V8 Diesel Trike... old Uhaul truck

[BMB Guns]

Greetings... Well, I've been wanting to build a trike for years. I'm 44 years old and I think it's time! I have a Ford F350 Diesel Uhaul truck. Engine was rebuilt with barley 75k miles on it. Automatic transmission has a slight leak but works fine. I own the truck. Not worth selling. Couldn't give it away with all the Uhaul trucks for sale around here. I have no other need for it so a monster trike project is better than nothing.

Yes, I know this idea is retarded and a VW or anything else would be easier. That's not the point. It's the challenge and the rumble of a diesel engine I'm after!

A little background to show that i know the headache I'm getting into! I have a shop. Ive been welding/metal working for years. Dad is a retired mechanic. I worked on diesel engines and pumps in my early years in the Louisiana field. For the trike: I plan on building my own heavy duty front end. I want to use the dual tire rear axel from the Uhaul (the giant stack of springs will be reduced or changed).

The radiator will be relocated to the rear with electric fans. The fuel tank is big but it's a nice flat rectangular shape and would work well sideways behind the back seat over the radiator.

I will take a few pics of the truck and welcome any constructive suggestions. Also, my wife wants me to build a funky little camper/tail gate thing with that box of the Uhaul truck. That will be a fun project as well! Thanks for reading my long ass first post! BMB

 

[Gorilla]

BMB welcome aboard. sounds like a very interesting project looking forward to following the build.

 

[BMB Guns]

Thanks for the welcome Gorilla. I haven't built something crazy in a while. This certainly registers on the crazy list. I'll try to take a few pics of the Uhaul and post them. I really want to chronicle the progress on triketalk. At the very least it will be good for a laugh!

 

[Papa Zook]

Bikes, trikes and guns...we love 'em! Welcome to the forum. Can't wait to see what kind of Munstermobile you got in mind...

 

[BMB Guns]

 

[Keystone]

Welcome to TT!ThumbUp

Where about in LA are you? I plan on heading down to Lake Charles late Feb for a couple of weeks.

 

[BMB Guns]

Welcome to TT!ThumbUp

Where about in LA are you? I plan on heading down to Lake Charles late Feb for a couple of weeks.

I'm in Lafayette. *The h u b city. East of Lake Charles.

 

[rrunner]

Sounds like a fun project. Can't wait for the build pictures to be posted. And welcome to the forum.

 

[BMB Guns]

Anyone familiar with the laws in Louisiana concerning trikes built from cars/trucks? I plan on calling the DMV and my insurance company before I really get I to turning wrenches and cutting steel.

 

[irmagoo]

hi bmb
I have stayed around Lafayette and Abbeville a few times I will be watching your build..sound like fun!
magoo

 

[peteg59]

Your idea to check with LA DMV is a good idea. as almost next door to you in TX, it wouldn't fly. No auto/motorcycle hybrid homebuilts allowed there.
Seems Un~American to me, but whoever got the legislators to sign off on that law is smarter than me!
Welcome, & good luck on your project if it can get up & going legally...ThumbUp

 

[BMB Guns]

Your idea to check with LA DMV is a good idea. as almost next door to you in TX, it wouldn't fly. No auto/motorcycle hybrid homebuilts allowed there.
Seems Un~American to me, but whoever got the legislators to sign off on that law is smarter than me!
Welcome, & good luck on your project if it can get up & going legally...ThumbUp

Yep. I've already heard about TX laws. That sucks. Definitely Un-American. *My dad actually built a 3 wheeler around 30 years ago and got it licenced to drive on the road. All he needed was turning signals, a headlight and a horn. No front breaks even. But that was 30 years ago. He powered it with a big ass *Briggs air cooled. *Part of the frame still exists as a pressure washer.*

 

[butchvoss]

I almost built a hydraulic powered trike with a kubuta diesel back when i lived in fl... Bought all the parts, hydraulic wheel motor, a variable displacement hydrostatic pump . It seemed someone wanted the kubota engine more than i did and relieved me of it... That 7.3 is one heavy mother but doable IMHO .. keep us informed

 

[BMB Guns]

Yep... should be interesting. *The engine is the 7.3 L IDI. Not a power stroke and no turbo. Simple and solid. Automatic transmission. Still heavy. I plan on building the front end from scratch and it will be extra heavy duty. Here is a pic of the uuuuugly bitch!!!

 

[BMB Guns]

 

[irmagoo]

I hope you do fuzzy!!!
you will enjoy it I'm sure!!

 

[BMB Guns]

http://https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1030177207042717&id=226405560753223

For those that tell me I CAN'T build a diesel trike.

 

[irmagoo]

come on with it bmb!!
this is a vary interesting build to me, I have been wanting to do a small diesel in a jeep for last 4-5 years. I'm a diesel guy just got tired of the new stuff over regulated to much government involvement. I do tinker with my m-11 Cummins- in motor home built cold air kit different exhaust manifold / turbo and 5 inch exhaust and straight through resonator runs good
so hope you do the build and post plenty of pics!!
mike

 

[butchvoss]

http://https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1030177207042717&id=226405560 753223

For those that tell me I CAN'T build a diesel trike.

Who told you that you cant build one.. heck id luv to have that box truck up here in NH lol

- - - Updated - - -

Yep... should be interesting. *The engine is the 7.3 L IDI. Not a power stroke and no turbo. Simple and solid. Automatic transmission. Still heavy. I plan on building the front end from scratch and it will be extra heavy duty. Here is a pic of the uuuuugly bitch!!!

Yep heavy but built right that would be kool rolling coal .lolThumbUp

7.3 IDI.

like you say simple and if ever a EMF charge ever goes off your IDI will still start. lol.. Heck i made my own waste oil fuel mix for my 98 Cummings 5.9 diesel.. the thing luved it.. I have a 02 E350 ambulance 7.3 that is my daily driver now. To cold in NH for the waste oil mix. I absolutely luv this thing. ..

 

[BMB Guns]

Ok. I had a wonderful talk with the senior state trooper that handles assembled vehicles in my area.... yes it is legal to build a trike from my uhaul truck! I need a dismantle permit on the truck first.... my next call today was to state farm insurance. I have my other vehicles with them. They told me to pound sand on the homemade trike... ugh... so... where do I go to insure the monster!?!?

No insurance, *no trike...

Update...*

So... Progressive gave me a quote online! Geico didn't give me the option to select "other" for make and model. I guess I'll call Progressive to make sure they won't shut me down on a home build.

 

[Gorilla]

Ok. I had a wonderful talk with the senior state trooper that handles assembled vehicles in my area.... yes it is legal to build a trike from my uhaul truck! I need a dismantle permit on the truck first.... my next call today was to state farm insurance. I have my other vehicles with them. They told me to pound sand on the homemade trike... ugh... so... where do I go to insure the monster!?!?

No insurance, *no trike...

Update...*

So... Progressive gave me a quote online! Geico didn't give me the option to select "other" for make and model. I guess I'll call Progressive to make sure they won't shut me down on a home build.

You might only be able to get liability don't know

 

[BMB Guns]

As long as I'm legal I'm fine with that. It would suck to have everything squared away but couldn't find an insurance company that would cover me and get me on the road.

With that said... that trooper I talked to was awesome! *He was cheering on my project 100% and he is the man that makes the decision on builds like this in my area. He told me to save his number in my phone and call him with any questions!

 

[Ozarkryder]

When we had problems finding insurance years ago we found Bikeline. Almost anyone will do liability, but with pictures and documentation they did full coverage. Some time ago they dropped the Bikeline moniker and went with the company name, Markel. http://www.markelmotorcycleinsurance.com/

You will probably have to talk to an acutal person with a homebuilt.

 

[BMB Guns]

When we had problems finding insurance years ago we found Bikeline. Almost anyone will do liability, but with pictures and documentation they did full coverage. Some time ago they dropped the Bikeline moniker and went with the company name, Markel. http://www.markelmotorcycleinsurance.com/

You will probably have to talk to an acutal person with a homebuilt.

Awesome! Thank you. I started the quote process online and when I clicked "custom" for model it went to a "you need to call us" screen! I'll give them a call tomorrow. *Thanks again.

 

[BMB Guns]

Well... looks like I'm not building a trike. Small hole in the air cleaner caused the engine block to fill with rain water. Good chance it's ruined.*

 

[BMB Guns]

Thats the only luck I have.