Finally started 5-ton Hauler.....F950

[BrainP]

After cruising around town in the stock 5ton for a couple months, i finally started the teardown for my hauler project.

 

[twinturb089]

Nice!!! I like the looks of what is to come

 

[BrainP]

so far things are fitting very well. i swapped the cooler assembly from the donor truck as well, and you would think the same guy designed both trucks. hopefully the superduty crewcab will be mocked up this weekend so i can start lining up/fabbing cab mounts. the plan is to get acan and stretched bed on it and get it running again as soon as possible. then start on on air ride suspension. ill keep pics coming. as long as i dont get crusified for cutting up a great MV.

 

[MidnightDuramax]

Subscribed. It looks great so far. Glad to see someone not afraid to make something their own. Keep up the great work and the pictures flowing.

 

[BrainP]

Just a quick look at what i started with and the need for a hauler. Loaded down the trailer is around 20klbs. the dodge did the job with plenty of power, but the braking was another story. the 5ton doesnt even feel it. now i just want some comfort in the cab and room for passengers. most of our trips are within 6hrs, but im thinking about stretching that out a little. i have til next june to get this done for a 40th b-day party at Pismo.

 

[Motiracer38]

I like where this is headed. Are you doing air ride front too? I would like to "civilize" mine a bit as well, seems to be the only way to keep the rain out.

 

[BrainP]

yes, down the road. i want to get it rolling as soon as possible, then ill tackle the suspension. i might take out a couple leafs first until i get to that point. even toying with the idea of an air ride cab.

 

[doghead]

Please toy with the idea of using your shift key to capitalize.

 

[BrainP]

I'll do my best, but I lost both pinkies in a work related accident.

 

[CBR Metalworks]

I'll do my best, but I lost both pinkies in a work related accident.

Now THAT is a valid excuse!!!

Truck is going to look sweet!

 

[wreckerman893]

Subscribed......I once bought a 1960 International Travelette (crew cab) to put on a deuce but it ended up having far too many rust issues. I think there have been a couple of folks on here that had put a civy cab on an MV. I would seriously consider the air ride cab and air ride seats. Five tons can be tough on rough roads.

 

[jcappeljr]

Looks good,Ive been thinking of doing the same thing.

 

[BrainP]

Just need to slide it into place. All the mounts are lining up real good. Mounting it seems to be the easy part. The joy of wiring in all the luxurys of the cab will be fun. I really wish I had 3 more feetof head space in the new shop so I would have been able to use the truck crane, buts its on there.

 

[540fordman]

Sweet! I love my '08 F-450, but I'm always thinking it ought to be bigger. This may be the cure, lol...

 

[palskidoo]

Awesome build!!!!

 

[BrainP]

I started off with the idea of finding the right truck to do a 4x4 conversion on. I wanted the 8.3 cummins and an allison. When I priced out the cost of the truck and the cost of a conversion it was just to much. So far, the 5ton, the 4 door cab from a F250, a complete F650 with 24'box to pull parts from, and 2 longbeds to splice, Im still under $15k.

 

[Motiracer38]

That is going to be beastly, I love it! Are you keeping all three axles or dropping one of the rears? How is the bed going to work with your 5th wheel? It doesn't look like much bedrail clearance.

A couple weeks ago I was at Pismo and there was a guy running around in an M923A2 with the rollcage top. He didnt look like he was having a problem getting around. Kinda drove like a douche through camps but the truck was staying on top of the sand. Pismo is exactly the reason my 4wd motorhome is getting an MV start.

 

[BrainP]

I was going to drop one, but I decided I like going far off the highway so Im keeping it. I am going to widen the bed and tailgate, and taper it in at the cab instead of using a dually fender flare. Ill notch it and put a seam in so I can pull off a section to clear the trailer, and pin it on with the tailgate when Im not towing to have a full bed.

 

[BrainP]

something like this but a little cleaner

 

[Motiracer38]

That's pretty ingenious and will look good if executed cleanly. Personally I would do a dual scalloped wheel well versus one big one but it's not my truck to nitpick.