My perfect tow rig

[H20 Toie]

Over the years i have had a lot of different tow rigs, Chevy, Dodges, Fords hell even had a Peterbilt and couple of Sportchassis, i looked at all the new trucks and i have to admit they are super nice but just wanted something different i guess, so i found this bad boy last year and started having work done on it, well 8 months later she is good to go. now i really need a boat

 

[WhatExit?]

Like the ride even if it is a Chebby Great idea to go old school and save a ton o' dough vs. new

What year? I assume it's a gasser - what motor's in it? And what'd you do to it?

 

[ductape1000]

That's badass!!

What's the legal tow capacity of a truck of that era?? Is it going to limit your boat shopping?

 

[RitcheyRch]

Very nice and looks well taken care of.

 

[ltbaney1]

thats awesome. is it 4 wheel drive? i love the lowered look but something about a 4 x 6 dually sitting high makes me smile like a kid in a candy store.

 

[Willie B]

...Back in the day...‘70’s to something like mid ‘80’s...Crew Cab Duallys were the truck of choice for towing in the movie industry...Nobody had a 4x4 as it really wasn’t necessary...Then along came a TV series staring Sam Elliot and Cybil Shepherd...It was so short lived I can’t remember the name of it???...
...It’s premise was along the lines of modern day cattle ranchers...Well slick as he was a good friend who was the transportation coordinator was able to promo a 4x4 GMC Dually along along with a couple of other GMC vehicles...
...If I remember correctly the promoed 4x4 was never returned to GM...Not sure how he pulled it off but my friend drove that truck for years...great truck...
...Another friend ordered a late ‘70’s 4x4 dually with a small block...It has been used for years to tow horse trailers...big ones...I haven’t seen that truck around lately but I do know for a fact that it would still pass smog at 186,000 miles...surprised me that it survived all of those towing miles with a small block???...

 

[H20 Toie]

its got a 454 turbo 400, it was in pretty good shape when i got it only had 107k miles, paint was shot, interior was falling apart from the sun, so went and replaced all the engine stuff minus the block itself, then completely torn apart for paint, switched out he doors so i could have power mirrors, all new interior, new fuel tanks, plus redoing al the wiring. its been a challenge but i think its worth it in the long run, these old trucks don't turn for shit but other than that they are a lot of fun to drive. at 70 mph i can take my hands off the wheel and not even a bit of shake. actually rides pretty well for a leaf sprung truck.

i plan on getting another 38' Cigarette so it will tow it fine.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

I love me some old school 3+3 trucks!! I almost worked a deal to get a later one with a tbi 454 and a 4L80 that was 4x4. Woulda be cool to have it.

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[Flying_Lavey]

...Back in the day...‘70’s to something like mid ‘80’s...Crew Cab Duallys were the truck of choice for towing in the movie industry...Nobody had a 4x4 as it really wasn’t necessary...Then along came a TV series staring Sam Elliot and Cybil Shepherd...It was so short lived I can’t remember the name of it???...
...It’s premise was along the lines of modern day cattle ranchers...Well slick as he was a good friend who was the transportation coordinator was able to promo a 4x4 GMC Dually along along with a couple of other GMC vehicles...
...If I remember correctly the promoed 4x4 was never returned to GM...Not sure how he pulled it off but my friend drove that truck for years...great truck...
...Another friend ordered a late ‘70’s 4x4 dually with a small block...It has been used for years to tow horse trailers...big ones...I haven’t seen that truck around lately but I do know for a fact that it would still pass smog at 186,000 miles...surprised me that it survived all of those towing miles with a small block???...

When did you get out of studio Transpo? I have a few friends that do it and my buddy's dad just retired from it a couple years ago.

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[28skater]

Sweet and cheep DMV tags.

 

[ChiliPepperGarage]

I had one but later model, not square body. I had a 4" lift and towed my 28 Cig with it. Super clean nice truck but had the turning radius of school bus!

 

[Sleek-Jet]

That. Is. Awesome.

Are going to put a Gearvendors or OD transmission in it? I drove an 85 3/4 ton GMC 4x4 for years as a daily driver. It had 4.11's, a 4 speed manual and was good for about 65mph at sane engine RPMs. That truck is still in the family, my cousin owns it now. As long as they don't rust they will run forever.

 

[BUDMAN]

I would love to have the time and resources to build an old square body with a late model Duramax/Allison conversion. Basically throw a square body on a late model chassis.

 

[Willie B]

When did you get out of studio Transpo? I have a few friends that do it and my buddy's dad just retired from it a couple years ago.

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...I was done about 1986...At that point in time the craziness that you may have heard stories about was about to come to a screeching halt...

 

[H20 Toie]

That. Is. Awesome.

Are going to put a Gearvendors or OD transmission in it? I drove an 85 3/4 ton GMC 4x4 for years as a daily driver. It had 4.11's, a 4 speed manual and was good for about 65mph at sane engine RPMs. That truck is still in the family, my cousin owns it now. As long as they don't rust they will run forever.

Not planning on it now, but if the engine does let go down the road then it will get a 8.1 with overdrive trans

 

[H20 Toie]

thats awesome. is it 4 wheel drive? i love the lowered look but something about a 4 x 6 dually sitting high makes me smile like a kid in a candy store.

yes its 4x4 with i think a 2" lift

 

[Hullbilly]

Over the years i have had a lot of different tow rigs, Chevy, Dodges, Fords hell even had a Peterbilt and couple of Sportchassis, i looked at all the new trucks and i have to admit they are super nice but just wanted something different i guess, so i found this bad boy last year and started having work done on it, well 8 months later she is good to go. now i really need a boat View attachment 620824 View attachment 620825

That thing is saaaweet!

I smell a turned up mechanical 12v in the future!

 

[H20 Toie]

Some interior pics

 

[River Lynchmob]

Great truck! Super clean! What is it about an '88?

One of those with a Duramax and Allison would be over the top

 

[H20 Toie]

Its an 89 with 107k miles

yeah whenever the motor goes ill have to consider that or a 8.1

 

[Dalton]

Its an 89 with 107k miles

yeah whenever the motor goes ill have to consider that or a 8.1

I know a dude with I think a HP500 in one, he said it doesn't "come off the cam" until he gets on the highway though cause he never swapped it out for a automotive one

 

[Lumpy]

Where did you get it? I swear it was the first thing I sold in 2013 with a Cummins 12V on a stand, parts conversion and transmission when I was forced into the big D. Do tell!

 

[Outdrive1]

Love it. [emoji106]


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[Outdrive1]

Now that a new F450 Platinum is approaching 100k. Fixing up an old truck that won’t lose 50k in value the first five years is getting really appealing.


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[Rickybobby]

very nice, kinda of keeping a spot open for one at the compound!!!

 

[badluck24/7]

Great looking truck. I should’ve kept my ‘87. Guess I better hold onto my 2007.

 

[varmit86]

If anybody is interested i have an 86 project that would look like this when completed

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[bonesfab]

Nice truck. I have a single wheel with a Cummins Allison in it. May I recommend cross over steering and do the ram assist at the same time. Besides the Cummins swap, the steering is the best thing I did to my truck. It will turn around in a culdesac now.

 

[NicPaus]

My first real truck was my old 89 Chevy Dually corvette blue with the Leer shell and alcoas. Bought it after towing are family travel trailer to the river in back with the wind on the 10. I had a great connection at Edelbrock. I switched it from the TBI to MPI and picked up 2 mpg and added everything else they had at the time. I use to roll to the landfill with 8-9 tons in my dump trailer and it handled no problem. Could not even tell my boat was behind it after the upgrades.

I would second the Duramax Allison conversion. Just watch for a powertrain from a 06 with LBZ to pop up on Craigslist.

 

[LakeBeard]

Bitchen truck!

 

[H20 Toie]

Now that a new F450 Platinum is approaching 100k. Fixing up an old truck that won’t lose 50k in value the first five years is getting really appealing.

i agree plus it doesn't look like every other truck out there