If you’re a Ford Bronco enthusiast and have a custom build, you know that upgrading your Bronco can make a big difference in both its performance and appearance. But with so many different upgrades available, it can be difficult to know where to start. In this post, we’ll cover the top 5 essential upgrades for your custom Ford Bronco.
- Suspension Upgrades: One of the most important upgrades for any off-road vehicle is a suspension upgrade. This can improve your Bronco’s handling and stability on uneven terrain and give it a better stance and appearance. A popular suspension upgrade for Ford Broncos is a lift kit, which raises the body of the Bronco off the frame, allowing for larger tires and more ground clearance. There are several options with lift kits. The most inexpensive option is to add spacers to the existing coilovers. For non-Sasquatch equipped Broncos, adding 1- or 2-inch spacers will allow you to install bigger tires and improve off road capabilities. This is a cost-effective way to add bigger tires without compromising vehicle performance. Bronco Outfitters has installed many of these spacer lifts. Companies like Skyjacker, ReadyLift, Rough Country and ICON offer these spacer lifts. You can even add spacer lifts to Sasquatch equipped Broncos as well. These will allow you to install up to 37” tires. Going beyond 37” tires will require major modifications and is not recommended. If you are a serious off roader and find yourself without the Sasquatch package, then a coilover lift may be what you are looking for. A coilover lift replaces the entire coilover (shock and spring) to lift your Bronco while adding a better-quality shock and more travel. There are several manufacturers that have brought coilover lifts for the Broncos, ICON, Fabtech, and BDS are some of the names. They make excellent products. You can expect to spend upwards of $6000 to install a coilover lifts with control arms. Even if you have the Sasquatch package from the factory, some of these aftermarket Coilover lifts are an upgrade worth considering.
- Lighting Upgrades: Upgrading your Bronco’s lighting can improve your visibility on the road and off-road. LED headlights, taillights, and off-road lights can provide brighter and more efficient illumination, allowing you to see more clearly in low-light conditions. Another one of our favorite upgrades. With the Bronco’s built-in switches from the factory, it is easy to add lights to your ride. There are many options in this space and lights are one of the first upgrades many fellow Bronco owners add. The Bronco has ready to install points on the A-pillars, some bumpers and on the roof. You can add a light bar to the roof, fog lights on the bumper and more lights to the A pillars. The combinations are almost endless. There are many manufacturers in this space as well. If you want that retro look, a pair of KC lights would do the trick with retro looking LEDs. Other companies make lots of 3 inch cubes, round fog lights and everything else. Companies like RIGID, Baja Designs, Quake LED and Diode Dynamics are some of our favorites. They already have kits that work seamlessly with factory and aftermarket bumpers and with the switches already in the Bronco.
- Custom Wheel and Tires: Off-road tires are another important upgrade for your custom Ford Bronco. They can improve your Bronco’s traction and handling on off-road terrain and give it a more aggressive appearance. The right off-road tire depends on your intended use, whether it’s mud, sand, rocks, or all of the above. Unless you got the Sasquatch package from the factory or the Black Diamond trim, your tires look like they belong on a car. While the Bridgestone Dueler are a capable tire it is a far cry from being an off-road capable tire. One of the first things we like to upgrade here at Bronco Outfitters are the tires. There are quite a few entries in this space with proven tires all around. There are two main options here. You can opt for an all terrain tire or a mud terrain tire. As the name implies, the mud terrain tires have more grip and are more apt to off road scenarios. They are also louder on the road than an all terrain tire. An all terrain tire will suffice for most applications unless you use your Bronco heavily on the trail. We love all terrain tires from BF Goodrich, Mickey Thompson, Toyo and Nitto. They all offer 35” and 37” All Terrain and Mud Terrain tires. There are of course cheaper alternatives out there, but we just don’t like them. You can’t go wrong with the 4 brands listed above. A good all terrain tire in 35 inches will cost you upwards of $400 for each tire. There are almost endless amounts of wheel offerings. With brands like Fuel, Method, Icon and many others there is something here for everyone. We like installing 17inch wheels on the new Broncos, and that is the optimum size for off roading but if the pavement is more your style, a 20 inch wheel will do the job.
- Body and Paint Upgrades: Customizing the exterior of your Bronco can make it stand out from the crowd. Body and paint upgrades can include custom bumpers, fender flares, rocker guards, and paint schemes. These upgrades can make your Bronco look more rugged and unique. At Bronco Outfitters, each one of our Broncos is a one of a kind design. We love designing each Bronco to make it stand out from the crowd. We believe something as simple as vinyl stripes will make a huge difference in the look of your Bronco. Our custom built Broncos usually get a graphics package from one of our favorite graphics shop right here in Houston, Underground Graphics. We have also seen the introduction of several aftermarket fenders and fender flares. These can be installed and painted to match the rest of the vehicle. Of course, if you would like we can also paint the MIC top for that really unique look. We love the retro look of an all-white top. Our body and paint shop, Jammer’s Auto, will exceed expectations with our color matching technology and high attention to detail.
- Performance Modifications: Performance modifications can help your Bronco achieve better horsepower, torque, and fuel economy. Popular performance upgrades for Ford Broncos include new exhaust systems, air intakes, and engine tuners. These upgrades can provide more power, better sound, and improved fuel efficiency. There are several companies that specialize in manufacturing performance modifications for the new Broncos. K&N and Roush manufacture cold air intake kits. Ford Performance offers a tuner for both the 2.3L and the 2.7L engines. There are many options for aftermarket mufflers not only to improve the sound of the exhaust but also to add a few hps. Companies like Magnaflow, aFe, Borla, Flowmaster, and MBRP are a few of the manufacturers. At Bronco Outfitters we like aFe, Magnaflow and Borla mufflers. This is a relatively inexpensive upgrade that will give your Bronco a much better exhaust sound and a very small performance gain.
Upgrading your custom Ford Bronco with these 5 essential upgrades can improve its performance, handling, appearance, and off-road capabilities. If you’re not sure where to start, consider reaching out to The Bronco Outfitters team for personalized recommendations based on your intended use and budget. Our team can get any of the parts from the manufacturers above and install them on your Bronco. Give us a call today.