Repowered Pickup Pulls 36-Ft. Gooseneck Trailer
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"It has as much power as a 2-ton truck but costs less to maintain because parts for it are less expensive. Also, when I'm not using it to haul hay we use it like a car. That's how comfortable it rides," says Nathaniel Regier, Newton, Kan., who repowered his 1978 Ford F-350 1-ton pickup by replacing the original 351 cu. in. engine with a 429 cu. in., V-8, 368 hp gas engine.
Regier, who runs a custom hay hauling business, uses the extended cab, 4-door pickup to pull a rebuilt 36-ft. long gooseneck trailer. The trailer has an extra 8-ft. deck over the gooseneck and an 8-ft. hydraulic-operated dovetail ramp on back. The deck is reinforced by a pair of 10-in. steel I-beams and supported by heavy duty triple axles.
"When fully loaded the trailer holds 355 to 400 small square bales and has a gross weight of about 40,000 lbs. I deliver hay as far away as Missouri and Nebraska so I also mounted a pickup cab sleeper on it behind the cab."
Regier salvaged the engine from a 1971 Mercury Grand Marquis car which he got free from his great grandfather. "I chose the 1971 model because that was the last year that pollution control equipment wasn't required on cars. The equipment robs about 100 hp from this engine," says Regier. He modified the engine to boost power, reworking the valves, redoing the heads, and installing a different cam for improved low end torque.
He removed the pickup's original 4-speed transmission and used the 3-speed automatic transmission that came with the new engine. He rebuilt the transmission, and added an auxilliary manual "over-under" transmission to the automatic transmission. It provides three ranges for each gear on the automatic transmission for a total of 9 different speeds. He replaced the original 3:73 rear end with a lower ratio 4:10 rear end and converted the original single rear wheels to dual wheels. He also replaced the original 14-gal. fuel tank with a 105-gal. one, and reworked the hood so it tilts forward.
The 8-year-old 20-ft. gooseneck trailer was originally equipped with two 3,000-lb. axles. He removed the axles and replaced them with three 7,000-lb. rubber torsion axles that are equipped with electronic brakes and 14 ply radial tires. He built an 8-ft. sq. deck that goes over the gooseneck hitch and also built the dovetail ramp on back, which lets him drive tractors or other machinery up onto the trailer.
"I spent a total of $5,200 on the pickup and $2,700 on the trailer. I bought the axles from a local company that builds trailers.
"Even with the big engine the pickup has to work a little when the trailer is fully loaded. The engine gets about 5 mpg with a fully-loaded trailer which is about the same as I'd get with a 2-ton truck or semi. However, the tires, brakes, and driveline accessories for my 1-ton pickup cost much less than parts for a 2-ton truck or semi. And with a crew cab and four doors my entire family can ride comfortably in it.
"There are two things that I wish I'd done different. First, I'd keep the original 4-speed transmission. You lose too much power and slip and heat with an automatic transmission. Second, I'd install vacuum-over-hydraulic brakes on the trailer instead of electric brakes for more stopping power.
"I reworked the wheel well fenders inside the pickup bed so the duals don't stick out. I also installed new gauges for the engine and transmission oil temperature, engine vacuum, and fuel tank."
A hydraulic pump off an old Deere 45 combine operates a pair of hydraulic cylinders that are used to raise or lower the dovetail ramp. The pump is belt-driven by an electric starter motor and generator combination. The motor, mounted under the trailer deck, is powered by a self-contained, 12-volt battery and is started by turning a key. The battery is wired to the pickup's alternator to keep it charged.
The trailer's top deck has a wood floor while the lower deck has a floor made out of diamond plate steel with rebar across it to reduce the weight. The lengths of rebar serve as lugs so that the tires have something to grab onto.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup,
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Repowered Pickup Pulls 36-Ft Gooseneck Trailer PICKUPS Modifications It has as much power as a 2-ton truck but costs less to maintain because parts for it are less expensive Also when I m not using it to haul hay we use it like a car That s how comfortable it rides says Nathaniel Regier Newton Kan who repowered his 1978 Ford F-350 1-ton pickup by replacing the original 351 cu in engine with a 429 cu in V-8 368 hp gas engine Regier who runs a custom hay hauling business uses the extended cab 4-door pickup to pull a rebuilt 36-ft long gooseneck trailer The trailer has an extra 8-ft deck over the gooseneck and an 8-ft hydraulic-operated dovetail ramp on back The deck is reinforced by a pair of 10-in steel I-beams and supported by heavy duty triple axles When fully loaded the trailer holds 355 to 400 small square bales and has a gross weight of about 40 000 lbs I deliver hay as far away as Missouri and Nebraska so I also mounted a pickup cab sleeper on it behind the cab Regier salvaged the engine from a 1971 Mercury Grand Marquis car which he got free from his great grandfather I chose the 1971 model because that was the last year that pollution control equipment wasn t required on cars The equipment robs about 100 hp from this engine says Regier He modified the engine to boost power reworking the valves redoing the heads and installing a different cam for improved low end torque He removed the pickup s original 4-speed transmission and used the 3-speed automatic transmission that came with the new engine He rebuilt the transmission and added an auxilliary manual over-under transmission to the automatic transmission It provides three ranges for each gear on the automatic transmission for a total of 9 different speeds He replaced the original 3:73 rear end with a lower ratio 4:10 rear end and converted the original single rear wheels to dual wheels He also replaced the original 14-gal fuel tank with a 105-gal one and reworked the hood so it tilts forward The 8-year-old 20-ft gooseneck trailer was originally equipped with two 3 000-lb axles He removed the axles and replaced them with three 7 000-lb rubber torsion axles that are equipped with electronic brakes and 14 ply radial tires He built an 8-ft sq deck that goes over the gooseneck hitch and also built the dovetail ramp on back which lets him drive tractors or other machinery up onto the trailer I spent a total of $5 200 on the pickup and $2 700 on the trailer I bought the axles from a local company that builds trailers Even with the big engine the pickup has to work a little when the trailer is fully loaded The engine gets about 5 mpg with a fully-loaded trailer which is about the same as I d get with a 2-ton truck or semi However the tires brakes and driveline accessories for my 1-ton pickup cost much less than parts for a 2-ton truck or semi And with a crew cab and four doors my entire family can ride comfortably in it There are two things that I wish I d done different First I d keep the original 4-speed transmission You lose too much power and slip and heat with an automatic transmission Second I d install vacuum-over-hydraulic brakes on the trailer instead of electric brakes for more stopping power I reworked the wheel well fenders inside the pickup bed so the duals don t stick out I also installed new gauges for the engine and transmission oil temperature engine vacuum and fuel tank A hydraulic pump off an old Deere 45 combine operates a pair of hydraulic cylinders that are used to raise or lower the dovetail ramp The pump is belt-driven by an electric starter motor and generator combination The motor mounted under the trailer deck is powered by a self-contained 12-volt battery and is started by turning a key The battery is wired to the pickup s alternator to keep it charged The trailer s top deck has a wood floor while the lower deck has a floor made out of diamond plate steel with rebar across it to reduce the weight The lengths of rebar serve as lugs so that the tires have something to grab onto Contact: FARM SHOW Followup
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