Lucas Bell 
Even before the coronavirus pandemic made it a vacation necessity, off-road camping and overlanding adventures had been rising in popularity in recent years. Following the debut of the 2021 Ford Bronco, it has been clear that the automaker would like to get in on some of this action. The truck itself is capable enough to get its occupants just about anywhere, and quite a few of the 200+ accessories that will be available are perfect for outdoor activities. Not only is the Bronco the tool to get you where you’re going, but it can also serve as a rather expensive two-person tent.
While this may sound like a forgone conclusion, it can be trickier to sleep in an SUV than you might think. Ford Bronco buyers won’t have to find this out the hard way however, as the four-door variant of the SUV packs an impressive 21-square feet of room in the “sleeping area”. Pop the rear seats down and position the fronts properly, and you’re left with 6 feet 6 inches of enclosed space behind the seats. Sleep diagonally, and Ford says that space is large enough to fit campers as tall as 7 feet 6 inches. The space is also wide enough to accommodate two people comfortably: it measures in at 3 feet 7 inches wide, with 10 extra inches of elbow room to be found in the doors.
When the slide-out tailgate arrives for the Ford Bronco late next year, the automaker says that the sleeping space can be extended more than a foot in length, increasing the diagonal length to 8 feet 9 inches. Unless you are taller than every NBA player to ever lace up, this should be sufficient.
No camping experience is complete without some stargazing, which Ford believes buyers will now do from the comfort of their Bronco. Owners can simply pop off their removable roof panels before crawling into their “tent” for an unobstructed view of our galaxy. While we’re fairly certain this wasn’t the idea that inspired removable roof panels, we appreciate Ford’s excitement. It’s probably best to reaffix the panels before dozing off though.
If there is one thing that is for certain, the Bronco will definitely be a more comfortable place to get some rest than the Shelby GT500.
