- Joined
- Jan 10, 2015
- Messages
- 231
Those of us with kids (and/or grandkids) are probably aware of the "Power Wheels" (actually KIdsTrax) ride-on Bronco that was sold in Walmart a while back. They're turning up on CL and FBM these days pretty cheap ($50 - $100 or so) and are usually in great shape, unless they got left outside in the weather for the last few years.
My grandson is over a year old now, running all over the place, he'll be big enough in a few months to handle driving one, I think. I hope so, anyway, since I picked one up on FBM that was like new, and am doing a little converting/customizing of it and plan to give it to him for Christmas.
Ok, tech specs:
It's styled after a '69 Bronco, door inserts, 46" long, bumper to bumper (roughly 1/3 scale of a real early Bronco). 6 volt battery and motor, ONE wheel drive - yep, it only drives the right rear wheel - slowly, since it's only 6 volts. No suspension, hard plastic wheels, LED headlights, and a horn. Neither the hood or the tailgate open. I decided to upgrade a few things. Not going to to go crazy with the mods, since he's still young, and small. Keep it simple, but make it better. I have ideas for a bigger, faster, more modified Bronco down the road, in a few years - 4wd (the motor/gearboxes fit the front axle and wheels), golf cart/atv wheels and tires, coilover suspension, more batteries, etc.
I modified the hood and the tailgate so they both open. The hood was easy, it only had a few screws and some clips holding it to the body. Once I removed it, the "frunk" beneath it is pretty large, will be useful to store things in. I'll use some black plastic panels cut to fit to create a storage area, (where cardboard panels are in the photos) and hinge the hood at the windshield. The tailgate required some careful cutting, with a cutoff wheel in an angle grinder, a reciprocating saw, a Dremel, and a file to clean up the edges. I'll have to fabricate some panels to close off the open areas at the back of the body.
Since the battery, wiring and motors are beneath the seat, there is room behind them for another storage area, under the bed floor. I'll hinge the bottom of the tailgate where it meets the top of the rear bumper, use some thin cables to support the tailgate when it's open, and magnetic latches to hold it closed.
I upgraded it from 6, to 12 volts, and dual motors/gearboxes to drive both rear wheels. No fabrication needed, just remove the old 6 volt motor/gearbox from the rear axle, slide new 12 volt motor/gearboxes onto each end of the axle, and attach the wheels. Remove the old skinny 6 volt battery, drop in the larger, heavier, higher capacity 12 volt battery, and plug in the "Y" adapter harness to power both new motors. The "Y" harness also has a low speed/high speed switch, so I can control how fast he drives it.
I decided not to paint the body - less maintenance, and it looks ok in black. I did remove the grille and will paint it white, and both bumpers will be bright silver/chrome.
My grandson is over a year old now, running all over the place, he'll be big enough in a few months to handle driving one, I think. I hope so, anyway, since I picked one up on FBM that was like new, and am doing a little converting/customizing of it and plan to give it to him for Christmas.
Ok, tech specs:
It's styled after a '69 Bronco, door inserts, 46" long, bumper to bumper (roughly 1/3 scale of a real early Bronco). 6 volt battery and motor, ONE wheel drive - yep, it only drives the right rear wheel - slowly, since it's only 6 volts. No suspension, hard plastic wheels, LED headlights, and a horn. Neither the hood or the tailgate open. I decided to upgrade a few things. Not going to to go crazy with the mods, since he's still young, and small. Keep it simple, but make it better. I have ideas for a bigger, faster, more modified Bronco down the road, in a few years - 4wd (the motor/gearboxes fit the front axle and wheels), golf cart/atv wheels and tires, coilover suspension, more batteries, etc.
I modified the hood and the tailgate so they both open. The hood was easy, it only had a few screws and some clips holding it to the body. Once I removed it, the "frunk" beneath it is pretty large, will be useful to store things in. I'll use some black plastic panels cut to fit to create a storage area, (where cardboard panels are in the photos) and hinge the hood at the windshield. The tailgate required some careful cutting, with a cutoff wheel in an angle grinder, a reciprocating saw, a Dremel, and a file to clean up the edges. I'll have to fabricate some panels to close off the open areas at the back of the body.
Since the battery, wiring and motors are beneath the seat, there is room behind them for another storage area, under the bed floor. I'll hinge the bottom of the tailgate where it meets the top of the rear bumper, use some thin cables to support the tailgate when it's open, and magnetic latches to hold it closed.
I upgraded it from 6, to 12 volts, and dual motors/gearboxes to drive both rear wheels. No fabrication needed, just remove the old 6 volt motor/gearbox from the rear axle, slide new 12 volt motor/gearboxes onto each end of the axle, and attach the wheels. Remove the old skinny 6 volt battery, drop in the larger, heavier, higher capacity 12 volt battery, and plug in the "Y" adapter harness to power both new motors. The "Y" harness also has a low speed/high speed switch, so I can control how fast he drives it.
I decided not to paint the body - less maintenance, and it looks ok in black. I did remove the grille and will paint it white, and both bumpers will be bright silver/chrome.
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