The FWD Superduty

[2o6]

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/30/sema-2007-dropping-by-the-deberti-ford-super-duty/
http://dallassmithcorp.com/productsvans.html

Intresting, innovative, unique and useful.

[280Z Turbo]

Front wheel drive diesel pickup? FWD burnouts are lame.

[Eye of the Tiger]

It's a lot easier to buy some ramps for your motorcycle...

[Secret Chimp]

The front CV joints on that truck are not going to be enjoying 100% of that engine's torque for very long...

[280Z Turbo]

Seriously, I think this would make a lot more sense on something less heavy duty, like a Ranger, Colorado, or Sprinter.

You don't need a fuckin' Powerstroke to haul a motorcycle, and with this conversion, you can't do any heavy duty jobs because of a lack of ground clearance.

[Raghavan]

LAME.

[Soup DeVille]

Seriously, I think this would make a lot more sense on something less heavy duty, like a Ranger, Colorado, or Sprinter.

You don't need a fuckin' Powerstroke to haul a motorcycle, and with this conversion, you can't do any heavy duty jobs because of a lack of ground clearance.

Ground clearance has nothing to do with hauling capacity.

This truck for instance, has less than four inches of ground clearance

[Raghavan]

Is that a 70 wheeler truck?

[Eye of the Tiger]

That is a kick-ass trailer setup. I want to drive that thing!

[Soup DeVille]

Is that a 70 wheeler truck?

68. The front drive axle only has two wheels on it.

[Raghavan]

68. The front drive axle only has two wheels on it.

I count 35 for each side.

[280Z Turbo]

Ground clearance has nothing to do with hauling capacity.

This truck for instance, has less than four inches of ground clearance

Okay...I guess you just need a really big upside down drop hitch!

Do you really think the drivetrain and frame are going to be able to cope with towing with these modifications?

[Soup DeVille]

That is a kick-ass trailer setup. I want to drive that thing!

From what I've been told, once you get going it's not much different to drive than a normal rig.

It would still be great for bragging purposes though.

"What's the heaviest vehicle you've ever driven?"

"600 tons."

[Eye of the Tiger]

From what I've been told, once you get going it's not much different to drive than a normal rig.

It would still be great for bragging purposes though.

"What's the heaviest vehicle you've ever driven?"

"600 tons."

It's like driving a train, but not on tracks. Awesome. 

[Soup DeVille]

Okay...I guess you just need a really big upside down drop hitch!

Do you really think the drivetrain and frame are going to be able to cope with towing with these modifications?

Yes.

Front wheel drive specialty trucks are nothing new, they've been around for years.

[280Z Turbo]

Well then why the hell are we talking about them?

[Soup DeVille]

Well then why the hell are we talking about them?

Because the OP wasn't aware of that? BTW, this is one of my favorite FWD trucks of all time:



And yes, they can also tow quite well.

[SVT666]

Seriously, I think this would make a lot more sense on something less heavy duty, like a Ranger, Colorado, or Sprinter.

You don't need a fuckin' Powerstroke to haul a motorcycle, and with this conversion, you can't do any heavy duty jobs because of a lack of ground clearance.

It's strictly for show

FWD pickups make no sense no matter what size the truck is.  You put a load in the bed and the weight transfers off the drive wheels.

[2o6]

It's strictly for show

FWD pickups make no sense no matter what size the truck is.  You put a load in the bed and the weight transfers off the drive wheels.

Yes, but the Benefits of it, make a lot of sense.

[SVT666]

Yes, but the Benefits of it, make a lot of sense.

The Cons outweigh the Pros.

[Ron From Regina]

It's strictly for show

FWD pickups make no sense no matter what size the truck is.  You put a load in the bed and the weight transfers off the drive wheels.

True, I've driven half ton's so loaded down that the front wheels can't keep the truck from going snakey, let alone try and also provide drive.

[SaltyDog]

Ground clearance has nothing to do with hauling capacity.

This truck for instance, has less than four inches of ground clearance

I saw behind one of those recently, and I couldn't believe it could make the turn it did.  It was surrounded by police cruisers and going like 2mph.

[2o6]

The Cons outweigh the Pros.

Not really.

[the Teuton]

What kind of transmission did they use to handle all that torque to the front wheels?

[Ron From Regina]

Not really.

If you ever put anything heavy in the bed, the con's far outweigh the pro's.... and If I was spending money on a super duty, I would be putting heavy things in the bed.

[2o6]

If you ever put anything heavy in the bed, the con's far outweigh the pro's.... and If I was spending money on a super duty, I would be putting heavy things in the bed.

It's not really for civillian use......I'm thinking the Applications of Small Buses, Ambulances.....moving trucks....

[Soup DeVille]

It's strictly for show

FWD pickups make no sense no matter what size the truck is.  You put a load in the bed and the weight transfers off the drive wheels.

Only if you put a load behind the rear axles, when if you're properly loading your truck, it will put weight on the fronts as well.

Even on a RWD truck you don't want to take weight off the front axle- that one actually does the steering you know.

[Soup DeVille]

The Cons outweigh the Pros.

It's made for specific jobs where either load floor height or overall storage height is a concern.

Say for instance, you need to deliver an object 13 and a half feet tall? Can you put it on a truck with a load floor 30 inches above ground?

Only if there are no wires or bridges between here and your destination.

Trucks like this can also be fitted with airbags and drop completely to the ground so a load can be rolled on or off with a simple pallet jack.

[Soup DeVille]

What kind of transmission did they use to handle all that torque to the front wheels?

Most likely either a GM TH425 or the original transmission with a modified transfer case.

[Soup DeVille]

True, I've driven half ton's so loaded down that the front wheels can't keep the truck from going snakey, let alone try and also provide drive.

Then it ws loaded wrong, not loaded down.