Just Built Different: Four Savage 4x4s Pickups That Flip The Script

We were blown away by the rare, unusual, and heavily customized 4x4s at the 2025 Summer 4-Wheel Jamboree in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. This piece takes a deep dive into four of those rigs. First up is a rare Centurion Classic four-door Bronco with a great story—it was reacquired by the same family that sold it decades earlier. Following that is a retiree’s one-of-a-kind creation that pairs a Cadillac Eldorado with a K5 Blazer chassis. Next is a very un-factory Ford Ranger extended cab, with a lengthened chassis and a 7-foot-long bed, created by an automotive dealership mechanic. Finally, there’s a rock-ready Dodge Ram that includes a bobbed bed and stretched wheelbase.

Savage 4x4s: Rare 1990 Ford C-350 Centurion Classic

Derek Waltz of Hershey, Pennsylvania, owns this 1990 Ford F-350-based “Centurion Classic” 4×4. Not only is his “C-350” a rare vehicle—part 1-ton truck and part Bronco—but it also has a fascinating history. Derek found and purchased the rig almost two decades after his stepfather had sold it.

About The Centurion Classic

Centurion Classic 4x4s are becoming quite rare nowadays. They were built for almost a decade, beginning in 1987, by Centurion Vehicles. Each was comprised of either an F-150 or F-350 four-door truck paired with the rear body structure of a Bronco. This combination resulted in what was essentially a three-row, four-door Bronco, offering a Ford alternative to the Chevy Suburban. The F-350-based rig also delivered 1-ton capability with either a 460-cubic-inch gas or 7.3-liter diesel powerplant.

Sold, Then Found 20 Years Later

This Centurion Classic was purchased from its original owner by Derek’s stepdad. It served as the family vehicle for many years until corrosion prevented it from passing state vehicle inspection. In the early 2000s, Derek’s stepdad sold it to a man “up the street” and moved on to a different vehicle.

Fast-forward almost 20 years, and Derek—a diesel technician by trade—went on the hunt to find the rig. He reached out to the man who had bought it from his stepdad but received no response, so he assumed the truck was gone. A year later, however, Derek spotted a Centurion Classic for sale on Facebook Marketplace that resembled his stepdad’s former rig. In a surprising turn of events, he discovered it was indeed the same one. The truck had changed owners, and the current owner had completely restored it while making a few modifications. Derek purchased the rig, bringing it back into the family.

460 V8, Manual-Shift T-Case

Under the hood is the factory 460-cubic-inch V8 engine. It’s mated to the factory E4OD four-speed automatic transmission, which sends power to the factory manual-shift BW1356 two-speed transfer case. Up front is a King Pin Dana 60 axle with manual locking hubs, while out back is a Ford 10.25-inch axle. Both axles have 4.10:1 gearing. Since purchasing the Ford, Derek has swapped in a Hydroboost brake system that he sourced from a donor vehicle.

4-Inch Lift And 35s

The truck is rolling on 35×12.50R16 Falken Wildpeak A/T tires mounted on aftermarket wheels. Helping ensure they have ample room to travel is a Tuff Country 4-inch suspension lift. Up front, the factory leaf springs were replaced with Tuff Country packs and shocks. Out back, lift blocks and Tuff Country shocks were installed.

Retro Exterior Mods Remain

Outside, the Ford is still equipped with the sunvisor, push bar, and bug shield that Derek’s stepdad installed decades ago. Derek added the duo of Hella lights and Carr Super Hoop steps.

Supercharger, Axle Regear, And More In The Works

Since acquiring the Centurion Classic, Derek has performed extensive mechanical maintenance on the rig. His next projects include reinstalling the rear A/C unit that the previous owner removed. He’s also considering installing a Sky’s Offroad Design front shackle reversal kit, regearing the differentials to 4.56 or 4.88, and boosting the engine’s power with a supercharger.

Savage 4x4s: 1981 Cadillac Eldorado 4×4 Retirement Project

C.H. “Spyder” Lawler of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, is retired and enjoys working on old cars. He’s also a fan of 4x4s, so it makes perfect sense that he combined those two passions to create this 1981 Cadillac Eldorado 4×4.

K5 Blazer Chassis, Small-Block V8 Power

Spyder grafted the Cadillac body onto a 1973 Chevy K5 Blazer chassis. Power comes from a 350-cubic-inch V8 topped with an Edelbrock carburetor. Because there’s no radiator shroud, he added a pair of electric fans to assist the engine-driven mechanical fan in keeping the engine cool.

Power runs through a shift kit–equipped GM TH350 three-speed automatic transmission to a rebuilt NP205 two-speed transfer case. Up front is a Dana 44 axle, while out back is a GM 12-bolt fitted with a factory limited-slip differential.

6-Inch Lift, 37s

The factory leaf springs were discarded in favor of a Skyjacker 6-inch lift kit. This system includes Softride leaf springs and Nitro 7000 shocks. The additional lift provides clearance for 37×12.50R20LT Terra Raider Delium M/T tires mounted on 12.5-inch-wide Fuel Off-Road Vapor wheels. Spyder says he scored the wheels and tires used.

Custom Nerf Bars, Bumpers, And More

The exterior of the rig is loaded with custom features. For example, Spyder created the nerf bars from a set of used Jeep-application bars, and he fabricated the front and rear “bumpers” from 1/8- and 1/4-inch-thick steel. Other features include a forward-facing LED light bar, custom hard-plastic fender flares, and Herculiner bedliner applied to all the body panels.

Inside, Spyder added a triple A-pillar gauge pod with oil pressure, coolant temperature, and amp gauges.

A Local Favorite

Spyder originally built the rig to drive off-road while wintering in Florida. However, after completing the build in Pennsylvania, it became a “local favorite,” so that’s where it now resides. It’s one of several 4x4s he owns, which include a 1995 Chevy Tahoe, a 1999 Chevy Blazer, a 2004 GMC Sierra, and a 2011 Chevy Silverado.

So far, Spyder has invested four years in the build of his Caddy. When asked if there’s anything he wishes he had done differently regarding the build, he says, “Can’t think of one. Every mod was intentional and to my liking.” Future plans, however, include replacing the 350 V8 with a 454-cubic-inch big-block.

Savage 4x4s: 2004 Ford Ranger Extended Cab Longbed

Randy Doehre, an automotive dealership mechanic by trade, created this unique 2004 Ford Ranger XLT extended-cab, longbed pickup. It’s a combination Ford never offered. He says, “Some people look at this Ranger and they think it’s a nicely restored truck and they walk away. But little do they know that it’s not your typical Ford Ranger. The Rangers came in many different configurations, including a single-cab longbed, a single-cab shortbed, or an extended-cab shortbed. Unlike other manufacturers, Ford never offered the Ranger in an extended-cab longbed configuration. The frames on the 1998-2011 Ranger 4x4s never changed, so my idea of making a truck that Ford never made in America would be fairly easy.”

A Combination Of Two Ford Rangers

To create the foundation for his extended-cab, longbed Ranger, Randy stretched the frame by six inches. He says, “I bought a 2008 regular-cab, longbed Ranger and tore it down to the frame, getting rid of what wasn’t needed. I then proceeded to grind where Ford rivets the front frame section to the rear frame section. Once the rivets were ground down and I air-hammered the rest of each rivet out, the two sections pulled apart from each other.”

He also bought a 2004 Ranger extended-cab, shortbed truck equipped with a five-speed manual transmission. “I stripped it down to the frame and then repeated the process from the regular-cab frame on this frame.” He cut six inches out of the front half of the regular-cab frame and had it welded to the extended-cab frame. “I took the six inches that I cut off the single-cab frame and mocked it up to the front half of my extended-cab frame. I had a certified welder come in and weld the frame extension to my frame and then had him weld plates over the inside and the outside of the frame to add extra strength.” With that, he had the underpinning he needed for the build.

V6 Power, With A Supercharger Or V8 Conversion Coming Soon

Randy’s extended-cab Ranger with a 7-foot-longbed is powered by the stock 4.0-liter V6 engine. It’s mated to an M5R1 five-speed manual transmission that sends power to an electric-shift BorgWarner 1345 two-speed transfer case. He says he’s considering adding a supercharger to the V6 or swapping in a V8. He’s also planning to install a manual-shift transfer case from an FX4 Level II Ranger soon.

Three-Inch Front Suspension Lift, Chevy 1/2-Ton Springs Out Back

Up front is the stock independent front suspension with a Dana 35 centersection. It’s equipped with Rancho RS5000X shocks and 3-inch lift torsion keys. Out back is an 8.8-inch axle with leaf-spring suspension. Both axles have 4.10:1 gearing. Randy modified the frame to allow the fitment of various lengths of leaf springs. Because he uses the truck for hauling, he’s currently running 1/2-ton Chevy truck springs, which can handle more weight than the factory Ranger springs. Nestled between the springs and axle are 3-inch lift blocks. Transferring power to the ground is a set of 35×12.50R15 BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2 tires mounted on 10-inch-wide Raceline Rockcrusher wheels.

Exterior Mods

Outside, Randy mounted an aftermarket front bumper on the Ranger. It features a pair of clevis mounts and a built-in winch plate. Out back, a tonneau cover protects cargo, and there’s a 2-inch receiver hitch.

Exactly As Planned

We asked Randy what his favorite modification is to the truck, and as expected, he replied that it’s the longbed conversion. Is there anything he wishes he had done differently? He says, “I don’t have a modification that’s my least favorite. I love every single thing I did to the truck, from front to back, top to bottom.”

Savage 4x4s: Bobbed 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 With Extended Wheelbase

The reason Luke Orwan, owner of this 1999 Dodge Ram 1500, chose this truck to build was simple and logical: “You don’t see many second-generation Ram 4x4s, and I already had the truck when I decided to build one,” he says.

What followed was a major revamp of the 1/2-ton, followed by some serious trail time.

Custom Frame Assemblies, Shortened Cargo Bed

Luke excised the Ram’s factory frame just behind and in front of the cab. He replaced it with a custom high-clearance frame built from 2×6-inch square tubing. Additionally, he shortened the rear frame compared to stock and lopped 20 inches of length from the factory longbed.

Raised Engine, Transmission, And Transfer Case

The truck is powered by its factory 5.2-liter (318-cubic-inch) V8 engine. It’s mated to the factory TorqueFlite 46RE four-speed automatic transmission, which is equipped with an aftermarket cooler. Following that combination is the stock transfer case, but it’s fitted with a slip-yoke eliminator kit. Fun fact: the engine, transmission, and transfer case were raised 4 inches to improve ground clearance and ramp-over angles.

1-Ton Running Gear

Up front, Luke installed a King Pin Dana 60 axle that he sourced from an ’80s Ford truck. It’s equipped with a USA Standard Gear Spartan Locker and a TMR Customs truss kit. Out back is a full-float GM 14-bolt axle from a 2007 Chevy pickup. It’s equipped with a differential spool and a TMR Customs truss kit. Both axles are fitted with 4.10:1 gears, and driveshafts from Tom Wood’s Custom Drive Shafts deliver power.

Triangulated Four-Link, 41.5s, Relocated Front Axle

The truck’s suspension includes a custom triangulated four-link system with Radflo 18-inch-travel remote-reservoir coilovers. Luke designed the front setup to relocate the axle 10 inches forward compared to stock. Each link is fabricated from 2-inch-diameter, 0.250-inch-wall DOM tubing and fitted with RuffStuff Specialties 1.25-inch rod ends.

A set of meaty 41.5×13.50R17LT Pit Bull Rocker tires provide grip, securely mounted on 9.5-inch-wide Spyderlock wheels. Luke aims the front wheels via a custom Radial Dynamics hydraulic steering system that includes a PSC Motorsports double-ended cylinder.

Custom Bumpers, An Array Of Lighting, And More

Exterior modifications to the truck include a custom rear bumper built from 2×6-inch box tubing and a custom front bumper fabricated from 3/16-inch plate steel. The front bumper also serves as a mount for a 12,000-pound-capacity winch with synthetic rope. The bed contains the rig’s battery, a 20-gallon fuel cell, and a kill switch mounted behind the factory fuel door.

Lighting the way at night is a roof-mounted 52-inch curved light bar sourced from Amazon, along with a set of 20-inch rock lights mounted under the body.

Inside, additions include a Switch-Pros SP9100 Switch Panel Power System for controlling lighting and other accessories.

From Daily Driver To Trail King

We asked Luke what modification is his favorite, and he says it’s the new frame. “It was an in-depth project that none of my friends or I had ever tried, and it came out better than any of us expected. It gave the front and rear of the truck a fresh surface to mount brackets, crossmembers, and coilover loops on, too.”

Since its completion, he has wheeled his rig in places such as Rausch Creek Off-Road Park in Pennsylvania, Windrock Park in Tennessee, and Good Evening Ranch in West Virginia, and the truck has the tattoos to prove it.