Tippy b'2"s

Caleb1 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-26-2008, 03:16 PM

Hey I was wondering about the handling of a b2. Do they feel as tippy as they look? I would think they get real squirrelly on the interstate. I love the wheelbase for a wheeler but I do mostly highway driving. I would love to hear yall's input!

5.0B2 · #2 (**permalink**) 03-26-2008, 04:02 PM

I've never had a problem with mine. Ford mentions it in the owner's manual but I suspect that it's legaleze to cover them in the event of driver inattention or people who can't drive worth a ****.

Pkupman82 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-26-2008, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5.0B2

I've never had a problem with mine. Ford mentions it in the owner's manual but I suspect that it's legaleze to cover them in the event of driver inattention or people who can't drive worth a ****.

Yeah Ford put a sticker on the backside of the driver's side sun visor on all 4wd trucks warning to driver... blah blah blah this vehicle has handling characteristics different than an ordinary passenger car. In a nutshell warning the vehicle operator that if it is driven carelessly it could rollover or crash. Unfortunately manufacturers have to install idiot stickers to cover their butts due to people who don't know how to drive. It's pretty rediculus that people don't have the common sense that a narrow, short wheel base vehicle cannot be tossed into a sharp curve like a sports car.

mudslinging79 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-26-2008, 07:14 PM

i feel mine swayed a lil in tight corners, but a heavy duty set of exploder leafs in the back stiffened er right up

Canadianice · #5 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008, 02:26 AM

Throw some explorer springs in and some new polyurethane sway bar bushing and you will be surprised at how they little things do on the highway. I installed some PRO-COMP shocks too, makes this thing ride a bit stiff but I have even greater control.

HappyJack · #6 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008, 08:53 AM

Yup to all above. It's really has more to do with the driver and driving style than anything. Kind of like askin if you'd like a flavor of ice cream. Non of my Ranger based vehicles have sway bars on them. But I grew up in KS and started wheeling a 73 cj-5 (never had sway bars). Want to talk about a fun ride at 65 mph on the elevated by-pass in 50 mph KS wind with a locker and 33's. Some folks grew up with older vehicles and had to drive them. The new stuff where you kick on the cruise control, turn on some tunes, and put one finger on the wheel and sit back for the trip is great. But I don't have anything with out a rear locker and less than 33's these days so I have to drive them. Set up in the seat, both hands on the wheel and if it's windy really watch what your about. If you want something to drive and handle like a sports car then buy a sports car. If you want a truck, expect it to ride and drive like a truck. Less of course if you was wantin to lower the truck it and turn it into a sports car.

Wish you were closer and we'd go for a ride. Good luck. Hope this helped some.

rebocardo · #7 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008, 05:40 PM

They drive the interstate just fine, especially with sway bars, including towing a small trailer. Then again, I do not drive over 60 and I do not weave in and out of lanes. I only came close to tipping a B2 on a highway once, while avoiding something that dropped off a truck.

Where they will tip easy is if you slide sideways on ice and hit dry pavement or you slide the rear end off a shoulder. Then again, most vehicles will.

From reading the lawsuit sites, the biggest roll over risk for the B2 was going backwards fast and cranking the wheel. Then again, that is kind of easy to avoid

Pkupman82 · #8 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008, 08:50 PM

I don't understand why the B2s stick out so badly as a "roll over buggy" There are tons of em out there that flip easy if you get stupid with them: S10 Blazer, GEO Tracker, Suzuki Sidekick, all Jeep CJs and Wranglers, Daihatsu Rocky, Isuzu Amigo, Isuzu Trooper, older Toyota Land Cruisers, Mitsubishi Montero/Dodge Raider, older Toyota 4Runners... and I am sure I forgot a few others. Point being is it's BS that vehicle manufacturers even have to put "idiot stickers" anywhere on their compact 4x4s. People should just have the common sense to realize that that a tall sitting short wheel base vehicle just might be unstable at high speeds during cornering. Of course that would be a perfect world wouldn't it?

Oh yeah, none of my trucks have sway bars either!

80351 · #9 (**permalink**) 03-29-2008, 08:05 AM

I've never had a bit of problem with mine,
even came down the road one day with a friend
behind me and he said there was absolutely no
body roll at all. Good

Caleb1 · #10 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 12:34 AM

thanks for the input guys! I wanna hold out for a ranger but b2's can be had cheap roun heah. and I need to get out of the honda. Onna sidenote my best friend just bought a 2003 tacoma and I am very suprised at how well it handles. He can do 60 throw it in to a fairly sharp turn and the body stays completly level. it feels just as glued down as his crown vic did!

80351 · #11 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 07:36 AM

Where is here that BII are so cheap. A Ranger isn't a BII and a Tacoma isn't in the
same ball park.

Beachboy · #12 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caleb1

and I need to get out of the honda.

Just don't drive it like the honda and you'll be fine , and personally ,out of all my vehicles, I think my b2 is funnest to drive.

Twistin · #13 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008, 01:58 PM

I've owned a couple of bronco II's and they are fun to drive. there's times i like my bronco II over my full size bronco's. Of course now ya dont see many bronco II's scootin down the road, its a hoot when people give ya the thumbs up as ya go by them. The only time i can even recall when my bronco II swayed was in a bad storm and a simi truck went by me on the thruway. but even then it wasnt bad, not like i was going to loose control of it. If i was going to build a trail rig, I'd build a bronco II, short wheel base & narrow. and doing a 5.0 swap is now easy, cause so many have already done it. But right now with the cost of fuel, I'll stick with 2.9 and keep it on the road.
my 2 cents. Keep Em' Twistin'! Bob B NY

Bear River · #14 (**permalink**) 04-03-2008, 08:48 AM

Also, just make sure you have descent shocks, thats part of what they are for. I prefer KYB Gas-A-Justs. If you have worn or blown shocks, it will make any vehicle shimmy and lean excessively.

Rocket Doc · #15 (**permalink**) 04-06-2008, 06:59 AM

was heading westbound on I-80 across Wyoming in January. Nasty headwind every inch of the way. Fourth gear from Cheyenne to Green River...It just ain't the sleekest thing on the road....side winds, quartering winds, passing trucks, rutted roads didn't bother me a bit, though the last time I made that trip I had leaking shocks and 'Maypop' street tires on it...that trip was miserable, pucker factor up around '8'.
What it does in the hills, on two tracks and in the timber is where the thing shines, so it don't matter much what it does on the interstate! Just wish it had more room in the back so I don't have to heave the second elk onto the roof! THAT's when the ol' girl gets top-heavy.....