After seeing a link to Yager's U-Haul Toter Home Project and then the rig that inspired him--Snookwheel's Po Man's Toy Hauler Project, I got inspired to build my own.
I have a company pickup--an '06 Tundra, and while it does a pretty good job of towing 6-7,000 lbs, it's still a company rig, and I'd prefer to haul my junk with my own towrig.
Last summer, we tried an older Class C motorhome--1977 Chevy with a 400cid motor and a T350 tranny. It was gutless, and topped out at about 45mph. It couldn't get out of its own way, so I never even tried to tow a rig with it.
I watched for 12V CTD's for awhile, and then saw the above mentioned build threads this winter, and got inspired. I started looking for local retired UHauls, and they were going for $5,400 to $5,800.
Checked Craigslist, and there was a guy in Spokane who ran a fleet of '89 Internationals for his furniture delivery business. His only problem was that his company was doing well, and the old UHauls were already depreciated out, and he was paying a lot in taxes. He had started liquidating his fleet to buy new Peterbilts he could write off. He was selling his trucks for $3,000-4,500.
I asked him why the $3,000 truck was so low....it had an exhaust leak and bald rear tires. I took it for a test drive, and it ran strong, so I bought it.
I put some traction retreads on it (factory siped Bandag treads on Michelin carcasses) and had the local diesel shop fix the exhaust leak. I probably could have, but I already had plenty of stuff to do with the Toterhome conversion, and 2 trail rigs needing my attention. So far, I'm only into it:
$3,000 Truck
$600 Tires
$500 Exhaust, p-brake and speedo work
$400 doors and windows
$200 misc. framing and plumbing materials @ home depot
I have a company pickup--an '06 Tundra, and while it does a pretty good job of towing 6-7,000 lbs, it's still a company rig, and I'd prefer to haul my junk with my own towrig.
Last summer, we tried an older Class C motorhome--1977 Chevy with a 400cid motor and a T350 tranny. It was gutless, and topped out at about 45mph. It couldn't get out of its own way, so I never even tried to tow a rig with it.
I watched for 12V CTD's for awhile, and then saw the above mentioned build threads this winter, and got inspired. I started looking for local retired UHauls, and they were going for $5,400 to $5,800.
Checked Craigslist, and there was a guy in Spokane who ran a fleet of '89 Internationals for his furniture delivery business. His only problem was that his company was doing well, and the old UHauls were already depreciated out, and he was paying a lot in taxes. He had started liquidating his fleet to buy new Peterbilts he could write off. He was selling his trucks for $3,000-4,500.
I asked him why the $3,000 truck was so low....it had an exhaust leak and bald rear tires. I took it for a test drive, and it ran strong, so I bought it.
I put some traction retreads on it (factory siped Bandag treads on Michelin carcasses) and had the local diesel shop fix the exhaust leak. I probably could have, but I already had plenty of stuff to do with the Toterhome conversion, and 2 trail rigs needing my attention. So far, I'm only into it:
$3,000 Truck
$600 Tires
$500 Exhaust, p-brake and speedo work
$400 doors and windows
$200 misc. framing and plumbing materials @ home depot