Almost everyone has bought something online and then forgotten about it. Usually, it is a gadget in a drawer. In this case, it was a diesel Baja truck that sat in a field for six months.
The shop crew behind @WestenChamplin finally pulled it out. Crew member Garrett bought the Ford F-250 sight unseen from San Diego, the video explains. It has a 7.3-liter Powerstroke diesel, a manual gearbox, a roll cage, big coilover shocks and 37-inch tires.
Even the boss was surprised. “I’ve actually never seen a diesel Baja truck ever,” Westen says.
A Six-Month Wait, Then A Quick Start
First, the crew needed a jump. However, the old diesel fired right up. Westen jokes that these engines usually start about as easily as a space shuttle. Then the first drive showed what the long-travel suspension could do. A big speed bump barely registered from the cab.
Still, Westen teased Garrett about the price. He never gives the number. Instead, he says the shock system alone on a Baja truck usually costs more than they spent on this whole truck. Later, he guesses that someone probably spent $60,000 building it.
Garrett, meanwhile, was thrilled. On a scale of 1 to 10, he gives his purchase a 10.
A Blown Tire On The Highway
Next, the plan was to take the truck to their ranch for testing. So Westen drove it while Garrett followed. Soon after they pulled away from an intersection, a front tire exploded.
As a result, the truck pulled hard across the highway and down into the ditch. Westen says he tried to steer back, but it would not turn. Fortunately, nobody was hurt. Even so, an ambulance arrived, because a caller had reported smoke and airbags.
Afterward, Westen gave the soft suspension the credit. “If this had been a regular truck, it would have rolled,” he says. Then he adds, “After it tried to kill me, it saved me.”
New Tires And A Dead Battery
Once the crew fitted new tires, the truck made it to the ranch. There, the crew had built a rally course with jumps. According to Westen, almost every car they have driven around it has been totaled.
Then the Baja truck simply died. The battery had come loose, the video shows. After they tightened it, the truck fired again. Meanwhile, Garrett found one more complaint. He kept hitting his head on the roll cage, so he wants a helmet.
The Baja Truck Versus A $1,500 Bronco
Finally, it was time to race. Westen chose his own old Ford Bronco, which he calls a $1,500 truck. It has a 6-inch lift and a welded differential. Each driver took two laps around the course.
Westen went first and pushed the Bronco hard. His time was 1 minute 51.7 seconds. Then Garrett sent the Baja truck over the jumps. It landed, as Westen put it earlier, like it was on a pillow.
Garrett’s time was 1 minute 44.8 seconds. In other words, the Baja truck won by about seven seconds. Garrett says it was the first challenge he has ever won.
What To Check Before Buying A Used Off-Road Build
This truck turned out well, but a used race-style build can hide problems. Here are a few simple checks:
- Inspect the tires before any highway drive. Old or dry tires can fail without warning.
- Check the battery mounts and cables. Rough terrain shakes loose anything that is not tight.
- Ask what the suspension parts are and how old they are. Shocks are often the most expensive part.
- Wear a helmet in a caged truck. A roll cage protects you, but it is also hard on your head.
- Test it somewhere safe first. Private land is the place to learn how a soft truck handles.
Where Things Stand
For now, the diesel Baja truck runs, jumps and has fresh tires. It also has a win over the Bronco. For his part, Garrett says that once he gets a helmet, they will be in business.
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