300TD pickup conversion - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

pigneguy · #1 06-01-2018, 07:36 PM

Hi,
has anyone converted a wagon into a pick-up ?
Anyone know how to go about it ?
thanks
Michael

sgnimj96 · #2 06-01-2018, 08:26 PM

first off, it wouldn't be as tough as a real truck because it's a unibody of sheet metal. 2nd, there often is rusted out areas under the car that would make it even weaker.

You could really go out your way and do this but you wouldn't have the "luxury" of a bed that is bolted to a frame. Dealing with where the rain water goes would be complicated.
The rear springs are pretty weak too.

I guess it's been done

There's a picture of one that was for sale on ebay, and another that looked just like an El Camino. Must of spent a lot (of everything) on those.

Or.... you could go this route
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYQNKYnaHUw

JimFreeh · #3 06-01-2018, 09:32 PM

A good friend of mine did this with a finback back in the seventies.

From an aesthetic standpoint, it's hard to make it work when using a four door front door. You've got to extend the roof behind the B pillar significantly to make room for the passengers. What the conversion needs is a long door from a coupe to make the proportions look "right".

Joe used a set of quarter windows behind the B pillar to accommodate the extra room needed. He kept the original back window and C pillar, just pulled it forward.

When the ElCo and the Rancheroo were first produced, they were based upon the 2 door wagons that were already in production. If you pulled the removable bed floor panels, you could see the original wagon floor pans that remained after the conversion.

Jim

OM617YOTA · #4 06-02-2018, 12:25 AM

Here you go, all you need:

https://www.harborfreight.com/6-amp-heavy-duty-variable-speed-rotating-handle-reciprocating-saw-61884.html

In all seriousness, it's been done, and been done well. Absolutely possible. Practical? That's all on you. I'm certainly in no place to throw stones.

ROLLGUY · #5 06-02-2018, 12:33 AM

This is the way to do it:
https://youtu.be/Y64ympc-Amo

pigneguy · #6 06-04-2018, 11:18 PM

Thanks guys, all good points, and all noted.
What i'm trying to do is load my '66 Lambretta in the back of the wagon. And transport it up and down the coast. Another idea would be to take off the rear door (which probably weighs as much as the Lambretta)and hook up a pickup tailgate and leave it down with the front wheel resting on that tailgate. Another idea would be to leave the rear door on and cut another sun roof in the rear where i could let the handlebars sit. Impractical ?

pigneguy · #7 06-04-2018, 11:19 PM

....or genius ?

ROLLGUY · #8 06-04-2018, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pigneguy

Thanks guys, all good points, and all noted.
What i'm trying to do is load my '66 Lambretta in the back of the wagon. And transport it up and down the coast. Another idea would be to take off the rear door (which probably weighs as much as the Lambretta)and hook up a pickup tailgate and leave it down with the front wheel resting on that tailgate. Another idea would be to leave the rear door on and cut another sun roof in the rear where i could let the handlebars sit. Impractical ?

Just put a trailer hitch on the car, and buy a small trailer (cheap at HF). This is much better than hacking up a wagon IMO.

pigneguy · #9 06-04-2018, 11:32 PM

i've thought about a trailer for the same reason. Trying to avoid towing.

sgnimj96 · #10 06-05-2018, 02:04 AM

Open areas in the back will let diesel fumes constantly waft into the car. If I ever don't shut my wagon's hatch completely, I know it pretty quick. Diesel fumes don't make for a good road trip.

chrisgt · #11 06-05-2018, 06:24 AM

What about a trailer hitch mounted motorcycle carrier?
You could pretty easily built a trailer hitch for a wagon, just make plates that go between the body and where the bumper bolts to the car. Then put supports going forward to the subframe mounts or whatever to handle the tongue weight.
If your hydraulic suspension is in good nick it should handle the load just fine.

Don't cut up a wagon, though. It will never perform or look good, and w123 wagons deserve a bit more respect than that

(I guess you could be talking about a w124, be nice to those, too)

vwnate1 · #12 06-05-2018, 10:27 AM

I'm guessing riding the Lambretta isn't going to happen ? .

One of my Scooter buddies bought his Lambretta specifically so he could take longer multi - day out of state road trips on it.....

I'd say you need a pickup truck, those cheapo Harbor Freight trailers are great for little things that are low to the ground and not valuable .

MCallahan · #13 06-06-2018, 03:19 PM

I'm in the trailer camp. Don't think I'd want that mich weight cantilevered off the trailer gitch itself on one of those bike carriers. Considering what a beat up TD goes for now, I wouldn't even think of carving one up like this unless a tree had fallen on the roof or something.

rmasteller · #14 06-06-2018, 03:29 PM

Another vote for a trailer. The Europeans trailered with many of what we call classic Benzes. A friend of mine has a 560sec with a hitch!

Why the hesitation to trailer? Maybe we can fix that problem.

Squiggle Dog · #15 06-07-2018, 12:28 AM

Just saying...