Ironhidefx4 build, 2012 F150

[Ironhide Fx4]

My wife and I purchased our F150 the weekend of Thanksgiving back in 2013. It just happened to fall into our lap going through my father's shop. Had no intention of buying a new vehicle at the time but the truck was so nice and perfect for us and what we had been planning for the future. We had 2 dogs at the time and were planning to start a family.

The truck is a 2012 F150 Fx4 Screw short bed with max tow. Came with factory rear locker and 3.73 gears.

Here is how it came,

 

[Ironhide Fx4]

The previous owner wasn't exactly kind to it. It had about 25k miles on it and was only 8 months old. The tires needed replacing desperately so we got a set of Toyo atII tires to start.


I also went and plasti dipped all the chrome. The truck was fine but had some other issues, it needed a bed liner and the rear sagged a bit from the weight of the cap and being high in the front, came to find out the previous owner put a 1.5" level kit on designed for an older F150, that led to the upper control arms hitting the springs and other drivability issues.

Here you can see the sag while towing and the new bed liner. I love Linex

 

[Ironhide Fx4]

To fix the rear sag I ordered an auto spring add-a-leaf. It added 1.5" to the rear and helped keep the truck level when hauling all our stuff.

So that was all good for a while. I learned more and more about the truck and started making my build plan. First up was a steel bumper with full skid plate and brush guard. This is an ecoboost and the intercooler is right down and center waiting for an impact. Also a lot of deer and other animals out at night where we drive and camp. I can't be stuck because I hit something and I loose my intercooler and radiator.

So I shopped around and liked the products Addictive Desert Designs had. I talked to them and they agreed to make a honey badger with a brush guard for me. I also installed the N-Fab bed access steps knowing the truck would go higher.

 

[Ironhide Fx4]

The fall before the bumper my wife and I went to the OK4WD trucktober fest. That's where the real changes started to happen. I was convinced, or was waiting for someone to tell me it's ok, to get a lift for the truck. I ordered the BDS 4" lift with Fox 2.0 rear shocks. Then all that and the bumper sat in the garage for the winter and spring. After our trip to Maine, pictured above at Reds Eats, I had the lift and tires scheduled to go on.

I took this picture before I even paid for the install, I was excited...

 

[Ironhide Fx4]

At this point I just started to learn about overlanding. I saw there was the VT overland rally and decided to give it a shot.




Here is my wife 8 months pregnant with our daughter at the rally. We stopped at Longtrail brewery after a good run on the trails

 

[Ironhide Fx4]

The next mod....

Then on the due date, we met up with MAX-Leon OB#313 at the NCBC car show.


A week later this little bugger came along

 

[Ironhide Fx4]

Next came my fog lights. I ordered the Rigid DOT fog lights back at the trucktober fest. The lights are directional, the mounts ADD made for them placed them sideways. That was no good. So I made a bracket to mount them.



Now they work great!

 

[Ironhide Fx4]

Next up was getting more overland focused. A CVT Mt. Rainier came available 15 minutes from me. CVT wanted to sell it cheep instead of shipping it back to them. I snagged it.

 

[Ironhide Fx4]

Buying the rooftop tent triggered the next step. We decided to start planning a drive from NJ to MT camping our way across and back instead of flying. The tent was cheaper than 2 round trip tickets so it already paid for itself.

While at the VT overland rally I learned that the cap was not going the handle what we were going to do let alone hold a roof top tent. I sold the cap and ordered an RCI bed rack.


And trolled a raptor

 

[Ironhide Fx4]

Not knowing exactly where we will end up driving and what we may run into, I decided to get an ARB diff breather kit just in case.

 

[Ironhide Fx4]

This truck has many uses. We don't always camp when we travel. So at the Great American Outdoor Show I ordered a Diamondback HD truck cover.

 

[Ironhide Fx4]

While at the outdoor show I picked up some gear for our trip at the OK4WD booth and the bihlerflex booth.



Also met YouTuber deermeatfordinner

 

[Ironhide Fx4]

Then the best mod to date!

 

[SeguineJ]

Looking good! Where are you located in the Dirty Jerz?

 

[Ironhide Fx4]

Looking good! Where are you located in the Dirty Jerz?

North West up by Alamuchy. About 20 minutes from the Delaware water gap.

 

[SeguineJ]

North West up by Alamuchy. About 20 minutes from the Delaware water gap.

I lived in Warren County like all of my childhood. I claim Kansas as home and spent the first of my adult years there with the rest of my family. Good ole' Pburg NJ for me.

 

[Ironhide Fx4]

Have my DD setup done. Wanted one of the HD Diamondback truck covers for a while. We travel alot to different towns/cities and don't camp. I needed something to keep our stuff dry and secure. Bonus is being able to load stuff on top.





I think it looks damn cool too....

 

[W4P]

Wow! However a couple of those mods seem custom? Cant find in any catalog???

Sent from my Nexus 7 using OB Talk mobile app

 

[Ironhide Fx4]

Wow! However a couple of those mods seem custom? Cant find in any catalog???

Sent from my Nexus 7 using OB Talk mobile app

Thanks! It's a constant work in progress

 

[DocNOS]

At this point I just started to learn about overlanding. I saw there was the VT overland rally and decided to give it a shot.
View attachment 19314
View attachment 19315
View attachment 19316

Here is my wife 8 months pregnant with our daughter at the rally. We stopped at Longtrail brewery after a good run on the trails
View attachment 19317

The build is looking awesome!

What is your new approach and departure angle?

Sent from my SM-G930T using OB Talk mobile app