Ford Partners With More Aftermarket Companies To Expand Options For New Bronco

Earlier in March, I wrote something that seems almost omniscient now. The headline said: Ford Bronco Will Drive A Booming Aftermarket Industry Around Customization.

And now today, Ford announced a partnership with three well-known aftermarket companies to offer Bronco and Bronco Sport customers more ways to modify and customize their Bronco purchase. This is great news for the customer and certainly music to the ears of the Bronco faithful.

These enthusiasts have waited many years for the return of the two-door and four-door Bronco and have suffered through production delays as well as long, slow launch. The partnership with RTR Vehicles, ARB 4x4 Accessories and 4 Wheel Parts shows that Ford is committed to support its customers by endorsing these companies parts’ for the upcoming Broncos as well as the currently available Ford Bronco Sport.

Read my official review of the Bronco Sport here.

RTR Vehicles, a longtime Ford custom vehicle collaborator founded by Vaughn Gittin Jr., ARB 4x4 Accessories, Australia’s largest manufacturer and distributor of 4x4 parts and accessories since 1975, and 4 Wheel Parts, a leading off-road parts retailer with a strong online presence and 95 locations across the U.S. are developing parts for the summer launch of Bronco two- and four-door SUVs.

Ford and the off-road aftermarket companies are collaborating on a range of performance parts beyond the current catalog of Ford-approved accessories for Bronco and Bronco Sport. Additional offerings include suspension and lift kits, custom wheels and body components, performance driveline parts, plus an extensive list of camping and off-road accessories such as tents, racks, storage solutions and lighting.

“Off-road enthusiasts crave accessories to create their ultimate off-road machines, so we’re accelerating the development of Bronco-specific offerings by working directly with three of the leading suppliers in the 4x4 arena to further build out our list of off-road parts and accessories available this summer,” said Jeff Seaman, Ford icons regional product line manager.

Speaking off aftermarket, if you haven’t seen my story on the RPM Law as endorsed by SEMA, the aftermarket leader, be sure to read more about here.

Easter Showcase Event In Moab Will Feature Broncos
At the Easter Safari event in Moab, Utah, off-road enthusiasts can drive various trails and see the all-new 2021 Bronco and Bronco Sport rugged SUVs in person, along with the unveiling of several new custom builds by Ford and aftermarket suppliers.

The custom Bronco four-door Outer Banks series with Sasquatch Package on display mixes high-tech luxury features with rugged off-road Ford-licensed accessories, including JAC Products rock rails, fender flares by Air Design and Trail Armor rocker panel covers by Lund, with a 40-inch curved LED lightbar by Rigid on top and a retractable full-roof soft-top by Bestop. A matte black hood wrap and Covercraft windshield sunscreen are added to reduce glare.

Inside, rugged off-road accessories that optimize space and make for secure stowage include a DC Safety rear cargo organizer plus roadside assistance and first-aid kit, a Tufty MOLLE straps and security drawer below, along with a Console Vault center console.

Now let’s look at some of the accessories available from the three companies that Bronco Brand are partnering with.

Custom Bronco four-door SUV by RTR Vehicles
This multipurpose heavy-duty Bronco four-door Badlands SUV by RTR Vehicles sports custom RTR rock sliders and rear bumper, RTR 3D-printed grille with simulated accent lights, plus 35-inch Nitto Ridge Grappler tires mounted to RTR Tech-6 wheels. A roof-mounted Project X lightbar, custom RTR graphics and 12-volt Type S Blizzard Box refrigerator/freezer in back complete the package.

“Ford absolutely knocked it out of the park with its all-new Bronco SUVs, so we’re pouring our passion into blending our unique experience with Ford Performance and King of the Hammers racing to create our best possible turnkey vehicle packages and performance off-road parts,” said Gittin Jr., RTR president. “RTR products are designed to turn heads and engineered to take off-road enthusiasts to their favorite destinations and beyond.”

Custom Bronco SUV by ARB 4x4 Accessories
High-performance off-road parts designed by ARB specifically for Bronco two- and four-door are featured in this custom Bronco Badlands four-door SUV including airbag-compliant front and rear bumpers, heavy duty rock sliders and differential cover, plus essential off-road accessories like an ARB twin compressor, jack and Zero refrigerator/freezer.

“These accessories represent years of design and engineering collaboration with the Ford team to build parts driven by the Bronco SUV off-road heritage and styling,” said Doug Pettis, president, ARB USA. “This design represents a practical yet capable vehicle that improves performance and enhances comfort off-road.”

Custom Bronco by 4 Wheel Parts
The custom Bronco four-door Black Diamond series SUV features a mix of 4 Wheel Parts factory brand parts including a modular front bumper, skid plate and winch platform, heavy-duty suspension components, custom roof rack and light mounts, plus a Smittybilt overhead tent and camping gear, awning and refrigerator/air system. It rides on 37-inch BFGoodrich® mud-terrain tires mounted to 17-inch Method alloy wheels.

“To date, we’ve already added more than 30 new 4 Wheel Parts brand products that take advantage of the Bronco modular design,” said Kathryn Reinhardt, senior marketing manager, 4 Wheel Parts. “We expect that list to grow as we aim to give our customers innovative products for every type of off-road lifestyle.”

How are you going to customize your Bronco? Leave me your comment with your build.

Jimmy Dinsmore has been an automotive journalist for more than a decade and been a writer since the high school. His Driver’s Side column features new car reviews and runs in several newspapers throughout the country. He is also co-author of the book “Mustang by Design” and “Ford Trucks: A Unique Look at the Technical History of America’s Most Popular Truck”. Also, Jimmy works in the social media marketing world for a Canadian automotive training aid manufacturing company. Follow Jimmy on Facebook, Twitter, at his special Ford F-150 coverage on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can read the most of Jimmy's stories by searching Torque News Ford for daily Ford vehicle report.