Gone are the days of making a bold statement with your truck--unless you're picking up that load of sheetrock in something like Performance West's King of the Road. The company crafted a functional show truck--though just a concept--with extreme capabilities within reach of any Super Duty owner who can afford it.
The King of the Road started life as a 2003 Ford F-350 Super Duty one-ton 4x4 dualie. To ensure capable towing, Ford's new 6.0-liter Power Stroke V-8 turbodiesel serves up 325 horsepower and 560 pound-feet of torque. With all of its pulling power available at 2000 rpm, this Ford, which looks like a 1:1-scale Tonka truck, is ideal for towing a 25-foot Airstream or a fully loaded horse trailer. The combination of four-wheel-drive and a six-speed manual transmission--enhanced with Gear Vendors overdrive to split the shift points--serves up 11 forward speeds. With this powertrain combination, the driver can select the exact gear for steep grades or maximum economy on flat freeways.
Inspired by Ford's own Mighty Tonka concept from 2002, there's nothing subtle about the King's House of Kolor Golden Sunrise Pearl paint. Its side profile is dominated by the custom-fabricated six-inch chrome dual-side exhaust, the only major component not available off the shelf. In addition, 19.5-inch Rickson Truck Accessories forged wheels are polished to a mirror-bright finish to complement the 34.5-inch-tall Goodyear tires.
This wheel and tire combination wouldn't be possible without a suspension kit, supplied by Revtek Industries. The six-inch lift has a practical advantage, giving the King of the Road true off-road capabilities--that is, if the trail's large enough to accommodate its 94-inch-wide rear track.
To aid its trailer-towing capabilities, Valley Hitch's underbed fifth-wheel system was installed. The system's design eliminates the conventional bracing that traditionally renders the bed nearly unusable. Underbed bracing allows access to the eight-foot bed when the hitch isn't being used. Other exterior enhancements include custom fender flares at all four corners, custom front and rear lower fascias, and an anodized grille insert and chrome bumper.