Jose's Simple 2019 F150 Build

[joseadventures]

After a year of tinkering with this build, I've landed in a good place. It's a relatively simple build but gets me everything I want/need. So I'm posting this for others that might be looking at embarking on a similar build optimizing for simplicity.



The canvas was a silver 2019 F150 XLT 4x4 SuperCrew short bed 3.5 eb with max tow (big gas tank,3.55 rear diff with locker, large payload) , fx4 (unecessary, more later), package 302a, LED spotlights in side view mirrors (nice for scoping out camp sites), LED in bed.

The mods were:

1. Snugtop Rebel with sportsmans upgrade (500lb load limit), windoor on right, vented slider on left, key fob integration.
2. Roofnest Falcon XL
3. Fox 2.0 Level kit in front, plus rear Fox 2.0s. - this let me fit the 33" tires
4. Autospring Add-a-leaf kit for the rear - helped counter the sag of added weight of the snug top, RTT, gear, moto on hitch.
5. Method Roost 17" - I should have probably gone with the 700 series for lower pressure allowance but I liked the look of these.
6. BFG KO2 LT285 70/R17 Load C - 33" was the right balance of size and weight for my needs. Load C was a balance of weight/suppleness vs toughness.
7. Line-X Bedliner
8. ESI ultimate tailgate seal + silicon2 bead in bed crevices - the gear gets real dusty back there without this mod.
9. Morimoto XB LED headlights - better visibility...ok really because it looks cool.
10. Full RCI Skidplate kit (FX4 skid plates were pretty flimsy)
11. N-fab rockrails
12. Rhino-rack 59" vortex aero - for RTT.

This rig is actually years in making since I've tinkered with different rigs and set-ups beforehand. Having come from both a lifted Econoline and a Wrangler Rubicon, this hits a sweet spot somewhere in the middle for me in terms of size and capability. It is a pretty great desert runner. I love this motor. Only thing I'd change would be not getting the FX4 package because I ended up upgrading shocks and skid plates anyways.

I would budget about $10k-15k all-in extra after the truck purchase for a build like this. I did a mix of DIY and shops.

I'll post more pics of it in camp mode soon.

Here is the original configuration.

 

[joseadventures]

Some more pics with detail below.

Camping set up:
1) Action packers keep things organized back there.
2) That's an awning bag, not a golf bag. I like the flexibility of a self-standing awning as opposed to one attached to the car.
3) In the cab, I run a 36g ARB fridge connected to a Goal Zero 500w battery that charges when the truck is running. This lasts about two days in warm weather without a recharge. I bring a solar panel brief case if I plan staying put longer.

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Snugtop windoor on one side makes it easy to reach in and grab things from action packers. Windoor not needed on the other side since the tent ladder is in the way:

The silicon beads and tailgate liner really helped eliminate dust from coming in:

Wheels and tire close-up:

Morimoto LED headlights are plenty bright:

Even with the add-a-leaf, there is some sag (not too bad really) if heavily loaded like here with a bed completely full of firewood:

 

[Osprey!]

NICE RIG!

My thoughts:

- Some sag with a payload makes sense. I'd be more worried if that was no sag.

- I might be buying those same wheels for my 'Rado, albeit 16's. They look good.

Look forward to your adventure writeups...

 

[badm0t0rfinger]

Simple and well sorted. I like it a lot.

 

[Grassland]

Looks good!
The Morimoto are big $ but supposedly the best, how do you like them so far?
Hopefully RCI keeps making skid plates for the F150.

 

[Todd780]

Great looking truck!

 

[SDDiver5]

Ayyy nice truck welcome to the EP F150 group.

I also have the Fox 2.0 setup and I love them.

 

[joseadventures]

Looks good!
The Morimoto are big $ but supposedly the best, how do you like them so far?
Hopefully RCI keeps making skid plates for the F150.

The Morimotos are definitely a bit of a splurge but they are nice and bright. Only some minor complaints - they are slightly smoked in color which I didn't expect but it is fine. Also they are bright enough that you'll need to be sure your lights are angled right or you will get flashed very frequently. It is a pain to adjust the up/down on them (same with OEMs); I fixed the root problem, the sag, with the add-a-leaf and now they point down enough to where they are not a nuisance to other drivers.

 

[Redline61]

Love it. Truck looks awesome

 

[Jupiter58]

Thanks for sharing this build! Good and simple. Looking forward to some trip reports like the others!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[joseadventures]

Just thought I'd update this thread with a couple pictures and build observations from a spring trip to the old mining trails in the Panamint Mountains of Death Valley.

Observations:
1) Very happy with suspension/tires set-up for these fairly difficult trails. It kept up with the stock JK Rubicon just fine on most trails; in fact, it seems to have better clearance underneath when both were fully loaded with camping gear due to what I assume is stiffer suspension. We did leave the F150 behind and piled in the Rubicon on the second day, when we were hitting rockier and more narrow trails, but it would have been fine. The Pleasant Valley/South Park Loop is about the highest difficulty level I'd take this F150 build on without worrying about abusing it.
2) The flat-causing rumors about the road up to Racetrack are true. I was overconfident with my tough off-roading tires when I didn't see a sharp rock right in front of me while traveling at speed. Glad I had invested in a safejack w/ baseplate instead of just having the OEM jack.
3) Un unexpected side-benefit of LED side-mirror lights is that they will light up tight switchback trails very nicely when getting back to camp late night, because one was dealing with said flat above.
4) Those canyon walls were pretty narrow and imposing. If I banged the tent in to them, I think the tent would be fine but the fiberglass camper shell might crack, despite the beefy sportsman upgrade. If I had it to do over again, I'd probably go with something like a steel RSI SmartCap.
5) Much like Gremlins, wild burros are cute furry creates by day but wild, screaming banshees by night.

Pics:

 

[Grassland]

That looks like a great time!
Truck looks good. How long can you camp like that without a resupply?

 

[joseadventures]

How long can you camp like that without a resupply?

Forever, if you're ok with burro tacos? With the fridge/goal-zero i'm good there indefinitely. So it's just down to consumables - water, food, gas. I've done a week comfortably, and could probably do a month if I packed/planned wisely.

 

[joseadventures]

(Another observation)

6. Lighting - The Morimotos lit up the trail really well at night. That combined with a LED side mirror lights, I felt no need for extra light bars. As far as ambient lighting around the truck when parked at camp, the OEM LEDs on doors, tailgate plus the Morimoto outline LEDs also provided adequate visibility.

 

[joseadventures]

Latest mod - some carhartt seat covers. Very functional - washable, tough, dog proof. Ugly but in a good way.