greasy

I've been tossing around the idea of keeping my truck and making it a 'safari' or 'expedition' style truck:

custom paint
big 4x4 rubber
lift kit + air suspension?
big bumpers
winch
topper w rack
GPS nav system
new leather seats
rino lined floors
rino lined rockers
fender flares
engine freshup (main seals leak, edit me off, smokes on startup)

hmmm 10K might be conservitive lol


who whole works, including engine build up


problem is when I get done it'll be a 10k truck, aftermarket doesn't pay itself back in value.


should I ditch my truck and just buy something newer? I think I could prolly find a great truck someone else already built up for a decent price.

I would like to get 20+mpg, I could do that with the 12v.

BigDiesel396

The only thing with buying something that someone made already is that they built it to how THEY wanted it, It may just be what you are looking for but, If you build it yourself then you have it just the way that you want it. I would keep it and build it IF you were actually going to use it for its intended purpose... A lot of people build lifted trucks with huge expensive wheels and tires and never get off the highway...Is this also going to be your daily driver?

greasy

not a daily driver at all, strictly a vacation go have fun rig. I use a 4 banger car to get to work and such.


the usage will be:
hauling an enclosed trailer 24foot long to mountains in winter (snowmobile) and ATVs in summer months

boat hauling (20+ footers)

camping/hunting

all fun stuff, and mostly up in the mountains or lakes. Prolly one trip a year 2500 miles one way, with hog hunting gear on board maybe an ATV or two so I want it road worthy for long hauls.


I wanted to lift it (4-6 inches) because its too long and drags frames etc on rain ditches and such on logging roads.

G1625S

I'd think you can kiss 20mpg goodbye with 6'' of lift and big meats, but there'll be an appropriate drop in mileage on any rig with those mods. At least a 12v starts at or near 20. With the roads you'll be on, I can see the justification for the suspension mods. I vote to build the truck you've got. Anvil-simple 12v tech is a good thing out in the woods...plus, in a few years, it'll be a classic

Stovetop535

Sounds like it would be a fun project. If you have the money go for it (and dont forget the pictures when its all said and done). There is just somethin about doin it yourself and how you want it. More satisfaction when it is all said and done.

greasy

this isn't my truck, but its the idea I'm after

wannadiesel

As long as you don't expect to get the $10k back if/when you sell the truck, do what makes you happy. It's your truck and your money.

n2moto

It sounds like fun, and a big waste of money. It's your time, truck, and money have a good time and post how it's going and some pics.

jughead

paid 500 bucks for my 82 with bad engine. last count a little over 4k in parts alone. just an every day driver but i aint looked back. been happy with it since day one. 4 years and counting

oldmikegraham

6K truck with 10K in it is still a 6K truck.

jughead

mine aint fancy. wouldnt take the 4k for it if one offered. and no i dont pull with it. but if one pulls up beside it with one of those 40k trucks one mite be in for a surprise. if i need to pull something that is what my 90 ctd is for. ps neither truck is for sale.

billv45

Maybe not. I'd guess my 6K truck is worth about 4K now. I've been watching the impact of the current fuel situation on the value of our beloved trucks and it ain't pretty. When we start talkin' about resale value, we'll have to borrow and old Chevy sales pitch "Like a rock..."

TOMTOM

Daz- right. I got about 9k in a 500$ truck.

greasy

Don't worry in a few years we'll be running on algea oils

Gary Emerald

buy something newer...

my most recent truck purchase: '04 555 6sp, quad/short 4x4 3500, white on black SLT, 57k miles. PDR street twins, full KORE lift w/ resovoir shocks and billet arms, TST/EZ, Flux 1 injectors, SBC 3600 12CB DD clutch, gauges, etc.

I paid $17k for the truck.

It's cheaper to buy than to build!