| Some people shopping for a vehicle for less than | | | | caught a ton of bad press for being prone to flipping |
| $1000 bucks aren't always looking for just a car. This | | | | over. Now for those of you reading who might fear |
| profile is for those who are looking for an off-road | | | | this I would suggest to take a step back and use |
| vehicle they can buy on the cheap. | | | | some common sense. This is an SUV with a high |
| Profile: Ford Bronco II | | | | center of gravity so its no real surprise that yes a roll |
| The Bronco II debuted in 1984 and was one of the | | | | over could be a possibility. After personally owning |
| first vehicles offered to the public that gave the | | | | one I never felt that it really had any tendency to roll |
| type of capabilities that larger truck and SUV's had in | | | | hard, but I think its obvious that if you push a vehicle |
| a much smaller size. The bronco II was based on the | | | | like this beyond its handling limits just like any other |
| Ranger chassis and is completely identical in many | | | | SUV a roll over could happen. |
| ways. Engine choices varied between a 2.8 liter V6 | | | | Now that we got that out of the way lets talk about |
| and a 2.9 liter fuel-injected V6. Neither of which | | | | what makes this truck an All-Star. First off the price, |
| offered a huge amount of power, but torque tends | | | | Bronco II's and their Ranger counterparts can be |
| to be more important in a smaller truck like this. The | | | | found all day long for under $1000 bucks. These |
| Bronco II was available in 2 wheel and 4 wheel drive | | | | trucks are cheap, simple to work on, and plentiful in |
| versions, this could be engaged manually or in the | | | | available replacement parts. As far as off-road |
| XLT Eddie Bauer editions the 4-wheel drive was | | | | capability these small trucks have quite a bit of |
| electronic. A particular note is that the front axle on | | | | potential and the aftermarket upgrades are there to |
| four wheel drive models was actually a | | | | help turn these things into mud-slinging beasts. If you |
| semi-independent type as opposed to a full solid axle | | | | plan on buying one things to look out for are |
| like the full-size Bronco. Bronco II's also came with | | | | electronics (80's ford switches and ignition modules |
| lockable front hubs and an available auto or 5spd. | | | | tend to go out from time to time, but are always a |
| manual transmission. | | | | cheap fix) and keep in mind that most of the bronco |
| Now this wouldn't be a proper profile if we didn't | | | | II's had recalls for problem cylinder heads that caused |
| discuss the reputation of the Bronco II. This truck | | | | coolant leaks. |