Ford’s Wildest Bronco Yet? The RTR ROVR Channels Martian Energy
This latest Vaughn Gittin Jr. creation draws inspiration from Mars Rover missions, and you can buy it turn-key or build it up bit by bit.
When the sixth-gen Ford Bronco first crashed the Jeep Wrangler’s off-road party in 2021, Ford invited several prominent tuners to work up aftermarket packages for it, and champion drifter, off-road racer, and frequent Mustang-fettler Vaughn Gittin Jr.’s RTR (Ready to Rock) Vehicles team was tapped. The first Bronco RTR package debuted at Moab in 2021. This year, RTR is taking inspiration from the many recent successful Mars rover missions to create the Bronco RTR ROVR—his vision of the ultimate go-anywhere, do anything 4x4.
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Ultra4 off-road champ Gittin and his racing partner Loren Healy developed the package at their off-road center in New Mexico. The program builds on a series of three Mustang Spec models, and precedes the Ford factory-built Mustang RTR program coming in 2026.
Turn-Key RTR ROVR Specs
Starting from the ground up, the RTR ROVR kit—priced at $26,595 (plus a Bronco)—starts with a set of 9.0 x 17-inch flow-formed RTR Tech 6 wheels, wrapped in 35-inch Nitto Recon Grappler tires, chosen to improve off-road traction while maintaining on-road drivability. And because the package can be added to various Broncos, there’s a 2-inch lift kit included for non-Sasquatch models, to clear the tires. Naturally there’s a matching spare, mounted to an RTR carrier, with an adjustable tailgate stop.
Performance wise, there’s a cat-back exhaust system, but it mainly strives to tuck farther up and out of harm’s way. An RTR lightbar with five Project X FF.70 lights also comes standard. Other standard off-road ruggedizing gear includes a modular center bar and end caps that mounts to the factory tubular steel front bumper, and a steel rear bumper that improves departure angle while incorporating hefty D-rings to assist recovery missions. RTR Rock Sliders, complete with a 7-inch kickout near the rear wheel, help guide whatever you’re sliding against around the tire and serve as a useful step when accessing stuff mounted to the roof rack.
Versatile Roof Rack
Speaking of, the RTR's roof rack is being heralded as a paragon of innovation, able to support Molle racks and panels covering the rear quarter panels, camping gear, lights and accessories, kayak mounts, etc. The eighth-inch-thick tubular steel powder-coated rack features T-slotted crossbars that can secure 800 pounds of gear, and the rack supports hard or soft top usage. With nothing mounted, it adds only 3.6 inches to the vehicle’s height, so it might still fit in the garage (depending on how crazy your tires are).
Design Stuff
That first RTR Bronco in 2021 featured topographical map graphics depicting the start area of the King of the Hammers race. This Mars-inspired RTR ROVR features hood graphics depicting Mars Pathfinders’s Ares Vallis landing site. The driver side and tailgate show off the Apollo 12 moon-mission’s crater maps and flight paths, while the passenger side nods to Mars Rover Opportunity’s stomping grounds (that’s the one that outlasted its original mission expectations 57 times over). These graphics can be had in Tonal Grey or Hyper Lime (or deleted). Then there’s the RTR Grille and a pair of RTR fender badges. And inside, there are RTR-badged Weathertech floor liners and cargo liner, a keyfob clamshell, certificate of authenticity, and dash plaque.
Optional Extras
The most serious rock Rambos will insist upon the $7,695 Fox 2.5 Elite Suspension kit, which includes upgraded upper control arms and a set of larger 37-inch Nitto Recon Grappler tires. Gittin promises “It takes ROVR to a whole new level and maxes its off-road capabilities for more grip on the rocks and a ton more traction on sand and trails to fully bring the ROVR experience to life.” An RTR two-tone leather interior, with emblems embossed on the upper seatbacks, adds $1,999. And a stealth package deleting the graphics knocks $345 off the price. And of course, much of the above equipment is available a la carte, if you prefer.
Warranty Included
The RTR gear is all warrantied for 3 years or 36,000 miles from the in-service date. To order, click by www.rtrvehicles.com to connect with the RTR Authorized Dealer Network.
I started critiquing cars at age 5 by bumming rides home from church in other parishioners’ new cars. At 16 I started running parts for an Oldsmobile dealership and got hooked on the car biz. Engineering seemed the best way to make a living in it, so with two mechanical engineering degrees I joined Chrysler to work on the Neon, LH cars, and 2nd-gen minivans. Then a friend mentioned an opening for a technical editor at another car magazine, and I did the car-biz equivalent of running off to join the circus. I loved that job too until the phone rang again with what turned out to be an even better opportunity with Motor Trend. It’s nearly impossible to imagine an even better job, but I still answer the phone…
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