1969 Ford F250 Camper special and 1989 Race car trailer

[Darkrider]

As i just posted in the what did you buy thread i made a new deal on the bumpside F250 to include the trailer. The plan is to put a slide in camper i also got today in the F250 and use this truck to pull the trailer.



Specs on the truck as i know them at this point.



1969 Ford F250 Ranger "Camper Special"


390 V8 with C6 3 speed automatic transmission.

Unknown rear end gearing atm
Dual fuel tanks



The second tank is actually hidden under the left side of the box with its filler inside the wheel well. I had missed this detail looking at the truck previously. The plan at the moment is to drop that tank and get it cleaned then fit it with a sending unit with a gauge for it in the cab so i know how much fuel is in both tanks. Gotta see how it is plumbed as well as there is more then likely a hidden selector valve i missed while looking the truck over.



Anyway on to pics.. some from awhile ago when i first looked at the truck and some from today.



https://i.imgur.com/x9ULVyw.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/BMys2Hx.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/dkrNRkw.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/lqWxcr3.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/gaF4Z45.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/vMTMrN3.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/D9MhkiQ.jpg




Now onto the trailer



Homebuilt unit built in 1989
3500 lb axles

Storage area up front on tongue


The plan with this is to mostly use it with the F250 to haul my '69 Chevy C10 to the track as that truck will be going the direction of dedicated race truck. I will be installing a 4500 lb winch inside the storage area and figure out some sort of placement for the fairlead that will not interfere with the ramps.



https://i.imgur.com/l79yN4M.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/4dgUTIg.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/vJ58DTM.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/CzmRQHx.jpg




Trailer and future tow rig


https://i.imgur.com/4wb4WCy.jpg

[Weldangrind]

I love bumpsides; I'm definitely following this thread. Good score on the truck and trailer. Where is the camper?

[Darkrider]

I love bumpsides; I'm definitely following this thread. Good score on the truck and trailer. Where is the camper?


You can kind of see it behind the van in this pic. Ironically enough that Van is mine as well. Both are down south in willowbunch.



https://i.imgur.com/9qfEWkU.jpg

[ben2go]

Ok. I'm in.

[Weldangrind]

Looks like a vintage round shell camper. Love it!

[Darkrider]

Looks like a vintage round shell camper. Love it!


Should go well with the truck as it is about similar vintage to it..or at least old enough that it could have easily been installed on the truck when the truck was only a few years old. As the trucks box has some rust issues in the floor...namely a large chunk of metal missing just behind the axle. The plan is to mount the camper to the truck permanently with some plywood between it and the bed floor to provide additional support in that area.



Right now i know the truck needs the following to be running and driving.



Ignition lock cylinder

Door lock cylinders
Alternator
fuel pump
carb



All the above i have managed to track down from a '76 F150 a friend has so that is covered.


It may or may not need a new master cyl and flex hoses for the brake lines. Will see about that shortly


Plus it also should get a different set of tires and wheels. There is a Dodge Ram 16" on the right rear at the moment and i am going to see if it will clear the front brake caliper. If it will that will make life a lot easier..if not...well i guess i am spending the money to upgrade to 17" wheels as 16.5s are not exactly easy to come by any more.

[Darkrider]

So the truck and trailer came home yesterday, found out that my little Jeep can pull a lot in the process as we used it to pull the truck onto the trailer. Also managed to find the tank selection valve too.

[Weldangrind]

Looking forward to pics of the camper on the trailer.

[Darkrider]

Looking forward to pics of the camper on the trailer.


Well here are pics of the truck on the trailer. Will be getting the camper later this summer as my buddies gooseneck needs brakes before he can bring the camper back for me. But that gives me more time to get the F250 ready for it.

https://i.imgur.com/uzB0QkBh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/PXipJPVh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/IqOZZfXh.jpg

[ben2go]

It looks like the Ford still has bias ply tires on it. That's odd.

[Darkrider]

It looks like the Ford still has bias ply tires on it. That's odd.


3 of the tires on the truck are bias on the original split rims. the 4th rim is a 2nd gen dodge rim with a radial that they put on to get it rolling. Here is a bit of back story on this truck.



Originally a friend of a friend of my fathers owned it and had it parked in the back part of his yard near some trees. I had asked about it a few times and was never able to get the timing right in relation to the amount he asked for it. Fast forward to early last year and the late friend i also bought my Capri from buys the truck and works on it for a bit. He then sells it to a friend and eventually ends up with it back in his possession. During this time frame he picks up the trailer with the intent of using it to recover the random cars he finds. Few months later...well as mentioned before with the capri thread or at least in posts related to that car. He passes away in November leaving this, the trailer and the Capri all in limbo unknown of their fate. The Capri is briefly spoken about with his parents around the time of the funeral and confirmed i will recover the car come spring/early summer, Fast forward to a couple weeks ago and a few conversations with his dad. I eventually make a deal on the truck then follow it up with buying the trailer as well. As we now know i brought the truck and trailer home on Thursday. Will hopefully be using the trailer to go retrieve the car next weekend.



New parts that have ended up on or at least with it while Ian had it:


New calipers and brake pads
New Alternator and Voltage regulator. (He did say he changed both a few times but could never get it to charge. I suspect a connection issue such as ground as i had similar problems with an old Dodge)
Changed the carb for one off of a Thunderbird (mostly because the tbird carb was in better shape)


Parts it will need to be drivable:


Rear brake cylinders
Flex hoses
Ignition switch lock cylinder
Door lock cylinders
Possibly a better matched carb and fuel tank clean
Fuel pump

Matched tires



Now I have sourced out the Pump, carb and lock cyls for both ignition and doors from a friends old '76 F150 with 360 FE engine in it. As well as some better tires. Still need to get the hoses and brake cyls. Possibly a master cyl as well. Tubes for the tires and hopefully i can find a shop here that will service the original split rims.

[Darkrider]

Went to the yard today to look at the trucks vin tag to determine what equipment it had.



1969 Ford F250 info

1st Row
F25= F250
H= 390 V8
R= San Jose, CA production plant
Built in July 1969
2nd row
131" Wb
MP color code= Wimbledon White/Boxwood Green Metallic Two tone
F254= 6,900 GVW
M= F100/250 Custom Cab Charcoal black Corinthian vinyl and charcoal black granada pattern vinyl
81= Conventional Cab
G= Automatic Transmission
37= Dana 60 axle 3.54 gear ratio
3rd Row
6900 GVW
185 Hp @ 4000 RPM
A6= Western District of Canada order

[Weldangrind]

Please, for your safety, ditch the split rims.

[Darkrider]

Please, for your safety, ditch the split rims.


That may still happen provided i can find some 16" wheels that will clear the calipers. Usually these trucks had 16.5" rims to clear them. This one happened to have 16s. Changing away from them could incur a couple grand in expenses that will keep it off of the road for this year. I already have some used 16" tires coming to replace the bias tires. I got these tires for free so at the most i am looking at is buying new tubes. However... there is a 16" dodge rim on the rear axle i may attempt to see if it will fit over the caliper at some point. If that works out then it is a matter of finding more of the same style rim.

[ben2go]

Went to the yard today to look at the trucks vin tag to determine what equipment it had.



1969 Ford F250 info

1st Row
F25= F250
H= 390 V8
R= San Jose, CA production plant
Built in July 1969
2nd row
131" Wb
MP color code= Wimbledon White/Boxwood Green Metallic Two tone
F254= 6,900 GVW
M= F100/250 Custom Cab Charcoal black Corinthian vinyl and charcoal black granada pattern vinyl
81= Conventional Cab
G= Automatic Transmission
37= Dana 60 axle 3.54 gear ratio
3rd Row
6900 GVW
185 Hp @ 4000 RPM
A6= Western District of Canada order
Going by the VIN break down, it appears that the truck is pretty much all original except a few niggly bits like the wheel. I agree with Weld. Those rims are dangerous, especially when it comes to mounting tires and airing them up.

[Weldangrind]

If you determine that the Dodge rim will do the trick, please show us a pic. Maybe we can help you find four more (one for the spare).

[Darkrider]

Going by the VIN break down, it appears that the truck is pretty much all original except a few niggly bits like the wheel. I agree with Weld. Those rims are dangerous, especially when it comes to mounting tires and airing them up.


I may just end up getting a Marti report on this to get a better picture of what this truck is set up with. Alright alright...i will see what i can do on the wheels without incurring costs that are about 4 times what i paid for the truck lol



If you determine that the Dodge rim will do the trick, please show us a pic. Maybe we can help you find four more (one for the spare).


Will def keep that in mind. Got thinking about it last night and kinda wondered that if i got my hands on some aftermarket wheels with similar backspace to the stock wheel and were made out of steel..I might be able to find something if the dodge wheels do not pan out.

[Weldangrind]

Share the bolt pattern and back-spacing with us.

[Darkrider]

Share the bolt pattern and back-spacing with us.


From what i am reading these trucks would have had a 16x6.5 or 16.5x6.5 wheel with an 8x6.5 bolt pattern and from what i am seeing around a 4 inch backspace. I will see if i can locate the 4th wheel to the truck in a week or so when i go recover the Capri since it is out in the same general area a few km away from where the capri is.



So generally looking at a 16x6.5/7 wheel. 8x6.5 bolt pattern. 4" or so backspace. Will confirm backspace if i can get my hands on the 4th wheel.

[Weldangrind]

That's a surprise to me. I thought 3/4 ton trucks back in the day were six lug.

[Darkrider]

That's a surprise to me. I thought 3/4 ton trucks back in the day were six lug.


A lot of the 50s trucks were, In fact the '49 Dodge 1 ton i had was a large 6 lug bolt pattern. Not sure when 8 lug was phased in.



May have found an option to try that meets the specs but i will need to see if the local shop can bring one in to test fit and i have the cash on hand to buy if they do.



http://images.socalcustomwheels.com/images/wheels/xlarge/1305-165-00_wheelpros_16x7-fac-1000.jpg

[Weldangrind]

Have you tried LetGo?

[cheesy]

My 52 Ford F2(3/4T) was 8 lug and my 52 Chevy 3100(1/2T) was 6 lug.

[Darkrider]

Have you tried LetGo?


never even heard of it so no lol enlighten me on this.


My 52 Ford F2(3/4T) was 8 lug and my 52 Chevy 3100(1/2T) was 6 lug.


I want to hazzard a guess that the 8 lug thing came about in the early 60s with new truck designs,

[katoranger]

Have you tried Craigslist/Kijiji for some used 17" wheels and tires? That bolt pattern was common to all the older Chevy/Dodge/Ford well into the 2000s. Ford changed to metric for the 1999 Super Duty trucks. Chevy and Dodge didn't change until much later. One think to confirm is the center hole to make sure it will clear the axle.

[Darkrider]

Have you tried Craigslist/Kijiji for some used 17" wheels and tires? That bolt pattern was common to all the older Chevy/Dodge/Ford well into the 2000s. Ford changed to metric for the 1999 Super Duty trucks. Chevy and Dodge didn't change until much later. One think to confirm is the center hole to make sure it will clear the axle.


Have not checked lately. Best bet would be watching for Dodge and Chevy rims as they generally have larger center holes. Chevy went to metric around 2011 iirc. Think it is just dodge only that uses the 8 x 6.5 pattern still. There is a second gen ram wheel on the rear axle currently. I will try that one first to see if there is still some 16" wheel options. Baring that i will look on Kijiji. Problem with that is i am in oil country so the prices for stuff like that is still a bit retarded.

[Weldangrind]

never even heard of it so no lol enlighten me on this.

Install the app on your phone and give it a try. It's the place you go to sell your stuff that you just want gone. New posts for rims show up in my area every day.

[Weldangrind]

One think to confirm is the center hole to make sure it will clear the axle.

If the hole is too large, you can always try hub-centric rings.

[katoranger]

If the hole is too large, you can always try hub-centric rings.

A truck that old is most likely going to be lug centric. Ford started using hub centric wheels in the late nineties.

[Darkrider]

A truck that old is most likely going to be lug centric. Ford started using hub centric wheels in the late nineties.


I believe the Hub Centric wheels came along with the Super Duty line up in '99.

[Darkrider]

Updating the list from above now that the Capri project has been canceled. Meaning this will become more of project vehicle. it will still pull the trailer occasionally. However i have located another heavier duty truck to pair with the trailer as well. Ironically that one is another Square body GM.



Anyways on to the list to cross items off of it:


New parts that have ended up on or at least with it while Ian had it:


New calipers and brake pads
New Alternator and Voltage regulator. (He did say he changed both a few times but could never get it to charge. I suspect a connection issue such as ground as i had similar problems with an old Dodge)
Changed the carb for one off of a Thunderbird (mostly because the tbird carb was in better shape)
Rear brake cylinders


Parts i have acquired through some horse trading:

Ignition switch lock cylinder
Door lock cylinders
Possibly a better matched carb

All these parts are coming from a friends '76 F150 in the near future


Matched tires and wheels, Got these from a '92 Dodge D250 via a deal where i am posting a Kijiji ad for a friend. Hopefully i will get to that tomorrow as today was spent working on my PC to get it reliable again. Fingers crossed that these wheels clear the brakes. I am at the point i am not opposed to the idea of spacers if needed however i suspect they may just work out as they look a lot like the split rims minus the split ring. Bonus points for possibly being able to use the original hubcaps!

Parts it will need to be driveable:


Flex hoses
Fuel tank clean
Fuel pump

[Weldangrind]

May we see the rims?

[Darkrider]

May we see the rims?


I will get pics of them once i pick them up. Here is a pic of an OE replacement wheel i got off of rock auto. They look a lot like them other then being silver for two of them and two of them being white.


https://www.rockauto.com/info/145/STL01175U45__ra_p.jpg

[Darkrider]

So i had picked up some 17" tires awhile ago originally with the intent of running them on my C10 or Patriot. After some thought i am pretty sure i may end up running them on the F250. They are 245/65R17 Goodyear Wranglers that came off of a Explorer sport trac. They are rated for around 2100lbs/tire with 51 psi max pressure. A bit light for any serious work but for driving the truck as a toy for the most part they should be fine. It is looking like i will be going back to the idea of this truck being the tow rig for the trailer so if i know i am going to be towing something i can at the very least swap on the Dodge 16" rims with the LT tires on them.

[Darkrider]

Ok a bit of a shift in developments with this truck. Not going to be running the 17" tires as they are too light for it. My search for new front fenders kind of added to the change in direction as well. The early twin i beam trucks like this are a popular platform for prerunner and baja race trucks. I happened to remember this earlier this morning and coupled with the fact i have wanted to build a Prerunner for years...since i was a teen in fact... Well this old Ford will be going the Class 8 style build. Mild lift with raised wheel openings on the front fenders. It was either Class 8 fenders or bulged. Class 8 at least look somewhat stock which will look good with a 2" lift. keeping it mild like this will allow the truck to still be used as a truck. The camper shell will probably see some modifications in the form of a spare tire mount under the bed and a jack mount.



here is a pic of this gen of ford with the fenders i mentioned above.



http://autofab.com/images/F64904029.jpg


More then likely will end up with a wrap around tube bumper out front. Basically shooting for a mix of play and work truck.

[Darkrider]

Plans shifted a fair bit for this truck. I have gotten ahold of a set of 265/70R17 Wranglers from a friend. The plan is to run some Dodge OE 17" steel wheels with these. I may still replace the front fenders with the fiberglass ones unless i stumble upon some steel replacements. While doing some research on ideas i had some doubts as to if this truck was in fact a Camper Special but i have since confirmed this. Going to be keeping it stock height as well.



Current plan:


Dual Tanks in the form of a Dentside mid ship tank replacing the in cab tank. Along with a Chevy K5 Blazer 31 Gallon tank at the rear for a total of 54 Gallons of fuel. Other possible Dual tank lay out is keeping the In cab tank and adding the mid ship tank. That would net me about 41 gallons.



The camper shell did not work out but that is fine considering i am going to be looking for an older slide in camper. Might as well take advantage of the fact it is a Camper Special and set it up with one.

[Darkrider]

A bit of an update since i have had a chance to look the truck over again and have played around with a few different ideas for it. I have confirmed from a Bumpside group that the truck should be fine for towing the trailer i got with it. I had my doubts for a bit but i have since found out where people have pulled a lot more weight with the smaller F100/150 then i am working with.


At the most i will be hauling either one of my C10s or the K5 in the background of the pics on the trailer. So well within the trucks ability. I have acquired a 12 gallon tank of unknown origin and an older aluminum crossover tool box with the floor falling out of it. The floor being shot in the tool box is actually the reason i wanted it. The plan is to finish removing the floor of the box and fit it over the 12 gallon tank in the bed. More then likely i will be replacing the tank that is under the left side of the bed with this tank unless i figure out some sort of way to plumb in all 3 tanks. I may have a means of doing that however based on some ideas that were presented when i was looking at running 3 tanks on one of my old C10s. Basically it will involve running two mechanical valves. One will be used to select between the main in cab tank and the two aux tanks. Of course the second valve will be used to select between the in bed tank and the one under the bed. I have an older Carter electric fuel pump i will be fitting in place of the main mechanical pump. That will be wired on a standalone toggle switch for now till i find a keyed circuit to tap into. After the aux tank and tool box are fitted i will probably fit a bedliner made out of 1/2" or 3/4" plywood to cover up the rusted out bed floor.



Hopefully i will be starting work on the truck within the next couple of weeks to fit up the carter pump and the 12 gal as its main tank for now to get it to a running state where it can be towed to a local shop to get the brakes done. The fuel system and brakes are the biggest things stopping it from being driveable. Other items of course being wheels and tires being fitted and some sort of exhaust. But those items can be dealt with once it is functional.

[Darkrider]

Not much of an update but an update none the less. As mentioned in the what did you buy thread i traded off the trailer for a VW beetle. As i also mentioned there i will eventually pick up a different trailer when i am in a better position to do so. So from this point forward this thread will be focused entirely on the truck.



That said i recently acquired an intermittent wiper control set up from a newer F series truck. I need to change one of the pin locations and modify the shaft on the control itself so the knob sits properly in the dash when complete. But none the less it will upgrade this old Bump to have the newer wiper control.



I will be getting that camper shell i posted earlier in this thread after all so the plan there is to modify the bed platform area of it to cover the 12 gallon tank i mentioned before. I am not sure if i will ever end up sleeping in it but at least it will give me an enclosed storage area on the truck.



I also picked up a set of 265/70R17 Goodyear Wranglers for it to deal with the split rims. The plan there is to use a set of 17" steel wheels from a newer Ram to install them. If the steel wheels do not work out i can always use an aftermarket aluminum set to achieve the same goal.

[Darkrider]

Bit of an update, Essentially i did find out what gear ratio was in the rear diff which is 3:54. As shown in the What did you buy thread i have recently started working out a deal on a '99 KZ Sportsman 25th anniversary 27 ft 5th wheel camper trailer with a slide out on it. So work to the truck will be focused on getting it ready to pull this trailer. There will be a hitch that comes with it so that saves some expense. I have also got a lead on a brake controller. So to that end it looks like i will need to do the following to the truck.

Install brake controller
Trans cooler
Aux engine cooler
Aluminum transmission oil pan which will allow me to increase capacity a bit as well as fit a probe for a temp gauge. A similar diff cover will most likely get fitted
New carb and fuel pump
17" Wheels to fit the used 17" tires i got for the truck awhile ago.

Air bags on rear suspension.



Eventual plans for the truck.


LED lights
18 gallon aux tank to replace under bed tank


Resized the pic of the trailer to show what the truck is being upgraded to pull


https://i.imgur.com/yTiRm5M.jpg