There were two reasons why Tom Tunnicliffe of Burbank, California, bought this '03 Ford F-250 Super Duty truck. He needed something to tow his toy trailer with, and he needed a support truck for his Baja exploits. Tom races a motorcycle in the famous Baja 1000 off-road race and needed something for prerunning-something that could be used as a chase truck and something to get all his stuff down there.
The '03 Ford was a good choice in his mind, and he was happy with it right off the bat. "This truck was so good stock I was anxious to see what a few mods could do for it," Tom told us. "It was surprising to see how it worked," he added.
Tom is close to the Off Road Unlimited facility, both physically and figuratively. He trusted the crew at ORU to take his truck and fix it up for his Baja needs with only a small amount of guidance. Some of the parts on this truck were custom-built and are not planned for production. But, you know how that goes. If enough people make enough noise, ORU will have to start building the parts for everyone.
Starting with the engine, a Banks Six-Gun was installed, along with a high-ram intake, and gauges were added for the exhaust gas temperature and boost pressure. A Banks intercooler-they call it a charge-air cooler-keeps the incoming air cool. A 4-inch, mandrel-bent stainless steel exhaust system from Banks was also installed on the truck. Tom really thought the engine couldn't get much better, but now he appreciates the horsepower and torque boost when he's pulling a heavy load or just flat-footing it through the sage brush.
 A rear view of the Ford is...  A rear view of the Ford is what most people see as it tears across the desert. The owner swears sometimes he thinks it handles like a sports car. |  The 6.0L V-8 has a Banks Six-Gun...  The 6.0L V-8 has a Banks Six-Gun installed with the high-ram intake and a 4-inch stainless steel exhaust. |  Pro Comp Xtreme A/T tires...  Pro Comp Xtreme A/T tires (37x13.50R17LT) work well in the dirt and on the highway. The brake rotors are thermally treated and high-torque pads are used. |
 The Lariat trim package was...  The Lariat trim package was enough for owner Tom Tunnicliffe, except he added a Kenwood stereo with a 7-inch screen and some upgraded speakers. He also added EGT and boost gauges. |  Off Road Unlimited's trackbar...  Off Road Unlimited's trackbar kit helps the truck steer well, even though it has been raised 8 inches. |  |