1974 Highboy build-Trail crawler

[Trav0302]

I guess its time for me to start a build thread as a form of motivation. The plan is to take this old beast of a truck and make it able to haul all my stuff, 2 kids, 2 adults. As well as handle mountain trails here in colorado. It will also be my tow truck as we will be getting a camping trailer some day. So the start. 1974 F-250 4x4 5spd with a 360. Previously it was an old farm truck for most of its life which has a lot of down falls. examples: bad wiring, heater controls are gone, rear driveshaft was pretty messed up, rear brakes didn't work, power steering was leaking everywhere.

Things that I've gotten too so far. Most of the dash wiring is fixed, brakes work now, and power steering ram is now fixed but still got a few leaks to take care of.

Lets get the plan and pictures going!

Mind you I'm not an artist so deal with it. LOL



Ok to break this down abit. My flatbed is 9 feet long x 7 feet wide. I would like to cut the flatbed at about 5 feet and use this as base for a custom cab. The 4 foot section with the head ache rack will go right behind the custom cab. Not 100% sure what I will use to build the custom cab out of yet but will have 2 seats which I have already that have built in seat belts.

Just some pics of how it sits now.




More updates to come.

 

[Clutch]

What about swapping on a crew cab? Would save a lot of fab work.

 

[Trav0302]

I want something with more custom options over the stock crew cab.

 

[Clutch]

I want something with more custom options over the stock crew cab.

*thumbs-up*

Those old 70's Ford are probably one of my favorite trucks... I had a '76 F250 for a while, my dad bought it new, spent most of its' life as a construction truck for our swimming pool
company...then he retired it. I bought it, and did a mild restoration on it. Beastly trucks for sure.

What 5 speed is in it? NV4500?

Bunch of cool customs on the Ford forums...

this was on Pirate, looks sorta like the direction you are going.

 

[quickfarms]

You could use an old railroad crew compartment like this

http://www.acmeequip.com/detailview.php?vehicle=768567&vendor=254076&store=13&searchnum=15051474

I was attached to a 1991 ford F900. I striped the cab for the AC for my project.

If you call them ask for Scott

 

[Trav0302]

*thumbs-up*

Those old 70's Ford are probably one of my favorite trucks... I had a '76 F250 for a while, my dad bought it new, spent most of its' life as a construction truck for our swimming pool
company...then he retired it. I bought it, and did a mild restoration on it. Beastly trucks for sure.

What 5 speed is in it? NV4500?

Bunch of cool customs on the Ford forums...

this was on Pirate, looks sorta like the direction you are going.

Good catch I must of been rushing myself their. It's a 4 spd with a granny gear but ya you got the general idea of my build.

You could use an old railroad crew compartment like this

http://www.acmeequip.com/detailview.php?vehicle=768567&vendor=254076&store=13&searchnum=15051474

I was attached to a 1991 ford F900. I striped the cab for the AC for my project.

If you call them ask for Scott

I've looked at a few different sleepers. The biggest problem with them is most are made of fiberglass. Which I would be afraid it would crack under flex or mess it up on a tree/rock. The other issue is the pure size of them. Most are just too big for what I need also. I really want it to be about the size of the cab so not to stick out.

 

[txnight]

Subscribed! Looks like we are going down similar paths with our builds.

Hats off to you for trying to think up a creative way to add additional seating. That's going to be interesting. The idea of using the railroad sleeper is terrific. That has survived 20+ years on a railroad and appears to be metal and not fiberglass.

Have you given any thoughts into selling this rig and finding an older suburban or crew cab truck?

 

[Trav0302]

I did think about it for a bit but I like the idea of a shorter truck then the length of a crewcab truck or suburban.

 

[Wh1t3nukle]

Kudos on the project and goals. I do have to concur with the good suggestions.

Here's a build that does not accomplish the accommodation part, but may on some other aspects. '69 F250 with 12v Swapped in. Pics are on the Rubicon last summer.

 

[toyotarig]

It looks like it meets the accomodation part, if the kids dont mind sitting above the cab facing backwards. I guess it would keep the bugs out of their teeth!

 

[Trav0302]

Ya I dont really understand those seats up their.

 

[mkitchen]

Sounds like a good design

My daughter has an 73 F 150 short box that is nicely built but seldom used and I have a 71, http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/57673-1971-F-250-4X4-is-Back-Home
I love the idea of a flat bed and if the bed ever goes south on Reuben, that is what I will do. Looking forward to seeing the build as it comes along.
Mikey

 

[Wh1t3nukle]

It looks like it meets the accomodation part, if the kids dont mind sitting above the cab facing backwards. I guess it would keep the bugs out of their teeth!

^You get it.

Ya I dont really understand those seats up their.

It's a trail thing. Not everyone gets it. Aside from the chairs, it may or may not give some ideas is all.

 

[eggman918]

This is our answer to that same question

 

[Trav0302]

This is our answer to that same question

Love your ride!