Some of you might recognize me from ORC, 4x4Wire or Pirate4x4. I'm an avid 4wheeler and generally a Toyota offroad nut...

This is what my Toyota trail rig (Project Quasimodo) looks like:



I've decided thats its time for me to invest in a tow rig and trailer. I'm just getting sick of relying on others to help me get my junk back home from stupid little items breaking. And

I would like to do some more wheeling farther way from home. My goal was to find a tow rig & trailer setup for 4-5 grand, including trailer. Well after talking to freinds and researching on the web, I decided that a First Gen CTD was want I wanted. I knew for my budget - it would be hard to find something so I knew I would have to move quick if I did find somehting. I'm also not afraid of a little elbow grease to clean something up either.

So this is what I found about a month ago listed on Craigslist. It was posted at 7am on a Thursday, I called him at 11am and I bought it by 4pm that day. Oh did I mention that it was also 3 hours away and in another state and there was a high wind storm in the area, Heck I even signed the paper work on teh truck my candle light since the previous owner lost their power....





Its a 1992 Dodge 3/4 ton Club Cab 4x4 Cummins Turbo Diesel with 280K miles.

The good part:
Power steering, Air Conditining, Power windows & locks
Automatic and T-cases rebuild less than 10K ago.
Tow Package with Air Bags
Fairly new 33" BFG A/T on Aluminum Wheels

The bad part:
Its needs some TLC!
Both bumpers are damaged
Speedo & Cruise not working because wire harness & electric pickup at the T-case is damaged.
Overdrive not working "probably" because of same reason above, owner assured me that it was working.
Driver side door needs some welding around the hinges.
No spare tire.
Out of State plates and expired tags.

The price: $4000 (talked him down from $4500)

I also picked up this Tandem Axle Car Hauler Trailer for $900.



So it looks like I was able to meet my $5,000 goal - but I knew I would have to spend some time and money cleaning up the dodge. Well I like to post/blog on whats going on because I learn so much from other peoples posts that I like to return the favor and share the knowledge, hence the reason for me starting this post.

This BBS has LOTS of good information on these first gen truck!

 

Well I spent $176 getting the title transfered on the truck($55), new plates {since it had out of state plates}($5) , two years worth tags ($54), Vin Inspection {since it was out of state title transfer} ($7), and then another ($55) for transfering the title on the trailer I just bought.....

I also worked on the bed a bit to remove the camper tiedowns and I tried to straighten the bed rails some.

Then I removed a BUNCH of previous owner wiring. I hate it when previous owners hack together wiring with all the same color wires and use wire twist ties used in house construction. Just tring to clean it up to get everything back to stockish.

Then I also hooked up the VSS (Vehicle Speed Sensor), Since the wiring harnes was damaged

and took it for a test drive. Now the OverDrive works, OverDrive disable button, Speedo and cruise control works! sweet! I'm SO happy that was the fix for those items!

Unfortionately it appears that the "accel" feature doesn't work on the Cruise... but the other features so work. Just have to look at it in some more detail to see what might be wrong there. I'll save that for another day as that is nothing major.

Also the Light in the OD switch doesn't work. I tore that apart and the light is non-replaceable - its actually soldered to the guts of the switch.... So I got to figure something out there.

I also found two wires that should of been connected to the battery + terminal. They power the heater grid in the intake. anyways I hooked that back up. Can't test to see if that fixed my smoking probem I have/had on a cold startup until the motor is cold again.

I also tore the whole dash apart and cleaned every nook and cranny of it so now the dash looks fairly clean compared to how I bought it since it use to be a farm construction truck.

Anyways, piece by piece I will fix these small items.

Oh I also pressure washed it. Doesn't look much better but atleast most of the moldy crude on the paint is gone.

Its also looks like my injector pump hasn't been tweaked with and the previous owner just installed a TPS after he already rebuilt the tranny .... good for me!

 

Well I'm still slowly fixing the misc items Previous owners didn't deal with....

Let see so far:

I've rewired the Headlight switch,
Wiring diagram needed - 1992 headlight switch
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...d.php?t=128675

Soldered a new bulb to the OD switch,
O/D Switch - Replacement Bulb ???
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...d.php?t=128367

Replaced the cargo light switch (it was missing),
Replaced the T-cases shifter boot (it was trashed),
bent the shifter so it wasn't rubbing the floor pan anymore,

Replaced a Cab running light and lense,
(did you know you can buy replacement lenses at Napa for like $3)

Replaced a front marker/blinker,

Repaired 4 wires that shorted out to the frame rail and took out the tailights,
Found Short - Why didn't fuse blow?
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...d.php?t=128967

Diagnosed a bad air temp switch for the KSB,
Part number help ... KSB Switch
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...d.php?t=129658

Retaped about 8 feet of wiring harness,
Found a bad timer for the ignition ring light.

Anyways I'm slowing getting all the little items fixed and I'm stilling findng more.

Oh I also repaired the lower hinge on the driver side door since it was completely ripped out the door. See here for all the details:
Lower Door Hinge Repair
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...d.php?t=129323

 

The latest things I've done are:

Found a 33" BFG M/T spare and a 16.5 rim. Still haven't had the time to get them mounted and see if it fits the OEM spare tire holder, but its on the to do list.
Max tire size for OEM the spare tire holder ???
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...d.php?t=128835

I relayed my headlights - probably the best mod so far! I really can't believe the difference. It will even be better if I upgrade to some Xenon bulbs or HID conversions.
Relayed headlights
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...d.php?t=131123

I also found that I had a ground wire missing from the battery to the core support so I added one, hopefully that will fix some of my odd gauge readings, my intermittent wiper problem and my headlight flicker.
Ground wire locations
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...d.php?t=131536

Plus I also replaced the mechanical blinker flasher module with a electical unit so now my blinkers act normal with a trailer hooked up.
Trailer wiring - fast! blinkers
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...d.php?t=130923

Along with that I wired a new 7 blade plug to my trailer since the trailer came with a 6 pin plug and wasn't compatiable to the truck.

And I finally installed a new fuel filter, serpentine belt and changed the oil and filter.

Over the weekend I also ordered up gauges and pods from Summit Racing.

Tachometer
***********************************************
Auto Meter ATM-2890 0-4000 rpm 2 5/8" $89.88

Boost
***********************************************
Auto Meter Z-Series ATM-2617 0-60psi $47.88

Trans Temp
***********************************************
Auto Meter Z-Series ATM-2640 100-250 F $42.88

Pyrometer
***********************************************
Auto Meter Z-Series ATM-2654 0-1600 F $135.95

Gauge Pods
***********************************************
Auto Meter Pillar Dual Gauge Pod ATM-15198 $27.95
Auto Meter Steering Column Gauge Pods ATM-15012 $29.95

So once I get those installed I can actually start tweak'n the injection pump and start planning other minor mods to increase the trucks towing performance. I'm not planning anything too radical since I need to keep the towing gas mileage good.

Oh I also picked up a Fiberglass canopy from a buddy for $150. It also needs some work. but now atleast I could camp out of the back of the rig if I need to.

And I got a much nicer OEM front bumper installed that I bought from a buddy for $20.... still need to find a cheap rear one that is straight.

 

Anyways thats the start of my Budget Crawler Hauler Project ..... and this post is my way of saying thanks for the wealth of info you guys have here. As I do more on the truck I will post it.

 

Dang, you have been busy. It's nice to see another wheeler on here. You are going to like it for towing your crawler. Although mine probably isn't as extreme/heavy as yours, my W250 does a great job hauling around my wheeling rig.



-Steve

 

There are a few of us wheelers here.

My current towrig and my XJ. Working on a new truggy.

 

Most likely the switch is bad.

 

Nice project and good job! I'm glad it's working out for you, and I can tell how proud of it you are.

 

So adding that ground strap from the battery to the core support seems to have fixed the intermittent wiper problem, my high oil pressure guage readings and my flicking headlights.

3200 rpm Governor Spring
Bosch #1-464-650-366

Well I ABSOLUTELY HATE the idea of spending $21 for a simple little spring that could probably be purchased for a few dollars if you knew the dimensions and specs. But when it comes to the well known benefits for the 3200 rpm governor spring, its apparent that its worth $21. So I finally just did it. I called up: http://www.piersdiesel.com/ and ordered it for $16. Unfortionately their minimum shippping charge is $5 even though they are just going to run it through the US mail - I guess I can understand the charge for the time required in dealing with such a small part and the paperwork. Anyways its ordered. I'm sure it willl be worth it.

Now I'm just tring to figure out if I want to order up a 16cm turbine non-wg housing & gasket now on plastic or later with real money.... I should probably just do it now, But I really should buy a brake controller first.

Quicker spool up or trailer brakes - decisions ......

 

Nice projects

 

I'd wait on the 16 til I had the cash. You can get by, albeit less fun, with the stock 21cm "Lagmaster." Do some tuning on the AFC section, and you will notice better spooling, possibly with more smoke.

I'd definitely get a brake controller first and foremost. Do some research and figure out what you want- dont go cheap on it. Not hooking up the brakes on a new carhauler trailer I bought at the factory ended up costing me $20K in legal fees and fines, not to mention lost job opportunities.

Daniel

 

there is an amazing amount of info on these web pages , plus you get all the one time experiences like the ground strap issue. just love hearing you go thru the check list. sound like home.

 

Hey 4RnrRick, I was just checking your rig out in the new issue of Crawl.

Keep up the good work!

 

ya he thinks he is a ROCK STAR now..

in Crawl and another mag at same time.. if only some of us could be so lucky