This 1996 Ford F-350 is a stretched, six-door model that retains factory appearances while adding loads more interior space for hauling passengers or multiple dogs and cats. The look is an acquired taste, and I’m guessing parallel parking is out of the question. The seller says it’s a headturner that can seat nine, and is equipped with a 7.3L Powerstroke diesel. Mileage is indicated as being 181,000 and the seller has a clean title in hand. While it’s unclear to me the immediate value such a conversion provides, there are numerous vendors offering to stretch your truck – so apparently, I’m the one that’s been living under a rock. Find the six-door Ford here on eBay with bidding over $15K and a Buy-It-Now of $32,500.
Now, truth be told, given how much full-size trucks have grown in the last few years, this stretched F-350 may not be dramatically longer than what you can buy off the dealer lot at the moment. The seller specifically mentions this rig being useful for towing a camper, so perhaps that’s the intent behind it – head off to a remote camping site but bring along eight of your friends or, God help you, seven children. The truck looks completely stock aside from the stretched chassis and added doors, which is a testament to the original builder who somehow managed for this not to look like an ill-fated stretch limo conversion. I would like to know a bit more about the company that did the conversion, as it looks like a high-quality job from this side of the computer monitor.
The seller mentions that the truck has a custom, one-piece headliner, which is a level of detail I wasn’t expecting. From the few sites I scanned through of companies offering stretch services, this F-350 appears to follow some of the basic guidelines of a solid conversion, including retaining factory-style seating to further preserve the OEM feel of the truck despite the additional room to stretch out. You can even see that factory storage bins and armrests were maintained as well, and if you are bringing a family along, it’s ideal that everyone has their own space. Whenever you stretch a vehicle, there’s obviously questions about the fortitude of the structure or how it feels going down the road; getting a clear sense of the driving experience are details I’d want if I was a buyer.
The bed appears to be a standard long bed, but I’m not entirely sure that it didn’t get stretched as well. Here you can see the mounts for a trailer, so it becomes clearer as to how this truck was originally used. The added space and utility are obvious advantages, and the drivetrain should be able to haul whatever you strap to the back. But like a set of retirees piloting a monster R/V for the first time, I do wonder what happens if you buy this thing and then find out it’s a monster to drive in tight spaces. The details do seem right, as the seller even mentions having a custom-matched bed cap and driveshaft built to accommodate the additional length. Would you consider a six-door conversion for regular use, or does the practicality factor limits its appeal?
Should be fun at the Costco parking lot.
Why?
With that length, what repair facility other than a tractor-trailer facility could lift it or even accommodate its length? Ditto, trying to get fuel, you’d have to push everyone away from 3 or 4 pumps just to get it into position. That should make other customers happy.
And what, 2-3 hours spent trying to wash and wax this monster and needing a ladder in the process? Try driving that in town and turning most corners, nearly impossible.
I suppose someone can say they have the longest truck in town…but seriously, why?
“Try driving that in town and turning most corners, nearly impossible.” Jeez, art; haven’t you ever seen big trucks tooling around your town? I used to drive heavy trucks; furniture vans, tri-axle dumps and front-loader garbage trucks. I drove them all over the Northeast, including cities like New York and Boston. It wasn’t easy sometimes but I got it done. I could parallel park them when I had to and I had to be very aware of my trucks height and not take out a bridge somewhere. Driving this F350 around town just requires you to think a little more and frequent use of your mirrors.
This Ford is kind of silly looking and it has 4 doors too many for me.
I had a 96 F-350 crew cab. That 4 full doors ! 8 ft bed . Loved that truck ! And all 4 of my kids learned to drive it before driver’s training and could all back it up out 200 yd driveway ! Let’s face it those who don’t understand 6 doors never been on oil or timber work sites ! Even see the railroaders use them. Get a VW if you can’t learn to park ! Low mileage ! That motor isn’t even broke in. Did see any asking price..
If u think this is hard to drive in cities try during a 22 foot truck and a 53 foot trailer in the L.A area not as easy as people think Amy try backing the 75 foot truck and trailer in a tight space to get to the dock
If you have to ask, Art you wouldn’t understand!
Can’t be much different than driving an 80 passenger school bus. I would rock that unit!
my thought exactly- it would be like driving a school bus around……
Wonder how long of 5th wheel it pulled
Has a gooseneck, not a fifth wheel. They pulled a horse trailer I’ll bet. 30 or 40 ft . I pulled a 52 foot gooseneck with my 4 for
I would guesstimate the value somewhere between the current bid and the BIN, but closer to the former. This kind of monster really comes down to build quality. Odo shows 181k (just broke in for the 7.3) and the rest looks that good, I’d have to say the frame, driveline, and body work we’re all done to a reasonable spec. I would still like to slide underneath the thing and have a look-see for myself before money changed hands for sure. All around, a most over the top rig by any measure.
America! Freedom, more has got to be better. Any bigger, going to have to bend in the middle. I guess for someone that needs a unit like this, horsey set types on the east side of the Hudson River,( if you’ve ever been, you know what I mean) be just the thing.
I had quite an extensive conversation with an outfit that built exclusively Fords at the South Dakota State Fair last summer. I was impressed with the quality jobs they had on display. I immediately thought about my daughter and SIL and their troop. It would have suited them fine. About ten years back I had a customer who sent his Dodge 1-ton 4×4 crew cab away to an outfit that stretched it out and added another pair of doors. I drove it and it was long but out west where the parking lots are still designed for full-sized trucks you would have few problems finding a place to park, except for angle parking.
Just imagine the turning radius on this thing.
I’ve always found that it’s easier to back my F350 crew cab into a parking space than it is to pull it in forwards.
Coming soon to a fracking field near you!
I purchased a 1995 F350 Powerstroke Crew Cab Dually new in September 1994. My truck was sent from the dealer to Centurion in White Pigeon Michigan to be stretched into an Crew Cab Extended Cab. I went with a Extended Cab behind the crew cab instead of the extra set of doors. Mine is trimmed out just like Ford would have built it with complete stock Ford interior. NONE of all the wood and cushy van leather seat for me!
25 years later I still have the truck with 204K miles. It’s the only vehicle I have ever purchased new. I’ve had it this long might as well keep it!