longroad2nowhere
Active member
My fiance and I spent just under two years living in a sprinter van, and we recently purchased a new house and wanted to build a new vehicle that was a little more burly and a little less full-time living. We missed having 4x4 capabilities in the sprinter. We also do design and build for a living, so we wanted to build a flatbed camper completely from scratch. Ive had a thing for OBS Fords for a minute now. I wanted an F350, but I also wanted an extended cab, not a full crew cab, which didnt exist on the 350. I decided I'd find an F250 and swap a dana 60, essentially making it the extended cab 350 of my dreams. I began my hunt, and Californians wanted ridiculous amounts of money for them since they are the last years of presmog diesel here. I widened my search, and found myself a beautiful champagne colored two toned F250 up in the Portland area. After a few phone calls I booked a flight and made my way to pick her up.
1997 F250 7.3 powerstroke 4x4. 178k miles and newly rebuilt transmission.
Finding a spot to camp halfway back to LA.
As soon as I got back I got to ordering parts and searching for an axle. I ordered up a sky off road reverse shackle kit and 4" lift and some heavy duty springs. I eventually found a pretty low mileage dana 60 locally for insanely cheap just when I was about to give up my search. I also ordered some method wheels and 35" ridge grapplers, and so began the swap..... I unfortunately did not take many photos during the process. (I did document a lot of it on Instagram stories and it is saved in my history @longroadtonowhere) If anyone has done the shackle reversal kit, its quite the pain in the ass. Getting all the old rivets out was not fun, it took a couple days, but we got it done.
baja style mid swap.
Swap complete. One good looking if you ask me. Also added bilstein shocks all around. She sat like this for a couple months.
Last week I swapped the original headlights for some new one from CP addicts and swapped everything to LED. Also added a 30" light bar.
This old truck can now see in the dark again. I also installed a redhead steering box last week, and she really drives like a dream now. Im very happy with it.
Next step is the flatbed, which I intend to build this weekend. I got the bed off on sunday and got aluminum ordered so I can get it built over the long weekend. The plan is to do a spring mounted flatbed.
As she sits currently. Awaiting her flatbed. This is where I'm at right now.
After the flatbed, the idea is to do a hard side pop up camper inspired by an alaskan camper, but my own little touches on it, and hopefully a little lighter. I will try and continue to update this thread with progress. If you'd like follow my instagram @longroadtonowhere as I am pretty good about documenting things there. Feel free to hit me with any other questions or comments. Thanks for checking it out.
1997 F250 7.3 powerstroke 4x4. 178k miles and newly rebuilt transmission.
Finding a spot to camp halfway back to LA.
As soon as I got back I got to ordering parts and searching for an axle. I ordered up a sky off road reverse shackle kit and 4" lift and some heavy duty springs. I eventually found a pretty low mileage dana 60 locally for insanely cheap just when I was about to give up my search. I also ordered some method wheels and 35" ridge grapplers, and so began the swap..... I unfortunately did not take many photos during the process. (I did document a lot of it on Instagram stories and it is saved in my history @longroadtonowhere) If anyone has done the shackle reversal kit, its quite the pain in the ass. Getting all the old rivets out was not fun, it took a couple days, but we got it done.
baja style mid swap.
Swap complete. One good looking if you ask me. Also added bilstein shocks all around. She sat like this for a couple months.
Last week I swapped the original headlights for some new one from CP addicts and swapped everything to LED. Also added a 30" light bar.
This old truck can now see in the dark again. I also installed a redhead steering box last week, and she really drives like a dream now. Im very happy with it.
Next step is the flatbed, which I intend to build this weekend. I got the bed off on sunday and got aluminum ordered so I can get it built over the long weekend. The plan is to do a spring mounted flatbed.
As she sits currently. Awaiting her flatbed. This is where I'm at right now.
After the flatbed, the idea is to do a hard side pop up camper inspired by an alaskan camper, but my own little touches on it, and hopefully a little lighter. I will try and continue to update this thread with progress. If you'd like follow my instagram @longroadtonowhere as I am pretty good about documenting things there. Feel free to hit me with any other questions or comments. Thanks for checking it out.
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