click on any picture to see full size...

Above: an innocent truck, straight from the dealers..

..and after the brutal attack.

The "after" isn't actually my truck, but you wouldn't be able to tell that if I didn't tell you. Mine's identical. The real after photos have yet to be taken. It's a Chevrolet C3500 Crew Cab Dually. Most are diesel, but mine's got a 454ci (7.4l) V8. With gas this cheap (74c/gallon) you really don't need to drive a diesel. It gets about 10mpg before you ask.

Surprisingly, it's all we use at the weekends. I obviously drive to work in it, but I expected us to use the mini-van at weekends. The girls wouldn't hear of it! For some reason they love it. It bigger inside than many cars, so we're not exactly squashed together. Plus, it's all plush leather, A/C, CD, etc., etc. Hardly what I thought a pickup truck was going to be like.

It took three of us all of one day to lower the rear - the rails had to be cut, and a few holes drilled, but it's quarter inch plate, so wasn't as easy as it sounds. Plus everything under there looks like it's army surplus - you know, like from an armored vehicle or something. It certainly has the largest drums I've ever seen - like a bucket.

I did the front lowering myself over the next couple of nights - just replacing the springs and spindles. I've since had to raise the back an inch because the bump stops were actually compressed while sitting still. That didn't leave too much travel for going over bumps!

Thanks to Charles and Matt for all the help (and their respective Melissa and Jen for letting them)

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