Heavy duty work truck

[72kool]

Since coming to a roadblock with my build, I've had some time to think and in that time my needs have changed some.

I want to ask your opinions on what you may do on my situation. The pickup I have is a 72 GMC C20. I need a truck that can haul two cars frequently and a few times a year, haul 3 cars. Total load weight will be 15-18k pounds and over long distance of a few hundred miles.

Also want to go 4x4 while I'm at it because I sold my 4x4 and where I haul these cars, it is a must.

My plan is to forgo the current chassis and body swap to a full setup. I was thinking of finding a wrecked ram 5500. What would you use? I also considered a c50 chassis but they are not highway friendly and also not 4x4. Any experience with this and what would be a good setup to look at? Fab work is no concern. Want to hear any and all opinions

End goals are: tow 18k load at 70mph frequently
4x4
Daily work truck

[palallin]

My opinion (remember: you asked for it) is to buy a new truck and leave the '72 alone.

[Ironangel]

Originally Posted by palallin

My opinion (remember: you asked for it) is to buy a new truck and leave the '72 alone.

^^^ ^^^ What he said! I purchased my second 72 LWB C/10 a few years ago from a farm near Minden, Nebraska. It has the wood bed and factory leaf overloads with the 12-bolt coil rear I was looking for. I installed 3/4 ton coils and a 10,000lb 5/16" receiver hitch that I beefed up and bolted to the frame upper and lower rails. I also installed an Eaton Posi with 3:73 gears and rebuilt the Turbo 350 with a stage 4 kit designed for pulling. Dropped a rebuilt 350 small block with a Lunati 252/262 Voodoo cam and lifters for low to midrange grunt. I use that truck as my daily driver and get great mileage at 13 to 14 mpg. It also pulls my tandem 20' foot tilt trailer hauling my other 72 LWB truck all over the country to shows and racing events. That truck hauls/pulls 7000lbs effortlessly and will pass 1 ton haulers on long upgrades at 70 mph with ease, I just wave as I go by...But I also know the trucks limits and hauling anything more than one vehicle would require at least a one ton chassis. An 80's one ton dually 4x4 with a Dana 60 front would work with minimal mods for a body swap. A GM body on a Mopar chassis would be sacrilegious, unless a 426 Hemi were involved...

[special-K]

Getcha one of them Isuzu or GMC/Chrevrolet diesel cabover trucks and use that or use that chassis/drivetrain under your creation

[72kool]

I will state this, I am not opposed to gas, it is easier to work on and cheaper. Not a bad idea for the cab over chassis. I was thinking along the lines of a diesel engine simply put they are better for continuous heavy towing. My idea is find a full chassis with everything ready to go and just body swap.

Reason I'm going this route and not leaving the truck alone is I can't let her sit any longer and not fix it up. But it doesn't meet my needs so instead of spending my money on a different truck and my 72 having to wait longer, I'll just fix her up to meet my needs ��

[HO455]

Sound like you know what you want and should get started immediately!
Have you looked through the diesel conversion threads?


https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...play.php?f=240

[Barnfind46]

If you choose to convert your truck for heavy duty towing,would be very interested. If possible,do a build thread with your progress.

[72 tigger]

I built this 16 years ago to pull my trailers. I bought a rolled 02 Dodge and mounted the 72 body on it. It’s worked out well

[72kool]

Originally Posted by 72 tigger

I built this 16 years ago to pull my trailers. I bought a rolled 02 Dodge and mounted the 72 body on it. It’s worked out well

Could you give me some details on the build? How was it? Anything super difficult about it? Anything you could tell me would be really appreciated

[1972RedNeck]

Originally Posted by 72kool

Could you give me some details on the build? How was it? Anything super difficult about it? Anything you could tell me would be really appreciated

Agreed.

[72 tigger]

I’m terrible at documenting and photographing my projects. The most difficult part was sorting out the wiring and the grill/radiator support area. I used the Dodge wiring harness and combined the GM terminals with it. I cut around 12” out of the frame to come up with the 127” WB. I fabricated all the body mounts and fuel tank. Spent about 5 months building it

[notsolo]

Looks like Tigger has pulled off the best of both, as our friend says we could have bought new, but we wanted to drive something Cool!