10 Things Every Enthusiast Should Know About The 1980-'86 Ford Bronco

[Gary Lewis]

Another article, this one entitled 10 Things Every Enthusiast Should Know About The 1980-'86 Ford Bronco.  I noticed a few errors, but overall it was an interesting read.

[grumpin]

That first picture, the blue 1980 Bronco is a good looking rig.

[Gary Lewis]

Yes, it certainly is, so let's save the pic.

grumpin wrote

That first picture, the blue 1980 Bronco is a good looking rig.

And here's the video:

[Ford F834]

This is one of the best bullnose pictures out there on the internet. Looks to be a Freewheelin’ package A. Note the missing antenna… I don’t know why Ford liked to depict them this way….

[BigBrother-84]

Gary, is this a standard way to lock a Bronco tailgate?



If so, can this be adapted to a Bullnose truck in order to prevent tailgate robbery?

[grumpin]

I’ll answer, not a lock, a switch, to operate the rear window.

[Gary Lewis]

Thanks for jumping in there, Dane.

Jeff - I was going to refer you to this thread about tailgate locks, but then realized it is your thread so won't.  

[BigBrother-84]

Gary Lewis wrote

Jeff - I was going to refer you to this thread about tailgate locks, but then realized it is your thread so won't.  

You're right Gary, but I never found an easy solution.
The way our Bullnoses are designed make a lockable hinge almost impossible.
The only solution that would potentially work is to install a left closed hinge to the right side, which makes the door not removable (Matt's proposal).

That's why I was wondering how Broncos are tailgate secured.

Thanks to Dane, I now realize that Bronco's tailgate handle is located on the inner side of the tailgate, and that its window acts as the "security lock" (has to be lowered to enable door opening).  I assume that all Broncos tailgate windows were powered, with this key lock that is in fact a switch.

This is probably the 11th thing some enthusiasts had to know about 80-86 Broncos.

[Gary Lewis]

Yes, I couldn't find a way to lock the tailgate on Big Blue.  I thought of cutting into it and installing a lock like you can put on the later 'gate which has the removable panel, but came to the conclusion that wasn't going to work - the 11th thing one needs to know about Bullnose trucks.

So I went a different direction.  I put a security system on the truck with switches on the hood, doors, toolbox lids, and tailgate.  Now I can lock the truck with a push of the button and anyone that tries to open any of those items will be met with a raucous noise when both the horn and the siren go off.

[BigBrother-84]

Gary, I pointed your alarm solution directly in the tailgate locking topic.
Could be useful for future search.

[Gary Lewis]

Yes, I just saw that.  Good job, Jeff!