2024 STX SCREW 5.0 - Atlas Blue

[adamiata]

New member here. I've been lurking for a while and it's time for me to make a build thread. My father owned many Ford work trucks while I was growing up and now I have one too.

I don't buy new vehicles often, but when I do I hold out for exactly what I want. I get picky about trim, color, and options. So, when I found a 2024 STX SCREW in Atlas Blue with the 5.0L V8, 3.73 rear end with locker, a trailer brake controller, and the big 36gal fuel tank, I pounced. I picked it up between Christmas and New Year of 2024 and have been enjoying it since.

With Dad's '20 Lariat.

Cruising snowy logging roads.

With only 400 miles on the ODO, I clobbered a deer early one morning at about 40mph. The damage was much less severe than I feared. No paint or sheet metal damage, just some busted up plastic that's replaceable.

Vengeance is delicious.

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[adamiata]

She thicc. And that flag plate...

Then I splurged on a Corsa Sport exhaust with dual rear tips in black chrome. It puts a smile on my face every time I hear it, but is discreet enough to not attract unwanted attention. I'm not sure I'd pay the extra money for the dual outlet again. It doesn't look as good without the bumper cutouts and I dislike having to look at the exposed hangers at the back. For the money, I expected a little more but the faults are less noticeable to me now.

Deleted the 4x4 sticker off the bed.

First time towing with it, I picked up 4 Yamaha TTR125s of Marketplace in a package deal out by Moosehead Lake. None of them run and I already have too many projects.

Cadillac Mountain

 

[adamiata]

New shoes: 17x9 +18 RTR Evo 6 in bronze with 285/70R17 Firestone Destination XT.

Rolling diameter is practically the same as the factory 275/60R20 and brake clearance is ample. I went with this tire because it's the lightest E-rated all terrain tire I could find. I live in an area with endless logging roads to explore and I've heard E-rated tires recommended for puncture resistance. I notice no change in ride quality, I imagine the extra sidewall compensates for the stiffer carcass. There's a noticeable but slight increase in road noise that I've already tuned out.

That bronze on Atlas makes my nipples hard every time I look at it. I like big sidewalls and I cannot lie!

High tech bed divider.

Mocking up a possible drawer system for the future.

 

[adamiata]

A new STX grill is $1000 or so, maybe $800 with a discount somewhere online. I held out until I could get a used grill off eBay for $300. Replacement was a bit nerve-wracking. Thank god for YouTube giving me the confidence to deal with about 100 fragile plastic clips.

Mocking up possible lighting and plate configurations.

I added Rough Country neoprene seat covers for protection from the dog and from my sweaty trail runner ass.

The pull tabs for the rear seat kept falling inside the cover so I extended them with some matching blue cord I had laying around.

Hauling a bunch of rough cut hemlock. This is the most I've towed so far, I aimed to max out the trailer at 2800lbs net. With 12' lumber on a 10' trailer, the COG is right over the axle, so I had to add a bunch of cinder block ballast to the front of the trailer. I have a spreadsheet with moment calculations because I'm a nerd.

Filthy.

 

[adamiata]

I spent most of Sunday washing, clay-barring, and ceramic coating the paint. I felt awful buying a new car in the middle of winter and it's taken me this long to get around to getting something on the paint.

Rooftop parking

And back to dirty again.

Measuring for a DIY rack. Entropy, Baby!

 

[Graygoose2021]

Nice build!!!

 

[Dakar09]

Gorgeous truck! Great color and even greater choice in power plants

You had me laughing with the "clobbering" a deer and the pic of the smoker soon after. Did you pull the venison sausage right out of the grill?

I'll be taking mine up to Acadia in a few weeks and will try to grab a similar shot on Cadillac Mtn

 

[JCsTruck]

Acadia National Park is a beautiful place and a beautiful truck go hand and hand.

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