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  1. rruff

    2016 F-250 Rear Springs- Deaver or Alcan?

    I bought a 4 leaf per side add on pack from Boise Spring, and installed them myself... but I didn't have to deal with bushings. It was way easier than installing front shocks at any rate! Big improvement in ride, too.
  2. rruff

    eye opener about gvwr

    It's very common, maybe even typical to add ~3,000 lbs with a light offroad camping setup. Even on a 1/2 ton. People underestimate how much "all the little things" add up. With proper tire and suspension mods, it will handle and ride fine, as the owner of this one stated. Durability would be the...
  3. rruff

    eye opener about gvwr

    This shows some numbers for a Gen3 Tundra with an overlanding build and a small pop up camper. Oem curb weight= 5,800 lbs, GVWR = 7,300 lbs (1500 lb payload) Loaded weight = 8,600 lbs... so 2,800 lbs actually added to the stock truck. And 12.1 mpg on the trip too, vs 15.6 mpg for the guy...
  4. rruff

    2021 TruckHouse BCT – Edition 001 $310,000

    That would be cool to see!
  5. rruff

    2021 TruckHouse BCT – Edition 001 $310,000

    If you like to read, maybe this will help... https://forum.expeditionportal.com/threads/thoughts-on-the-truckhouse-tacoma-expedition-camper.221940/ I was much more favorably impressed with their end product than I was with their "launch". People I know who saw it at a show were very impressed...
  6. rruff

    Urban Wildlife

    In Ruidoso there are a bazillion elk, deer, wild horses, etc. On the golf course about a block away, the bulls have been "singing" every night. It's quite a chorus! I was recently camping in NW CO, when the hunting season started. I didn't see a single elk the two weeks I was there, but there...
  7. rruff

    eye opener about gvwr

    I paid actual money (like $2) for a seatbelt clip. Plug that in, and it's enough to fool the computer. Oh... probably not a good idea to go down that road! I'm fine with people carrying guns if it makes them feel better.
  8. rruff

    eye opener about gvwr

    Another vehicle of similar weight and design, maybe... definitely not a bigger one. Just for fun, let's take that old F150 and put a high clearance steel bumper, lift, and big tires on it, and go head on a car with a low hood and see what happens...
  9. rruff

    Northern Lite 610 for 1/2 Ton PU

    They might be ok for the intended market, but it's pretty tall and heavy for an overland rig. The fact that it has a basement is what makes it so tall. The old 610 was made for midsize trucks as I recall, and wasn't tall enough for most men to stand in. If they'd just expanded it to fit a full...
  10. rruff

    eye opener about gvwr

    It may do poorly in the tests where they slam into concrete things, but it will still "win" if it's colliding with smaller vehicles.
  11. rruff

    Fuel Tanks and Jerry Cans relating to Fuel Range

    I'm going to give a contrarian view to what others are saying... I've never felt the need for even a jerry can, and my range has always been <300 miles. It's never been an issue. Mostly western US, but also Baja and southern CA. If you are in Australia or plan to explore N CA, or someplace else...
  12. rruff

    How To Make Side FLARES For A VAN? Anyone Build Their Own?

    Matt is low strength and low glass content (more epoxy), and a bit lighter. I only used it in the form of 1707 and 1808 biaxial. I think it's mainly used to build up thickness, and save a little money and weight. Regarding using these as a surfboard mount... that seems like a bad idea. The...
  13. rruff

    eye opener about gvwr

    Controlling the vehicle is the driver's responsibility. The vehicle doesn't "cause" the accident. In the US they will absolutely go after the deepest pockets if they can (the car companies), and that's one thing our low GVWRs seek to avoid. That's what liability insurance is specifically for...
  14. rruff

    eye opener about gvwr

    Everything from grandma only driving 1 block to church on Sundays, to Bubba getting wasted and bombing across ditches at full throttle. How much weight can each of these carry without over stressing the vehicle? I'm an engineer, BTW.
  15. rruff

    eye opener about gvwr

    And where vehicles are concerned it's a big unknown and highly variable depending on the driver and where they are driving. It's not like a bridge where you know the forces it will be subject to. Lawsuits and warranty claims are the main things determining design and limits. Lawyers and bean...
  16. rruff

    eye opener about gvwr

    My airbags were too bouncy. Adding 4 leafs to each side and removing the airbags and the overload springs helped a lot. But maybe the overloads were the main issue?
  17. rruff

    eye opener about gvwr

    Possible but not likely. Newer vehicles seem to be traction limited (dry pavement), not brake limited. Among pickups, weight is the most important factor for stopping distance. I did an analysis on here awhile back for a Tacoma and F250 diesel. In stock form the Tacoma stopped much quicker (C&D...
  18. rruff

    eye opener about gvwr

    Yes, it's comical because it's bogus... if you thought that GVWR had anything to do with performance, safety, durability, etc... Anyway... I've had both an '84 and '86 model of those little Toyota trucks, both 2wd. The '86 had a payload of 1450 lbs as I recall and I don't remember on the '84...
  19. rruff

    eye opener about gvwr

    If they are 1/2 tons, then yes. It's a US artifact... because half tons are used as cars extensively, and driving over GVWR isn't illegal unless it's commercial. In other countries the midsize trucks have payloads of >2,000 lbs.
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