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How do you get into the tailgate?

I mean, I'll give you credit for the creativity here.

However, outside of Mr. Hotdog's valid question, how is it on the highway? How is it attached to the vehicle exactly? It looks like it's mounted to the factory mounts above the windshield, and then at the back on the trailer hitch - Is that correct? I can just picture this thing moving from side to side with ease, but maybe I'm missing something.

HotdogThud said:

How do you get into the tailgate?

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At the moment, I can't
I'm still nimble, crawl in from the rear.

604Bronco said:

I mean, I'll give you credit for the creativity here.

However, outside of Mr. Hotdog's valid question, how is it on the highway? How is it attached to the vehicle exactly? It looks like it's mounted to the factory mounts above the windshield, and then at the back on the trailer hitch - Is that correct? I can just picture this thing moving from side to side with ease, but maybe I'm missing something.

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Ladder section up top slides into the front blocks, and plops into a cope on rear goal post. Bolted connections.

It does move a smidge, not very much. Ended up adding turn buckles to the hitch section, pretty stiff now.

Well you’ve certainly created a Bronco with looks only a mother could love. That being said, your creativity is awesome and your handiness is much more than I could have come up with. Now for V2 where the tailgate is accessible. I’m assuming this is a somewhat permanent configuration for you? Seems like a beast to remove if you want open air driving.

BOLD Renegade93 said:

Well you’ve certainly created a Bronco with looks only a mother could love. That being said, your creativity is awesome and your handiness is much more than I could have come up with. Now for V2 where the tailgate is accessible. I’m assuming this is a somewhat permanent configuration for you? Seems like a beast to remove if you want open air driving.

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Love the honesty.
I have a rigging setup in my carport to pull it off. Takes about 10 min to remove.
I plan to make the rear wider and more rounded, to open the gate.
Main reason for going with the hitch mount is strength, the dynamic load are pretty heavy for how flimsy the mounting points near the rear fenders are.

Malicar said:

Love the honesty.
I have a rigging setup in my carport to pull it off. Takes about 10 min to remove.
I plan to make the rear wider and more rounded, to open the gate.
Main reason for going with the hitch mount is strength, the dynamic load are pretty heavy for how flimsy the mounting points near the rear fenders are.

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Nice! Yeah I agree that the hitch is a good spot for that rear mount

Can you give us a closeup of the front mounts? Curious how you did it.

Malicar said:

Hardtops are too expensive and rare. Roof racks for soft tops are weak, expensive, and only found in the states.

Made my own prototype from some scrap laying around, doesn't look the prettiest but she should take a beating.

Let me know what you think and where I should improve on!

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If you're really serious about this setup, I think that the weak point is the hitch. It'll tilt. Puts too much stress on one attachment point. Needs two attachment points. And hitches are built to a minimum tongue weight (300-500#) capacity. Their strength is lateral for pulling.

Consider fabricating attachments to the mounting points at the two extraction loops (only one comes OEM) under the car. Leave the hitch free. If you do this, you can move the vertical pipes outboard, and open the rear gate access. Not being able to access the rear gate is a non-starter for me, and if you have an accident or need at access tire changing tools, its dangerous.

Also, can the windshield take the weight load? Thats a long run for the pipe. Will it bend? [Maybe buy an Advanced Fiberglass hardtop that'll support your rooftop tent.]

Oh, and paint it Black so it blends in!

ATLBronco75 said:

Can you give us a closeup of the front mounts? Curious how you did it.

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I'll take some detailed pictures tomorrow, she's at the detailers now.
Machined the front mounts from solid aluminum.

Looks like you're good for the next hurricane! Solid

I appreciate the feedback!

I like your idea of going from the extraction loops. I could make it look much more suave from there. My big challenge for that is creating 90° bends with AL structural pipe.

The windshield mounts should be tied into the rollbar, it's a matter of how much the (4) 6mm bolts mounting them can take. May run a plate or bar from the front mounts to the ditch light mounts for some extra strength. The long bars sucked up to the rtt once mounted, no bend.

I would get a hardtop, but I live in Canada. It would be close to 15k CAD to get it to my house

Powder coat black would definitely help it blend in. If I can make it look nice, would be cool to polish the aluminum.

I don't think this is your calling. However, if the colors and materials team at Ford is ever tasked with making a roof rack for a soft top four-door, there you'll be.

From the pictures, it appears to be a lethal weapon on the road. All rooftop tents and roof boxes are potentially lethal missiles at speed and should be banned from any roadway above 35mph, in my opinion, but homeless cosplay is really popular right now and the trend is to do it in the most inappropriate vehicle. The roof height of a Bronco does not spare you from the meeses and geeses and bears in Canada.

If you've ever participated in sports, you'll understand what I mean when I say, "good hustle out there!"

Eh, I gave er a tug, slapped it, and said that ain't going anywhere.