BretEdge
Adventurer
Last month I picked up a 2015 Ford F-150 Lariat SuperCrew short bed w/ the 3.5 EcoBoost as the platform for my family's newest adventure rig. We've been a Toyota family for twenty years but last year I was issued an F-150 at work and fell in love with it. Toyota hasn't done much to compete in the truck segment and as loyal as I was to the brand, I just couldn't justify purchasing one at this point.
At any rate, I picked up the F-150, whom we've named Betty White, and over the next few months we'll build her out into the ultimate (for us) adventure rig for mountain biking, hiking, backpacking and car camping (that's what we called it for decades until 'overlanding" became trendy). We live in Moab and spent nearly every weekend either exploring around here or in the mountains of Colorado, especially the San Juans. We need a rig that can manage the mountain and desert roads and get us out to spectacular campsites and/or trailheads. Pretty soon, Betty will be just such a rig.
PHASE 1: COMPLETE
Betty came with stock suspension and a cheap leveling kit in the front. I immediately yanked the stock wheels and tires and replaced them with 17" Method 701's wrapped in 295/70/17 Nitto Ridge Grapplers. Stock suspension is still in place but will soon be replaced, as per phase 2.
PHASE 2: IN PROGRESS
I've spent way too much time researching suspension options but after agonizing over it for far too long, I've decided on the following set-up:
King 2.5 Coilovers up front
Icon Delta Joint UCA's
Bilstein 5160's in the rear w/ stock leaf pack
Firestone air bags (see phase 3)
I went w/ the Bilsteins to save some money and unless they're stellar, I'll eventually replace them w/ Kings in the rear. I may also replace the stock leafs with Deaver's at some point down the road. All of the suspension components have been ordered but we're getting ready to leave for a 24 day trip to the PNW so the install will have to wait until August.
PHASE 3: IN PROGRESS
We ordered a 2019 Four Wheel Camper Raven a couple weeks ago and it's due in on or around September 26. Options include:
Smooth aluminum siding, silver
Silver Spur Interior
Flush mount sink and stove
130L fridge/freezer upgrade
Forced air furnace
(2) Powered roof vent vans
Rear LED flood lights
King bed slide-out
Dual 6 volt battery upgrade
Back-up camera relocation
PHASE 4:
It's all about the armor. At this point we'll add off-road bumpers front and rear with a set of rock sliders to replace the crappy factory running boards. Will likely have the sliders custom fab'd here in Moab as I'm not finding anything I like online. There'll be LED's in both bumpers to help us find campsites at night. I've searched the interwebs and am having a hard time finding a quality bumper that doesn't belong on a bro-dozer. Recommendations appreciated. Not a fan of tube style bumpers.
Truck has factory skid plates but will likely replace them with a set from RCI Off-Road.
Unsure what I want to do for light switches but will definitely look for a switch bank rather than random individual switches. Maybe an S-POD?
PHASE WHENEVER I GET AROUND TO IT:
1 Up 3 bike rack with a RakAttach swing away to carry the mountain bikes. Currently using a Saris MTR. It's...eh, but it works fine for now.
Husky floor liners to replace the factory ones
Cold air intake
LED headlight conversion, or at least some LED bulbs
I'm probably leaving a few things out but that should cover the major upgrades. Enjoy the first couple of photos of Betty, and stay tuned to this thread for status updates on the build and our adventures.
At any rate, I picked up the F-150, whom we've named Betty White, and over the next few months we'll build her out into the ultimate (for us) adventure rig for mountain biking, hiking, backpacking and car camping (that's what we called it for decades until 'overlanding" became trendy). We live in Moab and spent nearly every weekend either exploring around here or in the mountains of Colorado, especially the San Juans. We need a rig that can manage the mountain and desert roads and get us out to spectacular campsites and/or trailheads. Pretty soon, Betty will be just such a rig.
PHASE 1: COMPLETE
Betty came with stock suspension and a cheap leveling kit in the front. I immediately yanked the stock wheels and tires and replaced them with 17" Method 701's wrapped in 295/70/17 Nitto Ridge Grapplers. Stock suspension is still in place but will soon be replaced, as per phase 2.
PHASE 2: IN PROGRESS
I've spent way too much time researching suspension options but after agonizing over it for far too long, I've decided on the following set-up:
King 2.5 Coilovers up front
Icon Delta Joint UCA's
Bilstein 5160's in the rear w/ stock leaf pack
Firestone air bags (see phase 3)
I went w/ the Bilsteins to save some money and unless they're stellar, I'll eventually replace them w/ Kings in the rear. I may also replace the stock leafs with Deaver's at some point down the road. All of the suspension components have been ordered but we're getting ready to leave for a 24 day trip to the PNW so the install will have to wait until August.
PHASE 3: IN PROGRESS
We ordered a 2019 Four Wheel Camper Raven a couple weeks ago and it's due in on or around September 26. Options include:
Smooth aluminum siding, silver
Silver Spur Interior
Flush mount sink and stove
130L fridge/freezer upgrade
Forced air furnace
(2) Powered roof vent vans
Rear LED flood lights
King bed slide-out
Dual 6 volt battery upgrade
Back-up camera relocation
PHASE 4:
It's all about the armor. At this point we'll add off-road bumpers front and rear with a set of rock sliders to replace the crappy factory running boards. Will likely have the sliders custom fab'd here in Moab as I'm not finding anything I like online. There'll be LED's in both bumpers to help us find campsites at night. I've searched the interwebs and am having a hard time finding a quality bumper that doesn't belong on a bro-dozer. Recommendations appreciated. Not a fan of tube style bumpers.
Truck has factory skid plates but will likely replace them with a set from RCI Off-Road.
Unsure what I want to do for light switches but will definitely look for a switch bank rather than random individual switches. Maybe an S-POD?
PHASE WHENEVER I GET AROUND TO IT:
1 Up 3 bike rack with a RakAttach swing away to carry the mountain bikes. Currently using a Saris MTR. It's...eh, but it works fine for now.
Husky floor liners to replace the factory ones
Cold air intake
LED headlight conversion, or at least some LED bulbs
I'm probably leaving a few things out but that should cover the major upgrades. Enjoy the first couple of photos of Betty, and stay tuned to this thread for status updates on the build and our adventures.
