Super Shorty?

[Number21]

I'm moving into a new shop and I have a lot of various things on wheels that need to be parked in a tight place, and very few of them can move under their own power. I want some sort of "tugger" to keep down there, to move trailers and vehicles around. I could go with something small like an ATV, or an old forklift, maybe even a small tractor.

On the other hand I was slightly considering building a "Super Shorty" square body, that is, a standard cab truck with a 4' or shorter bed. Has anybody done anything like this before? I wouldn't think it would be a whole lot different than making a LWB into a SWB, right? Has anybody ever done such a thing before? I'd love to see some pics besides the photoshops I've made...

[N2TRUX]

I have seen a truck cut down to fit a Blazer frame. Looked rather odd to me.

[Driveway Dreams]

The problem I see with this is the width and turning radius are still not in your favor.

[Number21]

Originally Posted by Driveway Dreams

The problem I see with this is the width and turning radius are still not in your favor.

Yeah, the width isn't very good. A small tractor would probably be the best tool but then again I'd kinda like to build a super shorty just 'cause. Turning radius shouldn't be a huge issue since I want to mount a hitch front and back, I wouldn't have to do too much maneuvering.

[grinch4om]

what about no box and move the rear and frame as close to the cab as possible? If it's a "tug", solid mount the axle maybe? The rear end could then be right up against the cab.....

[Keith Seymore]

This was my "tugger":



It also did "triple duty" as my snow pusher and primary grass cutting machine.

K

[Pyrotechnic]

I would start of with an S10 or some kind of mini truck. Honestly, with the turning radius of a regular cab short bed S10, you really wouldn't even need to cut it down. You could use it as is. Even if you did cut it down, it's still a much better candidate than a square body.

[Driveway Dreams]

I like the idea of the rear being right up at the cab. Maybe a bed that is just long enough to have the wheel wells in it. Then you could put weight there if you ever need it, but you could also use it as a toolbox too. Oh and...dump it!
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What?!?! Just use a flipped drop hitch to get it up high enough.

[Number21]

Originally Posted by Driveway Dreams

I like the idea of the rear being right up at the cab. Maybe a bed that is just long enough to have the wheel wells in it. Then you could put weight there if you ever need it, but you could also use it as a toolbox too.

Yeah, that's kind of what I was thinking. Here's a crappy photochop I made from a pic I stole:


I'd use the SM465 trans and probably try to take advantage of the PTO outputs. But really the only reason for this is because I love the square bodies. You're all right, it's not the best vehicle to start with. I would love to have a nice old tractor like that but it would probably cost 3x as much as an old truck and I don't have anything to mow.

[raiders3581]

I have seen something similar to that a few years back. The Ontario air port had a f150 about mid 80s that looked like that fotoshop. It was the truck front end with no bed to speak of and a short section of frame , just enough for the rear end and leaf springs.

[Number21]

Originally Posted by raiders3581

I have seen something similar to that a few years back. The Ontario air port had a f150 about mid 80s that looked like that fotoshop. It was the truck front end with no bed to speak of and a short section of frame , just enough for the rear end and leaf springs.

LOL, now that I think about it, I remember seeing about the same thing while I was waiting around at John Wayne airport. Maybe that's where I got the idea?

Unfortunately I don't have quite as much free space to move in as they do...