Building an adventure truck

gr23 · #1 01-14-2014, 09:57 PM

Good afternoon. i am a long time reader and am grateful for all the knowledge (and humorous posts) on this website.

I have a 1998 XLT 3.0 L 4x4 offroad/tow pkg, and 87 rear axle.The truck is currently stock except for wheels and a camper shell. This is my daily driver, but I am looking at building it up for a surf/dive trip down through central and south america. I am not really in a hurry and am going to take some time and $ to do this right.

I am not looking to go rock crawling or desert racing, just to make a very capable truck that doesn't stand out top much and doesn't get terrible gas mileage. I have already started a long list of mods in my head and want to get things started.

My initial plan was to start with a superlift and 32's. However my friend is a fabricator and builds desert race trucks and has been pushing me towards the long travel, but I think its a little excessive for what I need. I was thinking it was probably best to get the superlift and have him build the parts for a coil over conversion.

Any thoughts on this or other alternatives?
I already have a set of 32 BFG A/Ts and really like that size on rangers so am kind of balancing lift height around that.
(I know I can fit them stock and t bar crank if needed)

I can follow a set of instructions with basic tools but that's pretty much the extent of my mechanical knowledge.

Also if you've built up an overland type truck id love to see some pics and outfit/ mod list.

Thanks!

doyouquaxu · #2 01-14-2014, 10:10 PM

honestly i would do a solid axle swap if it was me. a superlift may get you more lift, but you still have the new cross member for the lower control arms that really limits your clearance in the front. plus i'd say it's more of a lift kit, and won't give you the strength or performance you want or need for the type of adventuring and terrain you'll encounter.

i'm more of the desert/long travel type of guy but have dabbled into other aspects of suspension modification for future projects. my old work and their biggest competitor both built adventure/surf vehicles for guys looking to go down to baja and other parts of mexico. those trucks both had long travel and some other necessities as per the customer's specs. this is the one my old work built, the customer added the shell/tent after the truck was built.

32vsnake · #3 01-15-2014, 01:31 PM

I guess my truck is headed toward expo more than anything

I'm pretty well stock with some minor interior exterior and mechanical upgrades. Fuel range is the biggest issue I've found with using a ranger for extended travel

Going to coil overs in the next month or so and losing the canopy in favor of a bed cage and an RTT

Greenroomsurfer · #4 01-15-2014, 02:15 PM

Keep the canopy and do a bed cage it looks killer. What size shocks are you gonna run in the back and are you going lt in the frint

32vsnake · #5 01-15-2014, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greenroomsurfer

Keep the canopy and do a bed cage it looks killer. What size shocks are you gonna run in the back and are you going lt in the frint

By bed cage I'm describing something a little different than what you're probably thinking of. Bed rack might be a better term for it
something along these lines https://www.allprooffroad.com/05taco...tacomabedracks

My original plan was to keep the canopy and build the cage into it.. but the high CG for the RTT combined with the extra payload used up by the canopy weight caused me to rethink. So it will be a cage/rack and the RTT.

Front is just a standard coil over conversion. I looked and thought about the BTF Long travel for awhile. I just don't need the expense or complexity of it.
So i'll just be running Fox Shocks 2.0" X 5" Emulsion Coil-overs with a 10inch spring

gr23 · #6 01-15-2014, 07:21 PM

Thanks for the replies. Ive looked into the SAS but I would definately need some help with this type of project, also i'm a little concerned about the weight and mpg with SAS.

Greenroomsurfer · #7 01-15-2014, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 32vsnake

By bed cage I'm describing something a little different than what you're probably thinking of. Bed rack might be a better term for it

something along these lines https://www.allprooffroad.com/05taco...tacomabedracks

My original plan was to keep the canopy and build the cage into it.. but the high CG for the RTT combined with the extra payload used up by the canopy weight caused me to rethink. So it will be a cage/rack and the RTT.

Front is just a standard coil over conversion. I looked and thought about the BTF Long travel for awhile. I just don't need the expense or complexity of it.

So i'll just be running Fox Shocks 2.0" X 5" Emulsion Coil-overs with a 10inch spring

I see what you mean. I was thinking of a prerunner bed cage. But I like that idea my buddy had something similar on his truck and I loved it. It had a canvas that pulled over the whole thing to cover it if he wanted it too. And the expense of long travel is unneeded if your not hucking your truck around. Definitely post pictures when you get it done.