1976 Ford F-250

More often than not we dump thousands into our rigs constantly riding that fine line of how much is too much to put into something that we plan to abuse. Greg Roulson was able to tackle that problem with a little ingenuity and willingness to make the best vehicle out of a truck that he had always wanted. Built for the endless notches of Truckhaven in Southern California, he concentrated on keeping the sheetmetal to a minimum while maintaining the lowest center of gravity possible.

Straight from the factory with a Dana 60 rear and 44 front axle, the '76 F-250 provided Greg with one of the bestselling features of older trucks: solid axles. We always enjoy seeing homebuilt rigs like this on the trail. They're a testament to how you can easily take a stock vehicle more than three decades old and, with a little bit of time and money, turn it into a low-budget wheeler that will leave you smiling all the way to the bank.

Tech Specs

Year/Make/Model: '76 Ford F-250
Engine: Original 390ci V-8
Transmission: Factory four-speed
Transfer Case: NP205
Front Axle: Dana 44, factory hydraulic assist, Yukon axleshafts, 4.88 gears, Detroit Locker
Rear Axle: Dana 60, 4.88 gears, Detroit Locker
Suspension: 2-inch Skyjacker kit
Tires & Wheels: 37x14.50 Super Swamper IROKs on 16x10 Pro Comp 1069 Alloys

We liked how clean and well executed the bed came out. Built in his driveway with a borrowed tube bender, scraps from the local steel yard, and help from his neighbor Dr. Scheer, the intention was to shorten the departure angle and minimize the amount of sheetmetal on the truck to keep it looking healthy after wheeling excursions. It not only manages to keep his gear in check, but hosts enough room for a fullsize spare while aiding in rollover protection.

The factory-equipped Dana 44 and hydraulic assist made this platform easy to build from. Stuffed with 4.88 gears and a Detroit Locker, the '76 Ford turns the 37-inch IROKs with ease. Making room for the big rubber is a 2-inch Skyjacker lift that keeps the truck riding low and stable.

Greg's motor will not be winning any awards for best dressed, but the old 390 still gets the job done. Keeping with the frugal nature of the build was the custom front bumper made out of old scrap metal, along with the Warn 9000 winch he was lucky enough to have sitting around on another old 4x4.