Too Tall's Trucks

[TooTall'sTruck]

Hello I am 6'8" barefoot and have been called Too Tall for a long time, I have been a full "head" above others my age since preschool, once was pulled out of my Kindergarten line and sent into a 1st grade class.

I have always loved vehicles and started with plastic model cars and Lowrider magazine. Here is a quick post of my Vehicular History:
-Age 15 was a 1951 GMC 5 window 235ci Straight Six M22 4spd that I tore apart and went frame up restoration and my dad took it over and helped me buy my Caddy so I could drive a car when I was 16!
-Age 16 was my 1969 Cadillac Coupe DeVille with 472ci V8 and at one point held 2500 watts RMS of Orion Amps and 6- JL Audio 12w3 subs and a lot of goodies! That was a fun car for a teenager!

-Age 18, I had the Cadillac I had a 1984 K5 Blazer 4WD with the 305...fun but very weak truck. I bought this 1992 F250 with the N/A 7.3L Diesel and loved the truck, only sold it to make downpayment on my then girlfriend's Malibu after her Explorer died. Good choice since she is my wife now! But I miss that truck to no end. I straight piped the exhaust and put a K&N replacement filter in it and I had lots of people asking me what was in that truck...it sounded great.

Day I bought it:

I added 285/75-16 mud terrains and a 2.5" lift, and a free canopy from a house that was deserted and for sale. The saleswoman advised I come back after dark!!

Basicly that truck was un-stopable in 4 Low and I got as good as 18 MPG hand calculated on the freeway.

Sorry for the pictures of pictures, before the day of digital camera!

Then along mid 20's???? I had an 1989 F250 with 460ci V8 and C6 with a Gear-Vendor in it, the best it ever got was 10 MPG on the highway empty but never even needed 4WD with the Hi-Lo camper in the back. Sold that truck and camper after I bought my Dodge!

Picture of camping in the Sol-Duc:

Also had to buy the 28ft tow behind and use it 3 times in the year we paid for it, the only time we used it off our property was when we used the complimentary overnight at a local KOA we got when we bought the trailer!! Best thing about the Hi-lo and the Nomad was that I was able to stand upright in both of them.

After I sold it I saw it for sale again for $500 less than I sold it for with out the Gear-Vendor!

I was going to have that truck buried with me but then I saw this beast!

2003 Cummins with 48RE and 4.5" Fabtech lift with 35" Toyo M/t's. The foolish salesman did throw in a new set of tires with the sale so I didn't get taken by the Dealership since they were $1600 and the other add ons were worth their asking price. BUt I used it hard and really only drove 4.5 miles to work and shut it off most of the time so $500 a month for that short trip was hard to justify!!

BUt it was sexy with or with out the canopy!

More to come after a bit.....

 

[TooTall'sTruck]

The Dodge payment and the ride on the freeway were very rough so I looked for a smaller/cheaper SUV, I wanted a 2006-2007 Jeep Liberty CRD but my financial situation after two years paying too much out monthly I was able to get into a 1991 Jeep XJ 2dr with 6 cyl and AX15. The only way I was able to drive it was that the 2dr and the 4dr have the same wheelbase but the 2dr doors are longer, and I moved the drivers seat mounts rearward 12"!!! It had 235/85-16 E rated tires and it wheeled very well, to the point of needing lockers and I could sleep in the drivers seat and sleep.

Then I was laid off and started my own Mobile Repair business and bought a 1983 F250 351W and T19. It was a good running truck with a rusty cab floor and when the rear end blew I just upgraded.

The current Ford is the 1986 F250 4x4 with 351W and the C6, with the truck loaded fully with tools I get 9.7 MPG and it is paid for. The other service trucks cost a lot more and get the same fuel mileage, this oldy opposed to the newer diesels. The guy I bought the orange truck has an2007 F450 4x4 extra cab with service body and if he babies it he can pull 9 MPG. All in all this truck is worth keeping in the sense that I would have to spend alot of money to replace it in the future. So it might be turned into an Expo rig with some tubing and canvas over the bed, because it is awesome to be able to lock all your gear in the service body.

 

[TooTall'sTruck]

This is the other business vehicle that my wife drives to work daily and I have rebuilt log truck engines out of the Yukon when the orange trucks rear end blew up on Christmas day!!! I have added a third row seat to the Yukon since it is a 1997 and that was not an option untill 1999 IIRC??? The Yukon has the 350 and 4L60E but has all the options you could get for the year, SLT and tan leather. The only upgrades I plan for the Yukon is to change the front seats to a newer more comfortable leathers from GM and possibly mount the front seats in the second row so it is easier to get into the 3rd row, but the ability to sleep in the back of the Yukon anywhere is great! It now wears the Jeep's 10 ply 235/85-16 tires and rides so smooth compared to my Fords!

The next project is my 1992 F250 with the 7.3L N/A and E40D. Standard cab, long bed and 4x4. A direct replacement for my long lost 1992 F250! It needs an injection pump and a bed due to body damage so I got this 1995 F150 shortbed and ARE aluminum DCU canopy to mount on the 1992.

My plan with the short bed (6.5 ft) on the long bed (8 ft) frame, is to center it up on the rear tire and play with the space between the bed and canopy untill I can afford to section the frame and make it a SCSB F250 4x4 diesel! Basicly because I have no need to tow with the truck, it could tow but it might tow strangely with any real weight behind that short of a wheelbase. I will also use this truck as my main daily driver/business truck since people are less apt to think of *tool goodies* in a canopy rather than a service body bed. Both options are totally lockable but when the service box was on the orange F250 standard cab I had a huge blind spot at my "5 oclock" (terrible pulling out of 45 deg driveways and intersections, that can't be viewed with mirrors) The service body on the extra cab works great with no blind spots.

So the 1992 SCSB will have:
-7.3L Naturally Aspirated 444ci Diesel with Stan's Headers and some form of snorkel (snorkel to get above the dust created from following a logger to a landing in the summer and the comfort afforded if ever water crossing...I really don't want stacks but am afraid that might be the best way to get them above water level???) The truck will not have mufflers on it unless I run a stack on it because that would dump it out near the cab and my head, but straight piped diesels sound just pure undescribable! I have no desire to add a turbo to this engine (gentelman's bet someone will say "add a turbo" because it adds power) if I ever do turbo charge this engine it will be with twin remote turbos that would be so small they would never show any lag. The Dodge had some lag stock and when in 4wd you had to use the brake to build boost then use it again so you didn't overshoot into the danger zone.
-It will get 2.5" of lift and a front axle drop bracket to help keep the alignment "centered" in it's adjustments. The wheel wells will clear 35" tires easily in all but the most twisted up spots. Hopefully I can find someone to build me a set of softride springs that have the lift arched into them and avoid the add a leaf up front.
-Probably take the 235/85-16 E Toyo M55 tires and steel wheels off the 1986 F250 and use them on the 1992. That tire provides enough traction for the truck they are on now to the point of needing lockers to get any further. Might get a set of M55 in 255/85-16 or possibly the 285/75-16 but the ones I have now will be cheapest.
-The ARE canopy will be insulated and finished with fore-aft wood paneling cut into 2" strips and screwed to the inner roof of the canopy. I sleep curled anyways so the 6'6" bed will be just fine for me and my son for years. (my Yukon is the same way and my mom and I used the back in a parking garage overnight before)
-The E40D will be just fine and I am looking into the aftermarket shift controllers but have not picked which I want to use yet, the reviews I have read are about 70/30 in favor but some people are just never happy with the E40D because......well because nothing is ever good enough. BUt in my opinion they are the best trans once the problems have been retro fitted. It is by far the cheapest OD trans to repair from what I have gathered.
-The space between the cab and bed will probably hold a spare tire and a small platform that I can access any roof rack I add to either the cab or the canopy but if it proves usefull I may just leave the gap there? I would appreciate any input on the subject as this forum has been great for ideas.


I am waiting on time to complete the 1992 F250 as I am a stay at home dad and as few men actually get the chance to realize that is a pretty full time job in it's self, so when I take time away from my son it is generally to fix the house or go work as mechanic and I don't get any time to build "my" toy truck. But it is only time!

 

[jeep-N-montero]

Gotta love those early 90's diesels with 18-20 mpg!

 

[UHAULER]

You have to love older Ford trucks. I've had an 83 f250 4x4, 6 cyl. 4 speed, an 84 4x4 6.9 diesel, C6 ,and a 93 f250 4x4 7.3, zf 5 speed. My current truck is an 02 f350 4x4 supercab shortbed diesel but I think the 1980-1986 are the best looking.

 

[mkitchen]

I feel your pain

That is a lot of trucks. I tend to be just the opposite. I tend to keep hold of my vehicles but I can remember going through quite a few different vehicles when I was younger. Being 6'7" I certainly know your frustration in finding a vehicle that is comfortable. It seems odd to say that you bought a vehicle because it fits you (most folks would think you would be talking about fitting in with your tastes but we look for a vehicle that we can fit in) but that is a big deciding factor for us.
I currently own an 06 Tacoma and I run the seat all the way back and lean the seat back quite a bit to be able to fit under the roof. Most of my height is in torso so I need a high roof line. I also have a 2011 Honda Pilot that works pretty well. On long trips I have to make a stop and get out and stretch every couple of hours but a fellow should get out of their vehicle and loosen up anyhow, so I don't mind that.
My real love is my 71 F 250. It has a higher roof than the later models and is well built and is certainly proving durable. I am building my own camper in the back of the shell. Something simple that I can sleep comfortably in. Most folks can sleep from side to side and most campers are made with that in mind. I need a bet that is at least 7' long and I don't want anything wider than the pickup. Thoughts that I am sure that you have considered.
well good luck with your new project and I certainly agree with the one post that brought up being paid for. I think being paid for and older is better than new, fancy and in debt. take your time and you will get there.
Mikey

Here is a shot of Rueben, my 71

Here is a shot of Catsup, my Tacoma

P.S. I am curious about what vehicles that you find comfortable. I too have moved my share of seats back.

 

[chilliwak]

Welcome to the site TooTall. You would almost think you had a car dealership with all the vehicles you have owned. Thanks for posting pics and keeping us updated on your fleet. Cheers, Chilli....

 

[TooTall'sTruck]

Update on the homefront: Still playing the Stay at Home Mechanic/ College Student for now, since it is cheaper to stay at home than go and get the money rolling through the business. All in all this is a great lesson on how to live trim. So far the Obama Diet has net me 70 pounds and we should be able to survive on $33k for a family of 3, my dad is retiring and budgeted $2500 for housing monthly....hmmm keep trimming dad.

Any ways I bought most everything in 2013 to take the hit on the business and was fully prepared to move very slow on the projects but I have made progress so I will update my fleet!

#1997 GMC Yukon: this truck is still not replaceable. We spent $1497 on the 4L60E being rebuilt, I felt that the rear axle u-bolts were loose or I was riding on wrinkle wall tires. So we shut the truck down before failure and found the planetary gear "methed" out and waiting to grenade. That was $200ish, got a new TQ converter and a master rebuild kit. After about a week of town driving I had the Yukon loaded to the gills with tooling to travel 120 miles RT for profit. 10 miles into the trip my mind had already been feeling this and that...so I turned up the music and set cruise; VROOOOOMMMMM went the RPM and the TQ let go. Another week cleaning glitter and clutch we had the truck back, but it wouldn't lock up the TQ at highway speed so we got 12 MPG. Back in for it's 3rd set of OD and 4th selonoids. After that I was able to troubleshoot bad plug wires as part of my "loose u-bolts" causing a hesitation. I think we have it all good and a trip to Seattle in February will gove us highway mileage, we had 12 city and 16 hwy when I first bought it and can totally accept that for this nice of a truck/SUV/toolbox/camper/8 passanger vehicle...some pictures of the 3rd row, third row, 3 rd row, 3rdrow installed. I would truly reccomend adding the 3rd row over buying a Suburban.

 

[TooTall'sTruck]

#1995 fell apart on me, doors (for welding trade), serpentine belt system (for #1986 to replace V belt), 40/20/40 bucket front seats (for #1992), fenders (steel BAJA fender donors for #1992 to clear 255/70-22.5 Goodyear 681), hood (welding trade), fuel tanks (#1986) and of course the whole reason I bought the truck was the ARE canopy which will clean up nicely and become insulated and lined with wood strips cut from 1/8" pretty plywood, setup to look like Chriscraft (SP?) boats with TEAK finish. But I figured I could use the axle and springs and needed a way to move the bed and canopy around my house...turn it into a trailer and then sell the trailer when #1992 gets the bed and canopy ( I tell that lie to my wife, but it will probably stay around as a matching OBS trailer for #1992). I am waiting on my welder to get his machine running again so I can get the coupling fabbed, then to get it inspected and transfered so I can get the cab/engine/trans/transfer case towed to the junk yard.

It will be pretty stubby and not great to back up but I plan on using bars and pins to lock it from pivoting when I want. It will have an adjustable channel on the foremost of the trailer, which can hold a 2" ball, lunnette ring, or even be pinned to the hitch. It will get load distribution mounts on the trailer as well since it will be able to follow the Yukon easily also and load distribution in that situation will only help matters.

More as the trailer develops.

 

[TooTall'sTruck]

#1986: The shop truck sat 10 months out of 2013 and was brought to life every few months with great ease, and finally insured after the TQ in #1997 died and we had borrowed a car for the first repair but that was a hassle. I finally got most of my lighting components and wire used up!!! I had been sitting on lots of these parts deciding and planning how I wanted to set the truck up for work, and still have more to add. This forum is great for ideas!!! Still getting all the little things like the parking brake release to fully dissengage the "BRAKE" light every time and rattles here and there, but that just costs money so quit looking! Not too many pictures of it yet. But it got a friend!

Welcome to the TTT stables #1953!!!



This is the lesser service body trailer I wanted to buy from a friend, but for $300 it works darn near the same as the $600 trailer! Plus it fits the 1982 Harbor Service Body like a glove, they are both 78" wide, and 12' from ball to axle...it backs up like a dream and without adjusting my mirrors it is easily in view. I finally pushed my friend to sell because I needed more capacity when I was hauling brush and yard waste (the other large ($1000!!! HA!) income for TTT in 2013) which in the past I had used my dad's tilt flatbed. After seeing his tires rot do a full circle on the outside of the tire, I offered to buy him tires, stubborn old dudes are funny, apparently they don't build tires as good as they used to, because even with the sidewall and tread cap rotting apart, any tire I bought wouldn't be as good as those were...so I got my own trailer!

For $500-600 once set up it will hold alot more than any Sears toolbox of equal cost would; it will be:
-separate 12v battery on trailer, charged via 7pin to tow vehicle, used to supply power to test area and all gas powered starting systems
-gas powered air compressor capable of at least 10cfm to run my IR 3/4' impact for CAT engine bearings-5.5hp might barely do it, hopefully no larger
-gas powered welder/generator, not huge 300 amp welder and 3-4k generator..hopefully with 220V so it "could" support our house easily later without upgrade
-I will build a rack similar to the #1986 service body, on top it is nice to store rakes, parts, hammers bulky stuff while you are working and not worry about it being left on a bumper and lost....lesson learned on that note!
-it will house most of my shop equipment like jackstands, jacks, ramps, engine lifts and always be able to be taken to a job site and be ready to work.

The combination will be color matched when I do finaly pressure wash them and spray CAT enamel black on both boxes and repaint the hood blue. I think they should look and work well together once I get them in fresh paint.

 

[TooTall'sTruck]

And since I am updating I will show my predominant customer for the last few years...this is his first documented solo-built tower above his head.

I should get a picture of his vehicle collection...he will be as bad as I am with them...if all goes to plan!

 

[xbox73]

Executive summary of TooTall's vehicle ownership history: he likes old school Ford F250s.

 

[TooTall'sTruck]

Yeah...they are built like an anvil, don't cost anything to buy (compared to the new crap Ford sells). My eyes constantly see the trucks in backyards and fields...if I had the money I would be forever buying and fixing up for sale. Alot of people are realizing that the CCSB are not very good at true "truck work" because if you dent it you spend thousands to repair or have a beat up $40k truck!

Thanks for the comments!!

 

[TooTall'sTruck]

it must be nice to be only 6'8"

How unfortunate did you turn out being? And what's your worst daily conundrum that others below our chins never deal with? And what vehicle did you end up using?

 

[TooTall'sTruck]

Well Alexander got a new Hat!! My ex-step-dad bought an old Chevy for the 350 and it had a rack on it that I felt would serve as a good base to build off of for my spare tire carrier and something to stretch canvas or tarp across and find shelter. It will always be removable and transferable to any other 96" long truck bed, I may possible cut it up and modify it to better fit the old Ford and not be quite so high above the cab since it is built to clear a cab when mounted to a standard pickup bed rails and my service body is higher, but the height above the cab may be perfect so I can mount lights on the underside of the rack and clear the cab. time will tell and I really hate to modify it away from fitting a standard pickup. This truck will never be afraid of going down the trail to "Schmeckelsville" but the extra height of the rack may start a thinning operation, but that's what 4 low is for right?



The weekend also netted my driveway our in-laws 1980 Starcraft 1606XL, they have been holding their concrete slab down with it for the last 2-3 years and no longer have the desire to repair the camper. So for less than a trip to Costco we bought it and will clean it up and set it up for real use. My wife is not into squatting outside so this will get her and her sister out with us boys while we tent and truck camp. Plus for the cost involved I am prepared to strip the appliances out of it and sell the trailer without the goodies and play dumb if we end up not using the trailer as much as planned. Canvas is decent with a few rips near the outer edge of the forward bed.



This is a picture of my next next project after the Starcraft and 1995 White OBS Ford trailer are squared away....this one is coming for less than the cost of a Costco run also; it was a fellow I knew and was a year behind me in school. After two tours in the Marine Corp he brought back some nasty stuff and commited suicide, leaving a girlfriend and a child. I talked to his older brother about the Jeep and offered less than scrap value as that's what I have found is a way to risk as little loss as possible. So now the engine is seized from sitting since 2008, but 4.0L and AX15 are highly saleable. I plan on boring the engine .030" over and selling the engine while in the Jeep for demonstration. The N/A 617 Mercedes engine would be a neat-o swap but then the D30 and D35 are lacking...so I have the next, next, next project lined up also. The XJ uni-body can't really take V8 power very well so I have a 1991-1987 F250 with E40D and 7.3L N/A that has flats and buggered fenders, with a recently rebuilt transmission in it. I talked to the owner (70+ year old hard worker) and he wants $1500 for it because of the trans rebuild...I am letting it sit untill I can move on it and when I do he will probably accept the$500 cash and be done with it since it has been sitting for 4-5 years already. But that vintage of Ford is the best for my swap idea because the OD button is not on the shifter like in 1992+ Fords, it is a rocker switch on the dash and very easy to custom mount anywhere. So the XJ would be parted away and all that I really want is the shell and the wipers, heater all that stuff, but mounted onto the frame of the bricknose Ford. The wheel base may be a little off meaning a shortening to look like the XJ should fit....or if I can find a 4 door XJ donor for cheap I will attempt a 4 door XJ with 4 full (2 door XJ doors are made for a man to enter and exit, unlike the 4 doors that are built for toddlers) and being a unibody on top of a truck frame the roll cage would be the basic support for the body and incorporate the mounts for body to frame. I have a "paper photoshop" of my concept and will show you all what I desire!! But here is the 1992 XJ in waiting...



I know I have a problem, but admitting the problem is the first step to recovery...right?