Bigger (and Newer) Is Always Better

Only those who have driven a custom single cab truck would know the struggles that go along with owning them—especially if you have a spouse and a couple of kids! These trucks quickly reach their limit for carrying people, accommodating only yourself and one passenger (or two, if you really feel like squeezing in). It’s a preference thing, really. Is your truck something that you want to take solace in largely on your own, or is it something that you’d like the whole family to take part in enjoying?

Daveed Saldana of Redlands, California, was faced with this exact question, and the answer was as clear as an open-handed smack on the back of the head. “After owning a single-cab Highboy, and with two kids (plus one on the way), the need for space evolved the vision into something bigger and bolder,” he explains. “The plan for my next truck build was always geared toward taking more road trips—driving to national parks and other unforgettable experiences. Once it got started, the project took on a life of its own.”

With his storybook ending in mind, Daveed began the journey to owning a custom truck that could comfortably and reliably haul his entire family across the country. In March of 2023, he contacted Jack’d Up Trucks in Upton, Wyoming. With only a group of five dedicated fabricators, the sky is the limit when it comes to what they can accomplish.

One facet of truck building that Jack’d Up specializes in is chassis swaps. This shop prides itself on combining old trucks with modern chassis systems, which is precisely what appealed to Daveed. “The build started with a clean, rust-minimal vintage Ford crew cab sourced from Wyoming,” he says. “From there, the crew found a bed to match and shopped around for a frame that would be compatible for the truck shell.”

The frame in question came from a 2022 F-250 donor. It was in factory condition when the build started, but it has since been outfitted with a full suspension lift system from One Off Offroad. With a bump in altitude as drastic as that, only a set of oversize wheels and tires can be used to blend in. The crew selected a set of 20×12 Detroit Steel Smoothies wheels complete with 43-inch Goodyear rubber. This combo made the difference in complementing the Ford’s towering stature. One point that can’t go overlooked is that the chassis qualifies for regular maintenance and repairs at Ford dealerships, which was a huge selling point for Daveed since reliability during his family’s travels was of utmost importance.

With a tricked-out chassis ready to go, the Jack’d Up crew was then able to move onto the powertrain portion of the project, which was greatly sped up due to one key issue. The F-250’s chassis came equipped with a 7.3L Godzilla V8 and 10R80 transmission! This is another aspect that is truly unbeatable when choosing this shop for a restoration project. The guys at Jack’d Up hunt down new truck platforms that show no signs of damage or malfunction, then drive them thousands of miles to ensure that only top-shelf chassis and powertrain systems are used for the foundations of their high-demand builds.

Keeping things OEM is another important factor while putting these trucks together. Even though the updated vital systems beneath Steamboat remain in factory condition, its 50-year-old cab and other body features were styled to look as stock and age-appropriate as possible. The bed is fully custom and features one-off rear fenders that were fabricated from vintage F-500 front fenders. The exterior was designed to look like a truck that Ford should’ve built years ago but never did. Each body panel was painstakingly aligned for a free-flowing, better-than-OEM appearance, and it’s this level of detail that shines through at every turn.

That same philosophy used outside was carried out on the inside of the cab as well. A 2022 steering wheel was utilized to maintain modern familiarity—all its controls and buttons function just as they would in a new truck. Headlight sensors automatically turn the headlights on and off, and hidden traction control and hazard buttons have been stashed inside of the ashtray to maintain the cabin’s vintage aesthetic. A Dakota Digital gauge cluster was incorporated into the dash, and a Vintage Air climate control system and a RetroSound stereo were also worked in to give Daveed and his family all the up-to-date cruising comforts while still staying true to the old school. Oh, and the truck also opens using a 2022 Ford key fob—and it even has remote start functionality too!

TRUCK Specs

Owner
Daveed Saldana

1975 Ford F-700
Redlands, CA

Engine & Drivetrain

2022 Ford 7.3L Godzilla V8
Factory Ford intake manifold, headers, etc.
10R80 10-speed transmission
4.10 gear ratio

Chassis & Suspension

2022 Ford F-250 chassis
Maintenance by Ford dealership
One Up Offroad complete suspension lift system
Frame modifications by Jack’d Up Trucks, Upton, WY

Wheels & Tires

20×12 Detroit Steel Wheel Smoothies
5.5-inch backspacing
43-inch Goodyear G275 MSA tires

Body & Paint

Cab paint is original
Bed painted to match cab
Custom Wyoming Air Force logo
Stock grille and bumpers
Holley headlights
Custom rear fenders
AMP Research PowerSteps

Interior

1967 Ford Mustang seats
1975 SuperCab rear seat, folds down into a bed
Dakota Digital gauges
Fully functional 2022 Ford steering wheel
Hidden traction control and hazard buttons in ashtray
Vintage Air climate control
RetroSound stereo