Ultimate Ford Bronco Off-road Build – APG Pro-Runner
With the latest Bronco model, Ford did an excellent job building a vehicle that satisfies the needs of most off-road enthusiasts. Depending on the complexity of the trails you plan to conquer, you can choose from various trim level that range from the basic Big Bend to the top-of-the-line Raptor, which comes with front and rear lockers, 37-inch tires, and long-travel suspension with Fox shocks.
But what if the places you plan to take your Bronco are far more challenging than even the Raptor can handle? This question arose for Kevin and Britney Williams when they realized their Bronco Raptor might not be up to the hardcore high-speed off-roading and rock crawling they wanted to do.
To address this concern, they decided to contact the team at APG Off-Road, and opted for their impressive Pro Runner kit to be installed on their new Wildtrak.
The Pro-Runner Build
With a long track record in performance off-road vehicle engineering and fabrication, APG Off-Road knows a thing or two about building proper 4x4s. Their Pro Runner kit combines everything one may need to convert a Bronco into a race-spec pre-runner or a dedicated rock crawler capable of handling the most extreme conditions.
Suspension Mods
With the help of George Patrick, the mastermind behind this build, the team at APG completely reimagined the suspension and outfitted it with a custom long-travel kit. This includes a 74Weld steering rack, extended-length lower control arms, adjustable upper control arms, and King 3.0 coilovers with internal bypasses and remote reservoir shocks that are virtually impossible to overheat.
At the rear, they installed a Dana 60 solid axle setup built specifically for APG, along with a long-arm suspension featuring 14-inch King coilovers to maximize wheel travel.
Thanks to these modifications, they managed to achieve 16.5 inches of wheel travel with the current 40-inch wheel setup. With slightly smaller 38-inch wheels, the usable travel can be increased to a whopping 18 inches, which is quite a gain compared to the Bronco Raptor’s 13 inches of front and 14 inches of rear wheel travel.
Wheels
Speaking of wheels, this Bronco sits on a set of Baja Built race beadlock wheels wrapped in 40-inch Nitto Trail Grappler M/T tires, enabling more technical rock crawling and providing a beefed-up look.
Exterior
Regarding the exterior, the most noticeable change is the new custom paint job. While the original black color was cool, it’s nearly impossible to keep black vehicles looking clean when out on the trails with all the dust, debris, and mud. Brittany decided to change it to the original Porsche Miami Blue, which looks stunning and makes the rig more noticeable both on and off the roads.
The next significant modification is a set of front and rear carbon fiber widebody fenders by APG, designed to accommodate the oversized tires and long-travel suspension. They also feature extremely durable carbon fiber wheel arches to protect the engine bay and the body of the rig.
To protect the body from damage, the team at APG installed their custom, low-profile modular front bumper with Baja Designs XL light bar and corner lights. On the back, there’s a low-profile rear off-road bumper with a full-size spare tire carrier, added to balance out the rear end and make the Bronco more stable during high-speed jumps.
On the sides, you’ll notice a pair of Next Venture Motorsports rock sliders with custom carbon fiber shields from APG. The underbody is protected with Next Venture Motorsports skid plates featuring an additional coating that allows the vehicle to slide off rocks instead of getting stuck and damaging the underbody.
List of Mods
Interior
- Katzkin seat covers
Performance
- S&D cold air intake
Suspension
Front:
- Fully custom long travel suspension kit
- Adjustable upper arms and fixed lower control arms
- 8″ King IDP 3.0 Coilovers with remote reservoir shocks
- King bumpstops
- 74 Weld Steering rack
Rear:
- Long lower arm
- Semi float Dana 60 axle built for APG
- 14″ King Coilovers and baypasses with tube reinforcements
Wheels
- Baja Built Race beadolock Wheels
- 40×13.5R17 Nitto Trail grappler M/T Tires
Lights
- Baja Designs Lights
- Baja Designs Squadron lights in the bumper
- Baja designs RTL mini LED lights in the spare tire
Exterior & Body Armor
- Porsche Miami Blue Paintjob
- APG carbon fiber wide body fenders (the stongest fenders produced now)
- APG carbon fiber wheel wells
- Next Venture Motorsports Skid plates
- Next Venture Motorsports rock sliders with custom carbon fiber shield from APG
- All carbon heat extracting system in the hood
- Low profile modular front bumper by APG with Baja Designs XL light bar and corner lights
- Rear mount Warn winch with Factor 58 Ultrahook
As a result, Kevin and Brittany received a much more capable vehicle than the factory Bronco Raptor and we totally agree with their brief summary of this Bronco Off road build:
This is what Ford wished the Bronco Raptor could be!
Follow the journey of Brittany Williams on her Instagram @litebritenation and find out more about this awesome build in a detailed video review on their YouTube channel.
