I am going to build a top drive and wanted to see if there where things to stay away from. Right now we are planning on using a half ton single cab 4x4 truck. We are also planning on using a hydraulic steering system. Any photos or ideas on what to do or not to do would be appreciated.
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the 2 I have been on have both been 3/4 ton or more. One was a 1 ton ford and the other was a 3/4 ton suburban. id say the racks were 8' to 10' in length, both had hydraulic steering and brake boosters mounted up top. I prefer locking swivel chairs to bench seating for shooting. and the most important thing in a high rack is CUP HOLDERS. -
Oh, Its going to have cup holders. I want to use the half ton so it isnt so rough. The roads where we hunt are very rough.Comment
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No help in your build but I rode in a 1/2 ton top drive one time and I wouldn't look forward to doing it again. It had an awful lot of movement up there air bags might help.Comment
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Look at Twilight Metal works website. They have some crazy cool builds and will give you some ideas. They built me a safari rig and we love it!Comment
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Look at performance top drives website...Comment
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Have had a few and still own one. Would not build on 1/2 truck. Really like the excursion for the space it allows. Make it as big as you can. It fills up fast up top with people and gear. Add some sort of low light interior light. You will need it at night when hunting. Make sure you add tailgate feeder controls up top. By the best seats you can afford. Boat seat are a huge waste of money. I'd rather stand than sit in one for a second.Originally posted by Buck Shot View PostComment
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I have hunted out of two of them. One was a 4x4 3/4 ton regular cab with a 6 cyl and the other was a 4x4 1/2 ton regular cab with a V-8. Both were quite but the 3/4 ton was a smoother ride and did not whip you around as much. The 1/2 ton had solid filled tires and could drive anywhere he wanted. The 3/4 ton guy that owned it took some vent tubing and connected all the A/C heater vents to one large vent tube then thru the back windshield and into the area below the steering wheel(on both sides) and pump cold/heated air to the driver side. It was nice for him driving in cold or hot temps. Also the 1/2 ton had the rubber stall mattes like you see at TSC on the flooring. Both had heaters. Both had game winches to hoist and load game. Road feeders on both. Places for ice chests mounted up high. The 3/4 ton had 6 swivel chairs and the 1/2 ton had 4 chairs. The 3/4 ton had a shooting rest built on the passenger side up front. Both had a gun case/rack mounted across the front. 3/4 ton had a gun rack on each side behind the drivers and passenger seats. Both could disconnect the top drive steering/controls and drive from down in the cab in very bad weather.Comment
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I will also add to my post above that the 3/4 ton was used in South Texas and the 1/2 ton in Trans-Pecos area of West Texas.Comment
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The best top drive I have ever ridden in is built on top of a ford ranger and has an 800 pound feeder built into the bed and it goes through some country it shouldn't down south on our ranch! Make sure you build a good portion of the rack on the can of the truck so that you're weight won't be all in the back on that half ton truck, put good tires on it with a strong sidewallComment
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This is it when performance did it, looks a lot different now but it gives you an idea on how they did it
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We have 2 top drives, one on an F350 (with hydraulic blind in back) and the other an F250. Happy to give you more info on what works well on each and what doesn't, but the 3 main things:Originally posted by DonBon View Post
1. Have a boat-style throttle for the gas, with a pedal brake (rather than a pedal gas). Maneuvering a gas pedal while standing for long periods isn't fun.
2. Make the driver's seat adjustable on a slide from front to back similar to allow for plenty of room for sitting (less length needed) and standing (more room needed) while driving.
3. We have wrap systems around the top of each. Make sure you cut or plan for a line of sight to the front of your vehicle's hood that you can see while sitting and/or standing and the vehicle is moving. The F250 has the site and the F350 doesn't, and it makes the 350 much harder to drive when making turns, crossing cattle guards, etc.
Let me know if you want more insight and happy to provide.Comment
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What Dimmitco said
Do not scrimp on shocks.
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Thanks for all the suggestions. I feel like we are headed in the right direction.Comment
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