2002 2500HD - Solid Axle Tow Rig

The umpire came back with a decision to go even lower on the value. Shocking.

Now I get to let them all know that four people in that given profession missed several mistakes. This isn't over.


@R Q However, I can't say anything bad about Billy. He called me as soon as he was notified, emailed me what they said, refunded his fee, and even made up the difference between the initial offer from Farm Bureau and what the umpire decided. He certainly didn't have to do that and he was pissed about it too. I'd use him again if the need ever arises.
 
The umpire came back with a decision to go even lower on the value. Shocking.

Now I get to let them all know that four people in that given profession missed several mistakes. This isn't over.


@R Q However, I can't say anything bad about Billy. He called me as soon as he was notified, emailed me what they said, refunded his fee, and even made up the difference between the initial offer from Farm Bureau and what the umpire decided. He certainly didn't have to do that and he was pissed about it too. I'd use him again if the need ever arises.
Wow! I hate that, I'm sorry. I'm glad Billy stepped up.
 
So...
Cage + 5 point harnesses + 42's = good evening ranch...
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Bedroom Bdsm GIF by STAGEWOLF
 
Didn't figure I could leave yall hanging!

Wound up getting 11,400 after buy back. It all worked out on the back end. Lower value, but they also used a much lower salvage value and it worked out for me to get more dollars once it was all said and done.

Best part is, I'm headed to Georgia on Saturday to pic this rig up and I'll be back in action before too long! Once the CUCV is headed down to Mississippi, I'll really hit it hard and finish up cloning the old truck, but better :D

It's basically identical to what I had, with the exception of the cab lights, as far as factory options are concerned. It has a few extra goodies, but it'll be getting my engine, trans, transfer case, driveshafts, front axle/suspension, rear axle, fuel tank, etc swapped in to it.

Also thinking about some kind of clever license plate, so feel free to throw ideas my way.

First step will be doing the headliner, sound deadening inside the cab, radio, speakers, and whatever else I gotta do in the interior. Then to the body shop for a few things while I start disassembling the old rig.

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LEMONADE

LB14

UNBARRED

BLKBOOTY

ROLL ON

ANTIROLL

UNWREKT

JAK-TUP
 
Given you work on those whirly-birds:
DACHOPR ((get to it!) use your Arnold voice))

or based on the hybrid of powerstroke and Duramax parts on the truck:
PWRMAX/ MAXPWR

honestly I got nothing. Vanity plates were never really my thing lol
 
I don't know about the plate, but I know a good window banner.......

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Too soon?:flipoff2:

Nope :D I'd have to turn it 90 degrees though 🤣 It stopped on the passenger's side!

The ideas I came up with thus far:

RSRECTD (folks might think I'm a bible thumper!)
CPY/PSTE or CPYPASTE
CTRL C or CTRL V

I considered using my old plate letters and numbers, FH-6924, to really make it the exact same.

My personal favorite, albeit probably a niche reference:

ORPHNBLK


Orphan Black was an awesome TV series on BBC America about clones. It stared the very lovely, Tatiana Maslany 🤤 I loved the show, I'm making a clone of my old truck, and...the truck is literally black. I thought it was clever.
 
Well....we're headed back home.

Yes, it's on my trailer and behind a Ford. It's a 6.7, so we'll probably make it back home!

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Damn, what a day. I'm glad my buddy drove. I went to sleep about 4am Friday morning, was up at 8, ran to two banks, finished up a truck at my buddy's shop, worked OT from 4 to 2:15am, and we hit the road about 3:15am Saturday morning. I just now got in the house and sat down.

It'll need some paint work here and there, but it's kind of amazing to have an 02 crew cab that has solid rocker panels! Now, if it will dry up some, I can get started on swapping some stuff over.
 
I slept like a fat, exhausted infant. It was GLORIOUS. Now that I'm back amongst the land of the living...

Here ya go.

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Haven't quite decided where I want to start. Still leaning towards the interior and it seems like a solid plan....especially since the driver's seat doesn't move and I can't really reach the throttle with these short legs 🤣

I think I've decided to ditch the cab lights, unless one of yall convince me not to.

Kinda not really looking forward to the amount of work that's ahead of me, but I gotta keep remembering that it'll all be worth it in the end. It'll be worth it...right?
 
The only thing that concerns me with getting rid of the clearance lights is leaks down the road, unless you plan to actually fill the holes in when you paint the rest of the truck.

Interior, then SAS and other suspension items you had, then engine mods?

Are you done yet?

Welder 👌 They won't leak :D I'd get rid of the "shark fin" too for the original On-Star BS. The time to do it would definitely be while the headliner is out.

If I keep them, I'd probably snag some of these from Boost Auto.



I'm thinking I may try to do the solid axle stuff while the motor is out. I think that would make life a little easier. Logistics will play an important roll in this process...as well as available shop space.


The ACTUAL first step will be swapping the goosneck hitch.
 
I'd keep the lights and ditch the ranch hand bumper. Glad you found another diamond in the ruff.
 
It's not worth it, it's fine like it is. Make a great tow rig as it stands now.

You already have a trailer.

Now cut the raisen'd sheet metal off old reliable there, cage it, mount up some 42's and put it on the trailer and I'll meet you at the ranch in two weekends. If you need the snooty falooty seats for your new towrig I'll allow a PRP swap to the wheeler, and may as well swap the enormous fuel tank while your at it. Then donzo... let's go wheeling.

I know you've thought about it... dare ya.
 
I'd keep the lights and ditch the ranch hand bumper. Glad you found another diamond in the ruff.

Ranch Hand is getting gone. Going to get a BuckStop so it can get a winch. I've got to get the lights working first and then decide if I want to keep them or not.

It's not worth it, it's fine like it is. Make a great tow rig as it stands now.

You already have a trailer.

Now cut the raisen'd sheet metal off old reliable there, cage it, mount up some 42's and put it on the trailer and I'll meet you at the ranch in two weekends. If you need the snooty falooty seats for your new towrig I'll allow a PRP swap to the wheeler, and may as well swap the enormous fuel tank while your at it. Then donzo... let's go wheeling.

I know you've thought about it... dare ya.

I actually haven't considered it even once. 🤷‍♂️
 
Just curious, is there a reason to swap the engine/trans other than you just know the ones from your old truck?

With all you are planning to swap, I almost feel like it might be easier to swap the cab vs everything else.
 
While the frame under my old truck isn't bent, it HAS been wrecked twice now. The front frame horns and frame side area of the motor mounts are both kinda jacked up. It'll be easier to start with a nice, fresh frame. The driver's side, front spring mount also got messed up during the roll, if I'm not mistaken. I need to check on the body mounts. There are a couple of small things that I'd like to do differently as well.

Swapping cabs "sounds" easy enough...but I also don't have any way to pick up the "new" truck's cab without damaging it OR enough space to get both trucks inside of a building for long enough to do everything. I haven't entirely ruled it out, but it's not what I've been leaning towards. I'll know more once I really start digging in to my old truck.

I'd love to strip the new one down to the bare frame, swap stuff over, clean/paint everything...but we'll see how that goes.
 
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