AS SEEN IN OUR DIESEL WORLD APRIL 2026 ISSUE – Buy Now!

This Bronco Towers Over The Competition

Diesel World is happy to have captured one of the tallest trucks we’ve seen in a long time. Measuring just shy of ten feet tall, the Buckin’ Behemoth is a standout wherever it goes, and as you can imagine, it is surprisingly easy to find in the parking lot! Getting behind the wheel, however, is another story, but we’ll get to that in a moment. The truck was created by Goose Bellows, an active-duty USAF member who has been building trucks for roughly two decades, and it is his biggest and wildest example to date. As a kid, Goose was always fascinated by lifted rides, from the old-school cruisers on the beaches of Florida to the mud bog trucks of the Deep South. They ignited a passion that is still very much alive today.

Goose’s goal for any of his builds is to stand out from the crowd. His first major build, #BuckinCrazy, an OBS Ford Bronco on 53s with a matching trailer, was lost in a fire. Then there was his side-by-side that could drive over a 55-gallon drum. His current daily driver features a 10-inch lift and 40s and pulls the color-matched gooseneck trailer that hauls Behemoth. As each of his previous trucks grew a little taller than the last, they laid the groundwork and expanded the options for the next bigger and better version.

The story for this build began in 2019 when Goose was finally able to locate his dream truck—a 1994 Centurion Bronco. This rare running and driving four-door Bronco began as a stock, rust-free, two-wheel-drive SUV powered by a 351 Windsor. Goose says he practically stole it, buying it for a mere $2,200.

How does anyone get started on a project of this scale? Well, it is every customizer’s goal to be one step ahead since old news does not make headlines. That means new ideas and a careful plan are essential. The plan for this 30-year-old Bronco began with Goose enlisting the help of CCS Designs with ‘bigger and badder’ as the operative words. Once the rendering was complete, the need to source their unique body mods took him to McQueen Prototype Design, where they created the widest possible set of Baja Racing-style fiberglass fenders and a hood. While the original cab, doors, and parts of the bed remain, the body is now augmented with fiberglass fenders that are six inches wider than stock, making the truck 96 inches wide and on the edge of what is road legal. Custom inner fender panels protect the motor and were followed by a series of other unique accessories. A hand-fabricated grille and headlights, custom side mirrors, and maybe one of the more outrageous options, the one-off Stealth Series Intimidator bumper from Road Armor was added to the mix. Laser-scanned and cut to fit the new body, its massive size is perfect should Goose somehow encounter the occasional wandering mastodon!

PCW Fabrication soon added a roll cage inside the cab, as well as a mount for the HornBlasters authentic train horn. Southern Lights Unlimited designed a cool lighting package using RGBW rock lights and 3-foot LED whip lights. The toolbox in the bed holds three XS Power batteries, an 8-gallon air tank for the horn, and the truck’s unique hydraulic system. Once all the body parts were in place, Goose partnered with Patriot Liner to have the entire body sprayed with white bed liner.

With the oversized body now looking for a home, Goose realized the inadequacy of the original chassis and powertrain. After some careful shopping, the elaborately customized Bronco Centurion body was gently lowered onto a more appropriate donor, this time a ‘96 Ford F-250 7.3L chassis. While some might opt for a Cummins power plant for the simplicity of a diesel swap, Goose felt it was important to have a Ford motor in a Ford because of the numerous Blue Oval events that he attends.

With a build of this magnitude, second-place finishes were never part of the plan, so the 7.3L Power Stroke went to Gap Train Performance, where it morphed into genuine hyperactivity. There, the experts added a hot rodder’s wishlist of performance parts, upgrading every aspect from intake to exhaust beginning with a KC Turbos stage 1 turbo, a FASS fuel system, Full Force Diesel injectors, and an Obsession Diesel Performance intercooler piping kit. The Power Stroke was never designed to go about its business quietly, now exhaling through a burbly 5-inch side exhaust. The package pumps out more than 500 horsepower and 900 ft-lb of torque thanks to a JeliBuilt custom tune. The Ford-built E4OD two-wheel-drive transmission directs power to the divorced FTI Performance Sniper gearbox transfer case and down to the axles through driveshafts from Clutch and Drive Shaft Inc.  With acceleration that rearranges the scenery at an alarming rate, Wilwood dual-piston calipers now call a halt to the fun.

You can’t create a 10-foot-tall rig without some serious suspension work, and one of the most unique parts of the chassis is the Atomic Axles. With only 13 sets ever built, Goose has VIN 001. They provide almost ten inches more ground clearance at the differential than a traditional Dana 60. The rear is equipped with East Coast Gear Supply 5.13 gears and Dutchman Axle CV shafts. The custom 4-link suspension by PCW Fabrication holds the axles in place with help from eight 18-inch Big Shock PRO Series reservoir coilovers. They fill the wheel wells, keep body motions on a short leash, and expertly snub the largest DOT-approved Mickey Thompson Baja Pro XS 21/58-24 tires. Everyone knows that wheels can make or break the look of a vehicle. Luckily, Goose has been part of the Team TIS wheel family for several years, and they secretly worked to create five Buckin’ Behemoth 24×16 polished TIS Forged wheels with simulated beadlock rings. Kap King Co. created the floating center caps with the Buckin’ Behemoth logo.

With this ultra lift putting the truck in the clouds, how do mere mortals reach the driver’s seat? At 6 feet 8 inches, even Goose needed a little help. A one-of-a-kind hydraulic lift system was added to both sides. Step on the surfboard-shaped pads designed by Southern Xtreme Sounds, touch the wireless remote button, and enjoy the quick and comfortable ride to the top. Since having a spare ten feet in the air is also a challenge, the same hydraulic system also lowers and raises the heavyweight wheel. Just for fun, Goose added a motorized hub assembly that spins the spare at approximately 30 mph!

Moving inside, four Corbeau Trailcat racing seats keep the driver and passenger safe in 4-point harnesses. The center console from Desolate Motorsports positions over a dozen switches within easy reach to control the multiple functions within the truck. Goose likes his music, and once again, his truck delivers at a level much higher than most would expect. With thousands of watts of power provided by multiple ProBox amps, the combination of four 10-inch subwoofers and twelve 10-inch tower speakers on movable racks, this system creates a sound loud and clear enough to entertain a stadium!

What does the future hold? Goose says there is potential for adjustments to the suspension design, along with rear steering on the short list. He is active on the show circuit, regularly attends major and local truck shows and parades, participates in Toys for Tots, and hopes one day to have a Hot Wheels model of the truck. He says the Behemoth has been the most rewarding and frustrating build he has completed to date but worth all the blood, sweat, tears, time, and money.  Though Goose has literally touched every nut and bolt on the truck during the 6-year build, he could not have done it without the support of his family, friends, and the partnered/sponsored companies involved. Goose has created a truck that is staggering in size, stunning to look at, and one that consistently attracts the attention of spectators. Be sure to check it out at upcoming shows and events along with Goose’s social media accounts and all the companies involved in this behemoth of a Bronco!

1994 Ford Bronco Centurion

Owner: Goose Bellows

Engine & Powertrain

• 7.3L Power Stroke swapped
• Engine built by Gap Train Performance
• CNC Fabrications 4-line feed valley mount fuel line kit
• Diamond Eye Performance 5-inch exhaust
• Diesel Motorsports engine components
• Fass Titanium Signature Series fuel system
• Full Force Diesel stage 1 injectors
• Hot Shot’s Secret engine lubrication products
• JeliBuilt tuning and associated parts
• KC Turbos KC300x stage 1 (63/70)
• Obsession Diesel Performance intercooler piping kit
• Power Hungry Performance Hydra Chip with components
• Riffraff Diesel engine rebuild kit
• SPAL electric fan
• Terminator T-500 HPOP
• Xtreme Diesel Performance starter, alternator, and PS pump
• Atomic Axles VIN 001 of 013
• (2) Artec Industries pinion guards
• Clutch & Drive Shaft Inc. driveshafts
• Dutchman Axles custom 934 CV shafts
• East Coast Gear Supply 5.13 gears
• FTI Performance 12-inch Sniper gearbox transfer case
• Redhorse Performance brake lines
• Wilwood dual-piston calipers

Chassis & Suspension

• PCW Fabrications subframe, roll cage, and tire carrier
• (8) 18-inch PRO Series coilovers with reservoirs

Wheels & Tires

• (5) TIS 24×16 forged wheels with simulated beadlocks
• 21/58-24 Mickey Thompson Baja Pro XS tires

Body & Paint

• Aerocatch flush-mount hood latches
• Apex Sandblast & Powder Coat
• Boost Auto Parts tow mirrors
• BOLT Lock hitch pin locks
• Factory inner fender supports
• Five Star Auto Accessories custom exhaust tip
• Gen-Y Hitch: 22 ½-inch drop hitch
• HornBlasters K5HA Nathan air chime, dual compressors, and 8-gallon tank
• KH Metalworks custom grille
• Madd Dog Kustomz core support cover
• McQueen Prototype Designs fiberglass fenders and hood
• OBS Solutions tow mirror brackets
• Patriot Liner inside and out
• (2) P3 Billet hooks
• RudeDog Kustoms front fender wheel wells
• Road Armor one-off Stealth front bumper with Intimidator guard
• SpiderWeb custom roll cage sun shade
• Southern Xtreme Sounds custom-cut step pad mats

Interior & Stereo

• Car Stereo Plus window tint
• Complete Performance interior parts
• Corbeau Trailcat racing seats with 4-point harnesses
• Desolate Motorsports center console
• Edge Products Insight CTS3 monitor
• (11) ProBox LaserCube lights
• (12) Probox Rocks 10-inch tower speakers, (4) 10-inch subwoofers, (4) 2000-watt amplifiers
• (24) Southern Lights Unlimited RGB-W rock lights, whips
• (3) XS Power D3400 Series batteries