Honest opinion if going to a full-size truck I would want a new Ford F150 regular cab short bed with the Ford transit diesel and manual transmission. I highly doubt that would ever be available even special order though and ignoring the manual transmission. When the Transit diesel does show up in the F150 it will likely only be more premium options with 4 doors... A few years ago I was trying to special order a regular cab short bed with a V8 and the dealer said not a chance and if it is accepted would cost more than a premium 4x4 4 door off of a lot.
But I would upgrade suspension and tires. New front and rear bumper (rear bumper capable of carrying a second spare if required. Remove bed and custom utility style bed to hold 10 jerry cans (5 water and 5 fuel) with main spare tire inside bed to keep weight moved forward but get it off the bottom where it smacks and drags and is hard to fit a larger tire and a pain to remove. Side boxes around and above wheels to organise camping gear (minimalist in mind as in dry/canned food, backpacking oriented for everything else); doors to side boxes drop down and serve as tables. Place a hard shell roof top tent on top of the box but still low enough that some vision out of the rear is still available. And a small centre console Waeco fridge to have cold drinks and maybe keep a steak or two cold for a couple days.
Edit:
But that is if I had the money to buy and build that as a dedicated rig as the usefulness for hauling furniture and 2x4's is depleted without adding in a trailer for that stuff.
But I would upgrade suspension and tires. New front and rear bumper (rear bumper capable of carrying a second spare if required. Remove bed and custom utility style bed to hold 10 jerry cans (5 water and 5 fuel) with main spare tire inside bed to keep weight moved forward but get it off the bottom where it smacks and drags and is hard to fit a larger tire and a pain to remove. Side boxes around and above wheels to organise camping gear (minimalist in mind as in dry/canned food, backpacking oriented for everything else); doors to side boxes drop down and serve as tables. Place a hard shell roof top tent on top of the box but still low enough that some vision out of the rear is still available. And a small centre console Waeco fridge to have cold drinks and maybe keep a steak or two cold for a couple days.
Edit:
But that is if I had the money to buy and build that as a dedicated rig as the usefulness for hauling furniture and 2x4's is depleted without adding in a trailer for that stuff.
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