Save Big on Hauling Your Rig - The Ingenious Ramp Truck Builds Every Wheeler Needs to See

Ramp truck crawler haulers are becoming the go-to solution for wheelers who want to ditch their trailers without breaking the bank. These modified pickups offer a clever middle ground between expensive RV-based haulers and traditional trailer setups, though they come with their own unique trade-offs.

The biggest draw of ramp truck haulers is their fuel efficiency compared to pulling a trailer. RoXdawg built his custom Dodge Ram 2500 hauler specifically because he didn’t want to drag a trailer 650 miles from Nebraska to Easter Jeep Safari in Moab. His setup is pretty ingenious - he ditched the factory bed and fabricated a custom flatbed that positions the front wheels of his rock crawler on a support bar right behind the cab, while the rear wheels sit in specially built buckets that hang off the back of the truck.

This piggyback approach means you’re not fighting wind resistance or dealing with trailer sway on long highway stretches. Your fuel economy stays closer to what you’d get driving the truck empty, which adds up to serious savings on cross-country trips. Plus, you can maintain highway speeds without worrying about trailer speed limits in certain states.

BleepinJeep took a different approach with his $5,000 Ford F-350 build. Instead of hanging the rear wheels off the back, he extended the flatbed so his Samurai sits relatively level with the front tires on the main bed and the rears on the extension. This keeps the overall profile lower and puts less stress on the truck’s frame. He added air shocks to handle the extra weight and fabricated custom tie-down points using old U-bolts and clevises from Harbor Freight.

The budget aspect is huge with these builds. You can get into a functional crawler hauler for the same money you’d spend on a decent trailer, and you eliminate ongoing costs like trailer registration, trailer tires, and brake maintenance. BleepinJeep’s entire build came in under five grand, including the truck purchase and all modifications.

For those wanting to go even cheaper, cab-over diesel trucks offer another route. This Isuzu NPR build shows how a $1,500 box truck can become a 20-foot crawler hauler by cutting off the box and mounting a car trailer bed. The 4BD1T turbocharged diesel engine provides plenty of torque for hauling, and the cab-over design maximizes bed space while keeping the overall length manageable.

The builder used simple but effective mounting techniques, welding 2x2 steel tubing to the frame and adding diagonal braces for strength. A Harbor Freight winch mounted underneath provides loading assistance, and flip-up ramps store neatly when not in use. The whole setup cost under $3,000 including the trailer bed modification.

On the higher end, Fab Fours showcases what’s possible with serious fabrication work. Their crawler hauler puts the rock buggy’s front wheels over the cab of a Ram 2500, creating a towering 12.5-foot overall height. This setup includes hideaway ramps, storage for four 42-inch spare tires, an integrated floor jack, fuel storage, and rock lights throughout the system.

While impressive, this approach sacrifices low-profile driving and requires careful attention to bridge clearances (and the drive-thru!). The engineering is top-notch, but the cost puts it in a different category than most DIY builds.

The downsides of ramp truck haulers are worth considering. Unlike RV-based crawler haulers, you don’t get sleeping quarters, a kitchen, or bathroom facilities. You’re basically trading comfort for fuel economy and maneuverability. Most ramp trucks also put you in regular cab configurations, so passenger space is limited compared to crew cab trucks pulling trailers.

Loading and unloading can be more involved than backing off a trailer, especially if your rig breaks down on the trail. You need functioning brakes and steering to drive up those ramps, whereas a trailer-mounted rig can be winched on even if it’s completely dead.

Ground clearance becomes an issue with some designs. BleepinJeep’s low-profile setup works great for his lightweight Samurai but might drag it’s butt with a heavier rig. RoXdawg’s hanging bucket design keeps the truck’s departure angle intact but puts more stress on the rear axle.

The real sweet spot for ramp truck haulers seems to be weekend warriors who make regular trips to nearby trail systems. You get the fuel savings and easier maneuvering without needing the creature comforts of a full RV setup. For week-long expeditions or family wheeling trips, the lack of sleeping and cooking facilities becomes a bigger issue.

These builds also work best with lighter rigs. A 700-pound aluminum Samurai is one thing, but loading a full-size buggy or heavily modified Jeep changes the weight distribution significantly. You need to consider your truck’s payload capacity and potentially upgrade suspension components.

The DIY aspect appeals to many wheelers who enjoy fabrication projects. Building your own crawler hauler lets you customize the setup for your specific rig and needs. You can add storage boxes, spare tire mounts, and other features that make sense for your wheeling style.

Maintenance is generally simpler than trailer setups since you’re just dealing with one vehicle instead of two. No trailer bearings to repack, no separate brake systems to service, and no additional registration hassles. When something breaks, you fix the truck - the same truck you probably already know how to work on.

The ramp truck approach definitely isn’t for everyone, but it fills a specific niche in the crawler hauling world. If you prioritize fuel economy, hate dealing with trailers, and don’t need RV amenities, these builds offer a compelling alternative that can save money both upfront and over the long haul.