After what seemed like forever Ford revitalized the Bronco legacy in 2021. A new addition to this model’s line-up is the Bronco Sport. It was designed to balance capability and efficiency while providing an exciting off-road experience. We wanted to enhance this SUV further by improving its off-road function and overall visual appeal.
Taking this Bronco Sport up a notch meant we needed to improve its ground clearance by giving it a lift and new tires. Moreover, we tested the Bronco’s modularity by adding a few of its many off-road accessories. Following these upgrades, we sought to give it a unique appearance by adding some exterior mods. Let’s dive in and take a closer look at this build…
| PART LIST | |
|---|---|
| LP Aventure 17″ LP5 Wheels | Toyo Open Country A/T III 17″ Tires |
| Custom Vinyl Hood Decals | Custom Bronco Lettering |
| Custom Vinyl Wrap | Painted Lower Body Trim |
| Hood Scoop by Air Design | Painted Calipers |
| Rough Country 1.5″ Lift Kit | Rough Country Nudge Bar |
| Rough Country 4″ Round LED | Rough Country 40″ LED Light bar |
| Rough Country Roof Rack | Ford Cross Bars |
Bronco Sport 1.5″ Lift Kit
Kicking off this Bronco Sport off road build the right way meant getting straight into the install of a 1.5″ lift kit from Rough Country. Lift Kits provide the vehicle added ground clearance to overcome small-midsize off-road obstacles. Ford designed the Bronco Sport with a bit above average clearance already, but we feel it just doesn’t quite cut it. A small lift like this gives the Bronco Sport an assertive raised look without disrupting the way Ford intended it to ride. Not to mention it makes room for a set of larger tires.
Off-Road Tire and Wheel Setup
Having that added space under this SUV allowed us to attach new off-road wheels and tires with ease. We went with 17″ LP5 wheels sourced from non-other than LP Aventure. These wheels have an old-school rally car look with bold spokes and a chain like pattern of circles around the edge. Their matte black color and unique design make the Bronco Sport look tougher and sets the tone of our black and red color scheme.
For the off-road tires we wanted something that blended control and traction with a gritty look. A well-rounded tire like the Toyo Open Country A/T III met these criteria, so we installed them on our LP5 wheels. These tires not only look great but have amazing traction in wet or otherwise slippery road conditions. Their design has staggered ridges along the sides that help dig in and navigate across difficult terrain. Additionally, they’re made with long lasting material and a unique tread pattern affording a great deal of performance without a drastic cost to fuel consumption.
Painted Calipers
After seeing the new wheel setup, we thought making some painted calipers would add a nice touch of color. Painting the calipers can be a quick and easy mod to any vehicle that highlights performance while adding another layer of detail. For instance, the red Bronco decal we developed for the center cap matches with the new red calipers. Small touches like this can make a large impact on your vehicle’s appearance.
When you go to paint calipers, we recommend you use a proper paint that can withstand the debris, heat, and friction. It’s also worth considering applying a ceramic coating to your painted caliper, so they stay well-guarded and are easy to clean.
Nudge Bar
Once the base of this Ford Bronco Sport was finished, we shifted our focus toward adding accessories. Creating a buffer for debris on this SUV and improving its off-road features was the kind of task we were looking forward to. On the front end we installed a Rough Country nudge bar with built-in 4″ round LED lights. The nudge bar similar to a bumper guard helps block branches and rocks that would otherwise smack into the front of your Bronco. The built in LEDs by the grille illuminate the area straight ahead and directly in front of the vehicle for better spatial awareness.
Off-Road LED Ditch Lights
The next lighting accessory that we felt was important to add were ditch lights. Most often these adjustable flood lights are in the corner of your windshield and pointed down at the ground to see what’s by the sides of your vehicle. Navigating off-road routes at night is made a hell of a lot easier with some ditch lights. We made sure this Bronco Sport off road build would get a ton of use both day and night.
Roof Rack
Our final LED accessories are a 40″ lightbar and two more 4″ round LED flood lights attached to the sides of a Rough Country roof rack. Utilizing a roof rack allows for additional attachment points along with more ways to carry cargo. To install this roof rack, we first had to hook up a set of cross bars that we sourced from Ford. Once cross bars are installed there are a few kinds of roof accessories you can look into whether you have kayaks, bikes, a tent, or a whole lot of cargo to haul around.
Another custom piece on this build is on the wind fairing of the roof rack. It was wrapped with a forged carbon design to add a touch of style. If you’ve never heard of a wind fairing, they are made to divert airflow up and over the cargo which helps reduce wind noise while driving.
Hood Scoop
The focal point of this build is the hood scoop created by Air Design. Having the hood scoop gives a unique muscular look to this modified Bronco Sport that it desperately needed. The new hood accompanied by all the other upgrades made this small SUV feel like a fully equipped off-road rig. It went from looking like your average hiker to a burly backcountry backpacker.
Custom Topographic Vinyl Wrap and Decals
Expanding on the stylistic features of this build, like the hood scoop, we also applied custom vinyl. Vinyl wraps and decals are used on all kinds of cars and allow for endless customization. On this build we chose to apply a topographic and tread pattern against the black body paint. If you look between the body lines on the hood there are also a pair of black topographic hood stripes that add a subtle design element.
Blackout Body Trim
To match the upgraded look and feel of this SUV we modified the body trim along the wheel well, lower door, and bumpers. Painting these accents with a color matched gloss black paint provided a more upscale feel. Modifying the factory standard body trim can really help the appearance of any vehicle and give it a high-end appeal.
Custom Bronco Lettering
Finally, the last touch we made to this build’s appearance was custom Bronco lettering. We created a classic red line look with a blackout background. This erased the white on the front and back replacing it with some bold new Bronco lettering. Remember the small details tie everything together!
Other Potential Add-Ons
If we added another feature on this custom Bronco Sport build it would have to be a set of Rough Country nerf steps. Having nerf steps helps with passenger mobility around the vehicle. This can be overlooked, but it’s important because lifts can make it difficult to enter and exit for some passengers. These types of steps also make reaching the roof rack easier for adjusting or loading your cargo. Take into account that they protect the underside of your vehicle as well. Assisting with gliding over rocks that could otherwise cause damage. Overall, they add to the look and function of the vehicle making them a great feature to consider adding.
Interested in customizing your Ford Bronco? We offer aftermarket accessories internationally and services across the entire contiguous United States to help with modifications you’d like to make on your vehicle.
