So ive grown up camping and working on trucks, i was in a four wheeling club in college. Now that i'm a bit older and priorities have sorted themselves I've put down the rockcrawling hobby (way too expensive for me) and have a bronco to go camping and goofing off in.
I bought the truck from a college kid about 3 years ago. Its a 1990 Eddie Bauer Edition Full Size Bronco. Originally I was looking for a solid truck that was easy to work on (80-mid 90s ford or chevy) that I could use as a secondary vehicle in my construction job. A college kid posted this Bronco on craigslist, i went for a few test drives and decided to buy it. It came with several modifications:
4 inch lift kit
Cut fenders
35inch BF goodies mud terrain
sweet orange paint job
Rhino Lined Floors
A trash can glued to the floor instead of a center console
A remote starter? Really?
A half assed cold air intake
A brand new transfer case (he broke it on the beach he says)
I ended up needing to do a decent amount of work to make it the reliable machine i really wanted
I had to install a new starter almost right off the bat
I got the exhaust done as there was a hole developing in the headers, i went for the exhaust exiting in front of the tire because it looked cool.
The 5.0 really didnt like the "cold air intake" which was some cheap hose laid over top of the engine to a high flow air filter, i can only imagine how much hot dirty air was dragged in. I went to the junk yard and put in the stock air box and filter (much better)
I replaced the hubs as they were so hot they could boil water right off after a short drive, i think they were stuck in the on position (Vacuum controled auto lock hubs) they work pretty great now
With the bedliner on the floor, the transmission would transfer a lot of heat into the cab, I got some insulation and rubber floor material to dampin some of the sound and the heat. works decent.
Over time i have replaced just about every sensor, filter, pump, wiring kit, etc etc.
As it stands now the truck always starts when i turn the key, 4 wheel drive always engages, theres plenty of space to pack all of my creature comforts for a good weekend, and it really turns some heads.
Recently we took a camping trip to Cades Cove for the Smokey Mountain Jeep Invasion, it was about a 4 hour trip one way through mountain roads, stayed off the interstate, i got 11.5 MPG on the trip. I was expecting worse, but i still realize the limitations that 11MPG gives me.
I like my Bronco because it is different, I see most people with a expensive 4Runner or Tacoma etc. I think over that past few years things have changed in the overlanding community. Popularity has brought many great products but i feel like people feel like they have to have certain things in order to even leave the house, Lift kits, winches, kitchens, RTT, hot water, trailers. its ridiculous. Of course I want all these things, and of course i think the new toyotas are awesome and i want those too, but it feels good to be different and use what you have to get out there and live a little. I'm not knocking anyone who has these awesome things because eventually i'd love to have them all as well, but if you dont have all those things like me, just go, each time you go out, think about what would make your time in the woods more comfortable, fun, spend less time working and more time playing.
I bought the truck from a college kid about 3 years ago. Its a 1990 Eddie Bauer Edition Full Size Bronco. Originally I was looking for a solid truck that was easy to work on (80-mid 90s ford or chevy) that I could use as a secondary vehicle in my construction job. A college kid posted this Bronco on craigslist, i went for a few test drives and decided to buy it. It came with several modifications:
4 inch lift kit
Cut fenders
35inch BF goodies mud terrain
sweet orange paint job
Rhino Lined Floors
A trash can glued to the floor instead of a center console
A remote starter? Really?
A half assed cold air intake
A brand new transfer case (he broke it on the beach he says)
I ended up needing to do a decent amount of work to make it the reliable machine i really wanted
I had to install a new starter almost right off the bat
I got the exhaust done as there was a hole developing in the headers, i went for the exhaust exiting in front of the tire because it looked cool.
The 5.0 really didnt like the "cold air intake" which was some cheap hose laid over top of the engine to a high flow air filter, i can only imagine how much hot dirty air was dragged in. I went to the junk yard and put in the stock air box and filter (much better)
I replaced the hubs as they were so hot they could boil water right off after a short drive, i think they were stuck in the on position (Vacuum controled auto lock hubs) they work pretty great now
With the bedliner on the floor, the transmission would transfer a lot of heat into the cab, I got some insulation and rubber floor material to dampin some of the sound and the heat. works decent.
Over time i have replaced just about every sensor, filter, pump, wiring kit, etc etc.
As it stands now the truck always starts when i turn the key, 4 wheel drive always engages, theres plenty of space to pack all of my creature comforts for a good weekend, and it really turns some heads.
Recently we took a camping trip to Cades Cove for the Smokey Mountain Jeep Invasion, it was about a 4 hour trip one way through mountain roads, stayed off the interstate, i got 11.5 MPG on the trip. I was expecting worse, but i still realize the limitations that 11MPG gives me.
I like my Bronco because it is different, I see most people with a expensive 4Runner or Tacoma etc. I think over that past few years things have changed in the overlanding community. Popularity has brought many great products but i feel like people feel like they have to have certain things in order to even leave the house, Lift kits, winches, kitchens, RTT, hot water, trailers. its ridiculous. Of course I want all these things, and of course i think the new toyotas are awesome and i want those too, but it feels good to be different and use what you have to get out there and live a little. I'm not knocking anyone who has these awesome things because eventually i'd love to have them all as well, but if you dont have all those things like me, just go, each time you go out, think about what would make your time in the woods more comfortable, fun, spend less time working and more time playing.
