If you were building an all purpose truck.....

[thebluemax]

What would you start with? How would you modify it?

Truck would have to street legal and driven to wheel(no towing),haul your gear, able to get you to work, etc. Isn't perfect for all tasks but can perform them if needed.

Doesn't have to be a square body K series.

 

[77_Jimmy]

do this to your tahoe.

http://offroaddesign.com/catalog/88-98SolidAxleConversion.htm

 

[Russell]

My Tahoe is a great all around vehicle. Gets good fuel economy, drives nice on the highway (after getting a track bar and front / rear sway bars in), tows very well (7000 lbs no sweat) and performs exceptionally well offroad. Its comfortable, holds a crapload of stuff too. Pretty much the perfect all purpose rig.

 

[munepit]

This is kinda what Im doin to my burb. Good for trails, camping, haulin stuff, maybe muddin a little. Although Im kinda hate cleaning it. But mine should be an all around type of rig, as long as stay off CK5. The more I see stuff here, I buy it and try and make it more hardcore, But, I never forget It's a Burb. Once I roll this or trash it to bad, I can always take everything off and put it in a Blazer or truck.

 

[79rustyk10]

I would start with a k20 or k30, reg cab longbox. I chose a longbox because the usefullness cannot be denied, and would be better for towing or any other truck type uses than a shortbox or K5/bronco type vehicle.

Keep it simple, bolt on 6" lift, 35's, definitly fuel injected, maybe a cummins swap, with an overdrive transmission of some sort, 4L80E for an auto or NV4500 for a manual. Depending on use, and what engine is hanging above it, a d44 or ten bolt would be OK. 14 bolt FF rear of course though.

would have a winch for sure, and the truck itself would be a more highly optioned one for comfort when pulling DD type duties.

 

[thebluemax]

I should have kept my old Z71 extended cab.

Ideal would be crewcab 3+3 shortbed square body on 33s

 

[noJeepshere]

I want to make my Yukon an all purpose vehicle, capable of commuting to work, hitting the trails on Saturday, towing whatever I need, and taking a group of people wherever they need to go. It moves down the road great, get's good fuel economy (17-18 hwy) and is powerful enough to tow so far up to 7500 lbs.

I'm going to put a good winch bumper on the front, spare tire bumper in back, perimeter lighting, CB radio in the dash and hard wired gps system, HAM radio in the back, slide-out tool/storage chest, airbag rear suspension, to name a few things. I'm going to get a 88-93 light 3/4 ton 6-lug GM for the rear axle, t-case and bed. Put the case and axle in the Yukon, and make the bed and rear frame for a hauling/off-road trailer.

 

[muddysub]

This.

http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=287329

That's the goal with my suburban. Strong/basic drivetrain, 37" tire, 5" lift, good engine, basic armor, winch, etc. I wanna be able camp out of it for a few days, cruise down the highway and still do a little crawling and mudding.

 

[Bowtie85]

Currently I find my K20 is a fairly all purpose truck. It may be a bit long in the wheel base, but its not to big of a deal.

Spec's: Built 350/SM465/NP208/Built D60/Disc'd-Gov locked 14 Bolt/8 inches of lift/ 38s/Warn 8274.

Its a great wheeler thats still streetable for the most part and has never been on a trailer yet.

If I ever build another dedicated wheeler it will be a OBS ext. cab short box SAS'd with tons and 37's. I find its a great platform minus the IFS.

 

[blazinzuk]

Everyone will answer this different, I personally think a newer truck like Rileys yukon would be ideal to start with, or if its going to be doing harder trails just a new blazer.

You can build any truck to accomplish what you want, when your goal is a do it all truck you can start with just about anything.

I would also seriously consider something like a FJ62 or 80 series landcruiser.

My ultimate do it all rig is going to be my Jimmy

 

[Off Duty]

All purpose?

If staying with GM:
Late model YukonXL or Suburban
Plenty of power, comfort and room.
Probably SAS it, add a DM diesel with wvo/BIO fuel conversion and an Allison tans.
35-37's x 11-12.50 (whatever is available?) on steelies with the appropriate gearing.

Inside would have easily removable sleeping/camping/storage area in the rear.
When not needed, stow it and use the space for human cargo.

RTT/rack, bumpers, storage and we're good to go.
The "ultimate" at anything?
No, but should do everything I need to do very well

 

[496truck]

The current K5 in my sig works for me. Delete TBI 350 and replace with an LS 5.3, add a DIY4X rear bumper with hitch so I can tow a small camper (real small), just something so I don't have to sleep in the dirt on weekend camping/wheeling trips. Would also add a good roll bar for the cab and a winch out front and OBA. Other than that, good to go.

If I was dreaming...
I'd start with a crew cab short bed S10, with the ridiculously short bed (bigger is not better out here in the NE trails). 5.3, 700R4, Atlas, JK D44 front axle beefed up housing with stock selectable locker and 4.56s, radius arms and coilovers out front, JK8 rear D60 with a selectable locker 4.56s and leaf springs out back, custom winch bumper out front, custom rear bumper with hitch in rear, rocker guards/sliders, in cab cage, 37s on 17" wheels. Maybe 4.88 gears would be better.