Reaper1- Elk Recover Vehicle Build

[coOverwatch]

Okay. After a few outing in my 09 F-250 Crew Cab Long bed I have come to the conclusion that it is not the most nimble off road vehicle to get me into the backwoods. Due to it long wheel base it distributes the weight great, sometimes too great. (see pics of winter camping, though tires with some tread on them would have helped too). Also with the long wheel base it tends to bound around and shake the exhaust loose, not to mention the turn radius is a bit wide. $500 in replacing exhaust brackets gets a bit expensive in just getting to the trail head.

So I have come to the conclusion that the 83 F-250 plow truck that has been sitting for the last 3 years is going to be transformed into my back country Elk recovery vehicle.
As it sits now it is a reg cab ¾ ton pickup. The plan is to extend the reg cab to either a Crew Cab or Extended Cab. First choice is the 4 door as long as we don’t have to stretch the frame. We will also do a 2 – 4 inch lift and bigger tires. Don’t want it too high. The stock bed will be removed and replaced with a utility bed. Side compartments will also be refrigerated and room for all the necessities to support a back country hunt/outing.

I know Rokslide is a die hard backpacking site, however you do need to get to the trail head and that is sometimes a few miles down a bumpy road. If anyone is interested I will post pic’s and progress as the build progresses. For now it is off to the shop to move some things around so the bed can be removed and the engine yanked for the rebuild.

Some rough renderings of what I am shooting for. This is based on the RESQ1 07 Jeep build JP magazine did.

 

[flyinsquirel]

I went through this process when I swapped cabs on my old Toyota and changed out the tired 4banger for a Tacoma V6. I wanted to make a 4 door cab, but the amount of sheet metal work necessary made me go with an extra cab. Way easier get a 4 door or extra-cab and just swap the cab out. You may need to relocate or add some body mounts but it's way less work than melding two cabs together. I'm not saying don't go for it, just saying you are in for a major project. I would love to see it.

With swapping cabs, or stretching the one you have, the only problem you will run into is the fuel filler neck possibly being covered up by the new cab, but that can easily be re-routed, or just relocate the tank.

Please do tell how you plan to refrigerate the compartments, that sounds like one of the best ideas I've heard in a long time.

Your sketch looks awesome, I would definitely be interested in watching this one grow up.

 

[coOverwatch]

hi flyinsquirel.

The Cab mods will no doubt be a swap. no sense in making thing harder. besides, the engine needs a complete rebuild and the front axel is broken. I use to build race motors back in CA 20 some years ago so if I don't go to crazy I think I will be okay. Most of the work is going to be cleaning up and repainting. At least that is what I keep telling myself.

I just saw you are in central CA. where about? I grew up in Merced and road raced around the whole valley.