My goal is to build an off road capable rig that is equipped to be self-sustaining in the backcountry for ten days at a time.
Off road is a term that means many different things to many different people. For some, it means a dirt forest service road. For others, it is across Africa with no roads at all.
My standard for the build is a rig that will be able to complete Taylor Pass, Mosquito Pass, Georgia Pass, and Glacier Ridge here in Colorado (as examples). The obstacle I am building for is a truck that will be able to haul itself and 2000 pounds of camper and gear out of the creek and up the hill on Taylor Pass without any drama (if you are familiar with that trail then you know exactly the obstacle I am referring to).
My other standard for the build is that we like going out year round, so it has to be four season capable and that includes snow (and snow on mountain trails) at elevations of 10,000 feet or so year round. It has to be able to get through snow and get itself out as well as being able to camp in that environment.
In mid-November 2010 I purchased a 2008 F250 4x4 with 8600 miles on it. I had been looking since August for an F250 with the gas engine/manual transmission/4.10's combo.
This was a farm truck in New Mexico. Very stripped. I added cruise control when I bought it and an XM radio set up the first week.
As a platform to build on, I think this will be excellent. Great axles, great gears, 64.57:1 crawl ratio right out of the box.
5.4 V8, advertised as 300 HP and 365 Ft/Lbs of torque. Plenty of power for someone old enough to remember and own F250's that had half that horsepower.
2800 Lb payload
Tows 12,500
Not a lot of electronics or power this or that to go wrong.
I do like the integrated brake controller!
We spend a lot of time in our rig. My trucks and Jeeps have typically seen off road four wheel drive at least once a week all year long. Have been to 48 states, Canada and Mexico.
This needs to be reliable and capable.
I don't have high hopes for great articulation on the F250; I don't intend to sacrifice strength and reliability and I do have a budget. Traction, clearance and gears are what I will have to play to in doing this.
My intent with this thread is to document the build, solicit feedback, ask questions of those who have been there before and share what ever I learn. I am anticipating this to take me two years to get the rig to where I want it to be and do all I wish it to do. But, you all know how this goes, could be longer.
First items to take care of are skid plates and a winch. These items and new tires are the requirement for even basic off road adventure here in Colorado.
Off we go...
Off road is a term that means many different things to many different people. For some, it means a dirt forest service road. For others, it is across Africa with no roads at all.
My standard for the build is a rig that will be able to complete Taylor Pass, Mosquito Pass, Georgia Pass, and Glacier Ridge here in Colorado (as examples). The obstacle I am building for is a truck that will be able to haul itself and 2000 pounds of camper and gear out of the creek and up the hill on Taylor Pass without any drama (if you are familiar with that trail then you know exactly the obstacle I am referring to).
My other standard for the build is that we like going out year round, so it has to be four season capable and that includes snow (and snow on mountain trails) at elevations of 10,000 feet or so year round. It has to be able to get through snow and get itself out as well as being able to camp in that environment.
In mid-November 2010 I purchased a 2008 F250 4x4 with 8600 miles on it. I had been looking since August for an F250 with the gas engine/manual transmission/4.10's combo.
This was a farm truck in New Mexico. Very stripped. I added cruise control when I bought it and an XM radio set up the first week.
As a platform to build on, I think this will be excellent. Great axles, great gears, 64.57:1 crawl ratio right out of the box.
5.4 V8, advertised as 300 HP and 365 Ft/Lbs of torque. Plenty of power for someone old enough to remember and own F250's that had half that horsepower.
2800 Lb payload
Tows 12,500
Not a lot of electronics or power this or that to go wrong.
I do like the integrated brake controller!
We spend a lot of time in our rig. My trucks and Jeeps have typically seen off road four wheel drive at least once a week all year long. Have been to 48 states, Canada and Mexico.
This needs to be reliable and capable.
I don't have high hopes for great articulation on the F250; I don't intend to sacrifice strength and reliability and I do have a budget. Traction, clearance and gears are what I will have to play to in doing this.
My intent with this thread is to document the build, solicit feedback, ask questions of those who have been there before and share what ever I learn. I am anticipating this to take me two years to get the rig to where I want it to be and do all I wish it to do. But, you all know how this goes, could be longer.
First items to take care of are skid plates and a winch. These items and new tires are the requirement for even basic off road adventure here in Colorado.
Off we go...
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