Driver Lifestyles

Dream Build

It’s the stuff Expediters talk about building… all custom, Class 8 tractor, stretched, 26 ft box, stand up condo sleeper, aluminum rims, chromed out, custom interior….

Ron Wood wanted a custom truck, but couldn’t find one the way he wanted, so he built his own.  He took a Ford Aeromax 120 Tractor and lengthened the frame, added a custom box, custom paint…. Wait... did I mention this is all in 1/25 scale?

Ron, who turned 61 on April 11, is a retired trucker who spent 38 years behind the wheel, part of that as an Expediter for Express-1, in Buchanan, MI. He bought his first big rig in 1967, and ran as an independent owner operator. He says it got too hard in later years to get the loads away from the big companies, so he sold his truck and became a company driver. In July 2005, he bought an Expedite truck and leased on with Express-1 out of Buchanan, MI, and drove it until circumstances required his retirement.

He’s been an avid model builder since childhood, is a member of a model building club, and regularly competes in building contests. He wanted to build an Expedite rig, but couldn’t find any kits to build them. The solution was to make his own, by taking parts of semi truck models and modifying them to meet his needs. Every component was hand-modified by Ron, and he had the logos printed by Bob Boehm of Oshkosh, WI.

He started with a Ford Aeromax 120 tractor, lengthening the frame 7 inches. He then took a Semi Trailer, and cut it down to 12 inches. He extended the drive shaft, using a custom made carrier bearing to connect 2 drive shafts. He then modified the sleeper doors, and roof to open so he can display the sleeper in model contests. He painted the tool box, and dual fuel tanks, using Alcad Chrome Paint on the tanks, then covered everything with 2 coats of clear.

The box has miniature E-track installed, and has custom loads bars created by Ron. The truck is 20 inches overall, and everything is built to 1/25 scale. It took 2 months of work and a lot of planning to get everything to come together and have the right ‘look’ that he was after. Although it would have been easier not building with such attention to scale, since Ron competes in model building contests, everything must be ‘scale’ or the model is disqualified! 

As with most hobbies, the final effect is all in the details, and this truck is loaded with them. The sleeper is fully furnished and the cab has a miniature Qualcomm system (note the Qualcomm dome on the roof even!) It has a spare tire, a set of tire chains, and he is now in the process of creating miniature hazmat placards, because as he says, “You have to be ready to haul anything!”

Unit 329 (his old truck number with Express-1) is proof of the old saying: you can take the trucker out of a truck, but you can’t take the truck out of a trucker! It must be something in their blood... it certainly is with Ron!

Dale Gose is an Owner Operator with FedEx Custom Critical, and currently serves as the Forums Administrator for ExpeditersOnline.com, Roadgorilla.com, and mysprintervan.com.