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When Caravan becomes a Caratruck

1.5K views 66 replies 9 participants last post by  Mopar-Mofun  
#1 ·
We all know about the small 024/TC3 Rampage and small Dakota trucks Mopar made.

Yet, what about a Caratruck?

024/TC3 Rampage from the 80s/90s.
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Some of these Caratrucks are well known as the owners have build blogs. Others are just one off snap-shots people seen out in public posting on the web.

Someone at Allpar photoshopped a Mopar concept minivan into a truck. Not so bad.
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owns 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SXE
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#2 ·
To start, how about a 1st gen . . . The owner calls his ride, Deep Purple.

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owns 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SXE
#3 ·
A few more 1st gens, only 1 off images. Would of liked to see more.

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owns 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SXE
#5 ·
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#6 ·
Moving into the 2nd gen era,

Another unknown blog that I could only pull images up via a search engine and the site no longer exists. Bummer as it could tell more to the story of the conversion.

The sliding door seams are gone, making this a nice clean look. The body molding is kept.

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I'm mot sure how the tail gate opens or it is just lifted off. Both the tailgate with glass is retained and the interior tailgate plastic trim is used behind the seats. I bet 2 tailgates were used in this build. Very clever.

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owns 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SXE
#7 ·
A few more from that build,

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owns 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SXE
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#8 ·
For the 2nd gen Caratruck, this blog builder named his Fargo, just like the classic Dodge Fargo trucks.

Fargo was a brand of trucks that were originally produced by the Fargo Motor Car Company. The Fargo name first appeared in 1913, but was soon discontinued in 1922, only to reappear in 1928 when Chrysler purchased the parent company. Soon after purchasing Fargo, Chrysler purchased Dodge, and then began to produce and sell Dodge trucks under the Fargo brand. US sales for Fargo ended in the 1930s, but the name continued to see use in foreign markets until the early 1970s.


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owns 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SXE
#9 ·
Hmmm... Caratruck, really!
Ok I'm sorry, but the name does not fit... I guess it could be called a Carawagon... maybe..., maybe!
But that could never be used as a truck!
This things were built on a car chassis and intended for passenger service.
Just because it appears to have a pickup truck bed on it does not make it a "pick-uo" much less a "truck".
I bet you can't even haul a pallet of mulch back there without breaking something!
 
#11 ·
Hmmm... Caratruck, really!
Ok I'm sorry, but the name does not fit... I guess it could be called a Carawagon... maybe..., maybe!
But that could never be used as a truck!
This things were built on a car chassis and intended for passenger service.
Just because it appears to have a pickup truck bed on it does not make it a "pick-uo" much less a "truck".
I bet you can't even haul a pallet of mulch back there without breaking something!
I've hauled a full pallet in mine without converted it to a bed. ;)

Of course, the Dayton Add-A-Leaf and the coil over shocks upped the load capacity in the back by 900-lbs.
The one build, the person put in extra coils and air shocks.

Yes are right though, it will not take a bed full of gravel. :rolleyes:

These Caratrucks are like the Rampage I had posted first, just a light weight vehicle to go help someone move or haul an upright fridge, etc.
 
owns 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SXE
#10 ·
Depends on how it's modified. Not being steel framed, it will of course have a limit less than a full size truck. But they might be able to haul on the level of a small truck. I've hauled crate motors and transmissions in mine fully stock body-wise.
 
#12 ·
Lots of different reasons to take the effort to do something like this.
I personally prefer the van for dry transport ... is just better then a truck.
As a carpenter, I started with trucks, ended up with a Ford 1 ton van to carry all my tools in and keep them dry and safe.

I bought this Ford explorer cheap and it was in near perfect operating condition.
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The vehicle owner was a chef at a restaurant, While parked at work, a tree limb fell on it.
The owner just paid him a good fair price for it so he did not have to use insurance ... sold it cheap.

I did this with it.
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I just put some window rubber around the edges to give it a finished look ... had some plans to use conduit and make a removable convertible top for it. ... just try to make it look respectable.
A drunk driver helped me out with that
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Some cars were just meant to be wrecked :LOL:
 
#15 ·
Several in the blog postings above added this,
This is a 4th gen. No added leaf like mine.
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owns 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SXE
#17 ·
A 2nd Gen woody Stake Truck. Very clever.
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owns 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SXE
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#18 · (Edited)
Another 1st gen 1-hit photo. I poke around, even used an image search, nothing more on this build. It looks promising.
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I bet this one was useful in its day.

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Still driving today
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owns 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SXE
#19 ·
More of a CaraUTE

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owns 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SXE
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#20 ·
It seems hard to pick anything better after the CaraUTE.

Let's see some of the single images I have of the 2nd gen types.

A shame this one was scrapped. All the effort to make it into a working truck is now lost.
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The tailgate even flips down like a normal truck.
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I show this one for people who need ideas to make their own. Look at the space behind the front seats.
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owns 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SXE
#21 ·
Live far north, then a CaraTrax is what you need. :ROFLMAO:
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owns 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SXE
#22 ·
Several random 2nd gens. Wish there were more images to tell the story of the build and how they were used.
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This one is similar to the one above, just a slight difference.
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owns 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SXE
#23 ·
Still more 2nd gens, these are popular to convert over.

Look at the hood mod on this one. I suppose with the rear wheels push outwards, the wheel wells are not in the bed.
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What makes a good candidate for making a CaraTruck, I would say this one fits the ticket.
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When you want the CaraTruck, yet when the family goes out, lock in the seats.
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Six wheels a'rollin'
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owns 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SXE
#24 ·
When you need a mini truck to go racing in . . .

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owns 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SXE
#25 ·
When you are Johnny Cash needing parts from every year to make your CaraTruck.

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owns 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SXE
#26 ·
I can love the name of this conversion, VANCHERO


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owns 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SXE
#27 ·
You want that BIG semi look in a CaraTruck, then this is for you,

Oddly, two were made.
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And this one,

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owns 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SXE
#28 ·
Your daily driver work truck,

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owns 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SXE
#29 ·
From a Mexican build blog, check out the lift on this one,
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owns 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SXE