Project Daylighter: Fab Fours 2017 Ford F-350 [Video]
At the 2017 SEMA Show, Fab Fours rolled out some of its new line of products for Ram, GM and Ford ¾- and 1-ton trucks. This included the company’s industry-first Grumpers and ViCowl, along with a fender system designed to allow for 40-inch-tall treads with just a leveling kit. Looking to build on his new line of products, Fab Fours CEO Greg Higgs decided to build a truck that would be just as capable and over-the-top as the company’s new gear.
Teaming up with Rowell’s Truck Accessories, Fab Fours hammered out its latest truck creation, called Daylighter. The regular-cab long-bed 2017 Ford F-350 is far from a conventional ‘wheeling machine, but that didn’t seem to stop Higgs from tackling some of the Moab, Utah’s, best trails during the annual Easter Jeep Safari. We caught up with Higgs in Moab to get a closer look at the pickup. While he was nice enough to give us a rundown of the truck and his company’s new products in the video above, we’re diving farther into the details in the article below.
Fab Grapplers
Fab Fours made its name in the bumper business, but it’s long since expanded its product line. Come this fall, the company will be rolling out a 24x12 wheelset. While a 24-inch wheel is out of the norm for a typical off-road rig, Fab Fours paired it with one of the best on- and off-road tires on the market, the Nitto Trail Grappler. Though Higgs states they originally built Daylighter to run a larger set of treads, the 40x15.50 seemed to tuck nicely in the wheelwells on the trail.
Grumper
The Grumper got the industry talking when it originally showed up on the JK Wrangler a few years ago. Now, Fab Fours has the grille/bumper combo for fullsize trucks with more applications coming. We dig the out-of-the-box design and how customizable it can be. The fact that it’s built to hold a Warn Zeon 12-S winch also means it’s a functional trail accessory.
Cowl Spotting
The truck gets its inspiration from Marty McFly’s Toyota pickup from "Back to the Future." The namesake stems from the partnership with KC HiLites. You’ll find five LED Daylighter series lights secured to a Fab Fours headache rack, each complete with the classic yellow and black smiley face covers. Adding an aesthetic flare to the front windshield is Fab Fours ViCowl.
Fender System
Despite having a full-tilt suspension lift on this truck, the Open Fender System was originally crafted to allow a 40-inch-tall tire with only a leveling kit. We’ve seen the success of low-lift and big tires in the Jeep world and it’s great to see the trend moving into the pickup space.
Skyjacked
Giving the truck its towering stance is a customized six-inch suspension system from Skyjacker. The variable rate lift springs work with a four-link conversion to free up an impressive amount of travel and articulation.
Steering
Steering a heavy truck like this off-road is no easy task. This is especially true when the front Yukon Zip Locker is engaged. Thanks to a hydro-assist kit from PSC Motorsports, moving about is much easier.
Power Stroking
The 6.7L Power Stoke turbodiesel offers plenty of power to turn the 40-inch Grapplers. Helping it breathe a little easier is an AFE air intake and MBRP full exhaust system, while a GDP Tuner turns up the wick.
On the Trail
It’s not often you see a fullsize truck rockcrawling, let alone a brand new model. Aside from the custom rock sliders, we like that everything on this truck is a readily available part. This means it’s easy to replicate or grab replacements if something goes wrong.
