oldestof11
Observer
The bed I am looking for. The fiberglass front end I would not be too keen on using for durability. I can cut and weld. I actually like what you did.
Project: Doitall Dodge
- Thread starter Metcalf
- Start date
Metcalf
Expedition Leader
The fiberglass fender is just about as durable as the factory dodge sheetmetal! :sombrero:
The dually bed has a MUCH higher opening than I did. All I did was basically horizontally stretch the wheel opening.
You can make anything.....its just time, money, tools, and quarters in the swear jar!
I like what I did too. It was just a lot of work.....
I think the opening of the trailer products 'glass fender would match up pretty dang well with the dually bed.
If you just have to have a steel from fender you could try and modifiy the wheel opening in front so its more like the dually opening. The dually opening doesn't have the formed edge like the stock front fender. It basically just has a 'flat' edge that is folded over to the inside if I remember right. I think this could be duplicated, but folding that edge cleanly would be a pain. I would probably advise welding in a 3/16-1/4" rod to the cut edge then welding a 4-6" wide strip to the rod to form the 'lip'. Then trim away the extra 'strip' material on the outside and inside to form a clean 1" wide 'lip' to the fender. Weld it all up....sand it down.....fill, sand, prime, paint
Then you would need to make some kind of inner fender.......
Fun Fun!
The dually bed has a MUCH higher opening than I did. All I did was basically horizontally stretch the wheel opening.
You can make anything.....its just time, money, tools, and quarters in the swear jar!
I like what I did too. It was just a lot of work.....
I think the opening of the trailer products 'glass fender would match up pretty dang well with the dually bed.
If you just have to have a steel from fender you could try and modifiy the wheel opening in front so its more like the dually opening. The dually opening doesn't have the formed edge like the stock front fender. It basically just has a 'flat' edge that is folded over to the inside if I remember right. I think this could be duplicated, but folding that edge cleanly would be a pain. I would probably advise welding in a 3/16-1/4" rod to the cut edge then welding a 4-6" wide strip to the rod to form the 'lip'. Then trim away the extra 'strip' material on the outside and inside to form a clean 1" wide 'lip' to the fender. Weld it all up....sand it down.....fill, sand, prime, paint
Then you would need to make some kind of inner fender.......
Fun Fun!
lstzephyr
wanderer
You could always do the simple stretching that prerunner fenders like that trailer products ones are based of off. Cut any internal supports, slap a bottle jack behind the outer skin and pump away. You would probably need to reshape things but I bet if you flared it and then trimmed the edges you could clear some large tires.
SChandler
Adventurer
The problem with larger tires and the stock fenders isn't clearance directly above the tire, it is at the front and rear edges of the fender when the tire moves backwards (in relation to the truck) during compression and forward during extension and turning. At least, that's where my tires rub at on the front fenders. Hence the stretching. Those fiberglass fenders were designed for a truck with an IFS front suspension that move the tires (essentially) straight up and down in the fenderwell (hence the need to push the center of the fender out). I think Metcalf (and others) who have stretched the fenders are on the right track with the shape needed (assuming retention of the a leaf spring suspension).
Some other builds showing fender stretching ideas:
http://ramchargercentral.com/projects/'judge'-1987-w150-shortbox/
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=871896
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=432322
http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/dev/project-started-pictures-t267491.html
Some other builds showing fender stretching ideas:
http://ramchargercentral.com/projects/'judge'-1987-w150-shortbox/
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=871896
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=432322
http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/dev/project-started-pictures-t267491.html
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Metcalf
Expedition Leader
While I agree that what these trucks need is a longer fender opening front to back......and that is why I did what I did.....
I am saying that the dually bed wheel opening AND the trailer products front fender would make a GREAT combo for running larger tires on these trucks. The amount of work would be like 1/10th what I had to go through....and mine is still rough looking. If you found a clean dually bed you could just have it sanded down and painted to match. Mounting the fiberglass front fender would be a bit of work, but the fender is all smooth and clean. The only real pain in the rear part would be making a new inner fender for the front. All the is kinda hidden though.....
Hour for Hour, if I was going to do it again, I would do the dually bed with no flare and the fiberglass front fender.....just saying.
If you REALLY want to get fancy we can talk about dropping the body on the frame an inch or two! That would bring the overall height of the truck down even more.....that would make that extra height over the wheel come in handy!
I would love to see someone mold a fender and bedside like mine out of thick heavy duty fiberglass......I said 'like' sense mine are pretty rough.....
I am saying that the dually bed wheel opening AND the trailer products front fender would make a GREAT combo for running larger tires on these trucks. The amount of work would be like 1/10th what I had to go through....and mine is still rough looking. If you found a clean dually bed you could just have it sanded down and painted to match. Mounting the fiberglass front fender would be a bit of work, but the fender is all smooth and clean. The only real pain in the rear part would be making a new inner fender for the front. All the is kinda hidden though.....
Hour for Hour, if I was going to do it again, I would do the dually bed with no flare and the fiberglass front fender.....just saying.
If you REALLY want to get fancy we can talk about dropping the body on the frame an inch or two! That would bring the overall height of the truck down even more.....that would make that extra height over the wheel come in handy!
I would love to see someone mold a fender and bedside like mine out of thick heavy duty fiberglass......I said 'like' sense mine are pretty rough.....
Metcalf
Expedition Leader
Use review update....
I recently towed my piece of junk trailer over to Moab for the weekend with my Willys on top of it. Overall I would guess it was about 4000lbs or so ( Willys + trailer ). I thought I would share a few observations.
-A hard side camper shell rocks when the wind blows 50mph and everyone else is in tents! I had thought about ditching the hard side camper shell but now I really don't think I could. The truck was just gently rocking side to side letting me sleep in a little too late in the morning.
-The truck needs a little bit more power and/or gearing. It gets the job done as is and doesn't do THAT bad for a stockish engine, 3.54 gears, and 39" tires. I got 15+mpg heading over. I haven't filled up from the way back yet, but it was all 4th gear because of the wind storm. It will be interesting to see what it did.
-I like the 8' bed. Plenty of room for gear, tools, a futon mattress, and a full size spare tire.
-I still want to find a way to connect the camper area to the truck cab to give the cab a little bit more room when you have bulky gear. It would also be nice to be able to move from the driving area to the camper without having to get out of the truck in a sand storm.
Just a few thoughts to share before I forget again. The truck is super simple and just works....
I recently towed my piece of junk trailer over to Moab for the weekend with my Willys on top of it. Overall I would guess it was about 4000lbs or so ( Willys + trailer ). I thought I would share a few observations.
-A hard side camper shell rocks when the wind blows 50mph and everyone else is in tents! I had thought about ditching the hard side camper shell but now I really don't think I could. The truck was just gently rocking side to side letting me sleep in a little too late in the morning.
-The truck needs a little bit more power and/or gearing. It gets the job done as is and doesn't do THAT bad for a stockish engine, 3.54 gears, and 39" tires. I got 15+mpg heading over. I haven't filled up from the way back yet, but it was all 4th gear because of the wind storm. It will be interesting to see what it did.
-I like the 8' bed. Plenty of room for gear, tools, a futon mattress, and a full size spare tire.
-I still want to find a way to connect the camper area to the truck cab to give the cab a little bit more room when you have bulky gear. It would also be nice to be able to move from the driving area to the camper without having to get out of the truck in a sand storm.
Just a few thoughts to share before I forget again. The truck is super simple and just works....
benjamin
Observer
This is one idea for connecting the camper and cab................................
http://www.technologylk.com/__850/CRL-Camper-to-Cab-Accordion-Boot-Seals.htm
http://www.technologylk.com/__850/CRL-Camper-to-Cab-Accordion-Boot-Seals.htm
Metcalf
Expedition Leader
That could work great! Thanks!
Metcalf
Expedition Leader
I'm probably going to go with 3.73's in the long run.......with a 2003ish 14-bolt rear axle with factory disc brakes.
The 3.54s actually work really well overall I feel. I don't tow that much with it, but when I do I can tow 90% of the time in 4th gear at 60ish without having to go into overdrive. I think towing in overdrive is a tranny killer with these trucks sometimes.....
I've ran a few different combos of tires on this....one being effectively the same as 39s with 4.10s ( or very close ) and I thought the truck was geared to low overall.
No 366 spring yet. Hopefully I will be able to give the dodge some love now that the Willys is getting close to being more 'done'
The 3.54s actually work really well overall I feel. I don't tow that much with it, but when I do I can tow 90% of the time in 4th gear at 60ish without having to go into overdrive. I think towing in overdrive is a tranny killer with these trucks sometimes.....
I've ran a few different combos of tires on this....one being effectively the same as 39s with 4.10s ( or very close ) and I thought the truck was geared to low overall.
No 366 spring yet. Hopefully I will be able to give the dodge some love now that the Willys is getting close to being more 'done'