Bronco Base Build: 2" level kit, 30.5" BFG KM3 tires, light bar, 4" Rigid light pods

[RiotfunK]

I’m looking to do 245/70/17 on the oem BL wheels. How much different in height with your kit would that be since the BS BL has a higher spring rate vs the other models giving it has the added height from factory. Or is different spacers model dependent. Didn’t see much info I was looking for on the site. Also any pics of what’s included, can you pm me those and instructions etc. if you could. Thanks.

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[BeachBronco]

I'm debating between the 265 60r18 and the 265 65r18. The 265 65 is close to the 255 70r17 (.5 inch larger). I do just Highway and beach driving. Nothing crazy but the sand at the beach is pretty soft so it's a bumpy ride. Is it 100% necessary to remove the carpet and trim the pinch weld? I've heard of 265 60r18 fitting with no trimming but would like the larger tire size of the 65.

 

[Mark S.]

Is it 100% necessary to remove the carpet and trim the pinch weld?

If you trim off the pinch welds you should consider having a pro reweld the two parts. Unibody cars derive structural integrity by sharing and transferring loads between the various components comprising the structure. When you disconnect components from one another by cutting away the welds then loads may no longer be shared between them.

This video does a good job of explaining the difference between unibody and body-on-frame construction:

 

[BeachBronco]

This is why I'm not looking to alter the pinch welds. It is trimming and not completely cutting through but I prefer to not do it if at all possible. I'm curious if the trimming is necessary due to full articulation for more aggressive off roading, or if driving on soft sand on the beach and turning at full lock is going to be an issue? Measuring by way of tape measure from the hub on level ground it looks as if the tire size I want should fit but things change drastically when the truck is in motion. Had an xterra before this running 285 70r17 with a 9 inch wide tire and somewhat aggressive offset. The tire and wheels looked great and should have fit perfectly, but the knobby mud terrains definitely did a number on on the corners of the fender when the truck was moving and turning at full lock at slow speeds.

 

[Meanderthal]

This is why I'm not looking to alter the pinch welds. It is trimming and not completely cutting through but I prefer to not do it if at all possible. I'm curious if the trimming is necessary due to full articulation for more aggressive off roading, or if driving on soft sand on the beach and turning at full lock is going to be an issue? Measuring by way of tape measure from the hub on level ground it looks as if the tire size I want should fit but things change drastically when the truck is in motion. Had an xterra before this running 285 70r17 with a 9 inch wide tire and somewhat aggressive offset. The tire and wheels looked great and should have fit perfectly, but the knobby mud terrains definitely did a number on on the corners of the fender when the truck was moving and turning at full lock at slow speeds.

It seems that 245/65/17 is the safe upper limit for a tire size that won’t rub. Basically a 29.5” tire is safe but the limit is somewhere between 29.5” and 30”. Turning and articulation is where you find those limits. You might find that limit on road while turning and going through a dip in the road.

 

[RiotfunK]

245/70 were not usable off-road and rubbed worse after lift on my BL. There’s way too much pinch seam to trim to get proper clearance. Plus I’m not cutting that, after pulling the liners and seeing the welds are almost at the edge of the pinch. I’m not removing on a unibody. Bad juju. I left it and went 245/65. The 70 looks better Yeah, but I can get more places with the 65s.

 

[Mark S.]

This is why I'm not looking to alter the pinch welds. It is trimming and not completely cutting through but I prefer to not do it if at all possible.

Some advocate bending them over rather than trimming them off. You make a series of perpendicular cuts in the pinch between the welds, bend the tabs over, then apply a rust-proofing coating. I have no idea how this affects the strength/durability of the welds.

 

[Meanderthal]

Some advocate bending them over rather than trimming them off. You make a series of perpendicular cuts in the pinch between the welds, bend the tabs over, then apply a rust-proofing coating. I have no idea how this affects the strength/durability of the welds.

How strong is a perforated piece of paper? I don’t think that cutting in between the spot welds is a good idea either. It is a little better than cutting off the weld pinch flange. If it could be bent without cutting and maybe not all the way flat, that seems it would be the least intrusive. I don’t think it is worth the structural compromise to do any of these things but to think this doesn’t compromise the integrity of the unibody is a fantasy.

 

[timhutch]

First wheeling today after installing Robby's lift kit on my Sport Badlands. Total clearance increase with the 1-3/4" lift kit and the 245/70/R17 Falken Wildpeak AT3's was about 2-1/2". Also installed the aluminum front skid by Rally Innovations. Significant improvement off-road. Did a pretty tough local trail here in SoCal called Rowher Jeep trail. No problems and no damage. Car drives and handles great with a slight decrease in gas milage and my speedo is now about 3mph slow at 70mph. Very minor trimming of the pinch weld inside the fender well was all that was required for clearance. Very happy with this kit. Loving my Bronco Sport!

 

[Winds of Change]

I make them. They are on my website. www.fordbroncolifts.com

I wish you could make a mounting bracket to maintain the tow hooks on the Badlands. Have you considered a couple of extra tabs for zip ties? wrapping them around the bar makes it look tacky/unclean. I like your light bar but those are the 2 things that hold me up from getting it. And yes I see you can add mounting points for a bow shackle but prefer the stock tow hooks.

 

[Bamsi]

Just purchased my base model last Tuesday. I quickly designed and installed my own 2” level lift. I installed 245/70/17 bfgoodrich km3 tires. I will be installing some ALPHAequipt wheels this week. Just got the windows tinted yesterday.

March 1, 2021 Update

Added a front light bar and some 4” rigid lights.

Looks great! But, no rubbing with those tires?

 

[Idahobro]

If you trim off the pinch welds you should consider having a pro reweld the two parts. Unibody cars derive structural integrity by sharing and transferring loads between the various components comprising the structure. When you disconnect components from one another by cutting away the welds then loads may no longer be shared between them.

This video does a good job of explaining the difference between unibody and body-on-frame construction:

yeah, I was looking at trim job and thought, It would take ten minutes to do a couple of hole welds right about where the cuts were done. That is probably what I would do.

 

[BigBadWolf]

Sweet!

 

[Goinbroke2]

Just throwing it out there, I’ve been running 245/70/17 since I got my badlands. No issues. On the 18th of this month it goes in to the dealership for a 1.75” lift kit.
I’ll do pictures of before and after.

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