2021 Chicago Auto Show: Taking the Ford Bronco ‘Off-Road’

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Considering it tackled Hell’s Gate, it’s clear the 2021 Ford Bronco has genuine off-road chops. But sometimes, the best way to convince someone is to let them experience something firsthand. And that includes seeing if the Bronco is truly off-road-capable. Luckily, at the 2021 Chicago Auto Show, I got a chance to just that—sort of—and you can, too.

The Ford Bronco can go off-road at the 2021 Chicago Auto Show—kind of

2021 Chicago Auto Show Ford Bronco off-road course diagram | Ford

Besides various vehicles, Ford also has several ‘experiences’ set up at the 2021 Chicago Auto Show. For example, you can get a ride in the electric Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning. Alternatively, show-goers can take an off-road ride in a 2021 Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport. Well, a simulated off-road ride, at least.

This ‘off-road’ ride is courtesy of the Built Wild Ford Bronco Mountain Experience (actual name). Set up outside of McCormick Place, it’s a course designed to show off the SUV’s off-pavement capabilities without requiring a Rubicon Trail trip. And while the 38° ramp—the eponymous ‘Bronco Mountain’—might be the most prominent feature, it’s not the only one.

The 38-degree 'Bronco Mountain' ramp on the 2021 Chicago Auto Show Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport off-road course
2021 Chicago Auto Show Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport off-road course ramp | Matthew Skwarczek, MotorBiscuit

The Ford Bronco off-road course starts in a sandpit to demonstrate the SUV’s Trail Turn Assist. This brakes the inside rear wheel in a turn, theoretically letting the Bronco execute 180° turns, The Drive explains. The course then moves to a water trough to test fording depth, ground clearance, and breakover angles. After that, there’s an off-camber ramp section devoted to the obstacle- and line-spotting cameras and the Ford Bronco’s ability to drive on an angle.

The off-camber ramp section also shows off the Ford Bronco’s off-road articulation somewhat. But the next part, a series of elevated wedge-shaped blocks, test it even more. And finally, there’s Bronco Mountain. This demonstrates the SUV’s approach and departure angles, powertrain, various off-road modes, and hill-descent control.

What’s the 2021 Ford Bronco First Edition like on the off-road course?

The dashboard and center console in a 2021 Ford Bronco First Edition
2021 Ford Bronco First Edition dashboard | Matthew Skwarczek, MotorBiscuit

My Ford Bronco off-road passenger ride took place in a First Edition, the fully-loaded limited-edition top Bronco trim. It’s essentially a Badlands model with the optional Sasquatch Package, Car and Driver explains. So, it offers off-road features like front and rear locking differentials, an electronically-disconnecting sway bar, Bilstein remote-reservoir shocks, 35” all-terrain tires, beadlock-capable wheels, and a shorter axle ratio. Plus, the Ford Bronco First Edition has an extra off-road driving mode for rock crawling.

Given that I was a passenger throughout the course, I can’t tell you if the Ford Bronco is easy or difficult to drive off-road. However, in terms of raw capability, this SUV impresses.

The Trail Turn Assist lets the Bronco pirouette through the sandbox, and with the Sasquatch Package, it has a 33.5” fording depth. As for the off-camber ramp, the Bronco has prominent ‘prongs’ on its hood to make it easier to keep track of its edges. This also, in theory, helps the driver with line-spotting. But they’re almost superfluous with those obstacle-spotting cameras feeding visuals to the center touchscreen.

A silver 2021 Ford Bronco Badlands Sasquatch on a simulated off-road course
2021 Ford Bronco Badlands Sasquatch side articulation | Matthew Skwarczek, MotorBiscuit

Being able to follow lines easily is vital in the off-road articulation section, the Ford employee driving the Bronco told me. I assume it’s because otherwise, you’d slide right off the blocks. Speaking of the blocks, the Bronco First Edition took them in stride. As you can see from the photo above, the SUV can easily handle having a wheel in the air. And disconnecting the front sway bar was giggle-inducing with how the Bronco softly dropped out of its angled position.

38° doesn’t seem like much on paper. Yet Bronco Mountain is steep enough that, on the descent, I started dangling from my seat belt. But the Bronco’s hill-descent control and off-road modes meant going up and down was otherwise drama-free.

Does this make the SUV off-road-capable in the real world?

To be sure, Ford wouldn’t send the 2021 Bronco on an off-road course it knew the SUV couldn’t handle. And it’s difficult to say anything about an SUV’s off-pavement capabilities without getting behind the wheel.

That being said, when I went off-roading in a 4Runner TRD Pro, I came away thinking that it was more capable than me. And I had the same feeling after riding in the Bronco First Edition. Not every Ford Bronco owner will take their SUV to an off-road park or a place like Moab. But the Chicago Auto Show course makes it clear that the Bronco can handle both. And if you still don’t believe it, seat-time sign-ups are open.   

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RELATED: Critics Agree: The 2021 Ford Bronco Is Absolutely the Real Deal

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California Won’t Let You Register Your Car if It’s Tuned

by Gabrielle DeSantis

California is famous among consumers and enthusiasts alike for its strict emissions laws. Now, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has introduced new regulations for modified cars. Apparently, the new law is supposed to check for an ECU tune while smog-checking it, determining whether or not you can register your car. Now, this all sounds rather complex, and it certainly has some serious ramifications for tuners and car enthusiasts.

What is a “tune”?

All cars, even NASCARs run on some sort of tune | David J. Griffin via Getty Images

First, let’s get into what an ECU tune is. Basically, a tune tells your car to go faster by way of making your engine produce more horsepower. In reality, things are a little more complex. Deep within the bowels of nearly every car there lives a little computer, about the size of your hand, and twice as thick. That computer is called the “ECU”, or Engine Control Unit tells your car’s motor what to do and when.

A while back, people smarter than I figured out that you could get into that computer and tell it what to do, and by extension, your motor. Now, your car’s motor makes horsepower based on three parameters: air, fuel, and a spark from the spark plugs to burn it all. If you tell the computer to modify those three things to make more horsepower, well, you’ve got yourself an ECU tune.

CARB has to approve your tune to register your car

A mechanic uses a laptop to work on a Jaguar
Laptops are now a part of daily vehicle repair for mechanics | Marijan Murat via Getty Images

And that is exactly the issue that the California Air Resources Board has with ECU tuning. Any Joe or Jane Schmo with a laptop can do it. However, that same Joe or Jane Schmo can also do it improperly, and make the car’s emissions far worse. See: coal rolling. So, that’s what the new law aims to prevent; people from tuning their cars without thinking of the environment first.

Per CARB’s website, starting on July 19th, 2021, “vehicles with software not provided by the original equipment manufacturer… blah, blah …. or approved through a CARB Executive Order will fail smog check.” Bummer. Although, maybe not so much of a bummer if it helps to stop the widely disapproved act of rolling coal.

Emissions requirements will only get tighter

A man stares at an aftermarket exhaust system on display
An aftermarket exhaust can effect emissions | Alessandro Di Ciommo via Getty Images

That said, it was inevitable that something like this would happen. Frankly, it’s not a huge deal. Tuning companies will figure out how to make their tunes compliant, in the rare case they aren’t already, and life will go on. However, this is a sign of things to come. It likely won’t be long until we see a German TUV-style check on modifications here in the U.S, so enjoy that fire-spitting tune while you can.

RELATED: Is It Worth Your Money to Buy a Modified Used Car?

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Ford Explores a Strange Alternative For EV Charging

by Gabrielle DeSantis

As more people buy their first electric vehicles, there is more need for EV charging options. The Tesla superchargers are great, but they don’t work for all EVs and still take a while. Needless to say, there is already a shortage of charging stations, and the problem will only get worse as more people buy EVs than charging stations get built. This is why Ford is looking into some creative, if not even a little strange, alternatives to EV charging. One of the main ideas involves flat-towing EVs for the regen charge.

Ford Regen towing patent | Ford

Are there enough EV charging stations? 

Charging infrastructure is without a doubt the biggest hindrance to the mass adoption of EVs in America. Obviously, we are going to need more chargers – a lot more. However, that will take a great deal of time and money. 

According to The Drive, Ford is exploring new alternative EV charging options, mainly designing EVs to allow flat towing behind trucks and campers to recharge their batteries. 

A published patent filed by Ford describes charging via towing. While most cities have EV chargers, the more rural parts of our country are nearly devoid of EV charging options. This ability to flat-tow EVs would not only make charging in the rural areas possible, but it would also provide a way to charge one’s EV without stopping for hours. Mobile EV charging could really change the way we see this new phase of transportation. 

Is flat-towing an electric car ok? 

Flow chart showing how the EV charging ford patent may work
Ford Regen towing patent | Ford

Ford filed for the patent back in December of 2020, but the paperwork was only published a couple of weeks ago. This patent describes a few different ways to make this idea work. One of the ideas is that the tow vehicle is charging the EV all the time. However, there is also the suggestion that the tow vehicle only charges the EV when it is not pulling a heavy load. 

For instance, if the caravan goes up a steep hill or even down a similar grade, putting more strain on the tow vehicle, the charging might pause or at least change. Of course, another detail like flat-towing speed is also a major factor.

The document describes what Ford thinks might be good options for tow vehicles. The document reads: “The towing vehicle can be for example a transporter, a heavy goods vehicle, a road train, a semitrailer or the like, for example, but it can also be a passenger car having appropriate performance features.”

Here’s where Ford’s EV charging idea gets wild

Flow chart showing how the EV charging ford patent may work
Ford Regen towing patent | Ford

Ford’s charging proposition gets even crazier; not only are they suggesting a possibility of personally towing an EV with a camper or some such vehicle, but Ford is also proposing roving EV charging rigs that will be equipped with Bluetooth linking abilities to link up for mobile charging and information sharing. 

In essence, the system would allow the electric vehicle to link up with a moving source of charge, attach itself to the tow vehicle with help from various sensors, and begin charging. Ford would essentially have a fleet of rolling chargers, although the practicality of that seems questionable. 

The more likely scenario is the aforementioned RV towing situation. This would be a driver inside a vehicle such as an RV to select how and when the vehicle would charge itself. For instance, if the tow vehicle was going downhill or if it was braking, etc. This would mean there would be no extra load on the tow vehicle’s engine, but some EV charging would still happen.

Ford is on the right track with flat towing EVs

Who knows how we will solve the infrastructure problem with EVs, but it’s creative ideas like this Ford patent that will help us figure it out. The more we can support these outside-of-the-box ideas, the sooner we can figure this out and start making some progress. 

RELATED: RV Owner Obliterates Brand New 2021 Jeep Wrangler by Towing in 4-Low and 1st Gear

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Can You Dump Gray Water on the Ground?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

For people cruising around the country in campers, understanding the laws will save you a lot of trouble. For example, depending on where you end up, living in an RV full time may be illegal. Another example is throwing gray water on the ground. Less experienced RVers might have never heard of gray water, let alone know that it’s illegal to throw it on the ground. The last thing travelers or boondockers need is to get hit with a hefty fine.

What is gray water, and is it dangerous?

Campers dumping RV water | Julia Rendleman for The Washington Post via Getty Images

Gray water is known by other names, including “greywater” and sullage. It’s generally defined as domestic wastewater from drainage streams containing very little to no human waste. Gray water streams typically come from bathtubs, showers, sinks, dishwashers, and washing machines. Streams fed from toilets, urinals, or anything else where human waste is disposed of is defined as black water.

Households and commercial buildings are the most common sources of gray water in the United States. While it’s not dangerous as water polluted by chemical factories, it likely contains various detergents, bath soaps, bacteria, and other things that could lead to illness. For this reason, gray water should never be consumed by humans or animals.

Fewer pathogens are typically found in domestic gray water, so health officials consider it a lot safer to handle. In addition to that, it’s easier to treat wastewater with an appropriate filtration system. It can then be reused onsite to flush the toilet and other non-potable (water meant for human consumption) applications.

Urban wastewater subsystems can also benefit substantially from gray water, as it minimizes the amount of wastewater conveyed to water treatment facilities for treatment. Furthermore, fresh, consumable water from the water supply subsystems won’t be wasted on flushing toilets, watering plants, lawn and garden irrigation, or treating wastewater.

Why is it illegal to dump gray water on the ground?

According to Boondocker’s Bible, “State laws and regulations vary from state to state, and vary from one park, forest, or beach to the next.” However, when it comes to land owned, operated, and/or managed by various federal agencies, you can almost bet that it’s illegal. The Bureau of Land Management (responsible for administering federal lands) is the only federal agency that doesn’t make dumping gray water illegal.

“However, in areas where the BLM manages developed campgrounds, recreational areas, or wildlife preserves, they may prohibit such activity on a case-by-case basis,” the Boondocker’s Bible points out. These are areas where many van-lifers and RVers like to stay, so it’s definitely a good idea to check before dumping your gray water somewhere. One should also understand the difference between a campground, RV campground, and RV resort.

Other federal organizations, including the U.S. Forestry Service, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Army Corps of Engineers, have prohibited the dumping of gray water. The author of the report stated that since agencies like the Bureau of Reclamation and Army Corps of Engineers focus “on bodies of water (lakes and rivers), it’s understandable that dumping wastewater [sic] of any kind on the ground is not permitted.”

How to dispose of sullage from an RV properly

To start with, rather than disposing of all of your RV gray water from your gray water tank, think of other creative things to do with it. For example, rather than filling your RVs kitchen sink with water to do the dishes, purchase a separate dish pan for washing dishes. You can store it in a gallon plastic jug or bucket for flushing your RVs toilet; use it for putting out campground fires or barbeque pits; use it to clean something else if the water isn’t greasy, among other things.

Some blogs written on this topic have advised using dishwater to water plants or shrubs. However, doing so may cause root and stem rot, so it’s a terribly counterintuitive idea.

Probably the best thing to do with your gray water is to recycle it so that you’re doing your part to be environmentally responsible. This is because gray water will limit where, how long, and with how many people you travel in an RV with. Other than that, the only legal way to dispose of gray water is by doing so at a clearly designated gray and black water dumping station.

RELATED: Can You Buy an RV in Canada and Bring It to the U.S.?

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