1985 F-250 6.9IDI Build Thread- Tractor Camper
- Thread starter Chris Tom
- Start date
DirtWhiskey
Western Dirt Rat
Great build! Can you post some pics of your new seats? Looking for a better option for my 2006 F450 with the slick benches.
Chris Tom
Member
Haven’t posted here in a while, so I figured I’d share some trip photos in the rig.
I’ve got nearly 50 nights in the camper so far, from weekend trips in the Sierra Nevada, to a week long adventure in Baja. All of the vehicle and camper systems are working well, and I’m really pleased with how the build is working.
The camper provides plenty of living space, with tons of room for hauling surfboards, fishing equipment, and more. I’ll highlight how important the insulated camper has been- We’ve been down in single-digit temperatures during the winter, and triple digit heat of the summer, with no issues.
The truck has run flawlessly, and just rolled over 100,000 miles while in Baja. Regular servicing with Delo 15-40 oil, and Stanadyne Diesel Fuel Additive has kept everything moving smoothly.
Sharing some photos here.
For more regular updates, follow the build on Instagram @tractorcamper
I’ve got nearly 50 nights in the camper so far, from weekend trips in the Sierra Nevada, to a week long adventure in Baja. All of the vehicle and camper systems are working well, and I’m really pleased with how the build is working.
The camper provides plenty of living space, with tons of room for hauling surfboards, fishing equipment, and more. I’ll highlight how important the insulated camper has been- We’ve been down in single-digit temperatures during the winter, and triple digit heat of the summer, with no issues.
The truck has run flawlessly, and just rolled over 100,000 miles while in Baja. Regular servicing with Delo 15-40 oil, and Stanadyne Diesel Fuel Additive has kept everything moving smoothly.
Sharing some photos here.
For more regular updates, follow the build on Instagram @tractorcamper
Ole Chipper
Member
WOW what a beautiful truck. Nice build, well done. Great post.
Chris Tom
Member
Thanks! I appreciate you following along.
arveetek
Adventurer
Sweet rig! I love the old IDI's. I've owned and daily-driven an IDI for the past 29 years. Mostly old school Chevy square bodies and OBS trucks/SUVS with either the 6.2L or 6.5L diesel. A lot of people don't like them, but they have treated me well all these years. My current ride is a 1995 2 door Tahoe with 415K miles on the odometer. I rebuilt the engine and transmission 3 years ago, so I'm expecting at least another 350K if I can keep the body together!
Casey
Casey
pappawheely
Autonomous4X4
Love your truck! Especially the sticks coming out of your floor. I don't think you can beat an old diesel and manual trans when it comes to simplicity.
Chris Tom
Member
Baja 2023
Long overdue trip-report from my trip down to Baja. We started the drive from Northern California down to San Diego, and spend the night at a friend's house.
The truck was fully loaded with fishing gear and two surfboards, for a week of adventure on the Baja Peninsula. The next day, after a somewhat uneventful border crossing, we were in Tecate, loading up on groceries. We opted to cross in Mexicali, to avoid the longer lines at the busier Tijuana crossing.
Inevitably, we were pulled over for "Running a stop-sign", which to this day, I guarantee does not exist. After the standard procedure, the police had us outside of the truck while they searched the truck for contraband. As many Baja travelers will tell you, and I'll say it again, do not even attempt to bring any weapons / drugs across the border. Even knives should be kept in the back of the vehicle, outside of reach of driver / passenger. Ultimately (as a Spanish speaker), I realized that one of the police officers was a truck enthusiast, and after a few minutes of chatting, we were turned loose, with no bribe "mordida" necessary. Overall, the experience was stressful, but kept us on our toes for the remainder of the trip.
From that point on, it was smooth sailing, as we motored our way down the Baja Peninsula, stopping at notable beach camps such as San Felipe, Punta Final, and Bahia de los Angeles (BOLA). In preparation for the trip, I joined a Facebook Group "Fish Baja" - a group of local and international anglers, sharing tips and regional fishing reports. A local fisherman and I began talking, and he shared spot with me (which I will guard closely)- he even recommended the exact size / color lure to throw to catch halibut. Sure enough, we were able to locate the spot, and upon first cast, were immediately hooked up on halibut.
The majority of our trip was spent on the beach, cooking halibut over the fire, and making fish tacos with local tortillas and produce that we found at various roadside stands / stores. We enjoyed sunsets with neighbors, bartering fresh fish for cold beer and travel stories.
Our northbound drive back to California was focused on surfing, and we located some incredible surf camps, upon advice from a couple of old-timer's from San Diego that we met at a taqueria. We enjoyed crystal clear water, and uncrowded point-breaks.
Overall, all systems on Tractor Camper worked flawlessly (The only casualty was one latch on the ATLAS that was bent when I accidentally popped up the camper without checking all the latches, sorry Mario). We did our best to bend it back using a rock, but it proved to be non-issue for the drive home.
We carried 10 gallons of extra diesel, but had no issue sourcing clean diesel throughout Baja. Obviously, if you're looking to complete a trip like this in a 30 year old truck, an appropriate tool kit / parts library is important (I travel with a spare alternator, vacuum pump, belts, etc.).
Check-out the video here
Long overdue trip-report from my trip down to Baja. We started the drive from Northern California down to San Diego, and spend the night at a friend's house.
The truck was fully loaded with fishing gear and two surfboards, for a week of adventure on the Baja Peninsula. The next day, after a somewhat uneventful border crossing, we were in Tecate, loading up on groceries. We opted to cross in Mexicali, to avoid the longer lines at the busier Tijuana crossing.
Inevitably, we were pulled over for "Running a stop-sign", which to this day, I guarantee does not exist. After the standard procedure, the police had us outside of the truck while they searched the truck for contraband. As many Baja travelers will tell you, and I'll say it again, do not even attempt to bring any weapons / drugs across the border. Even knives should be kept in the back of the vehicle, outside of reach of driver / passenger. Ultimately (as a Spanish speaker), I realized that one of the police officers was a truck enthusiast, and after a few minutes of chatting, we were turned loose, with no bribe "mordida" necessary. Overall, the experience was stressful, but kept us on our toes for the remainder of the trip.
From that point on, it was smooth sailing, as we motored our way down the Baja Peninsula, stopping at notable beach camps such as San Felipe, Punta Final, and Bahia de los Angeles (BOLA). In preparation for the trip, I joined a Facebook Group "Fish Baja" - a group of local and international anglers, sharing tips and regional fishing reports. A local fisherman and I began talking, and he shared spot with me (which I will guard closely)- he even recommended the exact size / color lure to throw to catch halibut. Sure enough, we were able to locate the spot, and upon first cast, were immediately hooked up on halibut.
The majority of our trip was spent on the beach, cooking halibut over the fire, and making fish tacos with local tortillas and produce that we found at various roadside stands / stores. We enjoyed sunsets with neighbors, bartering fresh fish for cold beer and travel stories.
Our northbound drive back to California was focused on surfing, and we located some incredible surf camps, upon advice from a couple of old-timer's from San Diego that we met at a taqueria. We enjoyed crystal clear water, and uncrowded point-breaks.
Overall, all systems on Tractor Camper worked flawlessly (The only casualty was one latch on the ATLAS that was bent when I accidentally popped up the camper without checking all the latches, sorry Mario). We did our best to bend it back using a rock, but it proved to be non-issue for the drive home.
We carried 10 gallons of extra diesel, but had no issue sourcing clean diesel throughout Baja. Obviously, if you're looking to complete a trip like this in a 30 year old truck, an appropriate tool kit / parts library is important (I travel with a spare alternator, vacuum pump, belts, etc.).
Check-out the video here
