Super Tow

Many of the wild custom trucks you see featured on the pages of Truckin' magazine are sick, slammed show vehicles. But some are also serious weekend workhorses pulling double duty, such as towing some awesome custom boat to a H20 paradise. Let's face it: being cool is all about projecting an image, weather it's a river-rippin' boat or a stylin' custom truck. Why not have the best of both worlds as you roll down the interstate, anticipating another wet-'n'-wild weekend with friends and who-knows-who?

Truckin' magazine's celebrated editor, Steve Warner, made a pleasurable journey for a day of play on San Diego's Coronado Bay. After arriving, Warner hooked up with Ken Nothomb and the crew from Dick Simon Marine in Dana Point, California, who had rolled down the picturesque Pacific coast in a '01 Ford F-350 Super Duty SuperCab dualie. The mighty six-wheeler was sporting a colorful rooster tail and a custom paint scheme with a matching Baja 33-foot Outlaw powerboat in tow.

This '01 Ford F-350 Super Duty SuperCab dualie is known for its incredible power, versatility, and comfort. All of these features were tested while towing the Baja 33-foot Outlaw. Ford's F-350 dualie is capable of towing a conventional trailer as heavy as 10,000 pounds and 13,600 pounds when towing a fifth-wheel trailer. Towing is effortless when the Gale Bank's Engineering-equipped 7.3L 444ci Power Stroke Turbo Diesel V-8 easily flexes its muscle. Backed by a 4R100 four-speed Automatic Transmission, this engine/transmission combination produces nearly 300 hp and 700 lb-ft of torque for awesome low-end torque. A Gear Vendors overdrive unit that is run in tandem with the factory automatic four-speed transmission produces more gear, which is essential during heavy towing.

Race Car Dynamics (RCD) from San Diego is responsible for installing its 5-inch lift, giving the F-350 an increased vertical stance, taking the worry out of high-centering this ride. To absorb the rough terrain and the heavy towing loads, four (two per side) Bilstein 7100 series gas-pressurized reservoir shocks are bolted up underneath. A pair of Firestone Ride-Rite air springs assists the rear suspension with added muscle when under heavy towing. A pair (two per side) of Bilstein 9100 series gas-pressurized reservoir shocks controls the suspension action up front. Bridgestone MLX P285/75R19.5 rubber (six tires) adhere to the road surface, regardless of weather. The Bridgestone rubber encases the APP forged one-piece polished aluminum 16.75x19.5-inch wheels.

GeoGraphics Custom Paint teamed up with the guys at Triton Imaging Vinyl Graphics to create the wet-'n'-wild rooster tail paintjob of both the Super Duty and the Baja Outlaw. As the doors open, automatic Kodiak Steps swing out to assist loading and unloading occupants. Securing the audio thunder-box is a stylish Snug Top Snuglid Bedcover.

KC HiLites Auxiliary lights, mounted on the RCD lightbar atop the stock chrome front bumper, brighten the darkness. Streetglow purple neon illuminates the earth below with an intense neon glow. In the rear, a Class III hidden hitch makes hookin' up the Pacific Redline tri-axle simple.

Its spacious interior is laid out in leather that covers the seats, the door panels, and the console, and a stylish Deco-Tech Photogensis burl wood treatment enhances the dash. Listening entertainment was created by the team at ThunderWorks Audio/Video. They installed an Eclipse head unit, a CD player, and a six-disc changer, and the massive 3,200 watts of power is produced by pair of Autobahn A660TX amps and a single A1800ID amp. The studio sound purges from a bed full of speakers and thundering subwoofers. There's no doubt: This is defintely the ultimate tow fun package. All that's missing is H20 and babes.