1990 Ford Bronco: Bug Out Vehicle

Discussion in 'Functional Gear & Equipment' started by Brokor, Sep 25, 2009.


  1. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    I was very happy to acquire this bad boy. It still has a long way to go until I am happy, though. I do have other priorities until I can fully outfit it however. [winkthumb]

    DSCF1149.JPG DSCF1148.JPG
     
  2. RouteClearance

    RouteClearance Monkey+++

    Know what you mean, I have a Ex-M1009 CUCV Blazer 6.2. Even though it is 100% mechanicle wise, it will take considerable body pannel replacements to do a complete restoration. I want to paint her Desert Tan and set her up as a Desert Storm vehicle.
     
  3. E.L.

    E.L. Moderator of Lead Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Nice Bronco!!! I really like the all black look with black powdercoated wheels. It's going to be a nice bug out vehicle.
     
  4. OzarkSaints

    OzarkSaints Monkey++

    I have a 96 Bronco that I love the hell out of, the other day however, I loaded it up with. 1500 pounds of dry beans, me the kid and the wife and I became very concerned about bug out potential cause she was squirrely as hell under that weight! I was thinkin about what she'd be like with food fuel and ammo having to run down the median to get around wrecked cars or ones outta fuel on the freeway!!

    Any thoughts on that? Cause it never even occured to me before..
     
  5. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Fuel it up, load in all the folks and nothing else that you expect you'll have to transport and find a scale. That will tell you tare weight. On the same (or a similar) plate that shows the tire pressures, you should find something about GVW. Subtract the tare from the gross, and you'll know how much "stuff" you can carry without jeopardizing the vehicle design. "Half ton" vehicles have a tendency to be unable to carry half a ton, net, over passengers and crew. (Likewise their larger capacity brethren.)

    If you had 1500 lbs of anything on her, you had her well over her limits, and you got lucky nothing broke (particularly a tire, most likely what the squirreliness was all about as the side walls flexed.) The stars are owed a thanks. Sorry for the bad news.
     
  6. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    I have rear air shocks installed, although one of the lines has a leak and I need to replace it. For towing it helps a lot, but only slightly for hauling weight in the back end. Some people, like my brother, hates air shocks for various reasons. Also, as Ghrit pointed out, the tires are probably flexing a bit. It pays to have decent treads, but sometimes the budget won't allow it. The only other point I would mention is possibly adding a roof rack if it is feasible; thus distributing the weight across the top -but too much will make it a little top heavy. It is a big enough vehicle though to support a decent load. I am thinking about installing a roof rack myself in the future. I could haul extra gasoline up there and maybe some other stuff.
     
  7. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Air shocks really don't do a lot for load carrying capacity, as you know, and B's brother has probably figured out. (You can do the same thing other ways.) Where they come in handy is for leveling when (for example) towing a trailer (as B notes) and weight is within the GVW but way aft on the bumper. Yes, there is some additional springing with them, but they do not (generally) increase the GVW. GVW limits are established by the mfr based on the most sensitive component which can be tires, springs, bearings, you just can't tell.
     
  8. OzarkSaints

    OzarkSaints Monkey++

    Never thought about redistributing the weight up top.

    Got top of the line tires on her, and since they are the same tires you would put on an F350, I really can't see that being the issue (of course I could be wrong).

    I was getting the rear brakes done last week and the mech told me that if we put 1ton suspension parts on it it would give it a few inches lift and make it the same (load carrying wise) as a 1ton pickup for a fraction of the cost (he said if we get the parts from a salvage yard we are looking at 600 or under out the door..not including upgrading to larger wheels and tires that the psuedo lift would allow of course)..gonna check with other mechs first to make sure that is all accurate.

    On the other hand, and this is what makes me really leary over the Broncos capabilities...I have drove over loaded vehicles my whole life and never had one feel the way the Bronc did with that load of beans in it...the next time we went stoking up on dry goods to put up, we had over 2700 pounds in goods in a 3/4 ton pickup and it was just as right as rain (although thankfully it didn't)...which makes me wonder if the ultra short wheel base of the bronco could have anything to do with it?
     
  9. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    It is the wheel base, Ozark. You just have to be careful, that's all. :)

    I was looking at a 29' (33' to the hitch ball) camper, and it would seriously cause me problems in the Bronco. I would only be able to pull it short distances and park it -not for long hauls. I would certainly know that a trailer was on the back.

    The Bronco is primarily efficient at climbing, and its 4WD is rugged and dependable. It isn't a heavy load bearer by design. I can only assume that a heavier upgrade will help, but it won't ever keep up with trucks with longer wheel bases.
     
  10. OzarkSaints

    OzarkSaints Monkey++

    Ahhh...thanks Broker..I appreciate ya explaining that..I always had trucks cause we (family) pulled trailers as part of work, so figured a Bronc would be the same thing with rain protection and always loved the look of 'em...shoulda done research of course.

    That's ok though, I've been wanting to take the top off and once we get finished with this move I'll just take off the top and enjoy bein back in the South!

    Enjoy your new ride bud!!
     
  11. Tracy

    Tracy Insatiably Curious Moderator Founding Member

    Nice. [winkthumb]
     
  12. Seawolf1090

    Seawolf1090 Retired Curmudgeonly IT Monkey Founding Member

    Even with 4X4 don't rely on being able to use the highway median to bypass stalled cages. It will be packed with sheep traps too. You need to find alternative routes, farm or forest roads. Ride the route to get familiar with it, and learn if there are any low spots (prone to flood) or fenced off spots.
    Do a googlemap of the area, and you can often locate viable alternate routes, then get your Mark One eyeballs on it!
    If possible, if trouble seems likely, it pays to get out of Dodge early, before the steaming masses are on the move. 4X4 is great, but not totally infallible.
     
  13. ColtCarbine

    ColtCarbine Monkey+++ Founding Member

    Congratulations on the bug out vehicle. Perfect rig for keeping all your belongings dry and since you don't have a family to pack around you could fit a lot of stuff in there.

    I like the flat black look on your Bronco. Who needs a nice shiny bug out vehicle. [winkthumb]
     
  14. ColtCarbine

    ColtCarbine Monkey+++ Founding Member

    That would be called a Buckin' Bronco.

    Installing heavier suspension under a short wheel based vehicle will make it ride extremely stiff and hard. Ask me how I know.
     
  15. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    I want to know. [booze] This could be fun!
     
  16. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Yep. I love a good story -- (Especially on topic and educational. I'm sure this will have a lesson to it. After all, Colt knows dirt -- [own2])
     
  17. OzarkSaints

    OzarkSaints Monkey++

    that makes two of us that want to know.....especially before I put more money into her!!!
    TIA
     
  18. ColtCarbine

    ColtCarbine Monkey+++ Founding Member

  19. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Tschit. We were hoping for something dramatic. Ah, well.

    Anyway, it's worth remembering that the same jolts that try to drive the seats up your abdominal openings go to the axle bearings too. With the stock springs, there is some give, with the heavier springs there is less, and the bearings may or may not be designed for the higher shock loads. Riser blocks are better to get the clearance. (But you knew that.)
     
  20. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    Like a rock. :)
     
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