Ricks Bronco: 1and 1/2

[rookieshooter]

It's a done deal. Went with the White after seeing a Ford Mustang that was Blue and had the white stripes. A little more pleasing to the eye.



Now I need to get rid of those white lines on the scoop and just let it be all blue.
No more changing colors untill ........

[410Fortune]

geesh you gotta do somethin with your hands hua!! You need another truck to build!
LOL

OR!! I'll drive over and we can paint my truck! Heck yes! it's easy, all one color

[rookieshooter]

Originally Posted by 410Fortune

geesh you gotta do somethin with your hands hua!! You need another truck to build!
LOL

OR!! I'll drive over and we can paint my truck! Heck yes! it's easy, all one color

I don't know about the paint, but I sure could chop your top





Now my Shelby Cobra and B2 have similar paint schemes



Still need to do the top. I just got lazy and had enough of this painting

Actually the B2 is in the garage with the white paint drying on the roof now.
I don't like the looks of that snorkel with the white and strips. Going to paint it all blue.

[FROADER]

Nice!! Looks much better with the white stripes.

[norcalbronco]

MUCH better man! I would paint the grill white also

[rookieshooter]

Originally Posted by norcalbronco

MUCH better man! I would paint the grill white also

Hmmm, I might just have to do something along those lines. Maybe just the outside edge part at first to see how it looks. It may make it stand out or lighten it up more and even match my K&N remote filter you see tucked behind there :
The reason you can see it is becuase I opened that area up for cool air flow around filter.

[rookieshooter]

My friends at Trick Trucks told me to come by when it's time to buy a hitch for the Bronco. Well it was time. He had a whole assortment of hitches that were just laying around for some reason or another. He said if I could make one work out of this selection of hitches other then the ones that sell better he would make a good deal. So I found this one that I can make work by cutting and some welding. There all brand new and he said I could have it for $25



Here's the back of my matching trailer with the same paint scheme. The rear window is out and your looking inside to the Ranger sliding glass that I installed in the front. What I really like about this B2 that I'm making a trailer out of, is that rear window that opens up. It still has the rear liftable hatch. But let's say your hauling 8 foot 2x4s and there too long to fit in trailer. With this set up I can have them stick out rear window. I don't think that there were too many of this style made. Also you can see that one of the red stripes does not go all the way down. The 1/4" wide tape broke when I was pulling it off to expose the red. I'll let it dry and then peel it off the rest of the way .



A side pic of trailer. The bulkhead has a painted on red strip. The side I will use red adhesive pin strip.

[rookieshooter]

OK, here it is with the snorkel all one color. Which I really like better then before.
Also someone suggested that the grill would look better white in his opinion. I never gave that a thought, but immediately found the thought enticing. It makes the grill jump out instead of being lost in the shadows. Especially after I spent so much time making it, might as well show it off .
What I also like about the white grill is that the tubed built bumper also stands out.




I'm going to move the trailer build thread over to this thread, too complicated for my pee brain
I had some Ford Blue left, so might as well use it. Note the trailer tongue.
I've got to do something with that crappy looking metal that you see at the rocker panel. May angle back or enclose it.






No it's not hooked up. Don't have rear receiver hitch fabbed up yet. I'll get that started in the next couple of days. But I just couldn't wait to see how they looked together
Could have cleaned it up a little and removed that top piece that I had for over spray and the paper in windows
That Ranger window in the front of trailer stills messes with my mind. Sometimes I'm thinking I'm looking at the back of a Ranger

[Scott B.]

You are putting 33s on the trailer, aren't you??????

[rookieshooter]

Originally Posted by Scott B.

You are putting 33s on the trailer, aren't you??????

Yes sir, with the same rims also. In fact when I install the hitch on the Bronco2, I'll make it so the trailer sets level with 33s. And a roof rack just like the B2. May even make up a ladder on the side that sticks out less then the fender flares that follows the curve of the body so one could easily climb up to load or unload the roof cage

[rookieshooter]

Now to concentrate on the receiver hitch for the B2. Here is the one I got at a good price at Trick Trucks. Just have to make it work. It's for a big Chevy Truck but will work. First I cut off the ends to make it fit flush to outside of frames.



Then I removed the two bolts that run through the end part of frame that runs from one side of truck to other. These bolts also hold on the gas tank protective bottom plate. Then it was a simple matter of drilling a 1/2" hole through the existing smaller hole and then through the 2"x2" tubing and fastening with grade 8 bolts.




Here is one of the ends that was cut off. Going to cut along that black line and use the part on the right.



Then bolted to side of frame with two more bolts. Next step will be to weld that flat plate to the 2x2 tubing.

[norcalbronco]

Man, you sure work fast. The paint is looking better and better, I like the white grill. It makes the grill and bumper look a lot more in place

[rookieshooter]

Originally Posted by norcalbronco

Man, you sure work fast. The paint is looking better and better, I like the white grill. It makes the grill and bumper look a lot more in place

I reallly don't see me changing it anymore for sometime to come.
Not sounding like I'm blowin my own horn, but when your driving down the road and you notice people in the next car or truck next you taking pictures with their cell phones, it must mean something. About 7:30 last evening I was at Family Farm getting grade 8 bolts for my traile build, came out and a group of teenagers were standing next to it and this girl was taking pics. Oh well. I think anybody who ever or still likes Toy trucks, (Me) likes to see a real live Toy truck going down the road. And I think thats what indears people to this truck. It's just one big Tonka Toy Truck

[rookieshooter]

Starting to get the wiring finalized. All that wire will be in a loom. I used the coupling that has the 7 wire connection. Of course I used the existing taillights for my RT, Lt, running lights, and brake lights. I'll hook-up some side marker lights as well. The ground wire in my past experience with trailers is the culprit in most wiring applications. So on this build I hooked it up straight to the batteries ground. I also have one wire that is an axillary that is constant hot. This is wired straight to the battery fuse box mounted in the bed of the tow Bronco. This in turn will terminate in the trailer to a power block for accessories.

I may call for a trialer inspection this week. I won't have the 33s yet, but will still be tralierable.

Called up my steel suppliers and they have 1/2 X 1/2" steel tubing for $13/24 feet. Not bad, I'll pick up a few lengths for the cage and side mounted ladder.

[rookieshooter]

Here's the ladder idea I had coming to completion. This will come in real handy when loading or unloading the roof cage. It's just setting on a jack stand for now
All I did to bend it with the same angle as the body was to add heat



The left side of ladder I might make flush with where the buklhead meets the body and have some flat angle shaped brackets bolted to the bulkhead and the other end welded to ladder. The other side I was thinking of making a sheet metal flat piece that is bolted in a couple of places to the body and then have the same square tubing welded to that coming off perpendicular to ladder were it is welded also. May somehow attach top of ladder to cage. Don't know about that until cage is done.

[Scott B.]

Are you sure you want the ladder on the side of the trailer? Seems like it would catch a lot of brush. I realize you can't put it on the back with the liftgate, but what about on the front?

I'm just thinking about all the crap my mirrors catch, and they're somewhat rounded. That ladder could catch a serious tree branch!

[rookieshooter]

Originally Posted by Scott B.

Are you sure you want the ladder on the side of the trailer? Seems like it would catch a lot of brush. I realize you can't put it on the back with the liftgate, but what about on the front?

I'm just thinking about all the crap my mirrors catch, and they're somewhat rounded. That ladder could catch a serious tree branch!

That is a concern, and I'll just have to watch out on that side. But for the most part this trailer would just be on easy trails, nothing like the trails the B2 goes on. On the front will be a tool box that I'm getting from Family farm that says Do not use as step. Plus with the ladder on the side, it will be easier to reach the back of the cage.
Hey just thought of something, could always put some flat metal flush with the sides of the ladder so a limb would just bounce off instead of going between ladder and trailer body. Thanks for the comment.

[rookieshooter]

Roof cage and ladder starting to take shape. Need some more small vertical supports for the cage and also need to connect top of ladder to cage so that it also unbolts for removal. The cage is about 36"x36" with the bottom side closest to the bulkhead about 40" long and will connect to the left side of ladder. The right side I still need to make a short piece. The bottom I used a cantilever connection utilizing some steel angle. Hard to explain, but I'll post some pics later of the top and bottom connections. Those brackets that are holding ladder to trailer will be worked for a better appearance. Like radius the ends, sanding including cage and ladder then some red paint

[rookieshooter]

Here is the left side of ladder L bracket to body mount. This is made out of a piece of 4" channel that was left over after building the front tongue of trailer. Before mounting to trailer I placed a piece of 1/8" vinyl between it and body.



Here's how I tied the ladder to cage. The left side of cage was made longer for ease of ladder hook-up. Then I measured and cut the piece for right side. Still need to add some horizontal braces and then expanded metal over that for a floor for the cage.



At the point where cage and ladder meet, a removable gusset was added so I could unbolt the two if needed at some point.

Once I did all this the ladder became very stout with out the need for larger square tubing. The bottom of ladder is on a cantilever anlge piece that sets between bulkhead and floor of truck. \
Need to wire up inside light for trailer and also the aux. power block. So far this will get power from my tow Bronco, but might just add an inboard 12 volt battery for lights while camping. Not to mention the fuel pump for the gas stored in the tank for ATVs, chain saw etc.
Tag or no tag, I'm going to at least tow this thing around the block just to see how it does

Hopefully, this will be setting up in my deer camp in a few weeks.

[Kirby N.]

I like the paint much better!! You didn't mess around! I still like olive drab or flat black, though! Seriously, don't paint it again! It looks great! That trailer is sweet. I have a buddy with a comanche and a matching pickup trailer. Super handy.

Have you seen the hitches they use for the jeep offroad trailers? They pivot and what not so the trailer will articulate. Might be nice if you are taking that in any rough stuff. A pintle hitch would be sufficient I suppose, too.