F150 Dual Use Vehicle Build

[DanaT]

Hi All.

First post here. I have looked at a lot of the threads here and wanted to some advice on a build.

So the back story. The reason for chosing the F150 is very simple: I have it. The F150 is in nice condition, low miles, all maintenance. I have had it for a long time. The tires are new (less than 500 miles). The truck is a 5.4L/auto/3.55 gears/open diff/off road package/koni shocks.

The bad news. It is a regular cab. I bought it before I had a kid (or even thought about having one). Now there is three of us (wife, 7 year old, and me) so a regular cab still works, just not the most comfortable. I have had Jeeps in the past (wranglers and Grands) but no longer. I am not modifying my DD SUV for off-road.

What I want from this truck. I like going camping and seeing historic sites. These often require travel over 4WD trails. I would say in general, nothing over a 4 rating if wife is along. Slightly more difficult without wife. But in general, this is not going to be a rock crawler. It is a truck that will be used for camping with the family and general light duty 4WD trails. It may need to pull a small trailer sometimes (think ATV).

So, in general, here is what I am thinking.

Softtopper. I like a hard shell, but I also used the truck as a truck and put things in the back at times and the softtopper seems like a good compromise.

I have an open rear end (who put an open diff with the off-road package). At minimum it needs a LSD but likely a locker or ARB. The ARB seems nice because when driving the truck in the winter on snowy roads, a locker is actually really bad.

Front. Maybe at some point an ARB locker?

Tires. I would like 33 to 35s, but have new 32s on it. The 32s stay for a while (less money and no lift required).

Sleeping platform. We do a lot of tent camping, but sometimes it is a PITA to set up a tent for one night. I would like a sleeping platform in the back.

I think that using lockers will help make up for lack of articulation of the truck.

What worries me:

IFS. I have never use IFS off road. Without a lift and smallish tires, will this thing be able to go over trails such as mosquito pass. http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=41. Maybe I am thinking the truck is less capable than it is?

What other things should I look at doing for to this truck to make a dual use off-road expedition truck while at the same time being able to keep it reliable and able to drive when I want a truck (i.e. a home depot run). I don’t want a dedicated crawler. I want A/C that works when driving, etc.

-Dana

 

[911regular]

The softopper is great for being able to use your truck bed when needed,,,they are not the best fitting but will serve its intended purpose. If you put a sleeping platform in, just remeber the softtopper is not water proof, I am still trying to stop the leaks at the corners. The front, back, and sides have direct contact with the bedrails and tailgate, the corners float and have small gaps which allow water in. I can seal them up as long as I do not remove or fold the top forward. Other than those quirks it works great and is very resistant to trail hazards (branches and such).

As far as IFS, it is fine for what your planning. Throw in a locker and the correct recovery gear and get out and have fun. Great platform for what you need. Get on the trails, go camping, and see what you really need then.

 

[bftank]

i have a neighbor that has one of these that use it similarly. his recipe is all terrain tires, chains for when allterrains aren't enough (i.e. mud, snow) toolbox of straps, saws, chains, camping equipment, etc.

i was just in rot box's thread and he said something that stuck with me. "I finally came to the realization that if you build a rig by your NEEDS and not your WANTS you can spend more time using it and enjoying it."

so stick with what you have, until you need something more. it sounds like the softtopper would be a good idea for you. i would do a set of chains and a winch before i did a locker. a locker is just going to get you more stuck. a selectable in the back would be nice though and make up for lack of articulation. good shocks are a huge plus offroad. they will make your truck last longer too.

 

[DanaT]

i have a neighbor that has one of these that use it similarly. his recipe is all terrain tires, chains for when allterrains aren't enough (i.e. mud, snow) toolbox of straps, saws, chains, camping equipment, etc.

i was just in rot box's thread and he said something that stuck with me. "I finally came to the realization that if you build a rig by your NEEDS and not your WANTS you can spend more time using it and enjoying it.".

I probably NEED a lot less than I think I do. A lot of 4WD vehciles will go pretty far stock and surprise people what they can really do.

so stick with what you have, until you need something more. it sounds like the softtopper would be a good idea for you. i would do a set of chains and a winch before i did a locker. a locker is just going to get you more stuck. a selectable in the back would be nice though and make up for lack of articulation. good shocks are a huge plus offroad. they will make your truck last longer too.

This is actually good advice. One of my Wranglers I had an ARB in it. First time I had used one. It served me well until my first real outing with it. The damn poly line with the ARB ended up being the achilles heel. I had run the line too close to the exhaust and when pressurized in a heated state and the axle really flexed to the max, it blew a hole through the poly line. No locker. I had the two axles flexed to the max in opposite directions. Not a good time for the locker to become an open diff. This was in Carnage Canyon (near Boulder CO).

But I have no intention of doing the hardcore trails anymore. Running trails to run them isn't so much fun anymore. I want to see stuff.

-Dana