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1994 BRONCO/CAMPER BUILD/TRANSFORMATION

CDA 455 II said:
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.
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That was an understandable conclusion if this was your intent in 1985.

Light trucks these days have more tow capacity than a Class D license.

I question the very idea of building a trailer/home/4x4 hauler that weighs enough that you need an F650 to tow it. :eek:
 
willis_racing said:
That was an understandable conclusion if this was your intent in 1985.

Light trucks these days have more tow capacity than a Class D license.

I question the very idea of building a trailer/home/4x4 hauler that weighs enough that you need an F650 to tow it. :eek:
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The '23 PS F-600 can tow 18,500lbs.
Rear GAWR is 15,500lbs.
The GCWR is 30,000lbs.
YotaAtieToo said:
An empty 40 foot container is like 9k lbs ....
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A 40ft 5th-wheel dry weight is 15,000+lbs.

A big part of thinking of using a shipping container is the fact I don't trust humans.
A shipping container is a readily available mobile bomb-proof shelter.

A sledge hammer and hand pruning saw can make short-order of a truck camper/travel trailer/5-wheel wall.
 
CDA 455 II said:
The '23 PS F-600 can tow 18,500lbs.
Rear GAWR is 15,500lbs.
The GCWR is 30,000lbs.
Click to expand...

Weirdly enough the F350 is rated to tow way more than that. Even a srw would handle a gooseneck that weight no problem.

The F550/600 is a derated and is quite a turd at about 35k lbs. You're going to be raising tons of flags with dot running the setup you're describing. If you want more than a pickup F450, just skip right to an F650 and get the big chassis, 22.5s, ect.

CDA 455 II said:
A 40ft 5th-wheel dry weight is 15,000+lbs.
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Why do you think you need a 40 foot 5th wheel? Thats a ridiculous sized trailer for 1 dude.

You're also forgetting that a 40 foor goose is going to easily be 10k± so just your trailer and container will be 20k lbs before you load the Bronco or anything inside.

CDA 455 II said:
A big part of thinking of using a shipping container is the fact I don't trust humans.
A shipping container is a readily available mobile bomb-proof shelter.

A sledge hammer and hand pruning saw can make short-order of a truck camper/travel trailer/5-wheel wall.
Click to expand...

You planning on doing trips to Detroit, Cleveland, LA and Atlanta? :flipoff2:

Any thief can get into a shipping container pretty easy also. Cordless grinders are pretty cheap and make quick work of any lock.
 
YotaAtieToo said:
Weirdly enough the F350 is rated to tow way more than that. Even a srw would handle a gooseneck that weight no problem.

The F550/600 is a derated and is quite a turd at about 35k lbs. You're going to be raising tons of flags with dot running the setup you're describing. If you want more than a pickup F450, just skip right to an F650 and get the big chassis, 22.5s, ect.
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More accurate numbers:
PS F-350 bumper towing: 17,500lbs
PS F-600 bumper towing: 18,500lbs

PS F-350 towing: 26,500lbs 5th-wheel/gooseneck trailer
PS F-600 towing: 34,900lbs 5th-wheel/gooseneck trailer

PS F-350 GVWR: 11,500lbs
PS F-600 GVWR: 22,000lbs
YotaAtieToo said:
Why do you think you need a 40 foot 5th wheel? Thats a ridiculous sized trailer for 1 dude.

You're also forgetting that a 40 foor goose is going to easily be 10k± so just your trailer and container will be 20k lbs before you load the Bronco or anything inside.
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I used it as an example of weight comparison.

Shipping container:
Front 20ft: living quarters
Rear 20ft: Bronco storage/garage
YotaAtieToo said:
You planning on doing trips to Detroit, Cleveland, LA and Atlanta? :flipoff2:

Any thief can get into a shipping container pretty easy also. Cordless grinders are pretty cheap and make quick work of any lock.
Click to expand...

Yeah; an angle grinder cancels all bets...:eek::eek:
 
Swapped in 31" tires:
20230327_154011.jpg

20230327_181040.jpg
 
Doing some experimenting with a cot:
20230404_122352.jpg


I'm thinking for times when I don't want to raise the roof, like when there's hurricane winds at KoH, I still have a comfy place to nap/sleep.
 
That's an odd place to crack.

Moving the bottom BJ out helps keep the axle centered. Can be done without taking anything apart. Just keep a bucket of water handy to cool down the BJ. Takes me about 30 min a side to do them.

And shut your whore mouth with that straight axle talk. Beams are the ultimate off road suspension.
 
Just because you are ignorant in the ways of the whoop scissors doesn't mean they are bad. Single swing steering and notched beams will ride/drive better than a straight axle swap.

SA swaps need some frame reinforcement to keep them from being wandering pigs. TTB frames are not stiff enough to keep the track bar from pushing around the frame rail.
 
Also, the bumper is a cross member on a bronco. A stock one will drive even worse without one.
 
bdkw1 said:
Just because you are ignorant in the ways of the whoop scissors doesn't mean they are bad. Single swing steering and notched beams will ride/drive better than a straight axle swap.

SA swaps need some frame reinforcement to keep them from being wandering pigs. TTB frames are not stiff enough to keep the track bar from pushing around the frame rail.
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From what I understand; all '92 to '96 Broncos/F-150/250/350 share the same frame from the fire wall forward.

Aren't there SA F-350s of that era?🤔
 
bdkw1 said:
Just because you are ignorant in the ways of the whoop scissors doesn't mean they are bad. Single swing steering and notched beams will ride/drive better than a straight axle swap.

SA swaps need some frame reinforcement to keep them from being wandering pigs. TTB frames are not stiff enough to keep the track bar from pushing around the frame rail.
Click to expand...
It doesn't matter if I'm ignorant to it or not; I don't like the design, Karen....

I like the simplicity and strength of a 1ton SA, Karen...

If TTB was so awesome; why did Ford also offer the SA during the same time the TTB was used, Karen?
 
CDA 455 II said:
From what I understand; all '92 to '96 Broncos/F-150/250/350 share the same frame from the fire wall forward.

Aren't there SA F-350s of that era?🤔
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Yes, but they are not exactly the same. They also need reinforcement.
 
CDA 455 II said:
It doesn't matter if I'm ignorant to it or not; I don't like the design, Karen....

I like the simplicity and strength of a 1ton SA, Karen...

If TTB was so awesome; why did Ford also offer the SA during the same time the TTB was used, Karen?
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Higher load rating. Same reason cheby had D44's in the 1500's and D60's on the bigger trucks.
 
CDA 455 II said:
20230408_101746.jpg

20230408_124417.jpg


HOW?!!:confused:

An old micro crack that finally grew big enough to show itself?🤷‍♂️
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That looks like a hammer hit or it’s been dropped on the ground, like fell off a lift or a jack stand. Probably not going to hurt much right there. You know it would let water in. If your tossing the whole front end for a SA I wouldn’t give it a second thought, just run it.
 
JR4X said:
That looks like a hammer hit or it’s been dropped on the ground, like fell off a lift or a jack stand. Probably not going to hurt much right there. You know it would let water in. If your tossing the whole front end for a SA I wouldn’t give it a second thought, just run it.
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That's music to my ears (and wallet!); thanks.:beer::beer:
 
JR4X said:
Gonna get ya some dually fenders to cover the cancer? Since you posted this I have to assume your considering it?
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Definitely considering it.

There was new Michelin 9.00 R16 tires on eBay I wanted but didn't have the money; 36"X9".
1681135953518.png

Those would be in the rear while the HMMWV tires would be up front.

If it ever gets that far I'll use dually fenders.
 
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