coastalcop
Active member
Well bullfrog 1.0 was a converted silverado with toolbed/popup that was fun but to short for me to sleep in comfortably (sold it to a wildland firefighter who was significantly shorter than I am).
Bullfrog 2.0 was a 2020 Ford F-250 7.3 gasser that I tried to make as close to an excursion as possible (camper shell, pass-through to cab, drawer system , etc. ) However with the current shortage of new and easily lendable vehicles, I was made an offer I couldnt refuse on the F-250 (basically drove it for free aside from fuel for the year I owned it). Everything is for sale if the price is right
That left me without a camp/hunt/explore rig. So the search began again (not that I mind, I enjoy the search almost as much as the builds). I figured if I put all that effort into trying to make an f-250 do an excursions job. Why not go with the original? Well research is your friend to reading every thread I could here, and on several other forums, I was minimally armed with knowledge .
Diesel is still voodoo to me, and I didnt want to have to go to studs etc on the 6.0 powerstroke. The 7.3 is a good engine, and I know a couple of folks that know their way around them that I can bribe with beer for help, but sheesh they want a mint for them (and rightfully so for a well maintained one). So gasser it is.
Searched out the issues with the 2v v-10 and found the Cal-Van repair kits and the associated you tube vids, and felt that if needed, that was a repair I had the tools and skill for.
Heck I even went to rockauto and put about every part I could in my cart aside from engine, transmission, and differentials to get a ballpark of repairs if I missed everything on an inspection.... about 4000 bucks, ok thats doable, less than it would cost to bulletproof a 6.0, and less than the cost differential between a 7.3 and a v10 gasser. Not that I bought all those parts, just wanted an idea of cost / availability.
Now to find an excursion, the usual places, here, autotrader, ebay, craigslist. More than a few options, I finally found the right one for me. 2001 v-10 4x4, XLT box stock (at purchase) with extensive service records, and a life history that included 10 months when new in Connecticut and the remainder of its life in El Paso, so no rust anywhere, and I didnt need the leather interior.
I called in a favor, had my buddy drive me 200 miles to inspect and purchase the ride, handed over a smaller wad of cash than I originally budgeted for ( I didnt argue the asking price at all as I history for new plugs, coil packs, injectors, and reman transmission in the last 3 years/ 15000k miles and 75% tread on AT tires) and drove it back home (averaging around 14mpg at 78 mph) .
The next day I hooked up a trailer, picked up a buddies two BMW (1200GS, and 1100RT) motorcycles and hauled them 200 miles to his mechanic, that time I only averaged 12.6 mpg at 80-85 mph.
Once back home I did attack the few things that it did need, and few things that I wanted it to need . So new headlights (I tried to get the yellowing out of the lense, but mediocre success), new manual tow mirrors, new wiper blades. Pulled the stock stereo (Wow , CD and Cassette player!) for a crutchfield unit so I could wire in a backup camera.
Pulled the center console out and replaced it with the Setpower electric cooler I had for the f-250. But gotta move those electrons, so after a few measurements two 50W flex solar panels were fitted to the hood and run through a power controller to the battery (may go to dual battery setup in the future) and a wind defector attached to the hood ( the VHB 3m tape should hold the panels ) to deflect wind off the leading edge of the panels.
Now just sit there and look for a minute, and determine needs. Sleeping room for me (6'3" 190lbs) mainly with room for expansion if needed, seating for three (empty nester, but want to carry at least a couple folks if needed) cooking, carrying, and comfort as I can, and reuse what I can from the previous build and materials on hand.
So step one, pull the third row seats, that wasnt so bad, now pull the 60% second row seat..... WOOSH that thing must be made of lead, and measure. Yup thats wide enough for me and certainly long enough to make a sleeping platform. A few measurements and off to the workshop to see what is still laying around from other projects. Lucky me, I still have a full sheet of 1/2 inch starboard left, so a few cuts a couple of rivnuts and I have a perfectly smooth sleeping platform ( I still have to cut the top of the platform for storage of seldom used items) .
Look over the drawer system we built for the f-250, and I can make 60% of it work. test fit the bed and I can fit a 60 quart cooler at the rear barn doors with plenty of room to spare. With the 40% seat pushed into the load position I can pivot off the bed and have a place to put my feet/ get dressed, great.
But what about those barn doors??? Pull off the panels and WOW there is a lot of space there, so plans for storage of stove, drop down table, perhaps a sink with flexible water storage are in the works .
Oh, and thats the bed on the roof, removed from test fitting at that time.
A few starter pics and more on the way as it progresses, but I've got to say, it sure is nice to start with MORE room than you need !
Bullfrog 2.0 was a 2020 Ford F-250 7.3 gasser that I tried to make as close to an excursion as possible (camper shell, pass-through to cab, drawer system , etc. ) However with the current shortage of new and easily lendable vehicles, I was made an offer I couldnt refuse on the F-250 (basically drove it for free aside from fuel for the year I owned it). Everything is for sale if the price is right
That left me without a camp/hunt/explore rig. So the search began again (not that I mind, I enjoy the search almost as much as the builds). I figured if I put all that effort into trying to make an f-250 do an excursions job. Why not go with the original? Well research is your friend to reading every thread I could here, and on several other forums, I was minimally armed with knowledge
.Diesel is still voodoo to me, and I didnt want to have to go to studs etc on the 6.0 powerstroke. The 7.3 is a good engine, and I know a couple of folks that know their way around them that I can bribe with beer for help, but sheesh they want a mint for them (and rightfully so for a well maintained one). So gasser it is.
Searched out the issues with the 2v v-10 and found the Cal-Van repair kits and the associated you tube vids, and felt that if needed, that was a repair I had the tools and skill for.
Heck I even went to rockauto and put about every part I could in my cart aside from engine, transmission, and differentials to get a ballpark of repairs if I missed everything on an inspection.... about 4000 bucks, ok thats doable, less than it would cost to bulletproof a 6.0, and less than the cost differential between a 7.3 and a v10 gasser. Not that I bought all those parts, just wanted an idea of cost / availability.
Now to find an excursion, the usual places, here, autotrader, ebay, craigslist. More than a few options, I finally found the right one for me. 2001 v-10 4x4, XLT box stock (at purchase) with extensive service records, and a life history that included 10 months when new in Connecticut and the remainder of its life in El Paso, so no rust anywhere, and I didnt need the leather interior.
I called in a favor, had my buddy drive me 200 miles to inspect and purchase the ride, handed over a smaller wad of cash than I originally budgeted for ( I didnt argue the asking price at all as I history for new plugs, coil packs, injectors, and reman transmission in the last 3 years/ 15000k miles and 75% tread on AT tires) and drove it back home (averaging around 14mpg at 78 mph) .
The next day I hooked up a trailer, picked up a buddies two BMW (1200GS, and 1100RT) motorcycles and hauled them 200 miles to his mechanic, that time I only averaged 12.6 mpg at 80-85 mph.
Once back home I did attack the few things that it did need, and few things that I wanted it to need
. So new headlights (I tried to get the yellowing out of the lense, but mediocre success), new manual tow mirrors, new wiper blades. Pulled the stock stereo (Wow , CD and Cassette player!) for a crutchfield unit so I could wire in a backup camera.Pulled the center console out and replaced it with the Setpower electric cooler I had for the f-250. But gotta move those electrons, so after a few measurements two 50W flex solar panels were fitted to the hood and run through a power controller to the battery (may go to dual battery setup in the future) and a wind defector attached to the hood ( the VHB 3m tape should hold the panels ) to deflect wind off the leading edge of the panels.
Now just sit there and look for a minute, and determine needs. Sleeping room for me (6'3" 190lbs) mainly with room for expansion if needed, seating for three (empty nester, but want to carry at least a couple folks if needed) cooking, carrying, and comfort as I can, and reuse what I can from the previous build and materials on hand.
So step one, pull the third row seats, that wasnt so bad, now pull the 60% second row seat..... WOOSH that thing must be made of lead, and measure. Yup thats wide enough for me and certainly long enough to make a sleeping platform. A few measurements and off to the workshop to see what is still laying around from other projects. Lucky me, I still have a full sheet of 1/2 inch starboard left, so a few cuts a couple of rivnuts and I have a perfectly smooth sleeping platform ( I still have to cut the top of the platform for storage of seldom used items) .
Look over the drawer system we built for the f-250, and I can make 60% of it work. test fit the bed and I can fit a 60 quart cooler at the rear barn doors with plenty of room to spare. With the 40% seat pushed into the load position I can pivot off the bed and have a place to put my feet/ get dressed, great.
But what about those barn doors??? Pull off the panels and WOW there is a lot of space there, so plans for storage of stove, drop down table, perhaps a sink with flexible water storage are in the works .
Oh, and thats the bed on the roof, removed from test fitting at that time.
A few starter pics and more on the way as it progresses, but I've got to say, it sure is nice to start with MORE room than you need !
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