Bronco Truck Build

[DooleySD]

Rooting for you to build the dream. Why they didn't have a usable truck bed in the back is pretty much the one thing the rest of us are missing. Looking forward to the big reveal.

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[Zeaks]

There’s one other pickup on here also.

The other one you speak of is actually for sell on Marketplace in our area, Leander so a bit further from you. It’s been on there for a while.

 

[Fordified1]

The only thing I miss about our Gladiator is the truck bed. But I have not seen an artist rendition of a Bronco truck (with similar length) that’s attractive. The half cabs are cool, but wouldn’t suit my needs.

 

[Badrap]

Dude!!!! You clearly possess some "over-the-top" build talent. That, and, your energy level is THROUGH THE ROOF!!!!! I remember having two little kids at home and it was a job just to get the lawn mowed. Christ! You're superhuman. Good luck with it all....I'm exhausted just from reading what you've accomplished so far.

 

[Danielsand]

Dude!!!! You clearly possess some "over-the-top" build talent. That, and, your energy level is THROUGH THE ROOF!!!!! I remember having two little kids at home and it was a job just to get the lawn mowed. Christ! You're superhuman. Good luck with it all....I'm exhausted just from reading what you've accomplished so far.

This Bronco build is nothing compared to the effort he put in to make three kids.

 

[BuckWildOffRoad]

The only thing I miss about our Gladiator is the truck bed. But I have not seen an artist rendition of a Bronco truck (with similar length) that’s attractive. The half cabs are cool, but wouldn’t suit my needs.

I think everyone will be extremely happy with the final design of this. I agree is hard to make it look right. The gladiator is a funky one to start, as I don’t like the proportions on the rear. But I also put looks over “bed” function. The bed will appear 5’ long but the actual bed space is 4’, as I kept 1’ in sealed space for the electronics, sound system, and dry storage.

 

[BuckWildOffRoad]

Dude!!!! You clearly possess some "over-the-top" build talent. That, and, your energy level is THROUGH THE ROOF!!!!! I remember having two little kids at home and it was a job just to get the lawn mowed. Christ! You're superhuman. Good luck with it all....I'm exhausted just from reading what you've accomplished so far.

Hahaha I’m trying! Thank you

 

[BuckWildOffRoad]

This Bronco build is nothing compared to the effort he put in to make three kids.

Just gotta love what you do

 

[Danielsand]

Just gotta love what you do

I'm sure it was all your pleasure (hopefully not just yours).

 

[BuckWildOffRoad]

Honestly, I thought you'd be much older.

The funny part on that is he broke his leg and had a lot of time strapped in the chair while I worked on the bronco. You just can’t see the cast under his sisters pants and socks

 

[Mtrctylarry]

Well.... Where to start?

Just a little history on the Bronco.

A couple days after I got it we had our son, and brought him home in it.

After a few trips I did a small build and went to Colorado with Toyo Tires to get content for a new tire, the RT Trail.

Next I progress to do full ADV Fiberglass, this was the start of my broncos deconstruction....

I wanted to blend the door panels and fiberglass....

My Bronco Raptor showed up during this time.

I figured, "Hey, I might swell do a few other things while I am making dust"

Ohhh boy,

One step forward

Several steps back...

Building towards the vision...

Having fun, so I just kept going with it.

Progress was good, aaaaannnnd then we moved across the country for my job.

Another baby just a few weeks after we moved...

And I got a shop to work on my projects..

Well I got all this space. But so much time has past between what I originally wanted, and now...

And who needs two broncos? I already have a Bronco Raptor... What I am really missing is a truck...

Line a few things up...

And Viola!

Shoot... Now what? no turning back!

Measure twice, cut once, repeat..

Annnd cut some more...

Start welding in...

and weld some more....

(The roll bar is boron steel, to keep it structural I sleeved it with 10" of steel inside because you will loose strength when welding to the heat treated boron.)

The key is you MUST make really detailed plans..

This is how she sits as of this weekend, we're finally building more than cutting!

Now, here is the plan, or as much of it as I can share... The plan is to do the full reveal at SEMA..


The bed will overall "appear" to be 5', however I am keeping 1' "inside" the cabin to house the electronics, sound system, and dry storage.

Wheelbase is around 117", roughly the same as a 4dr f150 short bed.

40-42" tires without rubbing.

Front will sit around 4"-5' wider per side and moved forward 1.5" for cabin clearance.

Front buckets will be cut out and custom towers made to support the long travel coilovers.

Rear is getting long travel triangulated 4 link and a wide axle to match front.

Rear frame moved up 4" under the bed area to allow more travel.

Custom 40gallon fuel tank behind rear axle.

The bed itself will be aluminum construction to help save some weight ( with composite bedsides)

The bed is not separate from the cab structurally, it bolts to the structure you see in the photos.

The entire body (bedside, tailgate, fenders, door skins, hood) is my own design ( I can't share that yet) and will be 3d printed to make molds and ultimately a composite exterior.

Full belly skids

Custom bumpers

Engine mods

Sound system ( I already did it and then I cut it all out when I chopped the rear)

Lots of other details but that will all come with time...


That's all for tonight

Congratulations on your new son! Thanks for sharing the story. God Bless you and your family

 

[KRAKEN]

Austin is the super busy "Jack of all Trades"... nothing relieves stress like cutting up a perfectly good Bronco... ahhhhhhhh.

 

[BuckWildOffRoad]

Austin is the super busy "Jack of all Trades"... nothing relieves stress like cutting up a perfectly good Bronco... ahhhhhhhh.

How did you know? it certainly is my place to get into a different head space.

 

[Squatch]

The funny part on that is he broke his leg and had a lot of time strapped in the chair while I worked on the bronco. You just can’t see the cast under his sisters pants and socks

Ok, this is how I talk to my wife, "the funny part is..." and now I see why she doesn't always laugh at "the funny part."

Hope they're doing well, seem to be in good spirits at least.

 

[Harry The Heritage]

This is a super cool build!
Been waiting for someone to do a 4 door Bronco truck, since @BigMeatsBronco did the 2 door truck.
Wishing you all the best on this wild project! Takes a serious vision to pull this off, can't wait to see the final product.

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