neohic

Welcome back! Looks like a good start to another rescue.

I’d say the meat and potatoes of using a stock frame is adding crossmembers where they need to be for pulling in the center. Here’s a look back at how I did it for Adam’s (originally Rob’s) trailer... Don’t forget fish plates to beef up the factory frame. I put one between the new crossmember at the rear of the tongue and the frame to spread out the load.

Had a friend come over this morning to hang insulation with me. Still need to finish framing the gable ends and then hang plastic sheet and nailers on the walls. I’m not too far off from framing the loft and air compressor closet. I need power soon.

They’re great!!... you should buy mine.

^Thanks! I’m getting excited to start on the interior. As for today... ... I’m all trenched in!

Only a face a mother cooks love.

Let’s hear it for the “old guys”!!

I’m not Pete, but I also have such technologies.

Those people are suckers. It was cold this morning so I didn’t get out there right away. Managed another 10’!

So... moving on. With the change in the weather it’s time to be thinking about what’s next. I figure that if I’ve got insulation on standby and conduit trenched in, then I can still pick at things when I get warmer days this winter. Throughout this whole project I’ve been taking advantage of the local building supply that’s all of a half mile away from the house. Today it only took me three trips but the insulation was taken care of. Then there’s the conduit. When the concrete was poured I thought ahead to go under the sidewalk next to the shop. Since then there’s been a stake marking where that stopped. Needless to say, digging a trench in a mountain town is no joke. I only got about a third of the way. It’s slow going. Still small amounts of progress.

Not a whole lot... just difficult to find.

First generation Dakota wheels.

Good looking truck, Adam. How many miles on it?

Chrome trim in good shape is a bit tough to find ESPECIALLY around the corner marker lights. I’d try and keep them chrome and sell them if you can.

They should but... ya know... owners a d whatnot.

Welcome!

Truth.

It’s not as it’s too valuable to me right now as storage. Still planning on bringing it home this year and I’ll probably mull things over this winter.

Current pictures of the truck are shown with a bed full of parts. It does have a slight rake to it that aren’t really presented well right now. I agree though... they do look bigger than a 31.

Those are 31s from Treadwright. Hopefully this truck is coming home soon. I need to find a good weekend to run through everything since its been sitting for so long. Then the plan is to hitch up to the Comansion and make the hour or so trek.

... or just buy mine.

We've all seen the VW Beetle or PT Cruiser sitting on a Blazer frame before... and they're kinda lame. I really dig a well build trar. For example... ... Dave Chappelle's Pacer sitting on an airbag/leaf spring suspension, a TJ Rubicon 44 in the front, and an XJ 44 in the rear. What Dave did that's so cool is that he utilized what was already there instead of just plopping it on some other 4x4 chassis. So rad!! I can't help but think of more unconventional vehicles to start with for a future wheeling rig build. Why just recycle another XJ with all that the big kids are doing these days with axle and engine swaps and full custom suspensions? Why not start with something a little more creative if you'd just do the same mods anyhow? Here's what my head has been building lately... Starting with a first generation Volkswagen New Beetle: 4.8 or 5.3 GM truck engine backed by a 4L60 trans... yup... pretty much bread and butter at this point Late '70s Ford Dana 44/9" axles... also bread and butter Short coilovers on all four corners Three link front with trackbar front and rear (I love the packaging available going this route) Super low COG and 35s Full tube chassis to house everything under that adorable round body Now, obviously there's a TON of fabrication involved with doing all that but I circle back to the amount to properly do this in any other vehicles. I know that I could do it. What I'm curious is if anyone else here has a "holy $#!&... WHY?" kind of build in their head. Trar? Something else? Who else here has been doing their fair share of web building and web wheeling?

I did the same things years ago and regretted it everyday after. Eventually I just put a set of uncut flares on it along with the front valance and factory bumper. This is prior to paint but you can barely tell: With the bumper pushed all the way in the gap closed up between the flare and the bumper cap.

Looks to me like Patriot blue.

GREAT looking truck. Lots of work put into it. https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/d/castle-rock-1988-jeep-comanche-with/7222489102.html