There are two elements in custom truck construction that draw attention to a rig. Suspension and paint are by far the exterior attention-getters of any build. Nearly every standout customized truck has suffered through some kind of pigment and altitude modification. With this in mind, Greg Suydam of Glendale, Arizona, went to work tagging and 'bagging his F-250.
This big quad cab was first sent to Olin's Designs in Phoenix for tagging. Rod Olin laid down House of Color Platinum flames with blue pinstriping to give the stock gray an eye-catching pop. Tribal-style flames flow from the front bumper to the fenders and the hood, and down the sides to the edge of the rear doors.
After a thorough tag, the Blue Oval was 'bagged at Metal Fusion, also in Phoenix. Jeff Ferguson installed the custom suspension using a menagerie of parts. Firestone 2,600-pound airbags were fitted in all four corners, with Doetsch shocks placed to help control the rolling mass. A full-tube rear half with a double-framed C-notch controls the rear suspension in a Bell Crank, Indy car-style setup. Two Viair 450 compressors pressurize the air, which is stored in two 6-gallon tanks, while 1/2-inch air lines inflate and evacuate the 'bags through Sarin air valves.
On the lower half, a set of Bazo B8 22x9.5-inch rims wrapped in 265/35R22 Pirelli Scorpions fills the shrouded wheelwells to finish off the exterior look. A Street Scene speed grille and APC projection headlights accent the front clip. Out back, a SnugTop tonneau covers the bed, giving the Super Duty a stealth appearance.
Of course, it takes more than just basics to make the pages of Sport Truck, so Jeff made a few more attention-grabbing mods. The carpet-lined bed reveals the single-shock-controlled camber suspension, and inflatable 'bags control altitude and suspension behavior. Behind the 20 percent window tint, carbon fiber covers the dash and door armrests. Fiberglass smoothes the front center armrest, while the rear center armrest has been completely reconstructed to house a PlayStation 2. A hint of the exterior paint scheme lightly shoots across every bit of 'glass, uniting the interior and exterior.
The front seat headrests encase an Alpine monitor that not only allows passengers to partake in a little digital competition, but is tied to the Alpine DVD player built into the head unit. Sound projects through a JL Audio collection of 3-, 5-, and 10-inch speakers, which are powered by two JL amps. With a mono 500-watt amp and JL 454-watt amp, this cool cruiser doesn't shatter glass, but has enough crystal-clear punch to keep riders satisfied.
Insanity is only a step away when building a custom ride, and before you know it, you can wind up with a trailer queen. Fortunately, Greg's 3/4-ton hauler is the perfect blend of function and fashion. We'd like to think of it as "func-shional."