Budget Truck Build Tips & Tricks - Budget Build

When Mike first asked me to write about building a truck on a budget, I thought to myself, Isn't everybody building a truck on a budget? It can be a very small budget, or a very big budget, but most people have some idea of what they're going to spend. But then it occurred to me that this wasn't true. Most people think they have an idea, but for some reason can't seem to finish the truck. Instead, they linger in the twilight zone that is the unfinished truck, stuck in the under-construction class forever. How many times have you seen a guy static-drop his truck, only to 'bag it a few weeks later, then realize he should have body-dropped it, so he takes it apart again? Now the truck is body-dropped and two-linked when he wishes he would have four-linked it for those extra inches of lift. So, now it's back to the cutting table. So, I thought of a few ways that people can build their trucks and save some cash in the process. The obvious answer is to come up with a plan. When you're laying out your plan, you should consider the following:   |   Use the Internet to find good deals on wheels, new or used. 1. How Can You Save Money?
We're not saying cut corners, but how can you save a dollar here and a dollar there? Come up with a budget in mind and don't sway from it. If you only want to spend a thousand dollars on wheels, then stick with it. Finding new wheels is always in everybody's plan. But, have you ever considered used wheels? What about those junk wheels sitting in the corner of that big shop down the street from the McDonald's you and your club hang at? A good plan might include recycling those wheels by picking them up for cheap-maybe even free-and then having them re-chromed for a good price. If you don't ask, then you could be passing up a good opportunity and with those savings you have more room in the budget for something else-like a billet grille. 2. Where should you start?
Think of your truck as a hamburger. When you eat a hamburger, you don't start in the center of it, right? Well, you should pick one point in the truck-such as suspension-and stick with it until it's done. This will save you more money than you can imagine, and it's probably the second most important thing, after setting up the plan.   |   Powdercoating wheels can also be the answer in this case. Taking old blemished wheels and giving them a new coat of paint is a good way to bring them back from the dead. Doing things twice on your truck is always a bad idea, unless it's measuring or having that really hot girl at the show pose on your truck (that's always better the second time around). But, planning the order of things will save you money every time. Nobody likes to 'bag their truck twice, so if you think you're eventually going to four-link your S-10, you should save some serious cash and do it right the first time. 3. Where should you look for parts?
Mini Truckin' magazine is a good start. A lot of the companies found in our magazine have awesome deals on all of the goodies you'll need to get down and dirty with your mini. Call them and buy a package all at once instead of separately piece by piece. You might find that you can save a bag load of cash that way.   |   The Escalade these came from now most likely sports a Gucci interior and Lambo doors. Can you say, "Donk?" 4. Can some parts be reused ?
Do you have to change every piece on the truck? If you have a dented fender, yes, sometimes it is easier to just buy a new one. But, if you have the skill or know somebody who does, then fixing the dent may be the solution. What about the interior? Bucket seats are nice and comfortable, but how about just hanging on to the bench seat and modifying it? You can cut it into a 60/40 split bench, or you can cut the headrests off and make it a bit more hot-rod. Bucket seats can be expensive, depending on what you're looking for, but re-using the existing interior can save you time and money. Sometimes it's good to look for used goodies, and the Internet-you know that thing you use to find pictures of Britney Spears on your computer. Well, that magical tool is called the Internet and it's a great way to find deals on stuff. You can try sites like www.craigslist.org to find new and used parts.   |   The Internet isn't only good for naughty things anymore. There are more than a few classified websites out there. There are sites such as www.recycler.com, too. Also, there are several very popular forum sites. Most forum sites will usually have a classified section to find those hard-to-find clear tail-light lenses, or maybe a used set of grilles for your truck. If you're looking through the classifieds, you might even see a minitruck project you can pick up for cheap. Buying somebody's project can be either a blessing or a nightmare. If you can pick up a truck that's already 'bagged and four-linked, you can possibly save thousands of dollars. Be sure to check out the quality of workmanship, and be sure you can finish what's already been started.   |   Mikey shows us he has mad skills when it comes to translating El Classificados! 5. Go to a professional!
You're probably thinking that going to a shop is always going to be expensive; well that's not the case all of the time. If you're not a fabricator, you can just be digging yourself into a financial money pit. You can easily have to end up paying to get it redone, or you can eventually sell the truck for a loss. Check out the May issue of Mini Truckin' (Volume 21, Issue 9) to find out more on how to find the right shop for you. 6. "Do it yourselfers," don't be ashamed to call for help
Find people you know who can help you if you're going to tackle it yourself. Maybe your buddy knows how to weld and you're an expert sweater maker. Well, with Christmas coming up, now would be a good time to tell him you'll keep his entire family warm if he welds your notch. Trade is something humans have been doing since the beginning of time. We all know minitruckers are not normal humans, but this doesn't mean that we can't imitate normal people. Trade and barter is a very good tool that can be utilized with friends and family to get things done. Even a caveman could do it. I'm pretty sure we can, too.   |   Take a bench seat and make it cool. 7. Find your local classified adds in print.
At almost every gas station across the United States, you can grab a free classified listing. If it's one thing everybody loves, it's free classifieds. The classifieds are full of useful information; you can pretty much find anything from a bird cage to an old retired NASCAR. The purpose for a minitrucker would be to find useful parts he can use. Parts aren't always used, either. Sometimes you can find guys who might have bought entire 'bag kits that they aren't going to be using anymore. Or maybe some guy tried to do it himself, then failed, and now must take a loss. You, being the nice guy you are, can now take it off of his hands-for a reasonable price, of course. In closing, what did we learn? Making a plan is key to saving money and building a truck on a budget. Trade is very helpful. Using what existing skills we have can get anything done on our truck. You don't have to be a skilled fabricator to get it done. A lot of people believe the guy who can do it all will save the most. Even though this is the case sometimes, it's not always true. Use the tools available to you at the time. If you become sick at home, go on the Internet and look for that deal on wheels, a 'bag job, or some parts. Take advantage of your time off to find whatever it takes to get your truck done and scraping at the next show.