Fundamentally though, the newer full size SUV's are just an updated version of the bronco. V-8, 4wd, based on the 1/2 ton truck chassy. Just a short-bodied pickup with an extra seat and built in topper. When you get into Excursions and Suburbans, its a different story. They are much longer and heavier and therefore do not meet the criteria of SUV in the sense I think of it. Just my .02-------Ryan-

 

In my opinion, most of these SUV's are just glorified Souped Up Vans. That's how they feel like, when you drive one of them. My Bronco is a truck.

 

Not that it matters, the VIN designation U15 indicates Bronco Wagon 4 Wheel drive. The Bronco is in a class of it's own. From the exceptional frame, boxed at the front, to the drive train/suspension, and overall appointments it is IMHO the best off road factory vehicle produced in America. Owners are fanatical in loyalty and have enjoyed the vehicles for years. To install shoulder belts you can fabricate draw points at the top outer edge of the rear seat. I suspect that it would be a very easy fabrication and you could use the belt system from an extended cab wreck. Since you are selling in a sellers market (good Broncos are not easy to come by) I'd advertise in all applicable places. In our area they fall in the AutoTrader classification of SUV.

 

I refer too my truck, bronco as "my rig" most of the time.

 

Yes, many of them (i.e. Lexus or Escape) are just AWD station wagons or minivans on steroids, but that doesn't really fit the Expedition, for instance.

IMHO, it's simpler to call all of them SUVs.

 

Hmmm....

Broncos are straight up Utility Vehicles. Nothing sport about em'. Nothing little, freakin' plastic, gonna-shatter-in-an-accident or lose-a-body-panel-the-first-time-you-go-offroad about them. Even listed as a "U-15" the "U" standing for utility.

 

In Texas you can register them as cars or trucks. I had to argue with the lady at the counter to get truck plates. She had no concept on why I wanted the truck plates. They are only $5 more.

She finally gave in after I told her the Bronco wouldn't be able to face all the other trucks if it had car plates.

Chris

 

I've researched all of the possible options out there for rear shoulder belts, and it's not just that. That just happens to be one of the easy reasons for letting it go. If I end up keeping the Bronco, I found a supplier for a mutli-point roll cage that will encase the entire rear seat.

Even as a kid, I always wanted a Bronco, so putting it up for sale is not an easy decision for me (even though I bought the for sale signs a week ago, they're still sitting in the garage).

Yesterday afternoon was tough, in the time it took me to fill up the wife's Jeep - 7 (yes SEVEN) Broncos rolled through the parking lot. Each one making me feel even worse for wanting to sell mine.

 

I (and my wife and 2 1/2 year old daughter refer to mine as "Daddies Bronco"... My wife has a 97 Grand Cherokee... which is "Mommies Jeep" an SUV.
Anyway, I can understand, because I'm considering trading mine for a 4 door truck also. I haul a lot of stuff in my Bronco, but when it comes to hauling dirt, lumber, etc... it can't quite match a true truck, unless you just want to trash the interior.

 

Bingo! Nothing like putting two soaking wet labs, or a ton of fire wood, or a yard's worth of mulch in the back of a near perfectly maintained 16 year old interior.

Yes the Bronco is an amazing truck (my vote) and is seemingly unstoppable, but I don't want to let it's bravado be the reason I ruin the interior.

 

I just bought a '96 and I'm going to have the rear area Linex coated under the carpet fot the eventual hauling I may do. More for protection than anything else, still have the F250 and it does anything I ask. I also have a tan truckmat that will fit in the back on the carpet for the dog's use as well as other things. My nephew's Bronco has Herculiner and it does a great job, course the carpet is missing in his.

 

my bronco is not a SUV and it is not a car, but i feel like an idiot calling it a truck. i call it "my bronco" and try to stay away from those pesky titles. i went through my owner's manual for my 1995 bronco xlt and ford refers to it as a "vehicle" almost every time. In one section it calls the bronco a 4wd vehicle and 4x4 vehicle. i found one reference to "utility vehicle." occassionally ford calls it a light truck. apparrently ford didn't know what to call it during the expansion of their SUV line. is there a "vehicle" trader