Since it became obvious my old 1-ton dually wasn't dependable enough for long trips, especially towing a trailer, I've been on the lookout for another tow rig, but I've always had my eye out for an affordable car hauler, namely, a ramp truck. Newer ones were WAY out of my budget, and a lot of older ones have been rode-hard-and-put-up-wet to the point it would cost as much as a newer one to restore them to good working condition. I ran across one on Cragslist that was mostly complete and in pretty good condition, just needing an engine and trans. Hauling the hauler 100 miles home was an adventure, but a friend had a big Dodge truck and access to a heavy equipment trailer, so we managed to get it loaded on the trailer and home without any major problems. Once it was home, I went back to Craigslist and found a rebuilt 454 and TH400 trans for sale for $800. Worked out a deal with a couple of truck-junkie friends.....they want my old dually to build a pull-truck, so I'm trading it to them for welding new rails on the side of the ramp, a battery box, new winch mount, new tool and storage boxes, and re-wiring all the winch and lights and refreshing the hydraulics for the wheel lift. Should be a fun project .
:sorry:...but this struck me as being funny... mostly complete and in pretty good condition, just needing an ... engine and trans...new rails on the side of the ramp... a battery box... new winch mount... new tool and storage boxes, re-wiring all the winch and lights and refreshing the hydraulics for the wheel lift. ...:Handshake...
Can I borrow it? You will hear that a lot when you get it together! Looks like a nice rig! I want one myself. I found one here locally for a great price, but, as it goes, I can't afford it right now. I'm thinking if and when I retire, I might make some side money by hauling for folks.
All of which it has, but I'm repairing or replacing to my own tastes and peace of mind. The side rails are banged up and I want to replace them with "boxed" rails so they'll be tougher and stronger and the side/taillight wiring harness can be protected by running the wiring inside the rail. I'm buying a bigger winch for it, and I want the winch mounted a little higher so the cable doesn't drag on the bed and I won't have to install cable rollers on the floor. I'm replacing all the running lights with LEDs and flush-mounting new taillights into the rail of the ramp, instead of cheaply bracketed to the side. The truck has a factory dual battery set-up, and a bracket for a 3rd on the bed, but it's kind of wimpy looking, so I'm going to build a cooler looking battery box for it, maybe even flushing it down in the bed for a cleaner look. The truck has a large storage box on the driver's side, and, as you can see in the pic, just a "tool drawer" on the other side. both are in working order, but pretty banged up from use and repainted so many times, they're long past looking sharp. I'd like storage boxes on both sides, with tool drawers in one of the boxes, also to fill in some of the open space under the ramp between the cab and rear wheels to improve the look of the truck.....besides, you can never have too much storage. As for the wheel lift to tow a car behind the truck, the local auto parts store specializes in hydraulic hoses and parts (lots of tractors and heavy equipment used here in the sticks) so for my safety, the safety of others on the road, and my own peace of mind, I figured I'd refrsh the hoses and the whole system in general. Unfortunately the truck didnt come with the actual wheel lift rack that goes under the car to tow, but since I didn't even know it had the wheel lift on it when I bought it, it's all bonus to me anyway. I can probably find one used or have one made if I need to. The lack of engine and trans is what got me the truck cheap....the seller realized whoever bought it would have to haul it home, and he priced it considering that burden on the buyer. Besides, the truck's previous engine had been a small block, and I wanted a 454 or Caddy 500 power for my set-up. The 454 and trans I bought for it was in an 80's shortbed pickup, so I could hear and see it run. The seller had the paperwork and receipts for the engine rebuild and trans mods, including the truck's milage when it was installed. The engine had less than 10,000 miles since the rebuild. The seller was out of work and couldn't afford to register and insure a "fun car" so he was replacing the big block with a straght-6. He knew he'd never get what he spent on the rebuild out of the engine, so he sold it for what the 6 cyl and overdrive auto trans was going to cost him. So, that's my definition of "mostly complete" and "what it needs" compared to "personalizing and improving" it and "what I want" I've got just under $2,000 in it now. By the time the extra work is done, it'll be around $3,500 total. I could probably find a running and ready rig the same age for about that (and that's without the hydraulic wheel lift), but it still wouldn't be as modified, personalized, and made to my standards, so I'm still saving $'s, and could probably net a nice profit if I decide or have to sell it. Much of this can be done while using the truck, so it can be a progressive project, but still useful during the progress.
No kidding! I already got that with my car trailer, so I figure when the truck's done and someone asks to borrow it, I can say "No, but you can use the trailer" Quickest way to avoid it is to just say "No, but I'll rent it to you".....usually the mention of any money ends the conversation. LOL
