Uhaul conversion question?

[Loco-Nomad]

Okay, I found a chevy 2500 dually Uhaul truck for sale at the local Uhaul dealer. It would make a nice conversion but a few questions:

I don't think it's 4 wheel drive, (haven't stopped or been able to look at it in the winter storm we are having) how expensive and labor intensive is a 4 wheel drive conversion and is it worth it?

Don't know if it's gas or diesel yet, but want a diesel, so if it's gas, is this totally out of the question??

I have a 2003 Dodge 2500 that I was planning on utilizing but this would be nice to make into a full-time expedition unit. What opinions can you all give me with my limited info I have provided??

Thanks!

Larry

 

[xcmountain80]

Well as a former Uhaul manager and you being a fellow Expo member I would turn you around now and tell you please just abandon this idea. These trucks are all 2wd and ragged the f-bomb out. It is not uncommon for the odometer to roll over. Uhaul in general will run there trucks into the ground. If you were looking for a potential build I would recommend Penske as their PM is far superior.

Aaron

 

[Loco-Nomad]

Great to have some inside info. If it was a Penske, what about the 4 wheel conversion part or should this idea just be killed right here?? Thanks!

 

[xcmountain80]

From what I've seen anything can be made into a 4wd. I think there are a few things to consider and heres where my knowledge drops off. You will need to find lift kits that will fit at least the front of this vehicle in order to clear a reasonable tire, the box seams infinitely adjustable. If I had to make a rough estimate for what you might need to start, front susps components, front axle, new front shaft, new tranny and t-case, new rear shaft and the fab time to make it work. So heck yeah you can do it but do you want to? Whats the build budget? Timeframe? IF it were my money I might got toward a van conversion 2-4wd like Vanaconda did but thats me. I dont know what you would like to accomplish,,, what is it you want to do?


Aaron

 

[Loco-Nomad]

Well, Vanaconda is my hero and I would love to have that at my pad! I'm looking more for a fullsize truck/camper type since I will have the family tagging along sometimes...3 kids take up some serious room ya know....I'm getting the picture this was just an idea that sounded better than it actually could be.

 

[xcmountain80]

All great dreams start small and grow into a working concept. How about a flipack camper or 4x4 camper topper thing for the Dodge. Heck even a Fleetwood popup could be cool, as they have some offroady ones too.

Aaron

 

[muladzh]

Converting anything to 4wd is very do-able, but can be costly. In the mid nineties I converted an F450 to 4wd at a cost of $4,000 and that was me doing all the work. Had I not have been doing it to a Brand New Truck, I would have used used equipment, so that would bring the cost down some. What you need is a means of raising the front of the truck to clear the bits - a 3 inch lift worked fine for me, a front driven axle, I used an F350 hub /brake set up, on a heavyweight Dana axle, can't remember if it was a 90 or higher. The transfer case is easy, any of them will fit well - I used the one usually fitted by commercial upfitters, can't remember which one it was, but any would do if it could handle the torque. Cutting into the cab floor for the shifter is easy, but you need to move the tranny support some.. Then you need to shorten the rear drive shaft, and purchase one to fit the front. I put over 200,000 miles on the truck, most of which was in 4wd, and it worked fine, until the engine gave up.