DOUBLE WIDE | ’62 Dodge D200 crew cab

An Iowa-Built California Cruiser

When you see something you love, go for it! Dave Gonzales of Temecula, California, had been a previous customer of Lakeside Rods & Rides, so he was often checking in with owner Roger Burman to see what he was working on. As it so happened, Roger had something quite unique brewing in the shop. Actually, it was kind of a sequel to a previous build, but with a twist all its own.

Some of you may have already seen the other truck, dubbed “Whiskey Bent,” which was another ’62 Dodge D200 crew cab, but let’s introduce you to its lesser-known sibling, “Double Wide.” Roger originally found the truck (which also happens to be a ’62) near Rapid City, South Dakota. It had spent many years as a forestry service truck and was ready for the next stage of its life.

Securing a Roadster Stop REVO chassis, equipped with RideTech coilovers, was the first step after getting the truck to the shop. Prepped with a Ford 9-inch rearend, a custom IFS, rear four-link, and Wilwood brakes all around, the truck would definitely be able to handle well despite its size. The 20×8 and 20×10 Boze Tach forged billet wheels and Continental Extreme Contact tires (in 245/35ZR20 and 295/40ZR20 sizes) fill up the wheelwells nicely without looking out of place on a truck that’s almost six decades old!

Once the chassis itself was dialed in, the Dodge was disassembled and the rest of the transformation commenced. The original 413 cubic-inch big block engine was torn down and rebuilt with twin four-barrel Edelbrock carbs sitting atop an Edelbrock intake manifold, and a 1976 TorqueFlite 727 transmission was bolted up right behind it. The whole drivetrain was then detailed to the hilt since Roger wanted the truck to present well, no matter the angle.

Although the truck was already in pretty good shape, it took tons of bodywork to get the bodylines a lot straighter, and to make sure all of the gaps were perfect. Surprisingly, there aren’t many outwardly visible body mods other than the shaved fuel filler door, a new filler at the top of the bed, and the shaved and rechromed bumpers. The bed floor, of course, had to be tweaked a bit with modified tubs and a hump over the frame notch, and the custom ash hardwood classed things up big time!

Dave tells us that the truck has been perfect and trouble-free since completion, except for taking up more than one parking spot in the garage!

With everything properly test-fitted, the crew at Lakeside Rods & Rides moved on to the next phase: adding color. Roger made the call to spray PPG Blue Streak Pearl on the truck, with Satin Bronze on the roof. Not a combo that seems super obvious to us, but an amazing choice that really makes the behemoth Dodge stand out.

For the final stage, the truck was hauled off to Dan Weber Custom Interiors for a custom-built carpet kit, some fresh skins on the doors and the customized Dodge Intrepid seats, and a narrowed Dodge Ram center console. The rear seat was completely custom-built since the original didn’t leave much legroom for anyone lucky enough to hitch a ride. The dashboard is home to a set of custom Dakota Digital gauges, a Billet Specialties steering wheel, an under-dash A/C setup and a hidden transmission gear selector.

The D200 was proudly shown at a few events in the Midwest and the South before Roger was ready to ship the truck to Dave in Southern California, where Double Wide has also seen plenty of shows. Dave tells us that the truck has been perfect and trouble-free since completion, except for taking up more than one parking spot in the garage!