the ultimate truck camper truck.

[towpro]

they don't make them like they used to

[valhalla360]

JRscooby wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:


You don't need a ton of torque at the crank shaft. Put it in 1st gear 4x4 low range and you can twist the axles off with a relatively weak motor.

And no even with rubber tires, it doesn't take that much to get it rolling.

In the '70s I had a few 427 GMCs (and a couple of Super Duty Fords, when SD implied 850 in VIN) I would pull out of quarry grossing 110,000 lbs. Step grade, or soft ground, put both boxes in 1. Might have to drive a stake in the ground to tell it was moving, but if your patient it will get there. But, once started downhill, would take a running automobile to pass.

When did they stop including a granny gear in trucks? As you say, you won't win any races but pretty much nothing short of the axle shearing off was going to stop it from turning the wheels.

[JRscooby]

valhalla360 wrote:


You don't need a ton of torque at the crank shaft. Put it in 1st gear 4x4 low range and you can twist the axles off with a relatively weak motor.

And no even with rubber tires, it doesn't take that much to get it rolling.

In the '70s I had a few 427 GMCs (and a couple of Super Duty Fords, when SD implied 850 in VIN) I would pull out of quarry grossing 110,000 lbs. Step grade, or soft ground, put both boxes in 1. Might have to drive a stake in the ground to tell it was moving, but if your patient it will get there. But, once started downhill, would take a running automobile to pass.

[NRALIFR]

valhalla360 wrote:

NRALIFR wrote:
Not to be disagreeable, but I don’t think so. The torque required to get 374,000 pounds sitting on rubber tires rolling even on level ground has got to be huge. Did you see the truck as it started to pull? Even a diesel locomotive has to grunt hard to get a long string of cars moving, and those are sitting on steel wheels and rails that are level.

Don’t get me wrong, that truck wouldn’t be able to pull a load like that up any kind of grade for very long. I was just impressed that it was able to get it started without the road being littered with tranny parts. Who knows, maybe it did and they just cut that part out. :W

:):)

You don't need a ton of torque at the crank shaft. Put it in 1st gear 4x4 low range and you can twist the axles off with a relatively weak motor.

And no even with rubber tires, it doesn't take that much to get it rolling.

Yeah, you’re right. I’m surprised VW didn’t respond with a commercial of their own doing it with a beetle. It coulda done it.

:):)

[ppine]

One ton diesel with DRW is the right answer.

[specta]

I wont diss on the pickup in the OPs video.

Still impressive no matter how you look at it.

The beefed up Dodge was impressive too.

[specta]

Grit dog wrote:
Need the “like” button for spectras last post! That’s some serious wheelin for a big truck on stock suspension!
Idk about new trucks not being that tough. I think you’ve already proved that wrong. Your white truck is still basically like new with how many miles.
Bottom line, “most” trucks are durable. The biggest variable is how they’re taken care of...

Thanks. :B

I took good care of both of them and they both served me well.

I actually marvel at my 2011.

[valhalla360]

NRALIFR wrote:
Not to be disagreeable, but I don’t think so. The torque required to get 374,000 pounds sitting on rubber tires rolling even on level ground has got to be huge. Did you see the truck as it started to pull? Even a diesel locomotive has to grunt hard to get a long string of cars moving, and those are sitting on steel wheels and rails that are level.

Don’t get me wrong, that truck wouldn’t be able to pull a load like that up any kind of grade for very long. I was just impressed that it was able to get it started without the road being littered with tranny parts. Who knows, maybe it did and they just cut that part out. :W

:):)

You don't need a ton of torque at the crank shaft. Put it in 1st gear 4x4 low range and you can twist the axles off with a relatively weak motor.

And no even with rubber tires, it doesn't take that much to get it rolling.

[valhalla360]

noteven wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:

NRALIFR wrote:
Three-quarter ton, with a 350 CID V8. That’s pretty impressive even if it was just level ground.

Not really. On level ground, it doesn't take much to get a lot of weight rolling.

Now if they gave a 10sec 0-60 time, I would be impressed...or heck even climbing a 2% grade...but just getting it rolling on level ground isn't much of a test.

Dodge tows a logging truck up hill.

Video claims to be a modified cummins dyno'd at 581hp & 1357 lb-ft...That's pretty comparable to your average semi-tractor power output, so for a short distance in low gear, not too surprising he could do it.

So that is kind of impressive but wildly different from a 70's vintage 350 that might be putting out 250hp and a fraction of the torque.

[JIMNLIN]

specta wrote:
I'm grateful that they don't build them like they used to.

X2.
Made a living back in that era using mostly GM and a couple of Ford 454/460 one ton DRW truck pulling heavy pintle/GN trailers. Godz those things rode rough...4-6 mpgs....9-11 leaf in aux/main spring pack....very short spring length.
Very poor braking performance....cooling issues... etc. Good for 150k-175k miles before worn completely out.


However for a 3/4 ton 4wd carrying a truck camper or pulling a rv/non rv rec trailer or off roading in the tulies they were tough.
My first new 3/4 ton 4wd was a red Super Cheyenne 5.7/ TH400 4.10 gears. Of all the many trucks I've owned since my 1st in '62 I would love to have one just like it now.

[Grit_dog]

jaycocreek wrote:
Had a 1974 GMC with the 454 for years..Awesome truck..

Dads second truck when I was growing up was a ‘74 Camper Special 454. As a little kid I loved that truck. So did dad I’m pretty sure. It was our hot rod, complete with dual 3” chrome side pipes!
Sadly it was a pile of rust in under 10 years.... thanks Chicago!

[Grit_dog]

Need the “like” button for spectras last post! That’s some serious wheelin for a big truck on stock suspension!
Idk about new trucks not being that tough. I think you’ve already proved that wrong. Your white truck is still basically like new with how many miles.
Bottom line, “most” trucks are durable. The biggest variable is how they’re taken care of...

[jaycocreek]

Had a 1974 GMC with the 454 for years..Awesome truck..

[mkirsch]

towpro wrote:
they don't make them like they used to

Thank God for that.

Those trucks were rusted out in 3 years from new. Dad putting new skins on the front fenders of his 1978 GMC was an annual ritual.

[specta]

Grit dog wrote:

specta wrote:
I'm grateful that they don't build them like they used to.

Eh they’re pretty tough.
Redoing a 86 Camper Special right now. Super solid truck.



I love that old commercial btw. Wish ours was a 70s model!

I bought this 1979 F-260 Ranger XLT new in June 1979.





I bought that truck to take off road. I didn't want to buy a used one because I didn't want one that had been beat. :B

I added a propane dual fuel conversion, a Detroit Locker in the rear Dana 60 and a Ford Track Loc in the front Dana 44.



Here it is when I was done with it, 34 years and 287,000 miles later.

I doubt that my current Chevy 2500HD could take the amount of abuse my '79 took.

There's just soo many things that have been soo greatly improved over the years.

[JRscooby]

LOL. For a few weeks in '68 I was pulling 1 trailer load like that with I6 GMC. When I asked if the old truck had enough power for the load was told Mostly you're going down hill. Pulled into the yard after dark, saw all the drums glowing. Thought about how I worked to save brakes for most of night. Never showed up again.