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Two specs where the Expedition shine, and are often overlooked on expedition platforms, are: chassis strength and payload. The Toyota uses a relatively weak open c-channel frame, the Ford (after 2003) has a fully boxed hydro formed frame that's 70% stiffer than the old c-channel frame of the...

Let me start off by stating: I am not saying the rake of a chassis doesn't affect things like brake dive and weight transfer - it does, and I have provided multiple reasons why. What I am trying to explain is the reason behind that, which is predominantly suspension geometry changes, and not...

Assuming the weight is properly distributed (I think by now we've all cleared up the difference between real axle weights and optical illusions of sag and rake), this is due to the suspension geometry issues that I mentioned previously. On an independent suspended axle, a sagging or lowered...

I'll try to offer some input as an engineer, hopefully it'll make sense to everyone. Careful how you define the boundaries of your analysis: to compare a marble in the bed with a rake, would be like the truck sitting on a downhill slope, where the entire earth (mountain slope) is accelerating...

You nailed a lot of good points 99Disco! Many of which I've tryied spreading among many forums. A quick way to reduce tongue weight and / or lessen the rear GAWR is to move the heavy loads on the hitch to the rear of the trailer. Two 30 lbs propane tanks plus a deep cycle battery can easily...

Scary news from a local family here in BC: http://globalnews.ca/news/2155638/man-shoots-grizzly-bear-that-broke-into-his-kimberley-home/?utm_source=Other&utm_medium=MostPopular&utm_campaign=2014 The wife's friend confirmed the shot to be a 300 Mag Weatherby. It took 2 shots to "drop" the...

I sure have, and that's exactly the reason in Europe, compact cars can tow "caravans" weighing up to 3500 lbs. Can we do it? Sure, laws of physics and aerodynamics are the same anywhere on earth. Why don't we? The lack of competent drivers in North America... Look up Andy Thompson if you...

I'm being VERY conservative here, as not everyone is comfortable with lower tongue weights. Over on RV.net, I get blasted for even suggesting 10%, some folks think anything less than 13% is a "death trap"... Personally, I've yanked 130,000 lbs B-trains all over the BC rockies, so I'm fairly...

Simple. You should aim for roughly 10% of total trailer weight as your tongue weight. If your battery load is 3000 lbs, and your trailer is say, 1000 lbs, your total is 4000 lbs. Your tongue should be around 400 lbs. Your payload is reduce by 400 lbs minus the weight of the driver (you)...

Well, something has changed: the new 50 ksi frame, upgraded 11.5" AAM axle, and coil springs, which nets a payload of 3050 lbs on a 4x4 Crew Cab 2500 with the 6.4 Hemi. That's impressive! A lot of people questioned the use of coil springs on an HD truck, but due to having no stiction, a coil...

For the Wranger, I think you may be looking at the ratios for the 6 spd manual: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_NSG370_transmission The W5A580 uses the following ratios for all applications: 3.595 2.186 1.405 1.000 0.831...

To be fair though, almost all of our current trucks would fail this test horribly. Unless your chassis structure is specifically designed for this extreme test (40 mph into a barrier overlapping 25% of width), there's nothing there to dissipate the crash energy. Even some very solid built Euro...

We're getting close with the ZF 8 spd, all that Fiat needs to do is put the 8HP90 version into the HD trucks. The ZF has a 4.7:1 1st gear, which is as low as reasonably possible with a torque converter. The G56/NV5600 has a 6:1 1st gear because it's necessary when starting a heavy load at a...

Personally, I think payload is one of the most important, and often overlooked, specs of an overland platform. By the time you armor up, and load up all the gear, I bet over 90% of vehicles on this board are over GVWR. For this reason, I tend to avoid the 1500 Suburban and Expedition EL, as...

I wouldn't drill any holes, as that would defeat the purpose of the shroud at low speeds... You can try what GM does with the C7 Vette - have hinged flap doors on the shroud so they open up at highway speeds, but stay closed (like reed valves) when the fans are on at lower speeds. Just curious...

A lot of folks under-estimate how sturdy and well built the late model body on frame Explorers are; they're truly tanks. I have an 06, aka 4th gen, and has a payload of 1400 lbs! Find a Jeep that comes close (save for the J8). In fact, it's within 200 lbs of a 1500 'Burb. It's not a rock...

To make you guys feel better, we have it a lot worse up here in Canada! Stupid rules like 5 rnd restrictions on semi auto magazines - put on a 10 rnd magazine you go to jail, but if you use a magazine designed for a .50 and stuff 10 rnds of .223 in it, then it's perfectly legal. They outlawed...

Speaking of hunting guides, what does everyone think about the Marlin "guide gun"? Basically a short version of the 45-70 lever. Up here in Canada we can't carry handguns, and even if we could, it seems like nothing short of a .50 S&W with a 500 grain is any good... I guess a black bear is not...

It's not just the size of each piston/rod, but also the I6 configuration, which is generally regarded as superior to a V-block for heavy duty work and longevity. I have a Detroit 6V71, which is considered a 500K engine. The inline version, 6-71, is a million mile engine. Everything is nearly...

Exactly. Simple engineering concepts tell us a boxed frame is always stronger than C-channel for a given weight (cross sectional material area). If cost of both production and upfitting is no subject, I'm sure Class 8 trucks would use boxed frame as well - but bolting on a 5th wheel or box van...