Towbie, the 2004 F-450
- Thread starter Team1k
- Start date
So I used to work at a sign shop years ago and I like to do projects every now and then just to keep my skills up so ive been thinking of doing something to the new rig. Im toying with the idea of making it look like a chase truck/race rig tow vehicl but in looking online I can only find either full on body wraps, or very minimalist trucks displaying their team number. Im kind of thinking something in the middle. I do have the capability to do anything from printed vinyl wraps to basic cut vinyl, but with the truck being a little beat up im not sure I want to go all out on a full wrap. Below are 2 pictures of my rig, one I have overlayed with what im thinking so far. My # at the OSRC was 1337 so I put that on the headache rack, my club sticker/personal logo combo above the powerstroke badge, and for fun I added my GVW since we did that all the time for the commercial rigs.
Im looking for input on what to do, pictures of rigs I could look at for ideas, etc...
Im looking for input on what to do, pictures of rigs I could look at for ideas, etc...
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The boxes came with it. I'm pretty sure you could pick them up at lone peak trailer in lehi. It's amazing how much you can fit in them.
I would avoid this. I don't know why but I wouldn't want UHP thinking I was a commercial rig.
Speaking of GVWR, did you get any grief insuring it?
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Yeah my insurance had to call back east to get a rate figured out. Apparently they haven't had anyone in my area register a "commercial vehicle" for non-business use before. Its state farm so im not sure how that's possible.
Yeah on the GVWR we usually would put a UDOT # with it as well. I was thinking I would be ok with the UHP since I don't have a UDOT # and am not displaying one, but your probably right about them hassling me wondering why im only showing the weight, no udot#, why is a non-commercial rig showing weight, etc....
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Do flames.. It will go faster
- Location
- West Jordan
I have a set of vacuum/auto hubs I'd part with if the others don't pan-out. One was sticky at best, but the other worked just fine. I pulled them in favor of a set of black-dial Warns (which can be found cheap at tons of wrecking yards, since they were stock on most TTB F-250 and pre Super Duty F-350 axles.) They just bolt-on - no mods necessary.
Had the day off from work so I decided to do some work on the truck.
Started with removing what was left of this hub. Royal PITA because it had rusted in...
Replacement hubs, courtesy of Bryson!
New hub installed.
I took apart/went through both hubs and greased them up since I already had all the tools out. 4wd is back in action!
Started with removing what was left of this hub. Royal PITA because it had rusted in...
Replacement hubs, courtesy of Bryson!
New hub installed.
I took apart/went through both hubs and greased them up since I already had all the tools out. 4wd is back in action!
Got some more work done on the truck. As you can see there was quite a bit of damage on the front end and it was looking a little shabby and dated. My shop hand surveyed the vehicle damage and approved it for replacement
Instead of just replacing the dated equipment I opted to upgrade to the 05-07 front lights and grill. Took a bit of work but came out pretty good.
Looking much better now. Will be ordering a front bumper though to replace the bashed up one the truck came with. Should help out the look a ton.
Also took the time to cleanly run the wiring behind the dash for the monitoring system. Slowly coming together.
Instead of just replacing the dated equipment I opted to upgrade to the 05-07 front lights and grill. Took a bit of work but came out pretty good.
Looking much better now. Will be ordering a front bumper though to replace the bashed up one the truck came with. Should help out the look a ton.
Also took the time to cleanly run the wiring behind the dash for the monitoring system. Slowly coming together.
Tried it out this weekend on a run up skyline. Did great but im not too happy with chaining to the axles so im going to look into a few other options. Other than the radio shorting out for unknown reasons the trip went smooth and the diesel is very enjoyable on the long climbs.
Wiring fun
On Monday I went out to start a different project where I needed to tie into the trailer wiring. No big deal I thought until I pulled it out and saw this mess
In all fairness it did kinda work surprisingly, and it was like this when my friend bought it. Luckily he had already put a new wiring location on the other side, it just needed to be hooked up. Unfortunately since the ends of the wires had been exposed for a few months the copper inside had corroded. I cut back the wires as much as I could but the corrosion was all the way through. A little sanding of the ends to clean off the black and green crust and I wired it up anyway for now. Its working so that's a good sign.
After wiring it up I went to tap into the line again and found yet another mess further upstream in the wiring harness so basically I spent most of Monday and some of Tuesday patching it up.
On Monday I went out to start a different project where I needed to tie into the trailer wiring. No big deal I thought until I pulled it out and saw this mess
In all fairness it did kinda work surprisingly, and it was like this when my friend bought it. Luckily he had already put a new wiring location on the other side, it just needed to be hooked up. Unfortunately since the ends of the wires had been exposed for a few months the copper inside had corroded. I cut back the wires as much as I could but the corrosion was all the way through. A little sanding of the ends to clean off the black and green crust and I wired it up anyway for now. Its working so that's a good sign.
After wiring it up I went to tap into the line again and found yet another mess further upstream in the wiring harness so basically I spent most of Monday and some of Tuesday patching it up.
Back it up
Finally on Tuesday I was able to begin the project I originally set out to do, installing a backup camera. I spent Tuesday, Wednesday, and part of this morning drilling the hole, carefully running the video and power cables, taping into the lines, making sure all connections were sealed up tight with electrical tape, wire loomed the whole thing, zip tied the loom shut every foot or so, and ran it into the cab.
I was super stoked as I threw the truck into reverse and was greeted with this image.
Just my luck.....the camera unit was sending the distance bars but apparently the camera itself was DOA. That's what I get for not testing it first. Ordered up a new one today and had it sent using next day air. Hopefully I can throw it in tomorrow and be done with it.
Finally on Tuesday I was able to begin the project I originally set out to do, installing a backup camera. I spent Tuesday, Wednesday, and part of this morning drilling the hole, carefully running the video and power cables, taping into the lines, making sure all connections were sealed up tight with electrical tape, wire loomed the whole thing, zip tied the loom shut every foot or so, and ran it into the cab.
I was super stoked as I threw the truck into reverse and was greeted with this image.
Just my luck.....the camera unit was sending the distance bars but apparently the camera itself was DOA. That's what I get for not testing it first. Ordered up a new one today and had it sent using next day air. Hopefully I can throw it in tomorrow and be done with it.
No more hypocrisy
As part of the trade deal my friend agreed to make me a new back plate for the bed since something is not right hauling a YJ on a truck with a TJ logo.
Out with the old
Then since Monday I had been taking my time to do a "good" paint job on the new backing plate. Each day I only painted one side so it had plenty of dry time and it turned out pretty good.
But then of course my lack of planning came back to bite me. Shame on me for assuming since the original plate was computer cut, and this plate was also cut from the exact same file by the same computer, that I wouldn't have to check fitment..... Ended up ruining my paintjob to cut 1/2" off the top and bottom
As part of the trade deal my friend agreed to make me a new back plate for the bed since something is not right hauling a YJ on a truck with a TJ logo.
Out with the old
Then since Monday I had been taking my time to do a "good" paint job on the new backing plate. Each day I only painted one side so it had plenty of dry time and it turned out pretty good.
But then of course my lack of planning came back to bite me. Shame on me for assuming since the original plate was computer cut, and this plate was also cut from the exact same file by the same computer, that I wouldn't have to check fitment..... Ended up ruining my paintjob to cut 1/2" off the top and bottom
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So at this point im waiting on my sliders, bumper, and new camera to show up. Then I remembered years ago when we cleaned out the auto décor section of the shop I worked at I snagged up these bad boys.
They are exactly the right size as my current rubber mud flaps so im debating if I should trust chrome to get me home
They are exactly the right size as my current rubber mud flaps so im debating if I should trust chrome to get me home
corbin.black
Active Member
- Location
- West Jordan, Utah
The new backing plate looks awesome Brian. For me personally, I would ditch the chrome and go with something else.. but I don't like chrome on anything.
Also, what are you doing with the old backing plate?
(edit: I know someone with a new work truck that will be pulling a TJ haha)
Also, what are you doing with the old backing plate?
(edit: I know someone with a new work truck that will be pulling a TJ haha)
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