Automotive

Is the new Ford Bronco the next great go-anywhere adventure camper?

Is the new Ford Bronco the next great go-anywhere adventure camper?
The Bronco Sport cargo management system includes a fold-out worktable
The Bronco Sport cargo management system includes a fold-out worktable
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The Bronco Sport's washable rubber flooring and seat backs and carabiner hooks are sure to prove helpful to campers
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The Bronco Sport's washable rubber flooring and seat backs and carabiner hooks are sure to prove helpful to campers
Both Bronco and Bronco Sport have available MOLLE seat back systems for hanging essentials
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Both Bronco and Bronco Sport have available MOLLE seat back systems for hanging essentials
The standard cargo area bottle opener means you'll never forget your opener
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The standard cargo area bottle opener means you'll never forget your opener
Ford will offer roof rack and storage options
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Ford will offer roof rack and storage options
This Ford Bronco Sport serves as both camping shuttle and shelter
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This Ford Bronco Sport serves as both camping shuttle and shelter
The Bronco Sport cargo management system includes a fold-out worktable
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The Bronco Sport cargo management system includes a fold-out worktable
From simple camping to moto-based adventure camping, the Ford Bronco Sport promises to be one of the market's most versatile all-terrain utility vehicles
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From simple camping to moto-based adventure camping, the Ford Bronco Sport promises to be one of the market's most versatile all-terrain utility vehicles
When properly equipped, Bronco Sport Badlands models can tow up to 2,200 pounds (1,000 kg)
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When properly equipped, Bronco Sport Badlands models can tow up to 2,200 pounds (1,000 kg)
The Bronco's available slide-out tailgate worktop is another camp-friendly feature
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The Bronco's available slide-out tailgate worktop is another camp-friendly feature
Two- and four-door Bronco models will include a swing-out tailgate and available slide-out table
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Two- and four-door Bronco models will include a swing-out tailgate and available slide-out table
With its removable roof, the Bronco provides a breezy place to relax and stargaze
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With its removable roof, the Bronco provides a breezy place to relax and stargaze
Ford hasn't shown the Bronco with a roof-mounted tent, but it's clearly ready for rooftop carry
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Ford hasn't shown the Bronco with a roof-mounted tent, but it's clearly ready for rooftop carry
Ford will offer more than 200 acc
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Ford will offer more than 200 Bronco accessories at launch
The Bronco Sport isn't quite as rugged as the two- and four-door Broncos, but it doesn't have to sit the fun stuff out, either
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The Bronco Sport isn't quite as rugged as the two- and four-door Broncos, but it doesn't have to sit the fun stuff out, either
The Bronco Sport charges forward toward camp
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The Bronco Sport charges forward toward camp
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Camping off the beaten path is highly popular at the moment, and rugged 4x4s make for some of the best off-grid mini-campers, taking care of both overland travel and comfy(ish) accommodations. Land Rover realized it when it launched the new Defender with available outdoor accessory packs and a custom roof-top tent, but at $50K to start, the Defender isn't exactly the type of vehicle we'd want to ding and dirty on weekly camping adventures. The new Ford Bronco family is more that speed, and Ford is already thinking about how to transform its latest utility vehicles into overlanding and weekend camping rigs with a full accessory line of its own.

It'll probably be a while before the the aftermarket develops potential innovations like a Bronco pop-up sleeper roof or camper interior, but Ford will get the ball rolling by teaming with aftermarket suppliers to offer some 200 to 300 Bronco accessories out of the gate. Similar to Land Rover's Defender accessory packs, Ford advertises four lifestyle add-on packages for the Bronco Sport, built around biking, water sports, snow sports and camping, respectively. Beyond that, consumers will be able to pick and choose from standalone add-ons to create customized adventure rigs.

Paired with the $34,155 Bronco Sport Badlands, Ford frames its camping package as a vehicular hiking backpack, strapping all the necessary gear to the Bronco Sport's back so it can mule it around the wild. On Ford's configurator, the kit includes crossbars supporting a Yakima SkyRise HD roof-top tent and Yakima SlimShady awning. The two-sleeper design also utilizes the Bronco Sport's available tailgate Cargo Management System for organizing loose camping gear on the ride and doubling as a handy fold-out table or shelf at camp.

The all-new Bronco Sport offers an available overlanding-ready roof rack with capacity to make roof-top tent camping easy. (Pre-production model pictured.)
The all-new Bronco Sport offers an available overlanding-ready roof rack with capacity to make roof-top tent camping easy. (Pre-production model pictured.)

Standard and available Bronco Sport features that should prove quite handy to campers include the built-in bottle opener to pop tops, 400-W inverter for accessible power, lift-gate floodlights to brighten up 129 sq ft (12 sq m) worth of campsite ground, and MOLLE hangers for keeping essentials like flashlights and sunglasses close at hand.

Human-centered design led to special Bronco Sport features, such as seatback MOLLE strap system to help users safely and easily transport gear. (Pre-production model pictured.)
Human-centered design led to special Bronco Sport features, such as seatback MOLLE strap system to help users safely and easily transport gear. (Pre-production model pictured.)

The unibody Bronco Sport might not be quite as brutishly rugged or retro as the Bronco models, but it does make for a cheaper 4x4-camper base with a starting MSRP of $28,155, including destination and delivery. Standard 4x4 and terrain management with G.O.A.T. modes ensure it gets where it's going, even if that's a remote primitive campsite with no graded road on the way.

The Bronco Sport isn't quite as rugged as the two- and four-door Broncos, but it doesn't have to sit the fun stuff out, either
The Bronco Sport isn't quite as rugged as the two- and four-door Broncos, but it doesn't have to sit the fun stuff out, either

While the Sport is plenty capable enough to wear the Bronco name, overland and off-road purists are no doubt already overlooking it in favor of the larger, burlier two- and four-door Broncos. Ford hasn't announced available accessory packs for them, but with all those planned accessories, it'll certainly offer more than a little something for campers and outdoors adventurers. The two-door has been pictured with multiple cross bar and roof rack configurations over its modular hard roof, an aesthetic that would look quite natural topped by the glossy shell of a Thule Tepui HyBox, or an iKamper Skycamp for family-size capacity.

With its removable roof, the Bronco provides a breezy place to relax and stargaze
With its removable roof, the Bronco provides a breezy place to relax and stargaze

With its boxed-frame bones, solid rear axle, two available 4x4 systems, available front- and rear differential locks, seven-mode terrain management and available Sync 4 navigation with topographical trail mapping, the Bronco was born to scour remote stretches for the best place to bed down as anything from a clifftop desert lookout to a snowed-in backcountry ski lodge.

The Bronco Sport will roll out to dealerships in late 2020, followed by the Bronco models in Spring 2021. It's worth noting that certain features might not be immediately available at launch, such as the Bronco Sport Cargo Management System scheduled for a Spring 2020 introduction, according to Ford's website.

Source: Ford

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2 comments
2 comments
yawood
They should make these in Right Hand Drive
Signguy
Climbing into bed, then having to pee in the middle of the night? I'll take the ground every time.