Hi All!

Just back from our first real jaunt with the RV and I've determined that a Toad (flat towed vehicle) is in order for behind the RV. A couple with us on this trip rented a minivan, which worked...this time. However, I don't want to rent a dang car everywhere I go. So, I have 2 options:

1. We have a 21 Sentra and a 16 Altima that I could get a car dolly for and go with that. They cannot be flat towed because they both have a CVT transmission, which is no bueno.

2. Flat tow the Excursion. I have a Blue Ox tow bar and Air Force One braking system on the coach. No other parts. So, I'd have to get the plates for the X (which really just replace the tow hooks on the front) and the Air Force One in car brake actuator for the X (along with whatever other goodies for lights, etc,). I could also go with another braking system and not use the Air Force One system in the coach. All of which are several thousand dollars by the time it's all set up.

Anyone ever do this with your X? Any pointers or words of wisdom? Am I crazy? It's a manual trans and I can get the transfer case into neutral as well so not worried about all that.

One other idea I had over beers on this trip is to modify Clifford yet again and turn it into an overland daily driver. With used car prices they way they are, I'm not going to buy a jeep just for behind the RV. The X can be a nice overland rig with just a few more modifications and I'm betting we could sleep fairly comfortable with just me and the better half with the dogs. Might be kind of a cool way to see more stuff along the travels. In my view, the first cut on mods past the flat tow system would be:

1. Tires: I need something besides the Michelins that I can air down and have some decent sidewall. Probably shoot for a 315 in the 16" wheel and on board air with a full size spare on the rear bumper. Nothing too crazy and still needs to daily drive and haul the boat. Any AT tire in the proper load rating should about do it.
2. Winch: At least a 15K winch and the power to run it, just in case.
3. Front and rear bumper: In order to have mounting for above mods
4. Rear platform and storage facilities, all removable, for living space. All of which I've seen here on this forum
5. Some sort of food storage (cooler/fridge), mostly to keep the beer cold. I can use dry camping food and a small stove for about anything else and I don't mind drinking warm water.

Aside from that, I think I have enough suspension to go anywhere I'd really want to go anyway, so no need to deal with that level of structure.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

 

For the rear Bumper, The Hammerhead is a good price, and is really built tough, it is not just nice looking. It has 3/4 inch D Ring hard point that go through the bumper and connect directly to the frame mount points for maximum strength, I put some 1/2 inch harbor freight D rings on the points on mine for now, but eventually i want to get some 3/4 D Rings to match the bumper.

For the front, my truck came with the Ranch Hand Legend front bumper replacement with brush guard when i bought it, it came from LEA use so i assume they put it on for ramming stuff, it has some tiny dents in it so i assume that it did its job a number of times as well, as all the dents are painted over already. None of them bigger than half a dime or so, but in that kind of steel...

My Ranch Hand bumper didnt come with the winch position, which i thought was an odd choice for government use but that is an option from Ranch Hand so you could get one with the winch point included.

The nice thing about the ranch hand one is the front cross bar work as a usable ladder to get up on the front of the truck, both for looking into the engine bay, as well as for standing on the bumper. There is also a flat platform on the front bumper where you can stand with your feet at grille height if you needed to see over a rise, fence, other vehicles, etc... The platform is between the brush guard and the truck, its about 6-10 inches depending on the spot, i have stood on it right in front of the headlight without issue, nice and flat diamond plate.


See my footprints in front of the headlight lol


Bumper is really thick all around, could easily have a tire holder welded onto it. Best part is its a factory fit, no cutting, modding, etc, fits the Ex just like it was a ford part.

 

I totally dig that rear bumper! I'll check those out! I think the ranch hand has it's pros for sure, but I really don't like the way they look. I'll probably go fo more the of Move bumper look when/if I swap them out.

 

I didnt initially like the look of it either to be honest, but after seeing how it was put together, and its usefulness the way it is, it actually grew on me and i decided to keep it, the ONLY thing i would change would be maybe have the sides come just a little bit lower, and have the winch provision. Other then that, its perfect.

You dont see it in the pics, but it actually has a lip that comes down and goes under the middle to shield your Trans lines and Radiator lines from anything coming up under it and damaging them. The Tow Hooks on it are also bolted on, and can be removed and swapped over to anything you might need to bolt in their place.