Eagle-eyed Barn Finds reader Pat L. spotted this very affordable Ford F350 car hauler, available for the princely sum of $3,000! If you bring home more than five project cars a year, this F350 could make itself a positive investment in no time, compared to shipping cars home or renting UHaul equipment. Check out this find here on craigslist in Pittsburgh.
Equipped with a 390 and a four-speed, the seller promises it is not a rust bucket. When I brought my Toyota Hiace project home a few weeks back, I had a lousy experience with the shipper who couldn’t handle the rigors of transporting a non-op vehicle. How nice it would have been to simply hop into my own car hauler and utilize the heavy-duty winch this truck comes with to get the job done with less drama.
What I’m not sure is just how sturdy that bed remains. It appears to be made of wood and looks a bit tired. For the price, however, you could likely justify the price of a new flatbed if desired. I can’t find much to fault about this perfect hobby-car hauler for the price, and I wonder if anyone agrees. These small tow rigs won’t replace major shipping carriers any time soon, but it’s a neat way to bring your car to the track or the show.
Now this is what you haul your classic treasure home with ( and do it for others reasonably) I don’t care for the ramp setup, and this could probably use a 2 speed rear axle, both relatively easy fixes and the 390 should provide ample power, as long as you aren’t bringing back the Queen Mary. And with a trailer, you can double your money, ( see how easy this is?) except forwardly progress will be compromised considerable with this setup. Can’t go wrong here.
( no edit) Perhaps that’s a 2 speed axle lashed to the back, can’t tell.
Judging by the grass jammed in the trailing end of the bed, this rig has trouble with changes in elevation. I’d have to lop off one or two feet from the end to make it more drivable.
Sending this to my son in northern Illinois as he is always dragging home projects.
Agreed on almost all of the comments above. Great price for what you get. If the frame is solid you will get many years use of this. F-350s of this vintage rarely have or need a two speed rear. Fifth year would be great but with a truck like this it is all about getting the treasure home not about keeping up with modern traffic. 60-65 will be just fine. Strip the bed and put new boards on. Source the self tapping screws as they can get expensive.
Yes, this would make an awesome AutoArcheological find, retrieval vehicle. The 74 cab is classic enough to be cool… however, nearly any other “cooler” cab could be dropped on. Make it comfy to drive and you’re set to bring em all back home… No Honey, it followed me home..LOL
Perfect! And a deck just long enough to allow for the sleeper I’d have to install just above the winch so I can cruise the entire continent picking up Barn Finds to furnish my retirement income. At least that’s the excuse I’m gonna give the wife anyway.
I looked at this truck back in November or so. I was on the hunt for a car hauler for my 67 Comet to commute to the local dragstrip. Saw this up on Craigslist, and against my wife’s wishes, I contacted the seller and went and made the 2 1/2 hour trip to check her out. It just so happened nearby there was a 64 Fairlane Sportscoupe for sale that I had my eye on. ( I didn’t tell the wife about this one.) I planned on buying both and loading the Fairlane on the back of this one-ton dentside. How cool would that be?
I contacted both sellers and asked questions regarding condition. The
“Fairlane is a roller” said the seller, “needs some sheet metal work.” The car hauler “runs good, drives good” “not a rust bucket.” I asked will it handle a 3 hour ride home? “No problem.” Sounds good enough to me. Off we went. I checked out the Fairlane first. A roller, that had seen better days. Floors, doors, quarters, trunk, glass, frame rails, everything was shot. I reluctantly said goodbye to the car and didn’t even negotiate with the seller. 2,500 firm for a car that was destined to have whatever trim left on it ripped off, sold on ebay and the rest scrapped. Oh well I thought, the truck looks more promising.
We arrived. I met the owner who had obviously recently enjoyed some of the devil’s lettuce. He showed us a late 60’s mustang that he was putting front frame rails on. The work seemed…sketchy. The car was nowhere near level or supported correctly. The floors and torqueboxes had also been sawzalled out and “replaced.” If you see a crooked notch up in PA, it could be this guys. Onto the truck, the “390” (I’m sure a 360) fired up after a few pumps and a couple hits of the key. I crawled underneath to find that the entire motor is soaked with oil. I mean wet. The frame had some issues but wasn’t complete junk, a cross member was rotted out. Obviously the wooden deck is shot per the pictures. All 6 tires were completely dry rot and I’m surprised they held air. Even if they weren’t dry rot they were mismatched and had quarter tread at best. Long story short, I didn’t buy anything that day, much to my wife’s delight. If anyone goes and expects to buy this truck and drive it home, take a couple gallons of oil and 6 tires. I wasn’t brave enough.