Newbie with some DRW questions

[shakazulu12]

Hoping to pick up an F350 DRW but finding a 4wd model around here is like finding hen's teeth (Oregon), particularly considering I want a stick. Seems like I can find some here and there that don't have bed's on them. I'm assuming they used to have service bodies on them previously that were removed. So my question now is how tough is it to find a DRW bed if I go this route? Are the beds interchangable with any other years? Lastly, what are they usually going for on the open market?

Sorry for the newb questions but I have been searching my local area for a while with little luck.

[mjones3586]

well one way is if you find one with a service bed you could always try postin to craigslist and try trading it for a regular bed maybe...

[ridiculously_necessary]

you wont find an OBS (94.5-97) dually 4x4, unless it was a special order or a conversion. Ford didnt make them like that from factory until 99. however if you can find a SRW F350 you can find 4x4.

call LMC truck. get a ballpark. they will be new beds, but its a start. some junkyards will have them, but they go fast. i dont know about inerchangeability. i would think they are all the same...

good luck!

[shakazulu12]

I assumed the ones I have seen were conversions of some sort. My guess was cab and chassis models with a bed thrown on at some point, but that was just a theory. but I do see them often enough to warrant holding out for one. Thanks for the tip on LMC, I'll give them a buzz. I may have actually located the truck I'm going to buy just a few minutes ago. Waiting on an inspection to seal the deal. I'll figure out the bed part eventually I suppose.

[ridiculously_necessary]

good luck. i will probably travel a few hundred miles for my next one...

[shakazulu12]

Yeah, fortunately one of my best friends lives where the one I found is. He just drove it and said it was perfect. The dealership apparently didn't recognize the aftermarket turbo and a bunch of other things on it, but my friend noticed it immediately upon opening the hood. Waiting on a compression test and lookover. But I just put a deposit on it and will likely fly in and drive it 1200 miles back home on Friday.

[mjones3586]

sweet hope all is well for the deal

[redneckabbott]

I thought it was the crew cab 4x4 dually that was never made and single cab could get 4x4? You're still probably better off buying a 4x4 srw and then swapping in a dually rear end, 4x4 dually hubs, and buying fenders or a bed.

[shakazulu12]

Too late, found one, bought it. Pick it up Friday. Found one bed so far locally, but will keep hunting around for a week or two in the lucky instance that I find a black one. That said, I think I've used up my luck just finding the right truck and wont complain if I have to paint one. 5 speed 1997 4x4 DRW FTW!

[rolsmojave3]

Looks like a solid rig...A guy at work has 2 4x4 CC duallys, both black of course.

Flat bed or box?