1 ton hauler potential build

[dirtwork]

I have been thinking about building a 1 ton dually flatbed truck for some time. I would ideally like to have a 4x4 "k30" flatbed daully.

What would be the best way to achieve this. 1. Swap the 69-72 cab and front clip on to a 77-87 k30 chassis, or somehow swap in a front drive axle trans and t-case into a c30? I guess the last option and probably the simplest way would be to find a k20 and convert it a dually from there.

Thoughts? I have even thought about a sqaure body k30, but a 69-72 is much cooler. I still may just stick with 2wd as it will see no winter use anyhow, but lookin for ideas. I know of a 70 c30 motorhome that would make a nice candidate to start with.

[OldCreek]

I would do the K20 conversion...

Head on over to the 4x4 section....lots of info and project builds over there!


Although, with the C30 you'll get a taller/stout frame in the mid to rear section and probably really thick leaf stack and overloads, etc. Also you'll probably get a longer wheelbase...

[KrazyRay]

If you want the longer wheel base, go with the C 30 motorhome. You can add the front spring hangers to convert to a K 30. If you want the 127" wheel base, go with a K 20 and convert to a dually.

[Mike C]

KrazyRay has the easiest solution. Except for rear shock mounts, the K30 stuff will bolt right up to a 67-72 K20.

[special-K]

I would buy a 77-89 K/30 DRW and swap the cab. There will be no cab height issues vs bed height that have to be dealt with on pickups and you can locate the wheel well centered on the front wheel because you don't have to worry about the gap between the pickup bed and cab.

[special-K]

Maybe not the cheapest,though. By the time you buy a 1/2 decent 67-72 K/20 (or K/10 since you're swapping axles),the 1t axles,and springs you'll spend more money than buying a crappy looking '77-up K/30 DRW and an average C/10 for the cab. Heck,maybe the K/30 will already have the bed you want.
I guess I'm going by what I would want. I'd like a 67-72 K/30 dump truck and/or service body truck. I figure I can buy the truck I want in a '77-up and swap the cab & clip. That's the easiest and cheapest for me.

[dirtwork]

Inp.ut so far is along the lines I was thinkin too. Like Tim said, the tough part with a k20 conversion, although the eaiest is the cost of a nice k20 to start with. If it's real nice i'd have a tough time yankin the bed off.

77-87 squares are pretty plentiful here, and many are in rough shape so using one for the chassis would be affordable. One of the issues I was afraid of on on a cab swap was getting body to line up, but didnt it didn't occur to me that with a flatbed that issue is easily solved.

I will go look at the motorhome this week again. The camper body is in bad shape, so it would be perfect for either 2wd flatbed, or use the cab and clip for conversion.

Whichever route i take I want to make it very reliable as I want to use it often for towing our equipment around. The next issue will be small block vs. big block. I have a couple newer rigs but am gettin burned out with high costs of purchase and maintenace. Plus a real nice old truck is like advetising in itself.