2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission One of a kind? Factory 96 full crewcab!

[Silver_Ram]

This would be way to cool, but my truck already weighs in at 7300 lbs, which doesn't leave much GVW already. You add the conversion weight & probably come in over weight for the 8800 lb rating on the sticker.



I have seen several of the megacab long bed conversions & they still retained the factory sticker on the back of the door.

 

[Hammer]

Scott... .

I did email him the same day and all I got back was alot of crying,hype and BS about how it was what he said. There were some real crewcab built but all were shipped down to Mexico and South America and none were sold here in the US.



As for cost... .

I remember asking Dave Mitchell about the one he had stretched by Bayer for his wife Loretta. If my memory serves me correct I was told 10-15K for that to be done to a 2nd Gen truck back then and even theirs was used as Bayer internet advertising for a while. That truck was last seen last fall sometime being sold again on another forum board still intact.

 

[krtcummins]

Dodge and Ford used to build four door crew cabs for the rail road back in the old days. Back in the 80's Ford still produced them for the public. I drove one 3/4 ton 4X4 camping one time. What a beast. But great for kids, Etc.

 

[HHhuntitall]

If memory serves me correctly, the Dodge prototypes were one window roll downs, without the back window and guide rail. That looks just like mine, if you notice the rear windows, which may be hard to see as dirty as it is. The dust settles in from the cattle around the pens. Anyway, there is a rear window in the doors to make for a longer door. My biggest gripe would have to be the doors don't swing out anywhere near 90 degrees. But once you're in, it's really comfy. The frame is fully boxed with two pieces of channel, and from my experience building trailers, modifying trucks, and building farm equipment, it's stronger than the original truck frame. They did mount the carrier bearing on TOP of a crossmember brace, slightly above the transmission ouput shaft. Had a slight shimmy to it when I got it at 28k miles. Fixed that, then fixed the slush-o-matic with a good clutch and 5 speed around 49k.....



I'd wager that truck is a conversion. Mine has the Dodge tag in the rear doorjam, too.....

 

[MLee]

I'd have to do some research on past mags but it seems that the shop in Lehi re - certified the GVW. I know that the factory/manufacture is the only one that can do this, don't know how they could do this legally.

 

[HHhuntitall]

I know in Texas, if you built trailers, as my grandfather and I had in the past, if you wanted to use it commecially, you had to have it tested for DOT compliance. If the DOT inspector looked at it and passed it, you were good. Many companies that build them commecially have them tested by an independent laboratory. That relieves the state and builder of liablity, saying it was tested by a third party. The same goes for the truck frames, to a certain degree. Private vehicles are not as strict, but if it breaks without certified testing, look out for the buzzards... er, ah, lawyers... . On shop built trailers, weight registration is whatever you say it is, as long as you're not overaxle. Commercial truck modifications can be done by anyone, but class weights can only go so high, like Light Duty pickups, class 5, 6, 7, 8 trucks, up to 128,000, then you go to permitted vehicles. Titleing a pickup for GVW over 24,000 is frowned upon... ... Dealer titleing limits the trucks GVW for the frame and axles, so you have to refile for title, which is a major PITA, and they do it on purpose, and tax the heck out of you, too.

 

[ksoren24]

I know a guy that had it done just like this one, he said it was $20k. For $20k I'd go out and buy a real nice '03!

 

[HHhuntitall]

I know a guy that had it done just like this one, he said it was $20k. For $20k I'd go out and buy a real nice '03!

I'm not sure what it would cost today, or if anyone would even do it today, but my '98 came with the paperwork, and the conversion cost the original owner almost $9k. That's not too bad when you consider he had it done to a 12valve..... I've really enjoyed it... . but I've only got around 9k in the whole truck. I traded an '86 F250 4x4 crewcab I'd put a cummins in for it. Not sure I did the smart thing, now. I sure miss my solid front axle.....

 

[budnate]

anyone we know get the truck??? sure would look neat fluffed back up and some 19's on it.



peace, B.

 

[SRath]

I'd be happy to get the front bumper. Maybe trade the new owner even-up for a factory-original...

 

[CharlieFoxtrot]

OMG I want it! Where's that lotto ticket??!! I almost bought a Ferd instead of my Dodge 'cuz I really wanted a 4dr.



I worked for a major fire truck manufacturer that converted 2dr Kenworths to 4dr. There wasn't fancy molded plastic parts in the interiors like in our trucks, so it was fairly easy to make them look factory. Of course, quality engineering and construction were important too. Kenworth was so impressed, they asked my employer to build 4drs for them. There were 2 problems with that - although another income-producing product would be nice, that wasn't our core business and we didn't want to potentially upset our lines with the tremendous volume the KW business would add, and KW wouldn't agree to not sell our conversions to other fire truck builders... .

 

[mwilson]

I see that he got $15,531. 00 for it, he did alright with that. :-laf



I don't think I would have ponied up that kinda' money for it.



Mike.

 

[surfbeetle]

I see that he got $15,531. 00 for it, he did alright with that. :-laf



I don't think I would have ponied up that kinda' money for it.



Mike.

Well at that price he paid for the conversion and got the truck for free...

 

[RSchwarzli]

I thought they were called Cleburne Custom Conversions... ... After 98 they quit doing Light duty trucks and went to work only on Freightliner and Petes:{..... I've got a nice one of those..... Usually only drive it during the summer... .

Well look at you there with one of these things!!! Holding out on us!!! How about some pics there Mr!

Here Look familiar?.....



Its NOT a factory built ride,its a Bayer Conversion just like this former TDR members ride from along time ago... ... ... . Andy

Very good memory. I had forgotten about his truck till the thread came up but I would not have remembered who's it was.

 

[Bob4x4]

What a phoney... ... ... at least 2 owners that I can see. Caveat emptor