1995 Ford Bronco
| Owner: |
Steve Greene |
| From: |
Earth, U.S.A. (Other registries outside the U.S) |
| Year, Make, & Model: |
1995 Ford Bronco (Other Ford Broncos in this club) |
| Clubs: |
SuperFord.org (Other vehicles in this club)
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| Nickname: |
Trailmaster |
| Mileage: |
155000 |
| Engine: |
This Bronco has a stock 5.8 Liter (351 cubic inch) fuel injected V8. The rig gets 20 miles per gallon on the highway, running 1400 RPM at 55 miles per hour. Backroad four wheeling (mostly low-range), I average 9 miles per gallon generally. Mileage was boosted with 8 Bosch "Platinum +4" spark plugs (you'll definitely want a set of these unique plugs if performance is important to you) and a K&N air filter. The Bosch sparkers are like no other you've likely seen, and they are pricey, but they are superior to typical gap-setting plugs, plus they deliver a stronger spark.
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| Drivetrain: |
The drivetrain is basically stock, except that I installed Warn locking hubs after the stock automatic hubs broke to pieces one day after about 15 minutes on some sand dunes (soon after I first got the truck). This was the first time I had tested the hubs, and I later learned that Ford recommends their automatic hubs only for light duty (you know, the kind the average SUV driver sees around town on ice). I learned the hard way, and had to be winched out of axle deep sand, driving back in only 2WD (had to keep the speed up to avoid sinking in again).
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| Notes: |
>> JUNE 2005 NOTICE: This Bronco is now for SALE at the Kelley Blue Book value of $5760! I have over $12k invested. Since I am listing for Kelley Blue Book, no further negotiating will be done. Email [email protected] if you are interested in purchasing it (I live on the central Oregon coast). If you include your telephone number in your email, I will give you a call so that you can learn more. Go to this link if you wish to learn more online: http://www.carsdirect.com/used_cars/listings/vehicle_detail_prem?listing_id=14543931&search=11f71628f0d98024333a067841c16c27-169451830-14543931-dealer_referral_vehicle&zipcode=97439
Also, if you are a Death Valley enthusiast, please visit my website at: http://www.deathvalleybackcountrysafaris.com
The story of my F.O.R.D. (Fabulous Off Road Dream):
Don't go away until you read the following (Have you ever read about a Bronco that comfortably SLEEPS TWO? Inside? No? Neither have I, so I made one.) You can see the BED PHOTOS at the bottom of this story.
Alright, onward .....
This vermillion (Ford doesn't call it red) Bronco was a factory stock XLT Edition used by an insurance company when I found it in March 2001. Just a commute vehicle. The condition was nearly mint (not a scratch on it), and it was never used for backcountry travel. It had 134,000 miles on it, but you couldn't guess by looking. The potential for a backwoods buggy was great!
Then, in the late spring of 2001, I began turning this stock XLT into a versatile and well equipped freedom machine. The truck had to be able to traverse inhospitable roads, serve as a sleeping accommodation (yes, it really does have a bed that sleeps 2), and contain enough supplies to survive in case of emergency. So I began giving serious thought as to how I was going to make all that come together in the confines of a Bronco.
First of all, I went to Les Schwab for installation of the 4 inch Tuff Country lift kit. This would give just enough lift for the new 35x12.50R15LT Wild Country tires (mounted on 15x10 inch rims), while still allowing me to park inside my garage, but not so much lift so as to make the truck unstable on severe side hills. (Being a veteran 'class 5' off-roader for over 30 years, I am not interested in showing off around town by being the tallest truck, but rather I focus on serious backroad exploration and what it takes to get there and return safely). Bigger is not better when it comes to class 5 trails. Vehicle control is assisted with 6 X-treme racing shocks.
I also installed a pair of Smittybilt 3 inch diameter rocker panel protection bars on the sides, which replaced the sleek fiberglass steps that came with the XLT package. Not only do they make a nice step to get in and out, they also afford some degree of boulder protection for the sheet metal. Smittybilt has a design flaw in the rear mounts that allows the bar to sag an inch or so over time, so I had to have a welder do what Smittybilt should have done in the first place to keep the bars level. Companies do take short cuts to save money, which is too bad for the consumer. An extra $45 out of my pocket and one hour of time was what it took to keep the bars in place and give them the needed extra strength.
Okay, now I had 10 inches of minimum ground clearance at the lowest point (front differential), so I was ready to start some interior work. I removed the rear seat and promptly donated it to Saint Vincent De Paul's thrift store. Yes, this rig only rides 2 people, but here is why: After 30 years of camping in tents in miserable conditions, I was not about to have to hassle with another tent in a rainstorm during 30 MPH winds! So, I came up with a very nice solution for my 5-decade old bones ... I built a bed! Inside. Here's the part you've been waitin' for:
Behind the front captain seats, I constructed a 3/4 inch plywood bed board that sits atop six 4x4 inch supports 9 inches tall. On top of the wood frame, I put a modified futon mattress (it had to have 8 inches of length removed to fit, but the width is perfect for the truck). On the futon are flannel sheets, a down comforter, and a nice Patagonia type top spread. It is nearly as comfortable as sleeping in a regular bed, and a quantum leap ahead of sleeping bags and tents! Yup, I can get stuck in a mud hole in the evening, and just crawl in the back and hit the sack, worrying about getting out in the morning - that's what I call living!
How do I maintain privacy in my posh 'bedroom' you ask? Well, let me tell you. The truck already had factory mirrored window tinting on the side windows, but that wasn't enough. So, I had 95% limousine tinting added to all the rear windows, and 20% tinting (the max according to state law) added to the front windows. The sides have the stock mirror tinting plus the limo tint, so there is no way you can see in. And the rear window is almost as dark and private. I also added rain deflectors to the front doors so that I could leave the windows open 2 inches in a driving rain to keep fresh air flowing through at night while sleeping. There is also a rear window air deflector mounted on the roof to keep the dust off, so that helps keep the rain out if I want to leave the rear window cracked at night.
Now, the reason the supports are 9 inches tall for the bed is that underneath the bed are 6 Rubbermaid heavy duty storage containers that are each 8.5 inches high. This makes for maximum storage in a minimal amount of space, keeping my supplies organized no matter how bumpy the road becomes.
I basically have 3 categories of supplies in the Rubbermaid tubs: 1) Vehicle repair supplies and parts in two tubs, (2) Survival gear in two tubs, and (3) Human sustenance in two tubs. Here are just a few of the many items I carry: Tire repair supplies, 275 PSI air pump, serpentine belt, radiator hoses, 6 quarts of motor oil, Craftsman socket set, miscellaneous tools, adhesives, wood/hack saw, winch accessories, warm emergency clothing, food supplies, emergency signaling devices and fire starting kits, backpacks, water purification tablets. You name it, I've tried to put it under that bed. It is a work in progress. If I discover I'm missing something on an outing, I'll buy it when I get back.
Of course, no serious four wheeler would think of daring the wilds of this planet without a capable winch. Rarely used (emergency situations only), it is one of those things that Murphy's Law seems to govern: If you don't have one, you're sure to need it someday. So, besides looking cool, a winch is my ticket home when things go wrong.
On the front of the Bronco is a Warn 9000i winch cradled in a Warn bumper. Now, the off road store that sold me the bumper told me that it was far stronger than the stock Ford bumper ... but it wasn't so! Therefore, as I had to do with the Smittybilt side bars, so did I have to modify the Warn front bumper if I was to have a serious piece of steel out there to protect me. The stock Warn bumper can be pushed down about an inch at the ends with just your fingertips! Unbelievable. It certainly will not hold a person standing on it without bending down probably about 5 inches and becoming ruined. And if a car hits you from the front? Forget any serious protection because this bumper will just fold right up on the outsides of the frame mounts. After another investment of $250 to my local welder, along with about 3 hours of labor, the bumper can now hold an elephant on the ends, and really is better than the stock Ford bumper (we welded large 'C' iron pieces behind the thin bumper metal, and reinforced it to the frame with thick 3 inch square tubing). Things that Warn should have done if they were interested in passenger safety more than maximizing profits. Don't get me wrong, I've used and endorsed Warn equipment since the 70s ... but I needed some worthy front protection, and this product just didn't provide it.
To call for help, I installed a small Uniden CB radio in the little dashboard slot to the right of the steering wheel. It is linked to the outside world with a whip antenna mounted on the rear tire carrier. I also carry a cell phone as added insurance.
Oh yeah, I do intend on keeping this vehicle, so I wanted a little insurance. Therefore, I installed a state-of-the-art alarm with an ignition override unit that also gave me automatic and remote door locking capabilities.
The rig performs admirably on the backroads of the western states. This is my first Fabulous Off Road Dream (F.O.R.D.) product for backcountry exploration, and it is a "keeper."
See ya in the wilds! And remember to protect this planet by using only backroads that are designated as legal to drive. Help to demonstrate to the general public that there are environmentally friendly people who use 4x4 rigs to enjoy the remote areas of this country. Be a proud representative of responsible eco-system use.
Thanks!
(CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS BELOW)
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| Last Updated: |
6/8/2005 |
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