Ford F350 - Trail Duty

So, when the talented crew at Fabtech attacked this monster-sized F-350, the plan was to build a big lifted truck with big tires, but to design it in such a way as to make sure it was usable. This is no pretty show truck that doesn't function in the real world; this thing can be driven on the street, jumped in the dirt, and (in general) treated badly. This thinking set the truck apart from the usual high-profile show-truck buildup.

The one feature that surely turns heads wherever this truck goes is the rear steer. Fabtech had a custom-built rearend made to accomplish this difficult task. It used a combination of OE parts to achieve the goal. Dana Super 60 steering knuckles and end forgings (from an F-550 front axle) were combined with a Dana 80 rear axle center section by Dynatrac in Huntington Beach, California. It's all held together with a three-link suspension system using Fabtech's Dirt Logic 4.0 coilovers. Precision Gear supplied the 5.38 ring and pinion, for both front and rear, and everything can be locked with the ARB Air Lockers in both ends. Fabtech whittled out custom billet aluminum differential covers for both ends.

The front end is just about as sophisticated. There's a Super Dana 60 front axle and Dirt Logic 4.0 coilovers. Whereas, a custom four-link suspension provides 16 inches of travel (same travel as the rear), while Dirt Logic 2.25-inch bumpstops are there for protection when the driving gets a bit rough. Dirt Logic steering stabilizers also control excessive shake at the front. Howe provided its hydraulic-assisted ram steering for the front and the fully hydraulic dual-ram steering for the rear.

Boyd Coddington supplied the 20x10-inch forged wheels with beadlocks, which were wrapped in Michelin 15.5/80R20 XL tires. With that kind of rubber on all four corners, there was no room in the wheelwells. So, Hanneman supplied its fiberglass fenders, bed sides, and hood to help that situation. Custom aluminum inner fenderwells were fabricated at Fabtech for a cleaner presentation. Elsewhere inside the engine bay, Gale Banks Engineering unloaded a truckload of product at Fabtech's shop and virtually everything ended up being used. Fabtech built a front guard for the truck, then added PIAA auxiliary lights. Behind the guard, a new billet grille from Precision really adds some visual pop. The bed received a spray-in liner from Rhino Manufacturing, but it left the custom Fuel Safe fuel cell uncovered.

With all the flash on the outside of the truck, the Fabtech crew didn't forget the interior. Joe's Upholstery did the custom upholstery and used Gemico's interior dash and trim. Al & Ed's installed the audio and visual aids, while Vivo handled the MTX audio system. The lasting impression this truck leaves on people is certainly aided by the bold graphic design, from Jerry Lathrop Design, as well as from paint artist Craig Haynie, who used House of Kolor paints).