What chassis is the Ford Bronco based on?
The modern Ford Bronco sits on Ford’s T6 platform, a body-on-frame chassis shared with the Ranger midsize pickup (and Everest in some markets). Earlier Bronco generations used a different F-Series-based ladder-frame chassis. This article breaks down what those chassis are and how they differ across generations.
Current Bronco chassis and platform
To understand the Bronco’s current construction, it helps to know the platform that underpins modern models, including the 2021 revival and subsequent updates. The Bronco’s chassis is designed to support two- and four-door body styles while delivering off-road capability and Ford's four-wheel-drive options.
Key characteristics of the Bronco’s current chassis include:
- Platform: Ford T6 body-on-frame platform, shared with the Ranger pickup and, in many markets, the Everest SUV.
- Frame construction: High-strength steel ladder-frame design that provides durability for off-road use and heavy-duty loads.
- Variant compatibility: The same underlying frame accommodates both two-door and four-door Bronco configurations, enabling a consistent off-road foundation across models.
In summary, the Bronco’s current chassis ties directly into Ford’s mid-size truck family, reinforcing its off-road orientation without transitioning to a unibody design.
Historical chassis context
Ford has long used traditional body-on-frame layouts for utility-focused SUVs. The original Bronco (1966–1977) followed a different path from the modern model, using a frame derived from Ford’s full-size pickup family rather than the Ranger-based architecture that underpins today’s Bronco.
Details by era
The 1966–1977 Bronco rode on a rugged, box-section ladder frame connected to a lightweight, off-road-ready body. This construction reflected the era’s emphasis on durability and field use, rather than the refined, modular platform approach seen in contemporary SUVs.
As Ford evolved the Bronco nameplate, it transitioned from that classic ladder-frame approach to the dedicated T6-based chassis that underpins the current generation, aligning with Ford’s global truck and SUV strategy.
Summary
In brief, the Ford Bronco’s chassis has evolved from a traditional F-Series–based ladder-frame in the original generations to Ford’s modern T6 body-on-frame platform for the current model. The T6 platform is shared with the Ranger and Everest in many regions, delivering a durable, off-road-focused foundation that supports multiple body styles and drivetrains.
For readers seeking the core takeaway: the Bronco’s chassis is a Ford T6 body-on-frame platform in its modern form, with historical roots in an F-Series–derived frame from the original Broncos.
