So heres the scoop, im in bad need of a decent trail truck...

My old beater 'trail runner' was my 92 f150 (302, 5spd, RCLB w/ 36x13.5 IROKs). Well, for obvious reasons it was a mechanical nightmare. For alot of our trails (bog hols and muskeg mostly) a 36" tire is usually not enough to get you through unless you bag the hell out of your rig. Well, the 302 doesnt really have any *****, but when shes wound up its had enough to destroy the front end numerous times.

Since the last time i had destroyed the front end (see pic!) i have had it parked, not sure which direction i want to go.



The time previous:


And a couple other times i did not get pics of...


Anyways, now that my boat is likely sold i NEED a summer hobby! I just dont know which direction to go.

Currently, my daily driver is a 2nd gen dodge cummins (just a few tweaks, around 400hp) with a 5.5" fabtech and the 36" IROKs. Its got the power and the axles for a good foundation, but its also my daily driver and i cannot afford to make it my trail rig and abuse the hell out of it, though it does go pretty good through some of the lighter trails.

I also have a 90 F350 4x4 (7.3IDI, 5spd, 4door longbox) that i got for free!!

My original intentions were to pull the axles (kingpin 60 and 10.25) and put them under my f150, but im not sure if thats the best route or not. Then i got to thinking about maybe just jacking up the f350, but that brings in a whole host of other issues (gutless 7.3 and the thing is 150ft long!)

Due to the nature of most of our trails, i would like to build something capable of 44" or larger tires. Im also going to check tomorrow, i might have a line on a set of free rockwells (not toploaders) which might be of some use.


What do you guys figure?

 

I wouldn't bother with the rockwells. The one tons from the F350 would do fine. Throw them under your F150 and drop in a 460 lol.

 

Why do you say "lol" no matter what you say? Do you sit at your computer and laugh uncontrollably while you type? Just curious.. lol

 

Im just wondering if it would be worth my time to throw the axles under the f150 though...

In the end, im basically going to end up switching everything except for the frame, so why not just use the f350? (other than the downfall of it being a limo)

 

i wish i had $900 because i just found a f/r rockwell set for that low price!!!! lol

 

if you are just going to be mudding, just use the f350. if you plan to hit up tight trails, swap the axles to the f150. either way, get a big block, because 302's suck in trucks, and an IDI diesel is about as useful as **** on a prozon when it comes to mudding

 

i agree on the bigblock!

The 302 can barely move 36s in low range and the idi can barely get itself rollin on pavement.

If i do use the f350 (which seems more likely every time i think about it), initially i would keep the oil burner and once i get totally sick of it or blow it up i would dump in a bigblock gasser (or maybe do that right away if i can score a good deal on one). But i would like to take my time and build up a decent engine for the thing, the biggest tires in the world cant help you if you cant spin them!

 

Take the f350. Lift it. move the rearend up to have a 133" wheelbase. The same as your 150. Cut the front of the bed off and reattach the bulkhead. Wheel the 7.3 until you find a 460. Itll look like this only with the newer body style.

 

I agree, build up the 350. It already has a better drivetrain. Shorten her up like posted and have at it

 

sounds like a plan. Not too sure if im going to bother shortening it or not though, that extra ~3ft on the wheelbase may be more help than hinderance on our trails.

Not too sure what direction i want to go for lifting though. A 44"+ tire is going to need some room to get under that big ol tank of a truck.

I was figuring on maybe fabbing up a 4link (have a buddy i can score some king coilovers off of for cheap), but i know thats going to take some work...

 

it's a mud truck, keep it cheap and simple. links and fancy shocks are fine, but they don't like to get all crudied up with crap all the time. i just sold my 94 f350, it had a 6'' susp. and 3'' body lift with the front bumper spaced out and it woud fit 40's fine, trim the fenders a little, add a shackle reversal to the front and you have a solid mud truck with a cheap decent ride. it's on 38's in the picture, and it had 40'' boggers when i first got it. i bet i could've fit 42's without rubbing

 

40s or 42s just arent going to cut it for me. I was thinking 44s minimum, 54s more than likely. I need something that can hit the muskeg goin flat out and bounce over the clumps of chit, drop down in the holes and keep going without tearing a fender off or ripping an axle out!

Im not talking about playing in a little mud hole, im talking about muskeg. big tires, articulation and power are a guys best friend!

Theirs a local guy here with a built up gutted out chevy (on leafs) with 44s and a mild 454 and he has a hard time getting through some of the nastier trails

 

Just to give you an idea on the terrain if none of you have been out in the permafrost/muskeg before.

Sorry, i dont have any good pics of the 'good spots'...

Think blocks of soil/grass, floating ontop of a mud pit 20ft deep, with sections that are frozen and some that are thawed. their are some holes that have swallowed up trucks on 54s with 18"+ of lift, but most people are smart enough to avoid those ones!

Heres a pic of one of the entrances to a trail. this is where all the beaters get swamped and the real trucks come and pull ya out. dont ask me how we got stuck here...
(chev in pic is the one sitting on 44s, the ford is mine with the 36s and the yota on 35s)

 

No, do you? Typically I type lol without knowing it. Its a bad habit. If I actually think its funny often i'll just say "haha".

YKDave, didn't really see anything bad. Just a big chevy lol.

 

there ****er


Do the F350. mine sits with a 145 inch wheelbase...