If someone can give me a good reason, I will see about changing my mind.

I have a 1965 F-350 Crew Cab that was transformed into a dual-wheel dualie in 1969 to become a super custom hay-hauler for a local farm. With the flat bed and the roof rack, it was great for getting all the hay in one load.

I don´t know if it ever saw much labor. The barn and car cover were built especially for the truck with a full load, but the brakes were never built to handle the weight on them back hills around here.

Anyways, she has sat for the better part of 12 years, still starts and runs, and I´ve kept her to decide upon a restoration or customization project. However, tomorrow I have decided to sell the flatbed and roofrack for steel for $800. The truck will still be in tact, but the great work done in ´69 will be lost forever.

If anyone can talk me out of it, let me know what it´s worth. Also, let me know what is the best route once the steel is gone to restore or custom.

Thanks,
Bill

 

Welcome to FTE

While it's not something Ford made, it's prolly the only one like it anywhere.

You might take that into consideration, before selling parts off it.

 

How about some pictures of the truck before you tear it down. That would definitely help me make up my mind....

 

I´m getting more pics of the work in the morning, but that will be before they come to cut the bed and roof rack off.

Other than that, the truck will still be drivable. I really don´t see any reason to restore the bed and roof rack for a mission that the truck hasn´t accomplished in more than 12 years. I´m just trying to figure out what to do after they are gone, especially with that wheel configuration.

I was asking $3000 for the whole truck during some hard times, but I just don´t know where my heart is on this one. I know it´s one-of-a-kind. Heck, I know the guy that customized it 39 years ago.

 

My 2 cents. Since Crew Cabs are such a rarity, I would keep it and either shorten the frame, keep one rear axle and put a regular bed (either styleside or flairside) on it. I've even thought of using a styleside bed with the flairside fenders to cover the dually wheels. Or, put the body on a later model (up to 98) crewcab frame which would give you PS, disk brakes, etc. Maybe even a diesel? Or sell it to a deserving soul...but for gods sakes don't crush it! Again, my 2 cents.

 

Are they both drive axles? ie, is there a transfer case in there somewhere? If so, I'd keep it the way it is, and build a custom box with a tandem dually flare.

 

Your 2 cents adds value to my decision. I have been saving it up until now only so it won't get sold to someone who wants to sell it for scrap.

Is there any way to find out how many crew cabs they made that year? It is a July 65 model built at Michigan Truck. Thanks.

 

No, the rear set is just a set of dollies which are usually pinned up.

 

Man, that is wicked cool. Find some way to retro fit it to new duty as a car hauler maybe. I imagine if they hauled hay above the cab, that upper rack is plenty stout. make ramps down to the bed and off the back and make it haul 2 cars. That would be cool. Another option is to stretch a half ton frame and make yourself a nice double cab half ton pickup. Or, like someone else said, find a later model frame for it, and the deisel would be a cool deal, and put it on there. make a bobbed off flatbed for it.


ROb

 

I was thinking 5th wheel.

 

If the cab is solid it, by itself, is probably worth about $800-1000.
As a hay truck, it's just an oddity with a very limited market. We all may oooh and aaaah over it, but who here really would cough up the money to buy it? Didn't think so.
A single set of dual rear wheels would make a nice car hauler indeed. I've seen a couple at shows and they tend to be very popular. Add a more modern drivetrain and you've got something practical as well.

 

Getting rid of the iron will give you many more options for the truck. I suspect that you could haul more hay on a trailer that you could load up top anyways. Got to be 8' off the ground, right??

With the price of steel being as high as it is now, it is a good time to sell.

Looks like the ol truck has been well taken care of from the photo.


John

 

I'm not sure if those figures are available anywhere. It's my understanding that Ford outsourced Crew Cabs until the 67 models, when they began making them in the Ford factory. Several companies were involved in the outsourcing/customizing projects, both in the US and in Canada. You might check out Old Ford Crew Cab Community, Pre 1980 Ford Crew Cab owners community and information source. (a new site) someone there may be able to help.

 

Nice truck, drooled all over myself.would love to have that truck. i can picture removing the tag axle and putting a custom box on it. one of a kind. a dually one ton super cab. oooohhhh mmmyyyy. Dutch

 

I love it, and if it were mine. I see a "NEW CAR" delivery beaver tail. That aint nobody got!! Diamond plate tilt ramp and a new paint job. Storage for tools, compressor, you freeking name it..welder/generator etc... and double time it as a road service vehicle that makes others envious!! JUST MY .02¢ Fantastic RIGG!!!