Restore of my 1986 Bronco XLT

[Gary Lewis]

Yes, you were overloaded.  But that's not all that unusual.  Not legal should you be stopped, so don't make a habit of it.  And as Jim said, if you air the tires up to the max on the sidewall you'll be safer.

[ReneH]

Hmm...didn't thought about this...Fortunately I only have had to drive 2.5 miles...

I'm wondering, that the truck is able to carry such a low amount of cargo...but maybe that's the reason why to most seem to use trailers...the capability to pull should be much higher...

The only problem in Germany is, that I'm only allowed to pull a trailer/truck combination with a maximum gross weight of 3.5 Tons. So for the bronco, the trailer has a limit of 1.2 tons.

Choosing my buggy...the trailer is allowed to have 2.6 tons...but i think this wouldn't be a good idea...

[ArdWrknTrk]

TUV is weird about some things.

I was pointing out to Gary not long ago that depending on the truck and spring combination some pickups have negative reserve capacity.

[Gary Lewis]

If it is only 2.5 miles then make two trips?  (I know, you've already done it and don't plan to do it again.)

Yes, it is very easy to overload these trucks.  People think "truck" and they can put anything in it they want.  But if the springs were that capable the ride would be horrible.

Over here people start with "1/2 ton trucks" and transform them into overlanding rigs with water, extra batteries, camping equipment, bigger tires, lights, etc.  And then they find out they are overloaded before the load up themselves and groceries for the trip.  But they go on anyway and wonder why they have problems.

As for the buggy, you could tow it with the Bronco?

[ReneH]

You're right. This were the option, if I have had switched on my brain before loading...

Yes, I know this is the same in Germany. Especially for people, that build there own camping mobiles...

It should be possible to tow the buggy. It weights 900 kg. A trailer for it should may be available with not more than 300kg.

But currently, I have no use for this. If I'll do this for eg. Driving into holidays, I couldn't carry more than another person with the buggy...it has only two seats. So twonof us for have to stay with the bronco...

But without the German restrictions by law, what weight are these broncos able to pull?

[ArdWrknTrk]

That depends entirely on the springs, engine, transmission, etc

"Able to" and "sanely" are two separate questions.
We have  here.
I don't think you want to know what you share the road with over here.

[Gary Lewis]

The owner's manual tells the tale and we don't have a copy of the Bronco one on here.  But our page at Documentation/Specifications/Towing goes one better on the 1986 Towing Guide tab.

What is interesting is that a Bronco with a C6 and a 5.0L EFI and 3.55 gears, meaning an 8.8" diff, can tow up to 6,900 lbs, and if you have 4.10 gears you can to up to 7,900 lbs.  However, if you have a 5.8L with a 4bbl you could only get 3.50 gears, meaning you got a 9" diff, and you could only tow 6,800 lbs.

Having said that, Jim is right with the "able to" and "sanely".  The Bronco's short wheelbase makes towing more difficult than with a longer wheelbase pickup.  And then there's brakes, and unless you have good brakes on the trailer the shorter the tow vehicle's wheelbase the riskier it is.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Towing with a short wheelbase and laden trailer can be fun, Fun, FUN.

I had to extricate some dip**** who was trying to trailer his 30'+ boat with a Jeep.

Yeah, not too bright.
Every night I have to confront the reality of the morons and downright dangerous vehicles we share the road with.

[Gary Lewis]

Even long wheelbase tow vehicles are a problem if the driver doesn't know and doesn't know he doesn't know.  I remember getting a call late one night from a member, who will remain nameless, who was trying to tow a 3/4 ton Bullnose on a trailer with a 1/2 ton rental pickup.  He couldn't get over 30 MPH w/o severe fishtailing.

Had him send me a pic and, sure enough, he didn't have much tongue weight as the tow vehicle wasn't sitting down.  (Plus he had chains holding the truck on the trailer at the front, but light ratchet straps at the rear, but that's another story.)  After moving the Bullnose forward and squatting the tow truck it towed nicely.  (And I had him swap the chains and ratchet straps for safety.)

Towing is serious business and too many people don't understand that.  But if you overload the tow vehicle and have an accident a sharp lawyer will take your money, and rightly so, in court.

[ArdWrknTrk]

I may know just a little bit about securing a load and towing things!  

[Gary Lewis]

I studied for the CDL but didn’t take the test. Still, I learned a lot about loads and loading. Enough that I’m constantly amazed at what I see going down the road.

[ArdWrknTrk]

We should all be frightened!

There's a lot to be said for driving a straight truck with a massive push bumper.  😉

[ReneH]

Since yesterday my blower control works! You were right, Gary the resistance elements were blown....
Rockauto.com

Replacing my old one with this above, it works fine now.

[Gary Lewis]

Congrat's!!!  I'll bet that made a big difference.  

[ReneH]

Yeah, the biggest difference is, that I have now three instead of one level...

[Gary Lewis]

Three?  Not Four?  

[ReneH]

Hi, it's a long time ago, that I've posted here. I hope you're all well!

So as I've much to do with my work and the kids, there isn't much time left, to do the not really critical things on my bronco, like replacing the wiring harness or put leatherette on all plastic parts of the interior.

But since last Sunday, my bronco has shown a very interesting behavior...

It starts after I've forgotten to switch off the headlights for about two hours, last Sunday.
Starting the car some hours later caused the V-Belt sliding and squiking very loud.
Maybe caused by low battery capacity, my 130A alternator to charge the battery. The alternator is connected only with one common V-Belt.
It still slipped through, for the first two miles, or so...

After a while driving at relatively constant speed 45 mph, the engine starts to stutter, when trying to accelerate. It needs some cautious pedal push and release to get it working more normal and be able to accelerate.

Yesterday this behavior comes up again. Now the engine backfires, when trying to accelerate, based on driving at about 45 mph.

This behavior doesn't occur, when accelerating from the stand. It also doesn't occur, when driving at low speed inside the city.

I will start, reading out the error log, if there is something suspicious.

But I want to ask here, if someone have had such a behavior and may can tell me some possible suspects or an approach to start seeking for a defective part.

Thanks.

[mat in tn]

I do not know that the symptoms you describe are connected. yet I do not know that they are not connected. but as in all cases. fix what you know first! the belt squeal is at least a clue of something even if it's only a loose belt. pull the belt and feel the alternators rotation then re -fit the belt. then measure the voltage produced while running, take notes, idle voltage, 1500rpm voltage, 2500rpm voltage. look for anomalies.

[Gary Lewis]

The belt squeal with one V-belt on a 3G is what I've always assumed would happen with a low battery.  The 3G can put out more power than the belt is designed to transfer.  If my memory serves, a single V-belt can transfer about 95 amps worth of power and the 3G was probably wanting to put out more than that.  So the belt is the limiting factor and slips.

But once the battery voltage comes up and the regulator cuts the alternator's output down to less than ~95A then the belt is capable of transferring the needed power and quits slipping.  However, you should check the belt to see if it was damaged, and ensure it is on tightly.

As for the miss, I don't think it is related - unless the voltage got low enough that the ECU forgot some settings.  If that is the case then driving it should let it re-learn and not go so lean.

[ArdWrknTrk]

106A on Ryan's video, but their are different belts (like the green power equipment ones) that are meant for more abuse, more traction, whatever...

Plus, you can always media blast the sheave if the LRC doesn't quite cut it.
Just don't keep tightening the belt.
You'll kill the front alternator bearing.

I don't know what to do in a case like Jeff's where the truck sits for weeks and the battery gets neglected.