1,390 mile test drive - 72 GMC K2500 Custom Camper Sierra Grande

[tev]

Just drove this from Vegas this June to Austin via Marfa. It's a Fremont built truck that lived around Sacramento before I got it. I'm third owner as far as I know. Story was that it was garaged by the second owner since 1976. I could at least verify the 76 date as it came with a 1976 CA. title - tiny thing. Anyway, it was always a dry Ca truck and now its in central Texas. Should stay dry for a long time.

I grew up with these truck in south Texas. Most were 4x4. I've owned a 69 C-10 stepside shortbed three-on-the-tree since 97, but the small bed, 1/2 ton payload and 250 kinda limited my ability to haul soil and gravel or tow much. I do agree with my friend, a retired mechanic, when he described that straight 6 as bulletproof. I dont think that engine has been rebuilt since it left the factory. Still going strong.

I wasn't looking to replace the C10, but when I saw this truck it's exactly what I've wanted since I was a boy. 3/4 ton, 4x4, 350, auto 350 trans, heavy duty front and rear leaf springs, Sierra Grande and Custom Camper. I like dark olive.

According to this review, Custom Camper 4x4 means 4:10 gears: http://www.fourwheeler.com/features/...972-gmc-k2500/

So when I picked it up in Vegas I bit the bullet and bought some Ford 16 inch 8 bolts and mounted BFG 285/75 on em, to keep rpms lower. Threw the 16.5" orig. wheels and 29.5" tires in the back and hauled em back down to Austin. We also added a softopper for camping. Camped in the back of the truck and there was plenty of room with the gate up for me and my wife. Huge bed on that thing, which is what I wanted.

Went through Flagstaff and camped there at the KOA. Next day, truck flooded in Quemada and I wasn't sure what the problem was, but didn't like gas pouring on the exhaust manifold so we waited that out and figured out it was altitude. Need to put a pressure regulator on it and replace rubber fuel hose with steel lines, among other things (I think the rear springs are tired). Other than that the trip was good, just added some fluids and lucas gear oil and we did fine. I think we hit 10 mpg regardless of terrain. Kept it at 60 most of the time.

PO made some mods that I can live with even if I'd prefer a totally original truck: replaced 350 with a 350 crate about 10 years ago, new stereo that I think involved a dash cut, speakers in doors, sliding rear window, and spray in bed liner. This is going to be a camping and work truck, so its all ok. Totally happy with the truck so far, but it seems a little underpowered even with new carb, new intake and headers.

https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/f...mNSVWVtMVdBOGM

[57taskforce]

Very cool story! We love pics around here! Dark olive is the same color as my K/20 so id love to see yours!

[71swb4x4]

That sounds like a very nice truck. Thanks for sharing your story, it sounds like a great trip! What a way to break in a new truck.
As already stated, post pictures when you can.

[centuryhouse]

I can't see the pic for some reason!

Sounds great though, can't wait to see it.

[tev]

The link at the bottom of my post has some before and after pics and some trip pics. While we were in marfa, we folded the softopper forward and helped move some fiberglass hottubs for a friend's birthday party.

Here's the link again. Im having problems re-sizing my pics.

https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/f...mNSVWVtMVdBOGM

[RedRoad]

link doesnt work, not a public folder

[tev]

Originally Posted by RedRoad

link doesnt work, not a public folder

Just changed the setting to public. Will still try to post a few. Thanks.

[DeadheadNM]

Excellent buy!

[blue 72 gmc 4x4]

I think I may have seen you when you came through flag! Actually may have been right behind you in a white 69' Chevy. Green GMC with california plates on it with a soft camper shell? If so nice truck!

Edit, saw the link for the pics, yep that was you. Again nice truck.

[jocko]

WOW, that's nice. Looks like one of Joes Junk's four eyed cousins! Congrats.

[68panelman]

Real nice!!!

[tev]

Post tires. Front picture is with a half yard of soil. I don't think a 3/4 ton with HD springs should sag that much. Thinking about a Tuff Country HD leaf.

[tev]

Originally Posted by blue 72 gmc 4x4

I think I may have seen you when you came through flag! Actually may have been right behind you in a white 69' Chevy. Green GMC with california plates on it with a soft camper shell? If so nice truck!

Edit, saw the link for the pics, yep that was you. Again nice truck.

That's right. Saw yours too. Was that when the train had us stopped? We had a nice time in Flagstaff. The people who own the beer garden invited us to camp out in their lot, but we opted for the KOA. The softopper turns the truck into a nice camper.

[57taskforce]

Beautiful truck! Hugger used to be my favorite color on these trucks untill I got mine. I absolutley love dark olive poly now!

[Sicklajoie]

Man that is one sharp truck!!

[racerop]

Nice looking truck! I really like the tire wheel combination. What size and make are the tires?

[centuryhouse]

Originally Posted by blue 72 gmc 4x4

I think I may have seen you when you came through flag! Actually may have been right behind you in a white 69' Chevy. Green GMC with california plates on it with a soft camper shell? If so nice truck!

Edit, saw the link for the pics, yep that was you. Again nice truck.

What a cool coincidence!!

Great looking truck, my favorite color for old Chevy & GMC trucks.

[tev]

Originally Posted by racerop

Nice looking truck! I really like the tire wheel combination. What size and make are the tires?

I wanted to stick with the original 16.5 wheels but there ain't much tire-wise between 30s and 37s in that wheel diameter. The seller mounted 29.5" tires on those wheels. Might be correct but I wanted bigger tires and figured it would help with 4:10 gears.

I did homework on this board and thanks to some knowledgeable help figured out that ford 8 lug 16" wheels before 90 (as I recall) fit perfectly - including the caps. So I bought some off eBay and shipped em to vegas.

So wheels are ford 16x7s 8 lugs with hubcap bumps. Tires are BFG TA KO2s in 285/75 R16. Load range E. Max psi is 80. With 7" wheels I run them at 60 psi.

I do like hugger orange. I think the truck in that first link is that color. Thanks for all the help on this forum.
Posted via Mobile Device

[racerop]

Originally Posted by tev

I wanted to stick with the original 16.5 wheels but there ain't much tire-wise between 30s and 37s in that wheel diameter. The seller mounted 29.5" tires on those wheels. Might be correct but I wanted bigger tires and figured it would help with 4:10 gears.

I did homework on this board and thanks to some knowledgeable help figured out that ford 8 lug 16" wheels before 90 (as I recall) fit perfectly - including the caps. So I bought some off eBay and shipped em to vegas.

So wheels are ford 16x7s 8 lugs with hubcap bumps. Tires are BFG TA KO2s in 285/75 R16. Load range E. Max psi is 80. With 7" wheels I run them at 60 psi.

I do like hugger orange. I think the truck in that first link is that color. Thanks for all the help on this forum.
Posted via Mobile Device

cool thanks for the quick reply!