Single Cab F150 > Stretch Bronco

SC150 · Post by **SC150** » Thu Aug 09, 2012 4:12 pm

So, it's been a long time and I've been debating on selling the truck, but got rid of my van and decided to put the money into a "phase II" on the ol' girl.
I've been threatening to cage it for a long time and have finally set aside the dough again. BUT, before she goes under the knife I wanted to post a few sketches of what I was considering and see what you guys have to say about the idea.
So, basically, I wanna turn the single cab F150 into an SUV. I wanna cut out the back of the cab, seal it, cage it for rigidity, and put a third seat in.
Please help me brainstorm on this and figure out any potential problems. Attaching some sketches of what I'm thinking to spawn conversation. Thanks. Dustin

ChaseTruck754 · Post by **ChaseTruck754** » Thu Aug 09, 2012 4:44 pm

Just to clarify - are you thinking of using the rear section of bronco, or try & keep the current shell you have on the truck & then cut up the bed to modify?

I've done a lot of thinking about a supercab with a bronco rear section to make a stretched bronco. I've done a bit of measuring for this as well. Based on looking at it doing a bronco rear section on a std. cab, short bed frame, looks like it would be very similar to doing a supercab with bronco rear on a std. cab, long bed frame.

Personally I REALLY like the idea. It will be a LOT of fab work & then a good chunk of body work too, but I think with a well thought out design this thing could turn out unreal!

Not that you want or need them, but my thoughts on the deal are do the cage & piece in the bronco shell and bodywork around it. I like using the bronco rear as the shell bolts to a rigid section of body & therefore is a good way to seal the deal up.

I have a good grip on a good way to stretch a bronco, or do what you are wanting using bronco parts for the stretch. So if you are going this way & would like input let me know.

SC150 · Post by **SC150** » Thu Aug 09, 2012 5:04 pm

I would just use an F150 shell.
What about plating between the cab and the bed and a rubber boot around the shell area? Or, just a rubber boot around the whole circumference of where the bed meets the cab?
Ideally, the cage would be upholding the structural integrity of the truck. I would just need to figure a way to keep it sealed on the inside. I'm sure noise would also be an issue, so I'd probably run an intercom or sound deaden the hell out of it.

BajaBronco13 · Post by **BajaBronco13** » Thu Aug 09, 2012 5:10 pm

I've had a stretch Bronco on my bucket list for a long time. Would love to see you do the single cab. What wheelbase are you trying to get to?

Chris

philofab · Post by **philofab** » Thu Aug 09, 2012 5:15 pm

I have done what you are talking about in the past... Minitrucks in 80s were popular like this. Google "walk thrus".

You would need to keep the cab and bed separate unless you solid mounted everything and removed the rubber body mounts.

ChaseTruck754 · Post by **ChaseTruck754** » Thu Aug 09, 2012 5:23 pm

SC150 wrote:I would just use an F150 shell.
What about plating between the cab and the bed and a rubber boot around the shell area? Or, just a rubber boot around the whole circumference of where the bed meets the cab?
Ideally, the cage would be upholding the structural integrity of the truck. I would just need to figure a way to keep it sealed on the inside. I'm sure noise would also be an issue, so I'd probably run an intercom or sound deaden the hell out of it.

This is where the beauty of running bronco stuff comes in. It makes it a bit easier to seal the cab, etc.

A rubber boot can work, but the only shell I ever had the rubber boot leaked. Pretty much leaked from new. I think it's harder to seal a traditional "shell" than the bronco stuff due to how the bronco stuff bolts to the body.
This helps with the keeping it sealed on the inside too.

You are right in making the cage upholding the structural integrity of the truck. Something like this would call for a tight cage that is solidly plated to the body in multiple places. The good part of this is if the cage and rear body work are planned together the cage can make the rear section easier to do and can help hold the body panels, etc. to make the bodywork easier. Again this is where the bronco shines IMO. See Philo's post above for why.

Sound deadening will definitely be needed either way you go, but isn't super hard to do. If you can afford it - Line-X lots of stuff!

BajaBronco13 · Post by **BajaBronco13** » Thu Aug 09, 2012 5:30 pm

Some motivation:

: IMG_2112.jpg (35.32 KiB) Viewed 2467 times

: IMG_0487%20(Small).JPG (41.84 KiB) Viewed 2467 times

: DSC00161.JPG (102.94 KiB) Viewed 2467 times

: 0503or_01_z1980_ford_broncooffroadi.jpg (67.55 KiB) Viewed 2467 times

BajaBronco13 · Post by **BajaBronco13** » Thu Aug 09, 2012 5:31 pm

: prerunner-bronco2.jpg (36.48 KiB) Viewed 2467 times

: mm_dirtsports_oct08_01.jpg (64.07 KiB) Viewed 2467 times

ChaseTruck754 · Post by **ChaseTruck754** » Thu Aug 09, 2012 5:35 pm

Man these things are SO sexy!!!

tcm glx · Post by **tcm glx** » Thu Aug 09, 2012 5:39 pm

Oh heck yeah!!! Do it!! Would be great in my opinion.

RyanDS650X · Post by **RyanDS650X** » Thu Aug 09, 2012 5:44 pm

That Goodman Bronco gives me chills every time i see it. Sooo badass.
Id love to see the F150 idea come to life, sounds cool.

SC150 · Post by **SC150** » Fri Aug 10, 2012 3:11 pm

Googled walk throughs like you recommended. Found a couple of photos. Here's a pic of the same idea.

Firetwig · Post by **Firetwig** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 8:32 pm

Those are disgusting IMO. No offense to those who may own them though I'm sure I've already offended them.

ChaseTruck754 · Post by **ChaseTruck754** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 9:16 am

"Those" as in the "walkthrough" pic above right?

Because if you're talking about the stretches like that I'm voting for a ban!!!!

93Broncobuff · Post by **93Broncobuff** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 9:23 am

Hahahahaha i have always thought that red one has been the sexyest bronco ever lol!!!!!

ChaseTruck754 · Post by **ChaseTruck754** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 10:44 am

I vote for the Goodwin with the Norman one as a close second.

Oh and that reminds me - I tried to find the skunkworks pics of the Goodwin bronco on RDC the other day & couldn't find them. Are they tool old and gone now? Anyone know? I need to drool over that thing again - it's been a while.

ESHALLBETTER · Post by **ESHALLBETTER** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:38 pm

I went back to a thread I had on RDC to see if I could help you out, but you had already been there...

If you google it you can still find it, I don't know where it went on RDC though?!

https://www.google.com/search?q=goodman ... 0&bih=1024

Firetwig · Post by **Firetwig** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 9:51 pm

Chasetruck... I am talking about the stretches to in particular. Looks like a F150 with a camper. What is the point? I could put a camper on my F-150 and bam! Look the same in my opinion. Broncos are cool because of how short they are and being a two door SUV.

Silverslk · Post by **Silverslk** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 9:55 pm

HAHAHA. The problem is we like Broncos for TTB and space inside (and security of that space compared to pick up) WE DON'T LIKE the short wheelbase because it is not conducive to going fast (at least not safely).

So, a stretch Bronco is the best of both worlds (to most of us). But best thing about GFB..... EVERYONE has an opinion and it is welcome.

ESHALLBETTER · Post by **ESHALLBETTER** » Thu Aug 30, 2012 5:23 am

Silverslk wrote:HAHAHA. The problem is we like Broncos for TTB and space inside (and security of that space compared to pick up) WE DON'T LIKE the short wheelbase because it is not conducive to going fast (at least not safely).

So, a stretch Bronco is the best of both worlds (to most of us). But best thing about GFB..... EVERYONE has an opinion and it is welcome.

Since everyones opinion is welcome, I will note that I actually dislike the short wheel base AND the TTB! Go GO Gadget A Arms!

SORRY FOR THE SIDETRACKING...BACK TO THE TOPIC AT HAND. I think it would be an awesome project. The tough part will be connecting the topper to the cab, everything else is just metal work and thats easy. I agree on solidmounting all the body mounts. There is a gree toyota rock crawler that All-pro bult that has the rear window removed and a third seat with the cab cage coming into the bed to protect the third seat. It's a crawler but it very similar.

Single Cab F150 > Stretch Bronco

Single Cab F150 > Stretch Bronco

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Re: Single Cab F150 > Stretch Bronco

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Re: Single Cab F150 > Stretch Bronco

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Re: Single Cab F150 > Stretch Bronco

Re: Single Cab F150 > Stretch Bronco

Re: Single Cab F150 > Stretch Bronco

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