Bronco 2 Year Ownership Cost

So for 2014, I spent $1,705.33 on maintenance parts and $1,375.95 on off road parts on a $2,000 initial purchase.

For 2015, it was an odd year and so my post will be much shorter than 2014.  Here in North Texas we had record rainfall.  I don't have the total but by end of November it was almost 54" of rain for the year and it rained a few more times.  So really the only off roading/use of the Bronco was Q1 of the year.  When the local trails get muddy they become very very difficult to manage and becomes a day of "vehicle recovery" instead of wheeling.

Expenses included:
$1,000 for new 35" tires
$20 for new power steering pump hose.
$750 for custom rear bumper and rock rails from JD Offroad.

Total: $1,720.

The tires were a necessity because my old set were destroyed and I had to buy/borrow some used ones just to make it home after one of the outings.

The a head gasket blew so I purchased that but that will be part of the 2016 costs plus the oil and filter I bought to change the oil but won't do until the head gasket is fixed.

In terms of reliability, no breakdowns due to all the 2014 maintenance done.  I still have elective things like fixing the gauges and cosmetic changes to do.

I was actually surprised by the 2015 numbers considering I didn't really get to do that much with it this year but up until about March there was no indication of the record rain.

White Smoke

I've been having some white smoke when the engine first starts up and even a little beyond that when it is idling.

Because the temp gauge doesn't work and it has overheated at least twice my guess is the head gasket is damaged.

I'm also seeing coolant leaking from the bottom of the engine along with oil.

Engine still seems to run fine so I'm continuing to monitor.  I haven't wheeled it recently and don't drive it far so I'll just keep an eye on it.  It isn't really a major problem currently and since its a wheeling rig not a daily driver it is not a huge concern.  Fun of owning an old vehicle.

A Little Maintenance

Haven't been doing much wheeling recently due to work at the off road shop.

There were issues earlier with the power steering which was resolved by changing out the power steering hose and hose clamps.

I also added a bottle of Restore to the oil which seems to have helped slow/reduce some of the various fluid leaks.  Since its not a daily driver its not a big deal.

Next task is still to get some gauges working and the blower.

Drivability Projects

One of the issues with an older vehicle is there is an almost never ending list of projects.  At this point on the Bronco I've done most of the reliability and off road performance mods I'd like to do. The focus now is on drivability.  The rig is still street legal and it is fun to drive but there are a number of things that limit where and how far I can take it.

1. The gauges don't work.  Most importantly the temp and battery gauge don't work.  Oil pressure kind of works.  If I'm overheating or the alternator isn't charging I wouldn't know it until the vehicle dies.  Not a big deal when going wheeling with a group or driving around town where friends can help tow the rig back on a weekend.  Not great if you want to enjoy cruising with the top off on a work day and something happens.

2. Various leaks.  I have a puddle of what appears to be power steering fluid that has slowly puddle below the Bronco when parked in the garage along with a few oil spots.  On an epoxy coated floor with some tubs under it there is not a big issue.  Nor is keeping fluids on hand.  The pain is people tend to get pissy about your vehicle leaking fluid on their driveway or in a parking structure.

I think the 2 main leaks are from 1) the power steering hose and 2) oil sending unit leak.  Tho I also think it could be a seal or gasket somewhere; haven't really looked.

3. Blower motor.  The a/c and heat work but there is no motor to push the air.  It helps a little when the weather is too hot or cold but it would be infinitely better if I fixed this.

4. Functional fixes.  The driver door handle is broken  so you have to roll down the window to open the door from the outside, open it, and roll the window back up.  Also the rear window is rigged with a lamp cord and a jumper battery pack to open and close it but having it wired in to a switch would be much better.

That is the short list.  The long list includes things like a new stereo, seat covers, headliner replacement, rhino lining the interior, and more things that have probably slipped my mind.  Like I said you can keep modding forever.

No New Updates

Haven't had many updates to post as of late due to almost a month of steady rain here in North Texas. I will be doing a lot of work on the Bronco in the coming months to address drivability.  Things like fixing the gauges, AC blower, misc leaks, etc.  Stay tuned.

New Post Links

I'm trying to post more on the JD Offroad site.  Here are some new links to check out.

The Aussie Locker 1,000+ mile update

JDO Fabrication Projects (many involve the Bronco)

Quick Updates:

1. I had a power steering hose leak at Mega Run which started off as the hose coming off.  The problem persisted but was solved by replacing the hose clamp which had worked itself loose again on the return trip from Mega Run.

2. I decided to order a suction cup mirror, typically used on boats to watch the skiers, and it is awesome!  It gives a wider field than a normal rear view mirror so I can see not only out the back window but the side glass windows as well which really improves visibility on/off road!

New Mods

As mentioned previously I put 35" tires on the Bronco and cut the fenders to make sure there was enough space.  It just takes a little time, patience, and a cutting wheel with a lot of spare discs.

I also added some Rock Rails made by my company, JD Offroad.  These help protect the doors and what's lefdt of the body panels.  I hit at big rock 1st day out at Barnwell (Gilmer, TX) with them and no signs of damage!

The almost 30 year old plastic door handle broke while I was opening the door so I'll have to fix that.

I also had an issue on the trail where my power steering hose came loose.  However even after a field repair the fluid leaked out so I think its time for a new hose.

Finally, I removed the old bumper and also had JD Offroad build a new rear bumper.

35" tires, Rock Rails by JD Offroad & view of cut fenders

Rock Rails & cut fenders

JD Offroad custom bumper (this was the test fit; not painted)