[Duke]

I will try to get pics if it goes. I am trying to get prices from an aftermarket dealer who has been most helpful, but unfortunately the aftermarket manufactures are not so quick to sell stuff. In todays times, I would sell anything anybody wanted, but they must not be to hungry yet. I may be wrong but I did not think any Int's came from the factory with 4X4, they were taken to an aftermarket company and converted. This all depends of course on how much the parts cost.

My 4800 is a stock factory conversion. One great thing about IH is they do their 4x4's right on the assembly line. They've been doing them that way for probably 50 years. IH engineers spec the truck so it sits at a proper ride height. I've had 2 other IH 4x4's. One was a '79 S series 1700 4x4 and it was done on the factory assembly line. I have line setting tickets for both trucks and both have the 4x4 parts that were built right into the truck in Chicago.

Fords, GMC, etc all are done after the truck was already built as a 4x2. This usually results in a stepped frame and lots of aftermarket parts.

If you have to do the conversion afterwards, I would suggest Tulsa Truck. I had them spec out an F-800 I wanted them to do for me and they were cheaper than Marmon Herrington and Monroe. I was quoted $19,000 for a 14K front drive axle, air shift 4x4 & low range and everything installed. Shipping would have added another $2,500.

Unless you can do the work yourself, the best thing to do is sell your current 4x2 and buy a factory 4x4 that suits your needs. In the end, it'll probably be cheaper and much less hassle.

http://www.tulsatruckmfg.com/Pages/portfolio.html

Here's my rig

 

[Duke]

...and a NICE ONE it is too!

Thanks, bud. :happymugs

I put 4 Alcoas on the back axle over the summer.
It looks even better now.
I'll get some pics up with the new wheels soon. :thumbsup

 

[Duke]

Do you really NEED The 4x4. as their not even half as usefull as a 4x4 pickup would be.

Huh?

I find mine to be really useful.

They're 2 different tools. Like comparing a circular saw to a chain saw.

Maybe you mean they're not 1/2 as practical as one. Then I'd agree with ya.

 

[Duke]

A full locking rear will often times get you just as far.

Oh my gosh, no. I've seen full locking rear tandems get stuck on my jobsite and drove my 4800 right through the same place and not gotten stuck. :thumbsup

My old 4x2 dumps would get stuck on wet grass, even with locking rears. :fart

 

[Duke]

WTH do I know. Im just on owning & operating my 3rd big 4x4 and owned several 4x2's in the past. :haha Literally drive both down the same muddy roads & trails. :fan One of the big reasons I bought my 1st one is because a friend of mine owns a ton of lowland he is continuously filling. My old rear locking 4x2's would lock the rear axle and start to "corkscrew" sideways right off the road into the ditch. Talk about scary.:wedgie

My 4x4's would rarely break traction at the rear axle and would just drive straight down the trail never losing control.

Have a good one! :thumbsup

 

[Duke]

I wasn't trying to discount what you were saying before, just adding to your defense.

I know Dale. It wasn't what you said. It's cool!!! :thumbsup

I think when you have years of direct experience with something, you sometimes get over defensive when someone says something you know isn't true.

 

[Duke]

I definitely need a 4X4 to get my boat in and out of my driveway and it has been very close a couple of times getting out of some boat ramps. Both rears usually pull, but on a steep wet boat ramp traction is not always there. The boat and trailer is about 14K lbs. I have sugar sand where I live and to get in and out of my driveway I have to get here, disconnect, hook it to my Dodge 4X4, then back it in, then do it all over again when I leave. To buy the 4X4 MD truck I want would be very pricey. I have been itching to do this, just need someone to sell me the components. I will check with Tulsa Trucks, thanks.
Duke, what tires are on the front of yours?

Goodyear 385's.

Not sure if anyone would sell you basically a crate full of components without ripping you off for the parts. They want to install the entire set-up in your truck. What you need is a IH donor truck that was a 4x4.

It's ashame I didn't know you wanted this because I had access to a 4800 4x4 that was wrecked, but very fixable about a month ago. It was an Ebay aution and I think he would have taken $5,000. That's peanuts considering the transfer case alone probably costs $5,000.

I wanted the truck just for the A/C system. I could have sold you the rest of the truck and you could have bolted the whole frickin thing to your 4x2. The only thing it needed was one wheel end got trashed. The cab was partly trashed. I could have pulled the AC out and sent the rest of the truck to you.

Had a good DT and a 6 speed, too. Used to be a farm field fertilizer truck with huge balloon tires on her.

All I remember was the truck was in North Carolina at a salvage yard. It was white reg cab a 90,91 or 92 just like mine, except it had a 6 speed, AC and super single balloon tires on it. I don't think anyone ever bought it on the ebay auction.

If you can find it, I'll buy it with you.

A new 4x4 chassis with 300HP, a nice cab and an automatic is over $90,000.