2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Crew cab converions

[zstroken]

Anybody know of places that do crewcab conversions for the 2nd Gen Dodge?



We would really like the extra room of a mega cab, of even a 3rd gen quad cab. Issue is we are gonna fork out probably $10k-$15k trading my truck in. Well my 01 only has 34,000 miles on it, so we thought about doing a crewcab conversion to it. Bayer told me pretty much $15K, for an extra set of doors between the front doors and the back suicide doors. While this isn't a terrible price, I would be curious if there was anywhere that did it. I talked to alton in michigan and they said since dodge never made a crew cab in that body style they can only extend the cab. The nice thing about the Bayer setup is we would have the ability to seat 9 people. My thoughts it would be tight for 9, but 5(2 in the front, 3 in the middle row) could ride in very nice confort. Anybody have experience, thoughts on this? I realize if I do this I will pretty much lock myself in to owning the truck forever, but plates are getting cheap on it, and I would probably change the insurance to a cash value policy, or something to reflect the higher replacement cost.

 

[Jdorfmeyer]

I had the same thought as you about how great my 2001. 5 would be as a crew cab. I purchased a 1997 extended cab and plan on cutting the back of my cab off behind the quad doors and stretching the frame and adding the 1997 extended cab portion on behind the quad doors. I made my living in a body shop for eleven years and hope to takle this project soon. If I get started I will try to post on TDR and let you know if it works out. I also talked with Alton, but they wanted 10,000 to do the extension. I purchased the cab for $500. 00 and will do the labor myself. Time is my only obstical and when I see a new mega cab I wonder if I should just buy one and be done.

 

[zstroken]

Our issue is the truck only has 34,000 miles on it. If I could get someone to give me 23,000 or so for it, I would sell it and go find a 3rd gen. I really don't think I could get that, therefore I won't sell it. We are thinking we would rather have a truck that could hold 9 people for the same amount as a truck that can hold 6. Granted with 9 people in it it would be tight, but when you just want the 5 people in it all the seats can be all the way back and everyone can ride in comfort. I figured I would just have them stick a front seat in the middle row, and then leave the factory rear seat in the back. It could be folded flat most of the time for storage. Anybody ever tried to put the 2nd gen dually fenders on a shortbed truck?

 

[Mkennedy99]

Here's a link on aftermarket shortbed dually fenders Truck Adaptor & Wheel - Chromewheel.com Dually Fenders

 

[Davcruz]

Maybe you have seen Oil Burners crew cab dually, maybe he can tell you where he got it done. I was drooling on the keyboard when I saw this truck!



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[Slingblade]

I contacted him a couple of weeks ago asking the same question for my '04. I hope he doesn't mind if I post some of what he wrote.



"It was done by Custom Conversions in Cleburne Texas. I haven't been able to find them so they might be out of business. It was done new in '95. They did a bunch of them. I have seen identical ones for sale on ebay from this company since I bought this one last year. Back doors are fiberglass. "

 

[Oil Burner]

Slingblade,

No problem, that saves me some typing





ZStroken,

I was in your same position. I didn't need a 9 passenger truck though, I just wanted 5. If you are set on 9, I'd get it stretched.



I had a really nice 2001. 5 6 speed with mods that I bought new. It was in great shape and was very reliable. I just couldn't justify the cost of the conversion.



FWIW, I have seen several (at least 3) for sale in the past year or so. One was a Bayer truck and 2 were done by the company that did mine.



Mark Bayer does great work and I've seen his stuff. It looks factory.



Just as a reference, I paid about 2,500 less for this truck than what the conversion costs.

 

[zstroken]

Thanks for the reference. My issue is we often go on jaunts that require a trailer being towed behind(snowmobiling or truck pulling) and our family is four, as soon as we throw in grandparents we are in for some uncomfortable rides. I have talked to Mark, and I think we will proceed forward with it. Basically if I could get $23k out of my truck I would sell it, and probably just buy a megacab. I figure this will give me an excuse to customize the truck anyway. I was quoted about $15K for the conversion, and that was just the base conversion. One thing I like about Bayer is they use steel doors. I wander if the fiberglass doors modify the safety rating of the vehicle.

 

[Oil Burner]

Please post pics when it's done. It sounds like it will turn out to be the perfect setup for you which ,after all, is all that matters.



And at the end of the day, you should still be just under the cost of a mega (selling yours outright, plus the 15k conversion). And you'll be running a known reliable setup that you are very comfortable with.



Best of luck on the project and enjoy your truck!



Jason in PA