1990 Ford Bronco: Bug Out Vehicle

Know what you mean, I have a Ex-M1009 CUCV Blazer 6.2. Even though it is 100% mechanicle wise, it will take considerable body pannel replacements to do a complete restoration. I want to paint her Desert Tan and set her up as a Desert Storm vehicle.

 

Nice Bronco!!! I really like the all black look with black powdercoated wheels. It's going to be a nice bug out vehicle.

 

I have a 96 Bronco that I love the hell out of, the other day however, I loaded it up with. 1500 pounds of dry beans, me the kid and the wife and I became very concerned about bug out potential cause she was squirrely as hell under that weight! I was thinkin about what she'd be like with food fuel and ammo having to run down the median to get around wrecked cars or ones outta fuel on the freeway!!

Any thoughts on that? Cause it never even occured to me before..

 

Never thought about redistributing the weight up top.

Got top of the line tires on her, and since they are the same tires you would put on an F350, I really can't see that being the issue (of course I could be wrong).

I was getting the rear brakes done last week and the mech told me that if we put 1ton suspension parts on it it would give it a few inches lift and make it the same (load carrying wise) as a 1ton pickup for a fraction of the cost (he said if we get the parts from a salvage yard we are looking at 600 or under out the door..not including upgrading to larger wheels and tires that the psuedo lift would allow of course)..gonna check with other mechs first to make sure that is all accurate.

On the other hand, and this is what makes me really leary over the Broncos capabilities...I have drove over loaded vehicles my whole life and never had one feel the way the Bronc did with that load of beans in it...the next time we went stoking up on dry goods to put up, we had over 2700 pounds in goods in a 3/4 ton pickup and it was just as right as rain (although thankfully it didn't)...which makes me wonder if the ultra short wheel base of the bronco could have anything to do with it?

 

Ahhh...thanks Broker..I appreciate ya explaining that..I always had trucks cause we (family) pulled trailers as part of work, so figured a Bronc would be the same thing with rain protection and always loved the look of 'em...shoulda done research of course.

That's ok though, I've been wanting to take the top off and once we get finished with this move I'll just take off the top and enjoy bein back in the South!

Enjoy your new ride bud!!

 

Even with 4X4 don't rely on being able to use the highway median to bypass stalled cages. It will be packed with sheep traps too. You need to find alternative routes, farm or forest roads. Ride the route to get familiar with it, and learn if there are any low spots (prone to flood) or fenced off spots.
Do a googlemap of the area, and you can often locate viable alternate routes, then get your Mark One eyeballs on it!
If possible, if trouble seems likely, it pays to get out of Dodge early, before the steaming masses are on the move. 4X4 is great, but not totally infallible.

 

Congratulations on the bug out vehicle. Perfect rig for keeping all your belongings dry and since you don't have a family to pack around you could fit a lot of stuff in there.

I like the flat black look on your Bronco. Who needs a nice shiny bug out vehicle.

 

That would be called a Buckin' Bronco.

Installing heavier suspension under a short wheel based vehicle will make it ride extremely stiff and hard. Ask me how I know.

 

that makes two of us that want to know.....especially before I put more money into her!!!
TIA

 

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