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Thread: BAE SD Brazos Chassis now available through GXV

  1. #31
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Atascadero, CA
    Posts
    449
    Impressive drivetrain: Cummins, Allison, Meritor. Looked at the transmission ratios and they look great. Kinda disappointed that it is full time 4x4 with no low range though.

  2. #32
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    southern Illinois
    Posts
    43
    JoaquinSuave, When you discover everything I said is accurate , you are going to feel so bad you will want to send me a case of port wine to make ammends . Please make your discovery soon, as I am running low on port

  3. #33
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    southern Illinois
    Posts
    43
    Yes you are correct, and I think that when you figure in the thickness of the back of the cab and the thickness of the wall of the box from GXV you will come up with 32 inches for cab to cabin access as the configuration exists now. As you suggest, I am sure GXV could modify it and get to the 6-8 inches, but that is one of the issues they have not overcome with the manufacturer yet, because it is a warranty issue , not an engineering problem. I think that is one of the things they are working on with the truck manufacturer to help them with the civilian market.

  4. #34
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Cedar Park, TX
    Posts
    2,371
    I hadn't seen a link to the Operator's Manual yet, so thought I'd post it up...

    I mentioned before that I saw some sitting at an equipment dealer between Houston and Beaumont. We'll be passing that way again Easter weekend. If anyone is interested, I can try to get the name of the dealership then.
    Sent from my Motorola SCR-300 using Tapalot.

  5. #35
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Tualatin, Oregon
    Posts
    511
    Here's the Body Builder's guide from the same source: https://www.tvsonlinesupport.com/Onl...BBG-071511.pdf
    Alcan 5000 Winter Rally.
    Oregon National Forests: 2007, 2012.
    Valsetz, OR.

  6. #36
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    On the Road, SW USA
    Posts
    378
    Very interesting to see the manual!!

    While my (modified) Fuso FM260 is not touted as a rugged [military] truck, my GVAW are 10,500# front and 22,000# rear which seem much more useful than the ratings on the Brazos, (and my theoretical GVWR of 32,500# is limited to 25,950# only by the particular Allison transmission I have.)

    John
    NOW
    —Fuso FM-260-based expedition camper
    —Jeep Rubi Unlim
    —Yamaha TW 200 [rides out from both of above]

    THEN
    —Jeep CJ-5 (West Africa, 1961-1965)
    —EarthRoamer #004 (2004-2008)
    —EarthRoamer #095 (2008-2009)


    At its core, adventure is the willingness to commit to an uncertain outcome with an open heart and an open mind. [Matt Walker]

  7. #37
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Various places
    Posts
    561
    Any truck designed for off-road use has a lower percentage of useful load because its components are stronger everywhere. Just look at a mog, hmmwv, or old M35. Or better yet, the Ecoroamer's rear axle.
    It's better to regret the things you've done, than the things you haven't.

  8. #38
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    328

  9. #39
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    On the Road, SW USA
    Posts
    378
    Quote Originally Posted by Joaquin Suave View Post
    It is my feeling right now (might change in the next week or two) that your truck if far better suited for an "adventure camper" than the FMTV due to your truck having higher highway speeds, and open frame space up to the back of the cab, more open space for saddle attachments.
    John, what is the top speed of your truck?
    I honestly doubt that very many "sane" people would take an expensive camper into places that needed the all-terrain capability of a FMTV... but then again, there are plenty of people out there with more dollars the sense.
    Joaguin

    Top speed I have driven steadily is about 77-78 mph [pushed by traffic one evening while trying to transit Salt Lake City UT on the Interstate.] Seemed comfortable/safe, but going that fast in this big a rig is not my cup of tea, even with 38,000# of Bosch air-over-hydraulic disc brakes onboard. I commonly cruise at 60-65 [@2200 rpm], tho on moderate hills I suffer a significant loss of speed due to an underperforming turbo.

    Factory spec boost should be 36 psi absolute, but I cannot seem to achieve more than 32, even with a new turbo 'courtesy' of Mitsubishi. 4 psi would make a BIG difference in a days drive - not so much in elapsed time but in subjective driver stress when things slow down and traffic piles up behind. I've tried a 'tuning module' that optimized common rail pressure, but at the point of significant improvement I also got a string of overboost and high pressure fault codes, resulting in entering limp mode. This was for me more stressful and disruptive than just going slower.

    Our Fuso has been converted to 4x4, and in 4x2 low range we have cruised power lines [no roads] and several alluvial fans and dry stream beds. Have only used the locking rear diff once, and even that may not have been truly necessary — but I confess that the prospect of 'recovering' a 22,000# rig out of a truly inaccessible place does not thrill me, so I choose to use its capabilities prophylacticaly!!

    I'll leave it to you to determine if that is "sane" or not.

    John
    Last edited by JRhetts; 04-02-2012 at 09:28 PM.
    NOW
    —Fuso FM-260-based expedition camper
    —Jeep Rubi Unlim
    —Yamaha TW 200 [rides out from both of above]

    THEN
    —Jeep CJ-5 (West Africa, 1961-1965)
    —EarthRoamer #004 (2004-2008)
    —EarthRoamer #095 (2008-2009)


    At its core, adventure is the willingness to commit to an uncertain outcome with an open heart and an open mind. [Matt Walker]

  10. #40
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Posts
    2,286
    I have driven the military version for waaay too many miles, compared to the trucks that it replaced it’s a dream. Plenty of power, accelerates well for a large truck even when loaded. The ride is good, and the visibility is great. They are good off road and don’t’ seem to want to roll or tip over. The best part is the motor/turbo sounds nothing short of amazing when you are loaded and pulling a hill. I have never had one break down, or had a problem with the CTIS.

    If I had the money I would buy one in a heartbeat!

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