UJOR Build Thread

[ujoint]

Starting with the front...

[crazy]

Chris - you have issues out there with DMV considering a flatbed a commercial vehicle? A guy out here on the left coast started getting tickets for not pulling into weigh stations.

BTW - like the videos you have posted on your web site - good stuff.

In the central valley, the CHP have been giving tickets to people with flatbeds and utility beds. As soon as you take the pickup bed off, it is no longer a pickup. At that point, you need a CA number. That stands for two things, Carrier Authority and Pain In The ***. If you are in California and want to remove you bed, think long and hard if you want to deal with the hassle. I doubt you will have as much trouble in metro areas because there is less commercial truck activity compared to places like the central valley. I think it is mainly the truck enforcement guys giving the tickets.

That is also why you see a sign at weigh stations that say "No Pickups". If you are towing a 50 foot 3 car trailer with a pickup, you go right past the weigh station. If you have a flatbed, you pull in.

The other thing I wonder about is the new trucks. The gvw is more than listed in the legal definition of a pickup. I wonder if they are still treated like before if the gvw is over the 11,500# limit.

Definition of pickup in California vehicle code.

V C Section 471 Pickup Truck
Pickup Truck

471. A "pickup truck" is a motor truck with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of less than 11,500 pounds, an unladen weight of less than 8,001 pounds, and which is equipped with an open box-type bed not exceeding 9 feet in length. "Pickup truck" does not include a motor vehicle otherwise meeting the above definition, that is equipped with a bed-mounted storage compartment unit commonly called a "utility body."

Added Ch. 13, Stats. 1991. Effective February 13, 1991.
Amended Ch. 928, Stats. 1991. Effective October 14, 1991.
Amended Sec. 8, Ch. 652, Stats. 1997. Effective January 1, 1998.

[Sheep Shagger]

For or aft bumpers?

I'm for them, myself

[ujoint]

The Ranger is at the body shop (pics to come soon).... And this UJOR stage 2 axle with crossover steering is ready for it's new home in Puerto Rico!



Here's a pic of the new shop, finally getting where I want it --

[ujoint]

Started building the axle crate today, just waiting for some shocks & the t-case....

[ujoint]

The front fenders came in today, so I delivered them & checked up on the Ranger. They plan to lay the paint down Friday/Sat.

[Clark]

I've been enjoying this tread - keep the pictures coming.

[ujoint]

Will do!!

I've been on the road for 2 days, picking up 2 vans. We left AVL Wed @ noon in our fine rental car (Chevy HHR) and headed north towards Washington DC. It's funny how this trip worked out..... A friend of mine in LA has been searching for the perfect van, and he's had a few slip out from under him over the last few months. Well, this one didn't! 09 E350 6.0, 76K on the clock, cargo, barn doors, located in Silver Springs MD. I offered to pick it up & keep it here in NC until he can come get it. We've been assembling parts for a few months, he's got everything ready to go for this major transformation. I'll start a build thread as he makes progress. (hint.... Vanaconda clone!)

So Mikey's van pickup has been on my schedule for a week or two. I've also been talking to a customer in TX, and he too was searching for the perfect van. Well guess what? He found it...... in northern VA!!!!! Just south of DC. 08 E350, brand new, still sitting on the lot. Someone had to order this van & then back out because of the options. It 's a cargo V10 with every option including rear air. Really nice van, I picked it up with 140 miles on the odo. The build plan is this: UJOR 4" conversion, stage 2 front axle, Sterling rear with an ARB, along with all of the other goodies.



I observed 13 mpg on the way home. Not 100% accurate. I didn't refill the fuel tank completely since I'll be dropping it for the 4x4 conversion.

And here's Mike's 09



This van impressed me, 19 mpg!!!!!!

Here they are together as I gave the V10 enough fuel to make it home

[Brad Kilby]

So does this mean I should be keeping my eye out for similar vans here on the west coast for you Chris? That new '08 was a nice find!

[ujoint]

So does this mean I should be keeping my eye out for similar vans here on the west coast for you Chris? That new '08 was a nice find!

Always! I'm not looking for any, but someone else always is. Especially 7.3's.

And he scored a NICE price on that 08. Over 10K off sticker.