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Each month or so, TruckWorld.com will be bringing you an exclusive look at new truck for you to drool over. These ultracool F650's are on the top of their game. Through a special arrangement with Truck Customs by Chris, we will feature one of their serious vehicles each month.

Enjoy our first installment!

F-650 Supertrucks Builds ‘em Big

This is an F-650 Super Truck, the work of Truck Customs By Chris.

Story by Jason R. Sakurai
Photos courtesy of F650Pickups.com

Skip the article, show me the photos!

In 1999, Chris Walker had a vision – he wanted to build the biggest, baddest Ford F-650 on the planet. Nearly a year later, Walker not only completed his quest, he found a buyer who shared his vision and had to have one. Rather than continue as many shops do, converting a unit here and there on request, Chris decided to dive right in, go straight to Ford and take the steps needed to become an authorized expediter or upfitter as they’re known in the business.

When contemplating this route, you must show you’re serious, and putting together a detailed business plan is helpful, but having a dedicated 10,000 square foot facility with six bays helped seal the deal. Along with George Stickler, his business partner, Walker has gone on to build over 600 F-650 super trucks, a feat he says is unmatched by any other vehicle converter.

Catching up with Chris at their Augusta, Georgia, headquarters, he said their ‘XUVs’, short for extreme urban vehicles, have attracted a consumer and corporate following that has yet to feel the effects of an economic downturn. In fact, according to Walker, while they struggle a bit to sell four-door F-650s that retail for $80,000, they have no problem moving six-door F-650s and their SUV conversions at over $150,000 and $200,000+, respectively. As Walker says, “Our clientele are among the wealthiest in the world, those high net worth individuals that aren’t constrained by price or for that matter, distance.” Currently, they export vehicles to Argentina, Scotland, roughly three a month to Russia, at least six a year to the United Arab Emirates, and one 4WD vehicle a week to Canada. “Since our inception, we have always sold our XUVs to a wide spectrum of customers, and it used to be about 10% of our sales were outside the U.S. For the past two years, that’s increased to 30%,” Walker stated.

What has made their business so successful? “We mirror Ford’s three year, unlimited mileage warranty, and 90% of what we use to modify the vehicles are genuine Ford parts and accessories, so there’s no warranty issues down the road. On our sound systems, we use Pioneer Electronics and JL Audio, and we have a four-year warranty from those manufacturers which allows our customers to go anywhere there’s a factory-authorized dealer who can make the necessary repairs,” Chris related.

Innovation is another aspect that has kept F-650 Super Trucks ahead of the competition. In this case, what they’re doing is not only fuel efficient, it’s also ‘green’ technology that happens to make more power. Walker is supposedly testing a hydrogen-powered hybrid system on a ’08 Cummins diesel, but he’s not concerned that we’re discussing it now before he has it on the market, because he already has three systems in customers’ vehicles, and none have exhibited any problems. To better illustrate what this means, his hybrid system increases torque by 92 ft-lbs and horsepower by 128, with anywhere from 25-38% better fuel economy. The difference he says is the driver, and their ability to keep their foot out of it especially with the added power and drivability. At only $4,000 per truck, the hydrogen hybrid system carries a five-year warranty, and by Chris’ estimate will more than pay for itself in 12 months. Thinking green isn’t a new development, but rather a year and a half in research and development. Still, that’s a pretty short cycle for figuring out how to make a diesel engine run on hydrogen, when automakers are spending untold millions to try to come up with alternative fuel technologies that can be put in production now.

When asked what other new developments are in store for ’09, Walker related, “We’ve added new custom bumpers, European surgical steel exterior trim, and new fender flares to the trucks, and on the six-door and SUV versions, we have a new roof with additional head room. We also offer the only patented, keyless locking fuel caps, which use a custom built tool for installation and removal. Keyless locking fuel caps are especially helpful in harsh winter environments, where a combination of ice, dirt, salt or sand at times renders the key inoperable.”

With constant research and development, a reputation for quality workmanship and attention to detail beyond that of the OEMs themselves, F-650 Super Trucks leads the way among builders and converters of really big Ford trucks. If you happen to have a need for a Ford truck that’s truly bigger than life, give these guys a call. We guarantee you won’t be disappointed!

CONTACT INFO:
(Tell Chris that you saw it on TruckWorld!)

F-650 Super Trucks
Truck Customs by Chris
1020 Franke Industrial Drive
Augusta, GA 30909
888-650-87872
www.f650pickups.com

Take a look at the photos!