BEST Ford Truck, CAMPER or TRAILER Special?

In this episode, Aaron is joined by long term friend and fellow X36 (F350 Supercab 4x4) specialists Steve to discuss the differences of Camper and Trailer Special options on full size Dentside Ford trucks. There are key differences between the two and they both have functional roles on the truck. If you want to see more of our full size X36 trucks and what makes them great, check out this link!
• Is this the RAREST DEN...

[@DentsideDepot]

Special thanks to my good friend Steve for helping with this content. There are many people behind the scenes at DD that make it all happen, and Steve is for sure the top guy behind the scenes. You rock buddy! Oh, and btw, my top X36 is better than yours bud :)

[@lumix2477]

Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. I'm trusting in nothing but the blood of Jesus to pay for my sins to keep me out of hell. Just like accepting a plea bargain in court.

[@sheldondyck8631]

Dentside Fords are my favourite trucks ever. I’ve owned several. Some junk some really nice. My current truck is a 75 F150 Ranger XLT with 390 and C6. I used to own a 78 Supercab short box Ranger XLT, 400, C6, AC, tilt, and cruise that was repainted and redone mechanically before I bought it. Got it from a used car lot in 2003 and if I told you what I paid you wouldn’t believe me lol

[@DentsideDepot]

I agree, they are the best!

[@FastFords289]

Very cool content bud, I’ve always loved the 73-79 ford trucks, they’re truly my favorite vehicle of all time and I’m glad to see someone else with the knowledge and interest to put into these trucks. Keep up the great work.

[@DentsideDepot]

Hey thank you I appreciate that coming from a fellow enthusiast!

[@johnsimla1991]

Glad to see I am not the only one with his harness's spread over the living room furniture.Love your vids..

[@DentsideDepot]

Haha, and the dining room, den, office, basement, garage, and attic!

[@user-vi8dx5gb6c]

I have a 1975 camper special, in front & behind the rear springs there is frame pocket receivers, I believe they are to accept some type of leveling jacks.

[@DentsideDepot]

That is actually where the camper support braces would slide in. Most likely those were installed by an aftermarket supplier. But yes, for sure to do with the camper special

[@prayingmantis3916]

I need friends that nerd out on supercabs like you two.

[@DentsideDepot]

Bahaha yes that's pretty much what we do. Someone told me make youtube videos that you are passionate about, so hey here it is haha

[@wbreese9903]

Thanks for another informative video. I'm sure most of us learned a lot.

[@DentsideDepot]

Awesome thank you!

[@joeslys3313]

I continue to learn more and more from your videos.

[@DentsideDepot]

Thank you Sir! My goal is to have an entire library with all the information the future generations will need to keep these late model Dents on the road.

[@christophertoscano2026]

Great video I’m going to look at my camper special tomorrow

[@DentsideDepot]

I had a feeling haha!

[@misters2837]

*THAT* Red White and Blue, Tailgate Trailer Special Emblem was actually designed for 1976+ Econoline Back Door, (the new 3rd gen Econoline came out in 75), as witnessed by D6UB (or D6UZ replacement part number) if it were intended for trucks like the old Red/Silver used on the 73-76 on cowl of trucks, it would have been D6TB or (D6TZ replacement part number). But in 1977 Ford Started putting that style on Tailgates of Trucks, as it looked fancier! D = 1970's 6 = 1976 U = Econoline B = Body Engineering (or Z = Parts Counter Service/Replacement Parts)

[@Danielhobbies150]

I’ve always wanted a supercab, I have a regular cab short bed 4x4. I love 78 fords

[@DentsideDepot]

Well I see a pretty cool SC in your profile pic!

[@Danielhobbies150]

@@DentsideDepot yeah it’s a 1990, I really want a 1978-79 lol! It’s a 7.3 idi 250 rust free with warn wench bumper and wench!

[@DentsideDepot]

7.3 IDIs are great motors. Yea love the 78-79 SCs the most@@Danielhobbies150

[@craigneveu3513]

Thank you

[@donaldwilliams2270]

Dude's you forgot the easy to remove or extended the bumper brackets on the camper special and the heavy duty alternator , also the giant rear sway bar , and the trailer specials had rear sway bar not as big as the camper special (1 1/8 compared to a 7/8)

[@DentsideDepot]

yes, but the extended bumper bracket was actually a separate option. Heavy duty alternator, dual battery, were also separate options but typically also ordered with camper special. The rear sway bar size varied, but even non camper special or trailer special trucks could have received the larger sway bar. All of those items could actually be on any truck, along with the sliding rear glass window. It is very difficult to give absolutes with these trucks, as things varied from year to year and each assembly plant did things differently. For example, Ontario, Mahwah, and San Jose all mounted the buck tag in different locations, and Ontario used a large rivet instead of a phillips head screw and the color of the text on their data sticker was green instead of black. GM had many of the same differences with popular models such as the Chevelle, where one plant would install plastic inner fenders that were orange and another would install metal ones that were black. I even saw a 2024 mustang that had two different front seats in it from the factory, so really anything can in theory happen.

[@misters2837]

F/X-36 Trucks were 1979 Dentside ONLY and were MOSTLY to do with the 1979 8500LB Emissions Change....(Yeah, I know there are other things that make it better than the F/X26 Trucks) But 1979 Ford Internally made the same move as they did 1975 with the "150" when the 6000LB emissions Change occurred! - In 1981 with the F250HD with 8500+ GVWR...(Some people claim they did it in 1980, but my books show only 1981+)...Therefor breaking up the F250 market like they did in 1975 with the F100/F150 Market....To keep regular gas alive, and keep expensive Catalysts off the 8500+ trucks until 1988....Once the 250HD/350 Fords went EFI - I couldn't care less, LOL!

[@podegenst0ner303]

Another great video today Good information and content

[@DentsideDepot]

Thank you!

[@podegenst0ner303]

Yw ty for the great content​@@DentsideDepot

[@DentsideDepot]

Absolutely Im glad people are finding value in it!@@podegenst0ner303

[@podegenst0ner303]

@@DentsideDepot I definitely enjoy them. Reminds of high school when someone had a suprecab slammed real cheap like heating coils and flipping axles over springs (assuming) it was so rad

[@DentsideDepot]

nice lol@@podegenst0ner303

[@salty-9]

I need those mirrors..

[@camaropene7390]

Can u do a segment on the 2wd trailer special short bed trucks? I own a 1977 f100 shorted trailer special and I am tring to find out more about it

[@craigneveu3513]

Awesome video! I have a 78 Bronco Trailer Special and it still has the OE trailer harness. The one you showed had one 6 plug at the frond end. Mine has 4 two plug connectors at the front that plug into the truck. I don't have power to the back end. My junction block is cracked. Could the fusable link be bad as well? I've replaced the replay on the firewall. Thank you. This is a best vid I've seen on this subject.

[@DentsideDepot]

Hmmm I'm not sure on bronco stuff. But you have the right idea, just keep tracing back until you find power. Use a probe on the harness before and after the fuseable link, I have seen them blow in the past. And, thank you!

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

Those aren’t parts trucks here in Iowa. Those are 200% saveable trucks

[@DentsideDepot]

If you look closer at them they are really bad. There is nothing to weld to they are so bad. But hey, they will be for sale in a year or two if you want to buy them!

[@tylerblanton365]

About 20 years ago me and my dad bought a 78 or 79 lariat supercab trailer special with a pull out rear bumper, was that an option or standard with trailer special?

[@DentsideDepot]

Pull out bumper was also a separate option

[@boboda7]

What about the snow fighter edition

[@DentsideDepot]

That is a different package, if you head over to my main channel page the green regular cab truck has that package with an explanation etc. Maybe I will do a short on that this week its one of my fav options.

[@dabrownconservative7843]

Hey brother just wanted to run a question by you. Is it uncommon to see a 74 F250 2WD be put on a 75 F150 4x4 chasis?

[@DentsideDepot]

Well I think that is a matter of opinion, but I often put good 2wd trucks on 4wd chassis. So probably pretty common I would say.

[@TurningGuns]

Any idea why my trailer special with duel batterys has a starter type solenoid on the driver side inner wheel well? Much appreciated.

[@DentsideDepot]

Yes, the solenoid on the driver's inner fender is the dual battery aux drain pathway. When you turn the key to the left from the off position, it isolates the driver's battery to ensure two things occur: 1: the main battery (for the starter) does not become drained 2: allows you to run accessories off that second battery. Dual battery was typically optioned with Camper Special, but it was also available without camper special. Yours appears to be trailer special with the additional dual battery option. Most likely whoever ordered the truck planned to do towing and sitting roadside with the radio or something else running from the aux drain pathway.

[@TurningGuns]

@@DentsideDepot Thanks. It's good to know.

[@TurningGuns]

There's one more thing. This I have never seen on another 79 or any 73 to 79 pickups. The antenna comes out the side of driver's side fender like on an F-700. Also there was never a hole stamped in the cowl like the others. The antenna is a steel antenna mounted on a small coil spring with a isolator between the spring and antenna itself. I've been through dozens and dozens of 70's Ford trucks and only have seen that on a 700 grain truck. Any ideas on that? I worked in a body shop for almost 10 years so I am absolutely positive that the cowl was never stamped for the passenger side antenna.

[@user-vi8dx5gb6c]

I believe only the super camper special had that funky long wheel base w/ the weird spare tire well & pull out rear bumper. Also in regular cab, long box only.

[@DentsideDepot]

no problem!@@TurningGuns

[@prestontucker1687]

Plug your EV in overnight. Like you do in the winter & never waste time going to a gas station.

[@DentsideDepot]

no thanks

[@prestontucker1687]

@@DentsideDepot You let your car freeze so you can't start it. You make zero sense.

[@DentsideDepot]

@@prestontucker1687 these trucks will start in -30 no problem. An EV is what makes no sense. People are finally realizing that and when hydrogen takes over in 10 years then u will realize how stupid this whole EV parade was

[@russellweber4334]

What prices are these old Ford trucks going for? For reference in 1978 for a high school graduation present my parents bought me a 1974 Ford F-250 2wd, 6.4 liter 390 fe 4 barrel 4 speed, 46,000 miles, 2,200$. In 1996 I bought a 1974 knock around 2wd Ford F-250, black primer, a 2&8 wood front bumper and 390 fe 4 barrel c6 for 750$. Completely different front and rear springs and brakes, both could almost tow a house.

[@DentsideDepot]

That sounds like it was a really cool truck. To see the premium values on these trucks the best place to look is bringatrailer.com. You will see the good trucks easily bring 30k+ and rare supercabs and 4x4 crew cabs routinely go over 50k+. In my opinion, the values will only go up because I can't see anyone wanting to restore the newer trucks after the late 90s/early 2000s.

[@russellweber4334]

@@DentsideDepot Those prices are way too high for these old trucks and for new and used late model trucks. The market should fall out when people realize what scam this is. Prices on certain guns has gone up that are not worth the $$$, and the same with real estate prices, the homes are simply not worth those inflated prices. Ford trucks from the 70's are relatively easy to work on for several reasons and have a classic look to them. For diy types those trucks can be a fun functional project, so are 70's motorhomes and campers, and you can pickup a motorhome that needs a rehab pretty cheap. I did a lot of work and modifications to those 2 F-250 trucks, my old man blew the engine up in 1979 in my 74, and I got another 390 engine for a hundred bucks that ran, took it apart, rebuilt it with some performance mods and it was 400+ hp.

[@DentsideDepot]

@@russellweber4334 to be fair everything is overpriced. A regular house nowadays costs 500k. Thats the market right now

[@russellweber4334]

@@DentsideDepot If the sheeple wouldn't pay those inflated prices, prices would drop. I live in St. Louis, MO., there are thousands of vacant and abandoned houses and properties around the metro area.

[@DentsideDepot]

@@russellweber4334 I hear ya, houses in my blue collar middle class area sell the next day for 500k+