FWIW .....
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,641
Likes: 507
From: Phelan CA
Major fail to the off-road enthusiasts and win to posers everywhere if the thing has IFS. Not a Bronco in my book...
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,474
Likes: 24
From: ME
Horrible idea to not have the Bronco with a straight front axle. The whole reason Jeep Wranglers are so popular is that they are modifiable. Straight axle rigs are historically the easiest to lift and modify, and offer much better articulation than any form of stock or mild IFS. Lifting solid axle vehicles is also easier and cheaper. Solid axles also have stronger differential cases and tie rods. That crappy aluminum clamshell design is failure prone the instant you wheel hard or add larger tires.
Major fail to the off-road enthusiasts and win to posers everywhere if the thing has IFS. Not a Bronco in my book...
Major fail to the off-road enthusiasts and win to posers everywhere if the thing has IFS. Not a Bronco in my book...
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
The front and end body are just placeholders, or convenience. They clearly just hacked the back end of a current gen Ranger up and slapped a new solid axle config in the back.
It is too tall and too heavy to be a Courier which is supposed to share a car platform. The vinyl wrap is too expensive for someone other than a big entity like Ford to bother putting it on this frankentruck.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,641
Likes: 507
From: Phelan CA
Not the greatest certainly. But at least they have actual knuckles and iron dana 44 differential case. The ttb is also difficult to modify and not as desireable as a straight 44 up front.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,474
Likes: 24
From: ME
It makes for a much better on road driving experience than a straight axle, which is about 90% of my driving.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,641
Likes: 507
From: Phelan CA
Regardless, nobody is looking for road manners in a Jeep Wrangler. They care about OFF road manners. And there's plenty of them too. Over a quarter of a million people bought Jeep Wranglers last year with their clunky solid axles.
If Ford says this supposed Bronco will compete with Jeep, then it better have the roots and running gear to prove it. I can tell you no offroad enthusiast is going to be enthusiastic about yet another ifs 'suv' with a Bronco shaped body on it.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,641
Likes: 507
From: Phelan CA
Ford specifically said Wrangler. Not Renegade and not Cherokee. We have enough of these pavement princess vehicles as is.
I'd also like to see that 7 speed manual. The Wrangler has a manual option. What will you have Ford?
I'd also like to see that 7 speed manual. The Wrangler has a manual option. What will you have Ford?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,641
Likes: 507
From: Phelan CA
I'm willing to bet that the few parts this mule will have in common with the Bronco are the ones they bothered to hide with skirting in the back.
The front and end body are just placeholders, or convenience. They clearly just hacked the back end of a current gen Ranger up and slapped a new solid axle config in the back.
It is too tall and too heavy to be a Courier which is supposed to share a car platform. The vinyl wrap is too expensive for someone other than a big entity like Ford to bother putting it on this frankentruck.
The front and end body are just placeholders, or convenience. They clearly just hacked the back end of a current gen Ranger up and slapped a new solid axle config in the back.
It is too tall and too heavy to be a Courier which is supposed to share a car platform. The vinyl wrap is too expensive for someone other than a big entity like Ford to bother putting it on this frankentruck.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 249
Likes: 62
Horrible idea to not have the Bronco with a straight front axle. The whole reason Jeep Wranglers are so popular is that they are modifiable. Straight axle rigs are historically the easiest to lift and modify, and offer much better articulation than any form of stock or mild IFS. Lifting solid axle vehicles is also easier and cheaper. Solid axles also have stronger differential cases and tie rods. That crappy aluminum clamshell design is failure prone the instant you wheel hard or add larger tires.
Major fail to the off-road enthusiasts and win to posers everywhere if the thing has IFS. Not a Bronco in my book...
Major fail to the off-road enthusiasts and win to posers everywhere if the thing has IFS. Not a Bronco in my book...
Wrangler is tops in the segment for every reason you mentioned. No chance of the Bronco competing if it has IFS.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,641
Likes: 507
From: Phelan CA
Can you verify this factoid? I think your percentage is off about 70.