'89 R3500 Crew Cab 2wd to 4wd conversion & beyond

[mrk5]

Did some snow wheeling yesterday. It wouldn't be a snow run without some new body damage.



Pretty sure it'll mostly pop out.

In the summer time this obstacle is no big deal, but not in the winter.

At about 1:22, look closely at the rear tire. It's almost completely folded under the wheel. I feel like I remember the tire shop telling me the outer bead was pretty tight.

 

[obijuank5]

Every time I see crew cab wheelin videos I think I would love the wheelbase and cuss the wheelbase at the same time.

 

[doubletrouble]

I told you the outer lip of the wheel was almost touching the ground.

 

[mrk5]

Every time I see crew cab wheelin videos I think I would love the wheelbase and cuss the wheelbase at the same time.

Most times I like it. Situation like that first part of the video when the truck slid sideways would have freaked me out in the K5, but doesn't bother me much in the crew cab. Lots of jeeps and other short wheelbase rigs have flopped on that obstacle.

The spot on the trail where I tagged the rear door would have gotten most any vehicle. It was a bend in the trail with solid ice under the snow and a clump of trees on the inside radius. @Raggedy_Ann watched @doubletrouble and I slide into the tree, so he avoided it by going high and fast around the corner. Then we thought he was going to slide right into us as the ice continued a good way down the trail after the corner to where we had stopped.

I told you the outer lip of the wheel was almost touching the ground.

I remembered you said that so I was watching the video for it.

 

[Kay86K5]

Every time I see crew cab wheelin videos I think I would love the wheelbase and cuss the wheelbase at the same time.

There’s always gonna be a time where long wheelbase helps you, and will hurt you too. But same thing goes for short wheelbase too. There’s never a magic number for wheelbase. That’s the fun of wheeling, see what vehicles make it up what obstacle. I just love seeing cool stuff on the trail that doesn’t start with a J and end with a K

 

[sweetk30]

to bad your so far away . . . i have 2 almost mmint crew cab / burban doors complete .

oh but wait @kennyw is coming out and back . . . maybe he can haul them if you wana wheel and deal on these .

and i miss the crew cab days . . and wish i could have finished project STUBBY crew cab on 133" w.b.

 

[Kay86K5]

Did some snow wheeling yesterday. It wouldn't be a snow run without some new body damage.

View attachment 363276

Pretty sure it'll mostly pop out.

In the summer time this obstacle is no big deal, but not in the winter.

At about 1:22, look closely at the rear tire. It's almost completely folded under the wheel. I feel like I remember the tire shop telling me the outer bead was pretty tight.

Is that the start of Spring Creek?

 

[doubletrouble]

Is that the start of Spring Creek?

Yes that’s the rock face at the beginning.

 

[regal403]

Looks like fun!

 

[bmxbryant9]

Man I wanna come wheel CO so bad!

 

[SpeedlabDan]

I don't think I'm an experienced wheeler enough to tackle that in my crew cab but I'd love to try it looks Hella fun!

 

[ktmoutfront]

Need more tire speed to dry them off and make them sticky.

Wait. Sorry. That's how I wheel.

Looked like fun.

 

[mrk5]

to bad your so far away . . . i have 2 almost mmint crew cab / burban doors complete .

oh but wait @kennyw is coming out and back . . . maybe he can haul them if you wana wheel and deal on these .

and i miss the crew cab days . . and wish i could have finished project STUBBY crew cab on 133" w.b.

I actually have a set courtesy of @Capt Ron but every time I think I should put them on, something like this happens. It's those damn snow runs I tell you. The most innocent part of the trail bashes my door in.

Need more tire speed to dry them off and make them sticky.

Wait. Sorry. That's how I wheel.

Looked like fun.

The thought actually went thru my mind, but then it was followed up by "these are practically new tires..." And honestly I thought I was giving it more goat but then watching the video I was surprised how tame it looked.

 

[mrk5]

Used @70jimmy's method for dent repair. It's marginally better, but at least now the window rolls down. It's a football with a hose I rigged up that has a shut off valve. I learned the hard way, you can't put 45psi in a football.



Before:


After:


I'm also going to push the dent out of the front door. Might see if I can improve the back door a little more as well.

@doubletrouble, @Raggedy_Ann, and I invested in some Rugged Radios handheld walkies so we can talk to each other on the trail. https://www.ruggedradios.com/collec...os/products/rugged-v3-handheld-business-radio They come pre-programmed with channels Rugged Radio has licensed for its customers to use.



I added the hand mic to for 1 radio. They also have a device that replaces the battery and allows the radio to run off a cigarette lighter socket. I wanted a way to hold the radio in the truck, so I made a simple aluminum bracket.

 

[ktmoutfront]

Quality basketballs work better for dent removal.

 

[ZooMad75]

Used @70jimmy's method for dent repair. It's marginally better, but at least now the window rolls down. It's a football with a hose I rigged up that has a shut off valve. I learned the hard way, you can't put 45psi in a football.

View attachment 366810

Before:
View attachment 366809

After:
View attachment 366806

I'm also going to push the dent out of the front door. Might see if I can improve the back door a little more as well.

@doubletrouble, @Raggedy_Ann, and I invested in some Rugged Radios handheld walkies so we can talk to each other on the trail. https://www.ruggedradios.com/collec...os/products/rugged-v3-handheld-business-radio They come pre-programmed with channels Rugged Radio has licensed for its customers to use.

View attachment 366811

I added the hand mic to for 1 radio. They also have a device that replaces the battery and allows the radio to run off a cigarette lighter socket. I wanted a way to hold the radio in the truck, so I made a simple aluminum bracket.

View attachment 366808

View attachment 366807

Happy to see more jump to better communication on the trail.

My little Baofeng radio is just like those and has pretty good range and a whole lot more clarity than cb for sure. I'm back at studying for my ham ticket so I can use that and my big radio in the truck.

 

[Truckman4life]

My kids put 50 psi to a basketball at school one day and it scared them pretty good when it blew up in there faces.

 

[70jimmy]

Just got a couple Cobra handhelds given to me, Charged them up and will have to test the range. 22 channels. Yep I exploded one the sport balls doing dents on mine, made me jump and wife came running in garage wondering what happened.

 

[mrk5]

Quality basketballs work better for dent removal.

I wasn't sure if I could fit a basketball in there. Those damn rear doors are a pain in the neck to work inside of.

Happy to see more jump to better communication on the trail.

My little Baofeng radio is just like those and has pretty good range and a whole lot more clarity than cb for sure. I'm back at studying for my ham ticket so I can use that and my big radio in the truck.

These are actually replacing Baofeng radios. I have 2 and they both had the batteries go bad. I wanted to see if I could find a little better quality. I really liked that Rugged Radio supports the 4x4 community. Plus with the pre-programmed radios, I'll be able to communicate with other people that have Rugged Radios. The battery adapter to plug directly into the power socket really sold me. I also have a USB charger for the regular batteries. This should work pretty well because now I'll 2 batteries for the extra radio.

My CB has always worked well in this truck; probably because it has excellent ground planes with all that sheet metal. Unfortunately it seems like I'm usually the only one with a good CB. Having the 2 handheld radios at least I know there will be 1 other person I can communicate with.

Just got a couple Cobra handhelds given to me, Charged them up and will have to test the range. 22 channels. Yep I exploded one the sport balls doing dents on mine, made me jump and wife came running in garage wondering what happened.

The first time I used an inflated ball to pop a dent out was in the bed side. The sheet metal popped so loud that the other people in the shop had to come see what happened.

 

[r3dd0g]

These are actually Baofeng radios.

FIFY

The Rugged Radios are just rebranded Baofeng radios.