Back in the 1860s, “Hell on Wheels” described a motley
collection of saloons, gambling houses and dance halls that sprang up along the
tracks being laid for the Transcontinental Railroad. These fly-by-night tent
cities were known for both their unsavory reputations and transient character.
Big Wig Ford On
Road
Today, mobile residences are much more socially acceptable,
because the RV industry has become a mainstay of American family recreation. So
it’s fitting that Hellwig, a respected manufacturer of chassis components that
dates back to 1946, would modify a 2012 Ford F-250 for towing trailers and
hauling campers.
Although dubbed the “Big Wig Tow and Haul Truck,” we prefer
the more colorful “Hellwig on Wheels.” What did Mark Hellwig actually do to the
truck to make it the ultimate tow vehicle? The goals were to make it a fully
functional rig with enough grunt to pull a steep grade with a heavy load.
“I’ve been towing and hauling various types of recreational
vehicles and workloads all my life,” Mark says. Noting how his dad and siblings
share this same back ground, Mark added, “It’s truly a part of the Hellwig
family experience to drive a tow and-haul vehicle for work or play.”
So, he knows what it takes to pull all sorts of stuff. This
hands-on experience is invaluable. Not surprisingly, the list of companies and
sponsors involved in the Hellwig Ford F-250 reads like a “who’s who” in the
world of suspensions, hitches and hauling, along with an assortment of related
aftermarket upgrades for pickups.
Summing up the project, “Our idea with this rig is to make
the drive more enjoyable,” notes Mark’s daughter, Melanie White (a
fourth-generation Hell-wig who handles PR duties for the company). “It’s
vacation, after all! We want to have fun with the drive and the places you can
go with the truck.”
So, what does it take to make getting there half the fun?
It’s no surprise that the first thing Mark did was install Hellwig’s beefier,
heat-treated sway bars on the Big Wig (1 5/16 inches front; 1 ¼ rear), as well
as air suspension with auto load leveling. The bigger bars minimize lean on
winding mountain roads; the bags level out the cargo bed when it’s heavily
loaded and also provide a more comfortable ride.
The next phase was to give the truck additional off-road capabilities
with a moderate 4-inch lift from Rancho that included a dropped Pitman arm, new
control arms, traction bars and steering dampers, plus optional Rancho RS9000XL
shocks at all four corners.
This amount of lift is ideal for the application, to keep
the roll center closer to stock and make room for Pro Comp’s 13.50 x 37 X treme
radials, fitted on its 20 x 9-inch, flat-black rims. A set of Bush wacker
flares keeps those knobbies from flinging mud or gravel on the paint job.
A Magna flow
filter-back exhaust system adds style and sound.
Given the raised suspension, N-Fab side steps simplify
climbing into the cab. Added to that are Fab Fours bumpers with an integrated
mount up front to accommodate Warn’s M12000 winch.
To maximize the Hellwig family’s range of off-road
destinations, a set of four Hella Lights (two 5-inchers and two 8s) light up
the trail to the campsite on dark, starry nights. For safety’s sake, a Mag Hytec
differential cover furnishes extra lubricant and cooling capacity for both the
front and rear diffs, and its magnetic drain plugs trap worn gear material to
ensure clean fluids. The Magna flow 4-inch exhaust helps the Big Wig breathe a
little easier on long, uphill climbs. This cat-back exhaust system not only
opens up the pipes for more power, it also trims the tips with some flashy
chrome.
Up front is a Fab
Fours bumper fitted with a complement of Hella driving lights.
In the bed, a Arma-Liner by Arma Coating protects the cargo
area from wear and tear. Also in the bed is a Reese fifth-wheel hitch, rated at
22,500 pounds. On the other hand, when hauling his Lance camper, Mark prefers
the Tork lift International tie down system.
“And when in need of an extension for towing heavy loads
with the camper on, Tork lift also offers a heavy-duty trussed hitch extension
that gives me confidence with an extended trailer ball,” Mark adds.
It turns out that all these chassis and towing mods work
really well. “When the truck had the camper on it, we headed over the Tehachapi
Pass on an incredibly windy day,” White recalls. “I was following in another
truck and watched our truck stay very steady, while other vehicles with smaller
profiles were swaying like crazy.”
Whoever is manning the wheel, Hellwig on Wheels is sure a
long way from those Wild West days of covered wagons and the Transcontinental
Rail-road. And that’s something any diesel enthusiast who tows and hauls can
surely appreciate.
