Custom Built F-350 Quad Cab Scaler

[WheelMan]

Thought I'd share a project I've been working on for a fellow member here, that I just wrapped up.

He really liked my Harley F-350 I've been building, so I threw it out in a conversation one day that I'd love to help him build one if he ever decided to.

So he had throw some options out there for him, and I suggested we build the truck you are about to see. Not only is it exactly what I've been wanting to build for a while now, but its the ultimate looking scale truck, IMO!

So that's how this build came to be.

I suggested we start with a Trailfinder 2 kit from RC4WD


And of course some extra goodies (King Shocks, Superlift shock mounts, scale drive shafts, scale receiver hitch, etc)


A 4-Link Suspension kit, wheels, tires, and more shocks


The Receiver Hitch


Superlift mounts for dual front shocks


The saucy ultra scale driveshafts


I deanodized the King shocks (he didn't like the blue, plus it made them match the other 4 silver shocks)


So first I had to build the TF2 Chassis up in stock form with the leaf springs, just for comparison purposes


Then came the 4-Link Suspension!



-Travis

[WheelMan]

1st test fit of the quad cab body! (frame is a little short, maybe?)


Frame rails, bolted together, ready for the guillotine


Felt a slight amount of guilt for chopping such a pretty set of frame rails in half, but I got over it quickly


The frame rail extension, and new transmission/transfer case placement with some custom mounts I started making


Left side trans mount all finished






Right side trans mount done as well




Driveshafts cut to length and installed



-Travis

[WheelMan]

And the 1st test fit of the full Quad Cab & Bed on the freshly extended chassis! The body is just sitting on it with some blocks holding it in place for height (didn't have any body mounts made at this point)



-Travis

[WheelMan]

1st set of photos outside!




Made some additional frame extension pieces to stiffen up the whole area


Then of course came the spare wheel & tire, side step bars, and front tube bumper


He also sent a 2nd body he wanted to use with the truck as well


Spare wheel & tire mounted in the bed of the 2nd body


Then I finally started making some mounts to bolt the body on using the stock counter bored holes in the sides of the bodies

Rear body mounts


Bed mounts




Front body mounts



-Travis

[WheelMan]

I had to make some custom little mounts for the side step bars as well


Modified my stiffener pieces to get the side step bars up where they needed to be


Worked out perfectly to utilize the front 4-Link mounting blocks to bolt up the front ends of the side step bars


And of course my custom mounts for the rear ends of the side step bars




Underneath shot with both sides done


All body mounts, side step bars, etc, done



-Travis

[WheelMan]

Then of course the front bumper


I drilled and tapped some holes in the brush guard from the 2nd (red) body to mount the steel tube bumper to it


Then I cut the center of the tube bumper out (didn't work for what we wanted, it was made to fit a "stock" TF2 chassis)


And bolted the two together





-Travis

[WheelMan]

With all the little custom parts I made for it from just bare aluminum, some painting was definitely in order




All 4 body mounts painted and installed


Frame rail extension painted up!


And installed (looks much better)


Also painted the aluminum spacers I used to extend the links in the 4-Link suspension (spacers were just to fine tune the length of the suspension, to get it exactly where it needed to be, and to get the axles leveled out)



-Travis

[WheelMan]

The fender flares on the 2nd body needed some fixing up, so I gave them a little attention


Some dremel work on the back side to make them fit the body better, and some sanding for new paint


New paint


And they fit much better



-Travis

[WheelMan]

And last but not least, the final product of many weeks worth of work




And then a few with my Harley Truck







-Travis

[WheelMan]

I know some of you will say it needs larger tires, but he wanted the same wheels and tires I have, as he likes them so much. As far as scale goes, I think they look closer to the real deal anyways, but that's just me. I did put my Rock Beasts on it for him (like I did my Harley Truck), but he did not like the look, and I had to agree, they were just too big and ruined the look of the whole build.

The truck sits extra high because that is what he was going for, a mean, extreme, Quad Cab meant for some serious off roading. Plus, I believe he has plans to pull a trailer, and I had to make the hitch meet the height of his trailer (which has offroad wheels & tires on it as well, so it sits fairly high).

Anyways, I hope he enjoys this truck as much as I have building it. It was a ton of fun seeing it come together, and knowing I built it myself, not to mention its something that is most likely a one off, in many ways. As I've said before, this is the best part for me, building them, creating custom parts, and making things work that weren't meant to. And ending up with something that's even just a little different than what others have done, makes it even better.

I have to admit, I had some serious separation issues with this truck over the last few days, as it was very hard boxing it all up and dropping it off at FedEx after all the time I'd put into creating it...tracking down what parts we needed...all the hours just staring at it, trying to figure out what would work best, look best, and how to make something work, or what custom part I needed to make next, etc. But, I know the truck will be enjoyed, and I'd do it all over again if given the chance! I had my fun with it during the building process, so now its time for him to enjoy it for what it was built for. This is one of my favorite hobbies, and its a lot of fun! Now its time to get back to my other projects


-Travis

[FG101C]

Very nice, the trucks you build are amazing.

[nastety92]

Another nice build Travis. It came out great.

My question is what does something like this really cost? And, what do you do with it once done?

Nick

[brainanator]

Great looking rigs! I'd like to build up a scaler one of these days....eventually