Power Wagon Fire Truck....Expedition Rig?

[Madbodhi]

First post,I'd like to introduce you all to my truck.Recently picked up this bad boy,a 1978 Dodge Power Wagon W200 crew cab.Military vehicle then Fire truck before I got my hands on it.D60 front D60HD rear,318/727/full time NP203.I also have an 84 W350 crewcab (bare shell and axles) that I originally had planned to put a cummins in and make an expedition vehicle.Only bought this fire truck cause I needed a driver big enough for the family.But the utility bed is growing on me and the wife and kids love it.My son has named it Fire Power .So,the plan is to use the 78 for some camping trips and get a feel for how the utility bed works out and then possibly changing plans making the 78 a full on cummins swap/expedition rig.I have abunch of ideas for it and it would be cool to bounce them off of experienced road warriors:victory:

 

[Rot Box]

:Wow1::drool:

This is going to be good! The paint job rocks I wouldn't change a thing :bike_rider:

 

[Terrainist]

Cool, perfectly acceptable. The W200 designation, not familiar with it. Is it 3/4 ton?.. or what does that mean. And I see some coils over the rear axle, never seen that before. It also looks to have leafs judging by the u-bolt stubs sticking down. Does it have both coils and leafs? Maybe the coils are an add-on by the previous owner/s?

A few different ways you could go with this truck, some involve more wrench time and money pit feeding that others. What are some of the things you were thinking regarding the ideas that you mentioned?

Definitely use it on some camping trips as you mentioned. You can figure out a baseline of what you want and need that way, and it gets you and the fam out there.

 

[Patman]

Too cool,

I recently sold my 73 w200 crew shorty and have been pining for it ever since. Excellent base for a family expedition rig.

Smaller than you think too. When I bought mine, I had it shipped from out of state and it showed up on the trailer infront of a new gen tacoma crew longbed. The truck driver couldn't get over that "toyota builds a truck bigger than dodge!?"

I'm always on the hunt for another, but they are hard to find.

 

[Madbodhi]

Most W200's are 3/4 ton with 8 lug Dana 44 front and Dana 60 rear.I think this particular truck with the 60/60hd combo is closer to a 1 ton.Leafsprings all around the coils were add ons.I have pics of it in service,it had a large water tank and pumper that fit inside the utility bed.Guess the coils were to help with the weight.Some of my thoughts are solar panels on the tops of the utility bed and using one of the horizontal boxes above the rear wheel for a battery bank.The truck has an in-cab fuel tank.I'd like to switch to an underbed tank for fuel,retain the original fill neck with an appropriately marked cap and plastic in-cab tank that approximates the original fuel tank for water storage but I wonder of the effects of freezing.A cummins would be a definite but i'm torn on transmission.I want a manual,not only personal preference but I personally believe them to be more reliable.Problem is the wife refuses to learn so there's the fact that going manual I lose a second driver which I think is pretty important both for long trips as well as should I be sick or injured.Lots of ideas,lots of questions :Wow1:.First order of business is power steering as it currently is manual and some rust repair on the floorboards.

 

[Herbie]

I think it's a great starting place!

There was a while where I was planning to put a flip-pac (with shorter sides) onto a utility bed and I actually almost bought a similar fire-service truck with a utility bed to do it...

Similarly, I have been inspired by the couple of times I have seen custom slide-ins (Four Wheel Camper, IIRC) mounted on utility beds.

For the low-buck approach, would also consider just adding a short ladder rack (to get up to cab-height) and putting a roof-top tent on it! I'd build my kitchen-kit into one of the side cabinets so it just opened up to cook, and store everything else that didn't fit in watertight bins in the bed.

 

[Silverado]

I bet those rear coils would love a regular truck bed.....is it a cab and chassis?

 

[fisher205]

A cummins would be a definite but i'm torn on transmission.I want a manual,not only personal preference but I personally believe them to be more reliable.Problem is the wife refuses to learn so there's the fact that going manual I lose a second driver which I think is pretty important both for long trips as well as should I be sick or injured.

I have been thinking about finding an older school bus with a 6BT and an Allison automatic for the same problem. I haven't done much research on it yet, still at the thinking stage.

Brad

 

[Terrainist]

If you do a little research regarding the automatics, you might find they can last long enough and then you can have your gal drive the truck as well. Pretty much a must have situational option as you mentioned. Besides the long trips and the injury scenario, she'll feel left out with the manual. Not good.

If you don't sup up the diesel, leave it stock. Run an extra trans cooler besides the factory one and maintain it correctly, they can last.

 

[ktn00000]

Way cool rig! Tons of possibilities!

 

[dwh]

If you don't sup up the diesel, leave it stock. Run an extra trans cooler besides the factory one and maintain it correctly, they can last.

And this:

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/80277-Universal-Remote-Transmission-Filter/dp/B000CIKJMY"]Amazon.com: B&M 80277 Universal Remote Transmission Filter Kit: Automotive[/ame]

 

[Patman]

The Cummins would be nice, and you can always go with an allision or a 4L60E the adapters are there and you can't argue with the strength. Money wise you can build a wicked upgraded oe auto for the same coin, so the options are there.

My wife didn't care to drive a stick until she had to drive our ETH NV5600 dually for a week, now she loves it.

Powersteering is a great time to upgrade to cross over.

The 2 wd power box bolts right up and gives you the proper pitmann orientation.

I converted one of my Ramchargers by going with an inside frame mount box from a later CK pickup. With 39.5 Boggers it drove better than the stock setup with 30's

There are lots of options, or you could just trade it to me for my '87 fj60

 

[hovenator]

Very cool project vehicle. I am jealous already.

 

[Greggk]

awesome score, and that should make a great expo vehicle. it has a fairly bulletproof setup to begin with, and will only be more stout with the chummins!

 

[dbear]

I know I am late to the party here but...I am about to get my hands on one of these trucks(without the ultility bed), and I wanted to get your opinion on the drive and ride of these rigs? How is the power from that 318? Is that transfer case divorced or married? How bout fuel mileage? Thanks for any help you can give....by the way, that truck of yours is really cool bud!