Guess I will put this here as i'm just brainstorming over the next few years. The bronco is too small for my growing family, that said, it will never be sold and will be my solo/1 passenger adventure rig. With a second munchkin on the way, my son will ride with me until my wife and second son will be riding along, so I have a few years to get something together that can grow with the family. The bronco will never be a comfortable ride for much beyond a 5 or 6 year old so not going to go through the trouble of trying to get a seat in with my gear boxes in the back, just not worth redesigning what I have going on I think. That being said, I've been thinking of a crew cab squarebody or bullnose-OBS f-250/350. With the rear axle moved up to get it as short as possible with gear tucked one whatever bed is left and a fuel cell. Something that won't require a crazy amount of time, doesn't need to be perfect, and of course has that "cool" factor, because who doesn't love that haha. Here's some ideas of what i've been looking at for some inspiration as we mull over options. Dave chappelle's "Mom's Spaghetti" has been one of my favorite rigs to watch wheel since it's been built so using that as a bit of inspiration as well. Dont' want anything quite as long as a suburban to wheel, just trying to make the best of both worlds with a little work put into it. Have had a cherokee or JKU recommended but not sure of the space in the back seat as the kids get older vs the size of the trucks. Have considered a Full size jeep as well, but haven't looked too deeply into the budget on those. Anyways, wanted to just see what others thought of something like this or experiences with other style "family crawlers". Open to considering some other options as well. Let me know what you guys think? Figured I would pass on whatever we build to one of the boys once they're old enough as well.
4 Door Crawler
- Thread starter YJKrawlin
- Start date
zuke
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2012
- Location
- Stafford, VA
When I was still hauling kids wheeling, I was running a chopped up Waggy, it's already a good size for it, easy to put two rows of seats in a cage, and for the 5~8 years you'll actually use it, tons on lift leafs is still pretty capable...
I can dig it! I'd lean towards the SJ over the XJ personally, especially if the rear leg room was better, definitely has a bit more cool factor in my opinion haha. I've seen a few cool rigs, but I've seen them need some extra fab work to fit larger tires, massaging body seams or cutting into the door area to stuff a larger tire on a low lift.
zuke
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2012
- Location
- Stafford, VA
Doing a full cage allows you to cut away a lot of body, but 37" is about as big as you can go while staying under 4" total lift.. I was 3" of spring and 1" of shackle, if I remember right.
I like the idea of keeping most of the body intact lol. But definitely something im going to keep in the back of my mind. Played around with chatgpt for some visualizing. Came up with this as some potential. Chatgpt missed the mark on a few points. But in general what i was envisioning.
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2005
- Location
- Formerly of Sharon, SC
K5
Answer surprised no one who knows me
Answer surprised no one who knows me
. I dont want to have to move my stuff around. And it would make me cry since i sold my big bronco before i decided to have kids 
DSM Turbos
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2006
- Location
- Raleigh, NC
That thing was awesome! I miss the crozet days
untchabl
I like rocks
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2009
- Location
- Bear Creek, NC 27207
I think F250/F350 crew cab is gonna be too big to wheel on the East Coast. Full-size Waggy would be cool for a classic style rig.
I've got a crew cab S10 that I'm eventually going to turn into a family rig for mild wheeling.
I've got a crew cab S10 that I'm eventually going to turn into a family rig for mild wheeling.
Ive seen some cool s10 rigs. Wonder how the rear seating is on a smaller truck like that. My only concern with the smaller rigs is the difficulty to fit larger tires on a similar length vehicle. Without going and measuring trucks and using chatgpt for estimates the s10 is 205 inches long overall and a shortened f350 should be around the same length (190-200" overall). (Not sure how accurate those measurements are on the shortened f350).
CLRracer
Mopar Nut
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2005
- Location
- Archer Lodge
Some more preliminary maths for the CC f250/350 route. 200.8"ish overall length and 138" Wheelbase, roughly 24" longer wheelbase than a K5 and a foot longer. Almost 3 feet longer wheelbase than a 86 bronco and 2 foot longer overall length.
zuke
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2012
- Location
- Stafford, VA
Those were some good times! I never did manage to squeeze that Waggy through Body Shop though.
zuke
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2012
- Location
- Stafford, VA
138" wheelbase could end up dragging the belly a lot without a scary amount of lift, whether that matters much or not is really dependent on where you're going to be wheeling, But 110" is about the longest I would go on anything I was taking into serious rocks.
untchabl
I like rocks
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2009
- Location
- Bear Creek, NC 27207
Crew cab S10 is 123" wheelbase, 205" overall and 64" wide.
Google says a 1985 CC F250 is 79" wide. That 15" is gonna be very noticable when trying to squeeze through trees and not turn into a raisin.
Google says a 1985 CC F250 is 79" wide. That 15" is gonna be very noticable when trying to squeeze through trees and not turn into a raisin.
Shreddinlettuce
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2016
- Location
- Hickory
This is a good look imho
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2005
- Location
- Stanley, NC
Get a CrewCab GM/Chevy CanyoRado with the 5.3 v8, SAS it with tons, done.
untchabl
I like rocks
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2009
- Location
- Bear Creek, NC 27207
That's a much different tax bracket than I play in. Couple grand for a crew cab S10 and SAS it, all in for less than purchase price of the CanyoRado. But I'm a cheap ass
Shreddinlettuce
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2016
- Location
- Hickory
My votes a ford explorer with a 5.0 and you start out with an 8.8 pending upgrade. 3 link on tj coils. No adapter needed v8 and they’re cheap as hell
6BangBronk
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2005
- Location
- Durham
Any interest in this truck?
Bobbed Bump Crew (67-72) that was modified and actually wheeled at Uhwarrie when the truck was almost new. The guy chopped the old chassis and made it, but then later took the front half chassis from a 78/79 f250 and grafted it to matching channel to extend out the rear with the original cross members installed that the cab sits on now. He never finished it. But he showed me polaroid pictures at Uhwarrie with this truck sitting next to brand new Early Bronco's that were designated wheeling rigs along with one EB that was flipped upside down which was neat for back in the day. The rear doors are chopped to allow 40+" tires but they are fully functional window and all. He said it was basically a short bed wheel base. I've never measured. Very neat to look at in person. The front springs are redrilled rears. Currently sitting on a 78/79 d60 with a 14 bolt rear.
But it has sat at my shop for at least the last 15-20 years. I bought an entire estate of crew cabs and parts from the guy and recently sold off all of the crew cab stuff I had except this one. I have everything to complete it including the chopped rear doors with hardware. I'm never going to get around to it and it could very well be for sale with several axle and tire options. I think it might be exactly what you are looking for.
This is a very old pic and the only one I have. I can get more if interested to know more.
Bobbed Bump Crew (67-72) that was modified and actually wheeled at Uhwarrie when the truck was almost new. The guy chopped the old chassis and made it, but then later took the front half chassis from a 78/79 f250 and grafted it to matching channel to extend out the rear with the original cross members installed that the cab sits on now. He never finished it. But he showed me polaroid pictures at Uhwarrie with this truck sitting next to brand new Early Bronco's that were designated wheeling rigs along with one EB that was flipped upside down which was neat for back in the day. The rear doors are chopped to allow 40+" tires but they are fully functional window and all. He said it was basically a short bed wheel base. I've never measured. Very neat to look at in person. The front springs are redrilled rears. Currently sitting on a 78/79 d60 with a 14 bolt rear.
But it has sat at my shop for at least the last 15-20 years. I bought an entire estate of crew cabs and parts from the guy and recently sold off all of the crew cab stuff I had except this one. I have everything to complete it including the chopped rear doors with hardware. I'm never going to get around to it and it could very well be for sale with several axle and tire options. I think it might be exactly what you are looking for.
This is a very old pic and the only one I have. I can get more if interested to know more.
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2005
- Location
- Stanley, NC
You're not wrong, but OP is also talking about crewcab squarebodies and bumpside/dentside Fords, so by the time you get one of those in halfway decent condition and driving, you're way past buying a newer truck and SAS'n it.That's a much different tax bracket than I play in. Couple grand for a crew cab S10 and SAS it, all in for less than purchase price of the CanyoRado. But I'm a cheap ass
StretchASU
Playing country music til Troy's ears bleed.
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2006
- Location
- Claudville, VA
JKUR on 37's. Family wheeling and able to cruise it to the store and around town with family on the weekends. If you already have something that is/will be turned into a shitbeat rock missle, a street friendly capable wheeler is the ticket to have parked next to it.
CLRracer
Mopar Nut
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2005
- Location
- Archer Lodge
You can take a fool sized rig a lot of places when you quit caring about body damage
Duane
Im used to wheeling with a lifted k5 alot at uwharrie so maybe i have some misgivings about it fitting. Not thinking its gonna be a cakewalk and fit everywhere and not thinking its not going to avoid body damage. But still in the brainstorming step so we may go a different route. Thats why i wanted to reach out to some like minded people. Have ridden along with a single cab long bed obs f250 on a trail day and seemed to fit everywhere we went along with a newer (2015ish) crew cab power wagon who also didnt seem to have any issues beyond pinstriping. But again. Just brainstorming and i do appreciate the consideration. This is all things im trying to consider.
Im fully expecting to have some money wrapped up in by the time its all said and done. Not as much as the bronco. But i figured a f250/2500 or up woild be a good starting point since theyre going to come with some tons already, have a decently wide stance to stabilize any lift i would need. And knowing im planning to wheel it. Im not looking at anything pristine. BUT im up for sitting in some other options and gauging the comfort level and looking at the work involved for SAS and cutting some metal to fit some big tires.