Help for an expedition build.

[white-N-black]

I have lots of questions for armor and weight. If I could get with them and or just pick their brain it would be great.

I know very little about expedition still but I have noticed keep it light. I will be upgrading to fox coil-overs and shocks on all pro's expedition suspension for the rear and long travel up front. I would really like to go with relentless front and rear plate bumpers. rear with tire carrier. My weights seem to be getting a bit high:

Rear steel is 180 lbs
Front steel is 150 lbs
and there complete skids are about 150 lbs.

I would just make it simple and do aluminum up front and on skids but I am worried about if I bottom out I will tear the aluminum vs with steel just denting. I am worried also about the front squatting with the steel bumper and having a rake. The expedition leafs for the rear are set at 3" but are supposed to level out for a true 3" lift after 200+ lbs of weight.

I have found some guys build they do steel rear and sliders but the front bumper is aluminum, and they are only running diff skid, and front cross member skid. Is it a need to have full skids under the truck or just what I have listed above.

When I am done I want to be able to travel long distances and go just about anywhere, and survive out of the truck for a while if need to. I will have lockers, shelter, storage, fresh water, lights, air supply and recovery gear so I can recover myself when out just my wife and I.

Thanks for all the great help.

 

[Plannerman]

This is the challenge with fitting out your truck for expo work. The first question you should ask is whether you really need any of that gear, armor, or equipment. You might be able to say no to some or all of it. If you can't say no, then you might be able to go with aluminum. Aluminum is plenty strong and doesn't rust, but is different.

For example, I don't have additional belly skids and have been fine. Note that even the vaunted Overland Expedition Tacoma doesn't have skids, either. If you must have skids, I think you would be safe with aluminum for expo work. The real benefit of steel comes in with repeated use on rocks as aluminum tends to fatigue earlier. Many of don't have plate bumpers, either. The look is great, for sure. But they are heavy and not always necessary.

 

[007]

I think most after market rear bumpers are over-kill, it only has to be stout enough to hi-lift your truck from either end. The front has to be stronger, and should be designed to protect the radiator and lights from high speed animal impacts, and strong enough to jack up the truck, and not bend when winching.

Skids should be designed to protect from the occasional impact, stump in the tall grass, sharp pointed rock you didn't see while crawling down through the boulders. Skids need to protect the fragile parts, and they don't need to be really strong unless you are bashing your truck into the rocks. Stock skids will work, but you might have to replace them after several years.

For exploring and extended travel, I advise not bashing the front, rear, or bottom of the vehicle whenever possible. Reliability is more of a priority than when your Rock crawling with your buddies and have support when things break down.

If the truck is serving dual purpose, you'll have to find a balance, but the rig won't be ideal for both duties, and eventually the damage will really hamper the reliability.

Stay light!

 

[white-N-black]

That is the challenge right now I have been doing research for about 5 months now So everything that I have seems legitimate. So here is a run down on the truck. 4" long travel with fox or icons. Relentless fabrication armor but maybe going to Brute Force Fab. the Front will just have a water proof synthetic winch. Allpro Apex sliders. high clearance rear bumper with tire carrier and rotopax containers for fuel. I will mount the highlift, shovel, chainsaw in the bed, with food storage, first aid and recovery gear. Under the bed where the spair tire is I want a fresh water tank and somewhere maybe a air tank. the truck will have a soft topper for keeping supplies dry and maybe a roof top tent but I may can the tent and just carry a pin up in the bed. The roof will have a 50" double row led bar, that is flood style and goes out 1500 feet. ARB front and rear lockers and the air compressor under the hood. May instal extra battery and power converter behind the rear seat. as far as wheels and tires I will most likely rund what I have now fuel boost 17x9 with a falken rocky mountain ats2 265-70-17. But just recently I was recommended a 255-85-17 which is a 34.1 inch tire. for communication I will have a CB radio, perferable a smaller one That I can hide in the center console. I was also debating on regearing to 4.88's in the rear but someone said it wouldn't really gain fuel millage when running a 32 inch tire, but would benefit on off road travel. As far as skids I was just thinking doing front and rear diff and that was it but I may do a transfer and trans skid as well. and last but not least that I can remeber anyways is a snorkel.

I plan on taking the truck all over the US to travel while I am young and no kids. I want to be able to take the truck over all types of terrain, and be able to survive in it if the world finishes taking a crap.

So In my opinion I need it But I will consider switching the front plate over to aluminum since no bashing deliberately. Which will cut 180 in half to only 90 lbs.

 

[Elk]

Opinions are a dime a dozen, but I will offer mine. When considering a vehicle build, remember the destination you have in mind. The majority of the places the truck will see do not need armor, it is more for peace of mind. Your fuel mileage and range will be significantly hampered in a vehicle with an already small tank (for a truck). Your build list would fund many miles of travel to interesting destinations. I would focus on the reliability basics over the zombie apocolypse build.

 

[white-N-black]

Thanks guys for all the help.

 

[Sempertoy]

btw, you can't just regear the rear diff. You have to front and back at the same time. I am down in San Antonio, let me know if you want to go to hidden falls for a test run to see what you want to do with the truck.

 

[white-N-black]

Yeah it is like three grand to regear and install lockers in both. ECGS

 

[Martinjmpr]

Here's my question: What is it that your vehicle can't do now that you want it to be able to do? Around the world most people get along fine with bone-stock vehicles. I would maybe start with looking at tires and go from there. Everything else in your build seems to be overkill for what you're going to be using the vehicle for (like why are you putting a 4" long travel suspension on a vehicle that's running 32s? I ran 32's on my stock 3rd gen 4runner and 1st gen Tacoma, and I run them on my 4th gen now with a very mild FJ Cruiser lift.)

Not saying you shouldn't do it, if that's your hobby (for a lot of people, I think their vehicle is their hobby) but don't think you need all that stuff.

 

[All-Pro Offroad]

Your build sounds amazing and thank you so much for including us in it!

Here are some specs of our armor that might be able to help you out in comparison.
Keeping weight down not only saves extra stress on your suspension but it also saves you at the pump.

Apex front Steel bumper:
weight: 132 lbs
cost: $849

Apex front Aluminum bumper:
weight: 55 lbs with all hardware
cost: $1399

Rear bumper:
weight: 72 lbs
cost: $499

Both of these builds have the All-Pro Aluminum Apex bumper, long travel kit and Expo leaf springs

DefconBrix


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