32 replies to this topic

[EYEMLOST]

I've been carrying my FWC on a HMMWV generator trailer. 

 

 

I started doing some experiments with weight to see if putting the Granby on the Bronco could be doable.

 

I filled the bed of the Bronco with approx. 850lbs and drove around town.  

 

Surprisingly; the Bronco barely knew the weight was back there.

 

After deciding it was doable; I bought 2"X12"X8' lumber for platform.

 

Here's a pic of said lumber showing Granby's footprint:

 

 

 

 

About the Bronco:

I'm a life-long off roader; as such, I modified said Bronco to handle the stress and abuse of off-roading.

 

In regards to the topic of this thread, the main mod that can handle a 900lb camper was the swap-in of an '87 Sterling 10.25" dually rear axle. 

 

 

I swapped out the factory 4.10 gear and replaced it with 5.13 and a Detroit locker.

 

In addition; I used '99.5 front leaf springs from my old F-350 for rear suspension, along with Sky ORD 6" lift kit.

 

I also swapped in HMMWV tires.

Edited by EYEMLOST, 15 July 2021 - 09:01 PM.

[EYEMLOST]

Waterproofed the boards today:

 

[EYEMLOST]

Removed the FWC from the trailer:

 

[EYEMLOST]

Tomorrow I put the camper on/in the Bronco:

 

[Wildcat]

Looks like an interesting project! I'm not sure where the Granby center of gravity will be in relation to your rear axle. Looking forward to pics of the mounted camper. Will you be bolting it down tomorrow, or is this just a test fit? I hope you can get a chance to test out the vehicle handling characteristics after it's mounted.

[EYEMLOST]

1) Looks like an interesting project!

 

Thanks!

 

2) I'm not sure where the Granby center of gravity will be in relation to your rear axle.

 

Doing measurements; the Granby centerline/CoG will be approx. 1.75' behind rear axle

 

3) Looking forward to pics of the mounted camper.

 

Will do! 

 

4) Will you be bolting it down tomorrow, or is this just a test fit?

 

Tomorrow will be D-Day, there is no Plan-B!

 

Because I have the '90s two-point lift that's sketchy even when brand new; I'll be mounting AND tie-downing it today.

 

Hopefully getting at least a couple through-floor bolts fastened as well. 

 

5) I hope you can get a chance to test out the vehicle handling characteristics after it's mounted.

 

When 4-corner tie-downs are completed I'll test-drive it around the neighborhood.

 

When the through-floors bolts are mounted/completed, I'll start testing the set up on the nearby fire roads. 

 

 

During my weight-carrying experiment; I placed approx. 850+lbs 2ft in front, and 4ft behind the rear axle to simulate the camper's weight/weight distribution.

 

I was very pleasantly surprised by the Bronco's handling of said weight; I barely knew it was back there.

 

 

The HMMWV tires; having VERY stiff sidewalls, contributed greatly to the weight-handling stability.

 

That was one factor I had not taken into consideration/calculated in said experiment.

 

I knew they were stiff; but didn't realize just how stiff they were; which was/is a huge benefit!

 

 

[EYEMLOST]

Got the camper mounted:

 

[EYEMLOST]

A few more pics:

 

 

Edited by EYEMLOST, 18 July 2021 - 01:11 PM.

[EYEMLOST]

The red dot represents where the Granby's CoG is, while the blue dot represents where the rear axle is.

 

Said Granby's CoG is 12" behind said rear axle.

 

Edited by EYEMLOST, 18 July 2021 - 01:14 PM.

[DavidGraves]

Howdy

 

I can see why you want to try this but how about a purple dot for where the Broncos center of gravity is ?

 

What was wrong with having it on the trailer ?

 

Good luck with it.

 

David Graves