Start over... This time full size rig?

[Rot Box]

This has been bugging me for awhile and I thought I’d share and maybe get some suggestions or opinions. *Skip to bottom line if you don’t like incoherent ramblings :-\.

My Toyota has a lot of sentimental value to me as I have had it since I was 16 and it has taken me to some unbelievable and very remote places. Lately I have come to the realization that it will never be street legal in Utah again without undergoing a LOT of work—its just too far gone to make it worth it imo. I’m really torn because I don’t want to swap everything over to a different less beat Toyota truck because it will never be the same, and it seems like EVERYONE has a Toyota pickup these days... I like unique.

Long story short: I’m seriously debating a diesel full size pickup… um seriously . I have a 92 Dodge W250 with a Cummins diesel - a fixed yoke 205 T-case - kingpin D60 front axle - and a D70 rear with 4.10 gears. Here is a list of what I would “like” to do:

52” GM front springs (keep it as low as possible 4” max).
203/205 doubler.
Crossover (not high steer) Steering.
ORD shackle flip for the rear with different/softer springs
Detroit locker rear and Lock right front.
35spl. Outers in front.
37-40” MT’s on H1 bead locks with spacers.
Bobbed bed
Custom bumpers with big hooks to protect and help recover the heavy pig.

Anything to add or change? I’ve spent the last month strait on CK5 and the full size forums of PBB, and I’m really starting to think this might be a good idea. Please feel free to talk me out of it if it seems stupid.

*I’m thinking about wheeling a full size truck… that is all.

 

[Bodine]

I know they are different generation trucks but I think the principles are the same. My 3rd gen Cummins in this thread http://www.rockymountainextreme.com/showthread.php?t=61086
has seen some mild wheeling (I wedged it through the snakes) so after wheeling it a little I can tell you the motor is HEAVY.I would add some air bumps or something to help keep that heavy motor off the ground to your list. I am also running 37s they barely fit in the wheel wells I know your wells are a little different but I would plan on some trimming.The gearing on my truck is 3.73 running 37s I would have to go to 4.30 gears to put it back to stock however since I am unable to get those gears my options are 4.10 or 4.56 if I wheeled like you are going to and had more gear options i would certainly go with 4.56s or maybe a little deeper running 40s I would also add a ram assist I think you'll need it with that motor and big tires.There's my .02

 

[notajeep]

Why not take all that cool stuff and build a buggy?

 

[193kyle]

In my opinion, after wheeling something small, lightweight, and maneuverable, I would never go back to a big heavy pig. Besides, who needs street legal, I know my next rig will be a buggy.

 

[Dominic]

Really heavy motor for a buggy build. Surely it could be done but wouldn't be my first choice. If you are looking for something street legal does that mean you would want to use this for more exploration type wheeling or trying to build a all around camping,rock crawling, exploration rig?

 

[Rot Box]

All very good points. Thanks for the quick reply's

I like street legal. I do a lot of trails that usually don't end where they start, and honestly 80% of the trails I do are exploration type rides. I like the freedom of not having a trailer and towrig to worry about too--expepecially in Moab. Also for example I did 1300 mile trek through Wyoming and Montana this summer and with gear and a passinger the Toyota was really crampt and way underpowered.

Eveything about the Cummins rocks except the weight like mentioned a that is a big problem. I'm a fan of leafs, and having a spring that would hold that kind of weight, riding smooth and still have flex would be tough/expensive to find...

There just isn't many full size trucks on the trail at least not the ones I've been on. Maybe if I rode in one that was mildy built I could get a better idea of what I would be in for

 

[Caleb]

The other downside to the cummins on the trail is the nice black smoke and smell. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind the smell too much but I think it would get annoying being on the trail with it. Also the noise could get annoying.

 

[Tacoma]

I love my Blazer but it is a big heavy wide pig... Next vehicle will be a buggy or a buggified FJ40 or something....

Mostly it's just too wide, and I can't see sh*t over the corners of the hood. CHEAP though.

 

[choptopbII]

like some said I dont think i could go to a fullsize rig after having a little toyota, I also tried to keep my toyota street legal but this last time they told me it wouldent pass saftey, I took my tittle straight down to the dmv and registered it as an OHV havent looked back sence. now i can just chop away the sheet metal that i dont want/need and not worry about how far my tires stick out beyond the fenders... its kinda nice if you ask me. :greg:

 

[GOAT]

. Also the noise will get annoying.

fixed

 

[sixb]

I think it would be cool and don't over look the fuel economy with those first gen dodges, I herethey do very good.

 

[Tacoma]

^^^^^7500# crashing down.

 

[Rot Box]

X2!!! I hope that's a whip flag and not a CB antenna!

I can't imagine the diesel rattle getting annoying .... Okay I admit it peace and quiet on the trail is nice too

Anyway maybe I'm just up in the night when it comes to the full size thing. I swear every time I take a difficult line I remember why I like the small trucks.

I'm thinking more and more about just starting over with another--but this time clean-- 79-83 Toyota that will pass inspection. I just live too far away from any extreme trails to justify a trail only rig.

Why can't I just make up my mind???

 

[Maverick]

Swap your toy stuff to a legal rig and keep it legal, and keep the dudge for towing when/if you need to. Or...go full buggy with the Yota and modify the dudge for the stuff in between.

I love wheelin' fullsize rigs...where they fit. I even like wheelin' my excursion 'cept I don't wanna scratch the paint. I've long dreamt of a '95 2-door SAS fullsize blazer or a '99-'00 stupiduty shortbed x-cab (both diesel).

I grew up wheelin' fullsize blazers and broncos and pickups. Amazing what you can do with decent tires and a V8 (or other torque monster of your choice). Put some big fat tires under that Cummins and you won't have to worry about weight.

Before the Extreme Scrambler Makeover, I was really thinking about putting my junk under a '91 blazer. Tons of room inside and a platform that can handle the lift/tires and still drive on the freeway. Then I thought about where I like to go and the quick demise of the fenders/body. I wasn't ready to give that up, and I'm still not.

I do still want an expedition rig. I miss my daily driver 4x4's (blazer, sammy and XJ) I thought my '99 burb was gonna fill that role. By the time I bought my eXcursion, I knew it wasn't going to either, and I'm trying to get the Green closer to a road worthy rig, but I know that ultimately it won't be...sure there will be some 50 mile pavement stretches, but it will still mainly get trailered to the trail.

Thanks to the introduction of the 4dr JK, and renting one in Moab, I now know what my expedition rig will eventually be, but that's a few years off. When it happens though, 35-37" tires, winch, sliders, recovery gear and some other nice things inside and it will be my daily driver and main trail rig. The Green with it's 40" tires will be saved for boulders and mega snow and cruising around Draper in the summer and the JK will get daily driver and road-trip-searching-for-remote-trails duty.

Ya, I'm rambling. The grass is always greener. Buggy vs daily driver. Quality vs quantity. Which one is gonna have you on your desired trails the most?

 

[jdub]

Well said maverick. Tough decision! I vacillate back and forth every day on those same thoughts. I'm with you Rot Box on the street legality thing. If I can't drive it to the trail then it looses some of the fun and overall purpose. I've been trying to find a set up that will handle 40'' tires and freeway speeds and 4+ trails and it's hard to do.

 

[Meat_]

Oh come on, there is still a little bit of metal around the rust in your Toy.... it's worth fixing up

 

[Maverick]

Well said maverick. Tough decision! I vacillate back and forth every day on those same thoughts. I'm with you Rot Box on the street legality thing. If I can't drive it to the trail then it looses some of the fun and overall purpose. I've been trying to find a set up that will handle 40'' tires and freeway speeds and 4+ trails and it's hard to do.

Puttin' 40's on the Green tomorrow...hopefully having tires on round wheels will make it a little smoother...then we'll see about freeway speeds.

Brett (puttin' the 38" SX's on KSL tomorrow)

 

[jsudar]

I've gone through those same issues many times (ask my wife).

The first time I went to little Moab, I got all hung up on the top in my longbed Chevy pickup. The guy that helped me get unstuck warned me not to spend a lot of money on a full size rig. He said he dumped lot of $$ into a fullsize truck and then had to do it all over again on a Commanche because it just fit better. However, it's five years later and I'm still wheeling a full size.

There is something to be said for having a a cab that seals up reasonably well, wipers and squirters, heat and maybe A/C and being street legal. If you're into expeditions-- build the dodge. You have got lots of room and a pretty tough platform to start with.

A full size will never be able to keep up with a purpose built buggy on the trail. I would love a buggy to hammer on, but reality dictates that I need a street legal truck with room for kids and a lid to deal with those freak April blizzards we get. It's all about compromises and trade offs.

I would make a realistic outline of what you want to do with your wheeler and let that dictate what you build. Make sure you are realistic with the goals. I tend to have delusions of grandeur and think I need a buggy to run in King of the Hammers--all that did was get me some really expensive parts collections and buggy starts that all got sold for pennies on the dollar. Wasted a lot of time too. Now I wheel a full size one ton Blazer. I won't win KOH with it, but it's very practical.

 

[Rot Box]

Oh come on, there is still a little bit of metal around the rust in your Toy.... it's worth fixing up

I recieved a "5 day letter" by a UDOT officer over a year ago. It's basically like a fix it ticket other than they revoke your registration the only way to get it registered again is to get it safety inspected then have an officer (one paticular officer in Utah) verify that it is indeed worthy of passing. If he says it's still not safe they come after the shop that passed it and revoke their licence--if that makes sence.

Anyway I would need to:

Completely redo my bumpers so they are 4.5" tall without gaps from center tire to center of tire.

I would have to replace both front fenders and the entire bed because they expose too much of my tires.

I also need to find a narrower wheel than my stock 7" ones because they stick out too far with my 10.50's--even though the wheels are stock.

Need a seat belt and horn (no big deal )

I was told I had to replace my rear leafs with stock ones because the suspension was altered... Don't worry he will let it slide on that one

I need a park brake. Mine is non existant no cable or pull lever heck I don't even have the actuaters in the brake drums anymore. Allpro's is probably my only option.

There are a few more things I might have left out. Maybe its not that bad after all Now all I need is motivation!

 

[OREGON85]

Now, almost a month later, what are you thinking?