BAE SD Brazos Chassis now available through GXV

[mogwildRW1]

I counted 8 yesterday when I drove by the dealership in Edmonton, on the lot, waiting for you

[foxhunter]

I was at GXV yesterday getting a progress update on my mog and spotted a Brazos sitting next to a mog out back. I was surprised that side by side they are really close in size. When I told Mike I wanted to see it he grabbed the keys and off we went for a ride. 0-60 was really quick on this truck. 60mph on the winding 2 lane was plenty fast. The ride was very rough,but it was just the cab and chassis and standard seats, not the air ride they would get, so the ride would improve with some wt on it and better seats. I was amazed to learn that if you ordered the truck with the CAT engine it comes hardened against an EMP strike. Cool. No need to worry about that massive solar flare or pesky nuclear strike! Mike is taking the Brazos to EXPO next week along with 2 other GXV's. The factory was full of vehicles yesterday and I was like a kid in a candy store. There was a gorgeous Turtle on an extended cab 550(to be delivered to a customer at Expo) and the unfinished body was now sitting on the Pangea (awesome truck that is for sale).
I don't know what it is about Mike and Rene, but when I go there they start showing me cool upgrades and all budget concerns go out the window. The wife picked out the colors for the interior yesterday, I added rails for the top to protect against tree limbs, a back up camera and changed the manual steps to electric. I think I may be driving it by the end of June. The build has gone really quickly. Can't wait

[Ford Prefect]

I happen to think that this would be perfect under a Global Expedition Vehicles’ Pangea body. Love that lift roof...

[charlieaarons]

I was at GXV yesterday getting a progress update on my mog and spotted a Brazos sitting next to a mog out back. I was surprised that side by side they are really close in size. When I told Mike I wanted to see it he grabbed the keys and off we went for a ride. 0-60 was really quick on this truck. 60mph on the winding 2 lane was plenty fast. The ride was very rough,but it was just the cab and chassis and standard seats, not the air ride they would get, so the ride would improve with some wt on it and better seats. I was amazed to learn that if you ordered the truck with the CAT engine it comes hardened against an EMP strike. Cool. No need to worry about that massive solar flare or pesky nuclear strike! Mike is taking the Brazos to EXPO next week along with 2 other GXV's. The factory was full of vehicles yesterday and I was like a kid in a candy store. There was a gorgeous Turtle on an extended cab 550(to be delivered to a customer at Expo) and the unfinished body was now sitting on the Pangea (awesome truck that is for sale).
I don't know what it is about Mike and Rene, but when I go there they start showing me cool upgrades and all budget concerns go out the window. The wife picked out the colors for the interior yesterday, I added rails for the top to protect against tree limbs, a back up camera and changed the manual steps to electric. I think I may be driving it by the end of June. The build has gone really quickly. Can't wait

I had the same experience ordering my Unicat. At first I tried to economize but when I realize it was probably a once in a lifetime thing I went ahead and ordered "little things" that make a big difference. Like backup camera, solar panels, etc. The one big ordering mistake I made on my U500 was not getting switchable steering/pedals.
It's nice to know the civilian FMTVs are for real. If I were looking for a new chassis I would put it high on my list.
For those worried about the lack of a low range: 1st gear in the Allison 3700SP is 6.93:1, way lower than their typical 6 spd automatic (usually 3.5-4.5:1). The torque converter has a variety of stall ratios available down to 2.71:1, I suspect BAE and the Army picked a low one. That combined with the 7.8 axle ratio gives an ultimate low gear in the area of 100-160:1, depending on which torque converter the truck has.
The 2700 rpm engine speed at 60 mph is a concern, that could be mitigated by using 14.00R20 XZLs which would drop it to 2550. BAE has built prototypes with these tires on them. 55mph with the stock tires is 2475rpm, 2325 with the 14.00s.

Charlie

[Bill Beers]

That is really interesting because it goes against everything that my contact at BAE told me. First about them not willing to cover the product liability of the truck for commerial use and offering the CAT motor to the public because it does not EPA spec. (that is why the Cummins was offered in the Brazos). I'll be interested to hear what the REAL story is.

That caught my eye as well. CAT basically said "the hell with it" after EPA '07, and hasn't released a non-off road engine since, (domestically anyway.)

[rblackwell]

I was at GXV yesterday getting a progress update on my mog and spotted a Brazos sitting next to a mog out back. I was surprised that side by side they are really close in size. When I told Mike I wanted to see it he grabbed the keys and off we went for a ride. 0-60 was really quick on this truck. 60mph on the winding 2 lane was plenty fast. The ride was very rough,but it was just the cab and chassis and standard seats, not the air ride they would get, so the ride would improve with some wt on it and better seats. I was amazed to learn that if you ordered the truck with the CAT engine it comes hardened against an EMP strike. Cool. No need to worry about that massive solar flare or pesky nuclear strike! Mike is taking the Brazos to EXPO next week along with 2 other GXV's. The factory was full of vehicles yesterday and I was like a kid in a candy store. There was a gorgeous Turtle on an extended cab 550(to be delivered to a customer at Expo) and the unfinished body was now sitting on the Pangea (awesome truck that is for sale).
I don't know what it is about Mike and Rene, but when I go there they start showing me cool upgrades and all budget concerns go out the window. The wife picked out the colors for the interior yesterday, I added rails for the top to protect against tree limbs, a back up camera and changed the manual steps to electric. I think I may be driving it by the end of June. The build has gone really quickly. Can't wait

Foxhunter

You also saw this - Nina and Rob's latest travel beast. - but thoughtfully left it to us t publicize. It is currently on the road to Overland Expo.

Like you I thought the grey Turtle was very surprisingly spacious, and the Brazos an impressive piece of equipment.


IMG_0037.jpg

[foxhunter]

I did leave it to you to publicize and I didn't get a chance to really tell you how beautiful it is. That yellow turned out to be a fantastic color. Tastefully done and the interior is beautiful as well. One look at the bars you installed on top of the body , the back up camera , and your electric steps and I had to have them as well. Thanks again for letting us check it out.

[Lynn]

Looking back at that first picture, I have to ask...

Does BAE recommend all Brazos carry an extra engine?

[camperman]

Lynn, LOL. It's always good to have a spare one. Just kidding

[HumphreyBear]

For those who went to OvEx2012 and saw the Brazos there, what was your opinion?

Cheers,
Humphrey