Longhorn with an 8' bed???

[Hardrock2]

Hi Guys!

I've been toying with an idea for a different tow vehicle.
I like the 133" WB C-20's/C-30's for the heavy duty straight rail frames, rear leaf suspension, big brakes, towing ability, etc. but...
I really need the utility value of a pickup box, plus I just plain have to be different! LOL!

I love Longhorns, but nice ones are pricey, and they're,.....well,.....LONG!
So............
I was thinking of taking a standard 133" WB single wheel cab and chassis and adding my own custom 8' pickup box.
Basically, it's a standard 8' fleetside box with the wheelwells moved back 6", and the rear frame horns chopped 6".
Same WB as a Longhorn, but bumper to bumper, it's the same length as a 127" LWB pickup.
Standard tonneau covers and toppers will fit, and the added wheelbase will help smooth out the ride with a 5Th wheel trailer.
I should be able to use OEM lower trim. Longhorn in front, SWB in rear.
I've got enough spare parts beds to hack on.

What do ya guys think??

Would anyone notice the altered wheelbase?
Good idea, .....bad idea..........ugly.......cool...????

Mike

[hgs_notes]

It looks a little odd. Ford did something like this a few years ago with a dually truck as a concept vehicle they called the Power Stroke. It looked pretty good as a dually. Try photo shopping that idea.


HG

[67ChevyC10Stepside]

that's horrible looking...but it's yours and something totally different...so if you want it...go ahead..

[Castiron9]

I just love my Longhorn for that reason,it's LONG...and I can haul long stuff back there and I can haul alot of stuff when I have to....just my .02 cents worth.Go for what makes you happy...Just remember CACHING..$$$ CACHING...$$$ CACHING....$$$$

[rwgregory]

The silver one wouldn't look too bad if it had a blown rat motor in the front of the bed
and was made into a wheel stander. Other than that, I think it looks butt-ugly!!
That's my opinion...
rwgregory

[special-K]

I think that`s cool!It would make it a better "tow vehicle" with less overhang.I`ve seen flatbeds like that where they put a 10`bed on an 84" cab to axle(133wb)frame.

[MandarinSixSeven]

I think that looks really cool, I don't know why. It looks like a shortbox somehow, but longer.

[smokekiki]

It looks like the ones were they cut longbeds into short beds by cutting off the front.The silver one doesn't look to bad.

[stllookn]

It looks like one of those competition pulling trucks! It think it is different and unique. Go for it!

[Hardrock2]

Hmmm, 3 and 3, so far, more or less. (grin)
Actually I'm still in the middle, myself.
Strictly from a trailering standpoint, it makes all the sense in the world, but I just can't make up my mind if it will come off visually.

the Gold/White C-20 is probably the closest to what it would end up looking like.

Furd did this back in '73-'79 with their (too late) answer to the Longhorn.
They called it an F-350 Super Camper Special.
They slid the wheelwells back 6" and put a huge spare tire well in the pass. side of the bed. Great towing rig for it's time.

If I'm thinking right, all the newer Furds, whether LWB or SWB, measure the same from rear bumper to rear axle, so there is something to the ride quality and trailer towing ability of altered wheelbase trucks.
(Just can't bring myself to own a brand X, though!)

There are 5 Longhorns in my area, and not one of them is really what I would call rebuildable. One's doing duty as a portable cattle feeder, one's in the junkyard, and the other 3 are being driven into the ground.
Of all the Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda's, I shoulda kept the one Longhorn I had several years ago. I haven't seen another one like it since.

Mike

[krue]

Would probably look ok as a dually.

[hgs_notes]

I've seen this one and its not too bad. The posted price is way too high. The guy selling it is doing it on consignment and practically begged me to make an offer. I was just looking though.

Hooked on classics longhorn

HG

[Hardrock2]

That's pretty close to the one I had back in '80, '81.
1972 GMC Siera Grande 402/Th400 3:54 Dana locker, Hugger Orange/White, PS,PB, A/C, tilt, tach, buckets, AM-FM. SRW, Aux. tank........really loaded up Texas truck.
Got tired of feeding the big block and traded it for a Firebird.............
What was I thinking????
Back then, it was just another truck.
I never see many GMC Longhorns.

[68w/sbc406]

i think it looks real goofy. but it isnt my truck either

[iluvmy72]

OH NO.....please don't do that to a Long Horn....Sell you truck and get a standard longbed. You'lll have alot less work.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by iluvmy72

OH NO.....please don't do that to a Long Horn....Sell you truck and get a standard longbed. You'lll have alot less work.

??? He doesn't have a longhorn. Thats the whole point of what he's trying to do. All I can say is that it doesn't look bad.... but I can't say it looks good either. The ones with trim look a lot better than the ones without. It's your truck and torches....

[laplander]

I think it would look great, especially if you went with the dually concept and had them tucked under the bed instead of a fender. Talk about being built to tow.......
Nik

[special-K]

Isn`t the Ochre/White one the Longhorn overall length,or did you shorten it?I ask`cause I see the front seam.I think it`s cool.I like"purpose-built"trucks.Especially in use.You could also use a 133"cab/chassis truck.But`if those `Horns are real gone,I don`t see the hard.There is a waaay suweeet`72 Cheyenne Custom Camper/30 on e-bay(Calif.)right now!Just thought I`d add that.Don`t cut that one!I wish I could get it,N/R too.

[Hardrock2]

NO,NO,............NOOooo!
If I had an original Longhorn I wouldn't chop on it!
Actually, there's no truck....yet. Just a concept and a pile of parts.
I have a good 133" WB frame that I thought might serve as the basis for my new tow vehicle.
It will be a "built" truck, so I'm not going to defile any gennie original trucks.
This frame was a left over from a 9' C-30 stepside truck we parted out.

I'm not real crazy about the Western Hauler type beds, and a plain flatbed just doesn't appeal to me.
I was looking for something to pull my trailer long distance and still be somewhat comfortable. (and still look like a pickup) Pretty much a standard LWB 3/4 ton with the axle set back.

I think special-K said it best....."purpose built".
(The Ochre/White truck is a Longhorn with the rear overhang photo chopped 6".
A member's truck, I think.
I saw the Calif. Longhorn.........wish someone would have DONATED it to me!!!! LOL!)

Not a show truck, not a beater, just a nice truck built for a specific purpose. Towing.
Class V receiver hitch, goose and 5Th wheel hitches, dual batteries, dual tanks, etc.
The setback is primarily for weight distribution and towing capacity.

Initially, I really gave the "tucked" dualie idea some thought, but I drive a '92 Dualie now, and there's really not much advantage to duals. Just 2 more tires to replace, and some states have higher tolls for dual wheels.
I'm thinking 7" and 8" Alcoas with maybe 215-75-R16's up front, with 285-75-R16's in back......2 and 4 drop. Just enough to give it a good stance and keep the CG down.
Throw a set of 1-ton swaybars under both ends, and run light 3/4-ton leafs in the rear with bag overloads.
Sounding better???
If I decided against the mod bed, I suppose I could round up a Longhorn bed for it.

[Crank]

Dude. Looks like a pullin truck. Kick ass if you ask me. If ya look at any newer ford, it seems like the wheelwell was moved back toward the rear of the bed. Take ya a gander next time you're in traffic or something.
Brandon

[Canada20]

I think it looks pretty cool especially if it actually works better as an AWB truck.

Then again, I like the look of slammed LWB trucks too

Greg

[special-K]

That Ochre/White one is identical to one I had till last year.The only difference is it had CustomCamper/20 badges(had Cheyenne trim)and aluminum slots(8s&10s).BTW,I really think you should do this!

[Hardrock2]

I like the idea of the Custom Camper/20 option.
There weren't many badged that way, and with the altered wheelbase, it should leave folks scratching their heads! LOL!

It's been years since, but I think my GMC longhorn just had Camper Special script above the door handle.
What all years received the Custom Camper/20 fender badges.
I think I've seen Custom Camper/30 emblems on the 67-72 motorhomes, but were there any CC/10's made?

[Longhorn Man]

On chevy trucks, the custom camper option was just HD tires, springs shocks and a w\sway bar. It could be placed on any 10 - 30 series truck, and the cab chassis ones too.
The GMC had that same option package, however, there version of the Longhorn was called a custom camper, and got the exact same script badges.

[Robert1970C20rstbukt]

Go for it! Put a gooseneck hitch in the bed and make it a dually. I think it would look awesome.