We’re all used to seeing brand-new Ford Broncos on the road, but it took 25 years for the sixth generation to go into production. Because of this, many people were left to fight for themselves. This led to many custom works that looked like brand-new Broncos from the factory, even though there were none. Everyone I’ve seen is unique, and this DIY Bronco made from a 2004 F-150 is no different. It was made by Dan Hickey, who is selling the truck for $20,000. We talked for the first time in July before the item went on Facebook Marketplace. At the time, he shared a picture of the strange off-roader to a Facebook group we both belong to. Later, he told me how it was made. Hickey said we picked this truck because “I just bought a new F-150, and my old one was in great shape.” Considering how cheap other F-150s were then, it wasn’t worth much. I chose to keep it around in case someone needed a truck, so we used it for this. Even though the 11th-generation F-150 isn’t the most popular truck, it looks good in this arrangement. Taking out the bed, doors, electrical system, interior, and safety steps were just the beginning. Then, Hickey cut 2.5 feet off the frame to make it the right length. Hickey said, “We cut the frame where it needed to be cut after measuring it several times.” After that, we soldered guides to the inside of the frame to make a strong backer plate. Before putting the outside leaves on, we ensured the edge was straight and welded together. “We just started cutting at the cab” to figure out what structure was inside, what we could keep, and what we had to change. Before they could start working, they had to build a unique body lift to get the frame out of the way. The truck has a roll hoop in the middle to make it more stable. Then, it was time to close up the back of the Bronco, which was done with the help of a Leer truck bed cover, as you can probably see. Hickey is upset that he can’t take off the top. It would have been too harsh and too expensive to make. Even though it’s not a convertible, it looks like a Bronco and is supposedly less likely to leak. A couple things could be better. Hickey says the flooring around the wheel wells could have been better, but he rented it out for a low price. The plan is for him to use what he has learned from this first business to start a new one in the future. “We began the project before the price of old trucks went through the roof,” Hickey says it took about two years. I put off buying the second truck because used cars are so expensive. We’ve thought about many easier ways to finish the next one and tweaks to make the sizes different. I plan to look at it again. The 5.4-liter V8 engine in the updated Bronco has been fixed, but the suspension is still in stock. Hickey says that although the car has 115,000 miles, it still moves like it’s brand new. The Raptor wheels and the BF Goodrich all-terrain tires that circle them bring everything together. If you live nearby or are ready to drive to Wisconsin to get it, it’s an excellent build, and there are worse ways to spend $20,000.
