rigs and installed larger tires, neither of which I did. I let fear dictate my purchasing habits. Now I second guess every purchase. Well, mostly. Those red tow hooks I bought were just dumb. But I like them, so I’ll give myself a pass. 🤪

BuckYeah

Good point, @Bronco V-8. By the way, I speak from experience with regard to establishing a need before spending money. Twice, if not more already. I bought big ass mud flaps even though I’ve got full paint film protection on my Bronco because I didn’t want excessive paint chipping on my rockers. I also purchased those BroncBuster tie rod sleeves for fear of breaking my tie rods, even though the threat of doing so is pretty much a concern of those who’ve lifted their rigs and installed larger tires, neither of which I did. I let fear dictate my purchasing habits. Now I second guess every purchase. Well, mostly. Those red tow hooks I bought were just dumb. But I like them, so I’ll give myself a pass. 🤪

@BuckYeah, I thought you bought black tow hooks?

Bronco V-8

You can never have too many tools or fishing lures.No one takes you as a serious bass fisherman unless you have at least 15 pounds of plastic worms.

This is so true…. I can’t tell you how many tools I have that I don’t believe I’ve ever used…. What seemed like a great idea became an unused space-taker…. Marketers are great at selling we eskimos ice…

Bluestreak57

@BuckYeah, I thought you bought black tow hooks?

Nope. Mine came with two black tow hooks. I subbed them out with the equivalent in red.

BuckYeah

Nope. Mine came with two black tow hooks. I subbed them out with the equivalent in red.

So not talking about your archetype shackles…

Any other specific questions for Ford on this? We'll be covering it in the news section with input from the Bronco team as well.

Laura

Any other specific questions for Ford on this? We'll be covering it in the news section with input from the Bronco team as well.

Long shot I know... but perhaps if we could suggest that Ford comes up with published guidelines or examples of common upgrades/builds that are done in such a way to either not void the warranty or greatly reduce the chance of a failure.

For example... say you install 37s on your Bronco. Which components are at an increased risk of failure due to those 37s? What type of lifts does Ford's engineering team recommend for a Bronco with 37s? Spacers? Perch collars? New coilovers? Perhaps Ford Performance coilovers that are specifically designed for 37s?

I know what the answer is going to be, but it's been a thorn in the side of the off-road community for awhile. The Jeep Wrangler folks have the same problem with their warranties, sometimes it's hard to know if an upgrade you install will cause warranty issues on seemingly unrelated components.

I get that Ford can't build over-build the Bronco to withstand every single upgrade someone might do. Just not realistic, and anyone who off-roads a lot knows that once you upgrade a component in your vehicle, you find a new weak link you didn't know you had before. Then you have to go upgrade that weak link until you find a new weak link. (Rinse/repeat until wallet is empty.)

But it would be nice to have a roadmap or bread crumbs provided by the manufacturer... especially since they heavily advertise the ability to install accessories.

Bluestreak57

So not talking about your archetype shackles…

This is my current setup. Matte black recovery shackles up front and red tow hooks out back.

BuckYeah

This is my current setup. Matte black recovery shackles up front and red tow hooks out back.

LOL…. I actually hadn’t noticed the one I have on the back… New learning every day

Bluestreak57

LOL…. I actually hadn’t noticed the one I have on the back… New learning every day

My buddy Eric’s Wildtrak came with one hook as well. I offered him one of my old black hooks. Want the other? You gotta torque them to 80 lbs., I think.

BuckYeah

My buddy Eric’s Wildtrak came with one hook as well. I offered him one of my old black hooks. Want the other? You gotta torque them to 80 lbs., I think.

Thanks, but no… I figured these hooks were for cinching them down on the railcar…. Curious as to what they might be rated for in terms of weight…. If I’m going to tug someone, thinking I would rather do so from the front…. If I get somewhere where I‘lol need a tug from behind I’ll invest first in a receiver hitch…

Bluestreak57

Thanks, but no… I figured these hooks were for cinching them down on the railcar…. Curious as to what they might be rated for in terms of weight…. If I’m going to tug someone, thinking I would rather do so from the front…. If I get somewhere where I‘lol need a tug from behind I’ll invest first in a receiver hitch…

If you are going to pull a stuck vehicle, you first choice should be from the recovery vehicle rear shackle. Reason being that the ring and pinion gear is strongest going forward and much weaker in reverse. Pulling someone out in reverse using front shackles should be emergency only.

sportcoupe

If you are going to pull a stuck vehicle, you first choice should be from the recovery vehicle rear shackle. Reason being that the ring and pinion gear is strongest going forward and much weaker in reverse. Pulling someone out in reverse using front shackles should be emergency only.

I didn’t know that. Thanks

When we were at Moab, we were told to not use the lockers on the front or the rear to engage the turn assist and it was nice. We turned very sharp without backing up. At home we don't have lockers, we have an Outerbanks with open diffs, when I use the turn assist it will spin you sideways fast. We live in pumice and sand in Central Oregon, and it was impressive.