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Another Bobby T, slighty OT truck project - Old Ugly
Fellow enthusiasts,
Once again I've bit off more than I can chew. But, it was a great deal and I couldn't pass it up.
Several weeks ago my uncle asked me if I was interested in a 1979 F150 4x4 truck for $500. After a bit of back and forth and a few pictures it was noted that they truck was a 1972 F250 4x4.
My uncle and his buddies have a small mining venture in the desert outside of Tucson, AZ. They used this truck for many years hauling boulders out of the desert. Long story short, they are shutting down operations and have been clearing things up and have lost their storage where this truck was.
So, with a bit of wheeling and dealing and a thousand mile(roundtrip) roadtrip I closed the deal on this truck and the trailer I used to haul it home on. When I left NM I didn't know what the hole pattern on the trailer was. Naturally it was a 5on5 pattern and my spare is a 5 on 4 3/4. what could possibly go wrong. Two of the trailer tires are pretty new, the other 2 were fairly weather cracked, what could possibly go wrong?.
Sure enough, just east out of Wilcox, AZ I threw all the tread off the left rear tire of the trailer. I limped down the highway at about 40MPH with one axle chained for about 60 miles into Lordsburg, NM. I couldn't get a tire but finally found someone who would breakdown the tire off my 5 on 4 3/4 wheel and put it on my trailer wheel so we could get back up to highway speeds.
Here are some pics of the truck. My uncle and his buddies always referred to it as Old Ugly so I guess that's what it is...
In the winter and spring of 1971 I was stationed for training at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio. A lot of my off duty time was spent as a “lot lizard” walking the Ford dealers’ lots lusting after the new 1971 F-250 highboy 4x4s. I’ve had a few from the ‘80s and ‘90s, but never have reached back to get a bump side. Maybe, just maybe....Stu
Thanks guys
That stuff on the air cleaner is the remains of some cactus. It looks like several dried out lobes of prickly pear. If you take a look at the first pic I posted there is tons of prickly pear cactus all around the truck. The packrats love the stuff.
I don't know how they mess with it, all I have to do is get close to the stuff and it throws spikes at me
Cool truck, I would slam that body on a crown vic You got lucky with the trailer tire, I had that happen and it folded up the trailer fender into a pretzel. Not a fun time on the side of a busy highway.
I love Old Ugly! Looks very straight and solid . especially straight for mining duty hauling rocks and equipment.
And i agree those 19.5's look right at home on that truck. I found a set of those 19.5 s on a early 70's F250 up in Idaho in a yard a few years ago, i couldnt leave them.
you did real good on that score!
Lordsburg is the true Garden Spot on I10. I don't think there are
even any places to eat - just dust. I like that truck - keep us posted
on your plans.
Bobby, good luck with the new toy. Every now and then, I miss working on my truck. I would love to do another one, but just do not have the room or $$$ any longer.
01-21-2019, 04:37 PM
You got lucky with the trailer tire, I had that happen and it folded up the trailer fender into a pretzel. Not a fun time on the side of a busy highway.
