Bull bar/nudge bar/front sensor question

[Fronzizzle]

Hello all,

I'm looking for confirmation here as I've found some conflicting info.

We have a 2021 Bronco Sport First Edition. It has Ford 360, but not Ford 360+. So no adaptive cruise or lane centering, but it does have lane keeping assist. It also has a front camera. I *think* I can install a bar on the front without affecting the lane keeping as that is done via a windshield sensor, correct? We never use the front camera so I'm not worried about blocking that, but I don't want to cause any issues with other features.

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[Escape2Bronco]

Hello all,

I'm looking for confirmation here as I've found some conflicting info.

We have a 2021 Bronco Sport First Edition. It has Ford 360, but not Ford 360+. So no adaptive cruise or lane centering, but it does have lane keeping assist. It also has a front camera. I *think* I can install a bar on the front without affecting the lane keeping as that is done via a windshield sensor, correct? We never use the front camera so I'm not worried about blocking that, but I don't want to cause any issues with other features.

That is correct. The front camera in the grill on the First Edition is for slow speeds off road. The camera in the mirror base is for lane centering. The adaptive cruise radar is in a black box in the front bumper.

 

[Jewce]

I have ford 360. no issues with light bar (fordrangerlifts.com nudge bar)

 

[Fronzizzle]

That looks great. How was the install? Would you recommend that nudge bar?

 

[Robins21]

I put a Rough Country nudge bar on my wife's 21 BS/BB & it does NOT affect the lane centering.

 

[Jewce]

That looks great. How was the install? Would you recommend that nudge bar?

I love it! Install was only 4 bolts and was fairly easy. It required assistance from someone with small hands. 2 of the bolts are hard to reach. ??

 

[B-Dog15]

Is this

I have ford 360. no issues with light bar (fordrangerlifts.com nudge bar)

What is the bar mounted to? Just curious if those d-rings can actually be used for recovery or if they are more just for looks?

 

[VeryConfusedAmerican]

Is this

What is the bar mounted to? Just curious if those d-rings can actually be used for recovery or if they are more just for looks?

If I'm not mistaken that bar from FRL attaches where the original Recovery points are. It uses the bolts that held the recovery hooks in place to mount. The new recovery points are there because the original hooks can't be used in conjunction with the nudge bar.

I do not have one of these bars just a heads up, just looked into them at length as I'm on the fence about adding one, so take what i'm saying with a grain of salt.

 

[B-Dog15]

If I'm not mistaken that bar from FRL attaches where the original Recovery points are. It uses the bolts that held the recovery hooks in place to mount. The new recovery points are there because the original hooks can't be used in conjunction with the nudge bar.

I do not have one of these bars just a heads up, just looked into them at length as I'm on the fence about adding one, so take what i'm saying with a grain of salt.

I see, thank you for the info! I looked on their website and under this product they say, “Also options for recovery points and extra bracket bracing Available upon request” so I wonder if the bracket bracing they mention is to make the front d-ring mounts an actual weight bearing recovery point? Would make this thing very popular with us non Badlands folks as we really don’t have any options for functional front recovery hooks.

 

[VeryConfusedAmerican]

I see, thank you for the info! I looked on their website and under this product they say, “Also options for recovery points and extra bracket bracing Available upon request” so I wonder if the bracket bracing they mention is to make the front d-ring mounts an actual weight bearing recovery point? Would make this thing very popular with us non Badlands folks as we really don’t have any options for functional front recovery hooks.

I'm not entirely sure on the bracket bracing, it is definitely possible that it will add some more structural integrity, however Im not sure what would be wrong with the factory mounts as that is what the Badlands/FE points are mounted into.

If you don't have a badlands model I think it states you need to trim your bumper plastic to access the bolt location; Meaning your bronco HAS the spot for a recovery hook to be bolted into, but you don't have access to it due to the stock front bumper not having the cutout. My guess is all bronco models have the ability to have recovery points but the non badlands/FE bumper is the only thing blocking you from actually having them. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, I haven't seen/researched much about non Badlands BS tbh

I painted the recovery hooks on my Badlands and to remove they are literally just two bolts holding them in, super easy to remove if you take the front wheels off, harder to remove but still doable with the wheels still on. I would be curious if adding them to non Badlands/FE models is as simple as buying factory hooks and cutting out the plastic trim in the bumper. In my mind it is haha

 

[Black Rob]

That’s what I did on our heritage. Cut the bumper and added the hooks.

 

[B-Dog15]

I'm not entirely sure on the bracket bracing, it is definitely possible that it will add some more structural integrity, however Im not sure what would be wrong with the factory mounts as that is what the Badlands/FE points are mounted into.

If you don't have a badlands model I think it states you need to trim your bumper plastic to access the bolt location; Meaning your bronco HAS the spot for a recovery hook to be bolted into, but you don't have access to it due to the stock front bumper not having the cutout. My guess is all bronco models have the ability to have recovery points but the non badlands/FE bumper is the only thing blocking you from actually having them. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, I haven't seen/researched much about non Badlands BS tbh

I painted the recovery hooks on my Badlands and to remove they are literally just two bolts holding them in, super easy to remove if you take the front wheels off, harder to remove but still doable with the wheels still on. I would be curious if adding them to non Badlands/FE models is as simple as buying factory hooks and cutting out the plastic trim in the bumper. In my mind it is haha

I believe on the Badlands/FE there is an extra piece if metal way in the back of the bumper where the tow hook bolts in to make it a load bearing hook. You are correct that all trims have the front mounts though so I have seen others put them on for looks but I don’t believe they can actually be used to recover the vehicle! **This is solely based on what I’ve seen others post on here and nothing I have confirmed for myself**

 

[Black Rob]

I believe on the Badlands/FE there is an extra piece if metal way in the back of the bumper where the tow hook bolts in to make it a load bearing hook. You are correct that all trims have the front mounts though so I have seen others put them on for looks but I don’t believe they can actually be used to recover the vehicle! **This is solely based on what I’ve seen others post on here and nothing I have confirmed for myself**

This is correct!

 

[VeryConfusedAmerican]

That’s what I did on our heritage. Cut the bumper and added the hooks.

Looks clean! Side note, love those tires brother, what are they? Trying to plan for when I inevitably need new ones

 

[VeryConfusedAmerican]

I believe on the Badlands/FE there is an extra piece if metal way in the back of the bumper where the tow hook bolts in to make it a load bearing hook. You are correct that all trims have the front mounts though so I have seen others put them on for looks but I don’t believe they can actually be used to recover the vehicle! **This is solely based on what I’ve seen others post on here and nothing I have confirmed for myself**

Hmm that's frustrating, I was hoping it would be as simple as installing the hook where the Badlands/FE are mounted and nothing else.

Lots to love about the Bronco Sport but there are several decisions that have me scratching my head on the non Badlands/FE trim. I get that every bit helps the margins on these but I think on a vehicle marketed as off-roadable there are certain 'must haves', which recovery points are one for me. Especially on Unibody where there really isn't much else you can bolt into without seriously modifying parts.

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