1994 BRONCO/CAMPER BUILD/TRANSFORMATION

[CDA 455 II]

 

[CDA 455 II]

 

[CDA 455 II]

Started the unbolting:

 

[CDA 455 II]

 

[Gbkeith]

Which end does the spare on the front bumper fit?

 

[CDA 455 II]

Which end does the spare on the front bumper fit?

If I understand your question; The rear.

Rear axle: 8 on 6.5
Front axle stock/factory: 5 on 5.5

 

[Gbkeith]

If I understand your question; The rear.

Rear axle: 8 on 6.5
Front axle stock/factory: 5 on 5.5

What’s the long term goal? When you put the wide track 60 in front are you going to switch out the rear axle too?

 

[CDA 455 II]

What’s the long term goal? When you put the wide track 60 in front are you going to switch out the rear axle too?

Medium term goal (3 years) is to be DD and backcountry camper.
Long term goal may be trailer queen and/or backcountry camper.

My rear ('87 Sterling 10.25) is a dually; its WMS to WMS is 72" (8.8 on the right) :

IIRC; the F-550/600 front axle is wider than that; and I'm Ok with that because it gives me options.

 

[Gbkeith]

Medium term goal (3 years) is to be DD and backcountry camper.
Long term goal may be trailer queen and/or backcountry camper.

My rear ('87 Sterling 10.25) is a dually; its WMS to WMS is 72" (8.8 on the right) :

IIRC; the F-550/600 front axle is wider than that; and I'm Ok with that because it gives me options.

Any desire to run one common spare front and back?

 

[CDA 455 II]

Any desire to run one common spare front and back?

Absolutely.

When I finally do the front axle; both will be 10 on 225mm.

 

[CDA 455 II]

Got everything buttoned up:

Went on a 1hour test drive, and then parked for an hour.

Checked driveway:

As long as it doesn't get any worse, I can live with it.

 

[CDA 455 II]

I'm planning on gathering parts for a Saginaw/Redhead swap.

Hoping the spare AGR gearbox can get me through the next couple of months, though.

 

[CDA 455 II]

Major milestone; hooked the trailer to the Bronco for the 1st time since putting the camper on said Bronco:

 

[CDA 455 II]

 

[CDA 455 II]

Checked driveway:

As long as it doesn't get any worse, I can live with it.

Update/checked for leaks:

So far; AT-205 appears to be working.👍🏽

 

[CDA 455 II]

 

[CDA 455 II]

Bled the brakes.

When I bleed said brakes I like to basically replace the entire brake fluid in the system.

 

[CDA 455 II]

Looks like the area under the water pump is leaking intermediately.😟

 

[Will Scarlet]

 

[CDA 455 II]

Added struts to front of camper:

 

[YotaAtieToo]

I'm really curious why you want to make a ton of mods to a bronco to basically make it a 1 ton instead of just starting with a 1 ton?

 

[CDA 455 II]

I'm really curious why you want to make a ton of mods to a bronco to basically make it a 1 ton instead of just starting with a 1 ton?

💰💰💰<--- lack thereof

I didn't/don't have $5k to $10k for a 1ton platform.

I already own the Bronco (for 20 years).

 

[YotaAtieToo]

💰💰💰<--- lack thereof

I didn't/don't have $5k to $10k for a 1ton platform.

I already own the Bronco (for 20 years).

I think you are underestimating how much all this will cost. Although I get that it's easier to do a few hundred at a time vs dropping a few grand at once.

 

[CDA 455 II]

I think you are underestimating how much all this will cost. Although I get that it's easier to do a few hundred at a time vs dropping a few grand at once.

I'm failing to understand your point.

From about April '20 to current; everything I've done has been at about $350 a month/project.
From April '20 to current; I've accomplished every goal set forth.

For example;
I just spent about $350 to replace the starter and battery.
My first upgrade (April '20) was the $250 '87 Sterling 10.25 dually rear axle
Another month I replaced the radiator.
Another month I replaced fuel filter/cap and rotor/EGR valve and position sensor/ICM
Another month I upgraded to 1ton front coil springs and shocks
Another month I upgraded to 1ton rear shocks.
etc, etc.

I'm on a fixed income/no more-no less.
If I save up to procure a 1ton platform; $350month X 20months = $7,000
That's 20 months I sit on my hands before I even start project.

If it wasn't for replacing worn out parts, I would have finished my goal/started camping a year ago.

 

[YotaAtieToo]

I'm failing to understand your point.

From about April '20 to current; everything I've done has been at about $350 a month/project.
From April '20 to current; I've accomplished every goal set forth.

For example;
I just spent about $350 to replace the starter and battery.
My first upgrade (April '20) was the $250 '87 Sterling 10.25 dually rear axle
Another month I replaced the radiator.
Another month I replaced fuel filter/cap and rotor/EGR valve and position sensor/ICM
Another month I upgraded to 1ton front coil springs and shocks
Another month I upgraded to 1ton rear shocks.
etc, etc.

I'm on a fixed income/no more-no less.
If I save up to procure a 1ton platform; $350month X 20months = $7,000
That's 20 months I sit on my hands before I even start project.

If it wasn't for replacing worn out parts, I would have finished my goal/started camping a year ago.

I'm not trying to stick my nose in your finances. My point is that any time you swap parts, it's not just the $250 axle, it's all the little shit that adds up. Hardware paint, oil, brackets, etc. I think you'll have as much money or more as a 1 ton by the time you have that front axle under it.

The other thing is that you could have sold the bronco to help fund a 1 ton. But I also get being sentimental over your old stuff.

 

[CDA 455 II]

I'm not trying to stick my nose in your finances. My point is that any time you swap parts, it's not just the $250 axle, it's all the little shit that adds up. Hardware paint, oil, brackets, etc. I think you'll have as much money or more as a 1 ton by the time you have that front axle under it.

The other thing is that you could have sold the bronco to help fund a 1 ton. But I also get being sentimental over your old stuff.

Good points indeed.

I must admit; working on the Bronco is also therapeutic.
Ideally; I wish so many parts didn't wear out one after the other. On the other hand; it's help me stay occupied and I've rediscovered my mancard post-divorce.

 

[YotaAtieToo]

Good points indeed.

I must admit; working on the Bronco is also therapeutic.
Ideally; I wish so many parts didn't wear out one after the other. On the other hand; it's help me stay occupied and I've rediscovered my mancard post-divorce.

My same Era F350 hit that stage a while back, 25 years old and 350k miles, everything is either going out the first or 2nd time

 

[CDA 455 II]

My same Era F350 hit that stage a while back, 25 years old and 350k miles, everything is either going out the first or 2nd time

That's what keeps me sane/focused;
It's expected due to normal wear-n-tear.

In about 3 or 4 years I plan to upgrade to an ordered '26/'27 F-550/600.
Keep it stock and travel North America/trailer the Bronco on a 44' flatbed; camper in the front/Bronco in the back.

 

[YotaAtieToo]

That's what keeps me sane/focused;
It's expected due to normal wear-n-tear.

In about 3 or 4 years I plan to upgrade to an ordered '26/'27 F-550/600.
Keep it stock and travel North America/trailer the Bronco on a 44' flatbed; camper in the front/Bronco in the back.

That's an enormous set up for just a camper and bronco. I drive a 19 F550 everyday and I'd much rather have an F350 for that type of load.

 

[CDA 455 II]

That's an enormous set up for just a camper and bronco. I drive a 19 F550 everyday and I'd much rather have an F350 for that type of load.

Tis true.

My reasoning is if I start at the top (F-600), I'll have all options/ability to tow vs. starting with an F-350 and later needing the ability to tow what an F-600 can tow.
I'm pondering using a 40' shipping container as mobile home in the front half, while storing/transporting the Bronco in the back half.

Travel around the country/park the shipping contain at a camp ground/storage parking/remote parking.
Snoop and poop around that area/then break camp-move to a different area/repeat.
I have friends and family around the country with land I can do that; a month here, a month there 12 months.

Basically; I'm planning on fulltime-RV'ing/bucket-list fulfilling.