Old Smokey 📍

Old Smokey is the nickname I have for my 2026 Ford F-350 SuperDuty which I purchased at the end of March 2026 to replace my former truck, Big Red, a 2011 Chevy Silverado. Why the name Old Smokey? One is it the color is smokey but also it’s the truck that Smokey the Bear drives, at least the latest generation of DEC Forest Ranger trucks tend to be this color gray and built to a similar configuration. Why old? It is a work truck, and while it has some technology, most of the design is tried and true – 6.8L MiniZilla pushrod engine, key ignition, needles for speedometer and all guages, manual climate controls, conventional cruise control.

The Old Smokey truck is a “one-ton” class axle commerical HD pickup truck, extended cab, short bed (6 3/4 foot bed). While the short bed seems small by SuperDuty propotions, it actually is a very good fit for my uses, as it’s long enough to sleep on and camp once I get a camper shell (aka topper or cap) on the truck. It also is reasonably short at 19 1/2 feet, that with the backup camera makes it possible to get into relatively small campsites.

The truck has the FX4 and XL Off Road HD Utility Package, which provides 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler tires, skid plates, specifically tuned off-road shocks, Hill Descent Control, an electronic locking rear differential, a raised air dam for better ground clearance and water-fording vent tubes on the rear axle. It also has dual alternators and batteries, able to supply up to 410 amps of power for camping, and has the upfitter harnasses for additional power and configuraton.

The next step will be ordering the camper shell, moving the solar panel, lead acid batteries, interverter and CB radio to the new truck, and acquiring and installing additional solar panel(s), cellphone booster, and probably a supplemental LiPo battery. By next winter, I also want to add a diesel heater for comfortable winter camping. Stay tuned, as they say. It’s going to be a great rig.

🖼️ Photos

Diode Bridge

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Hopefully this won't leave me stranded in the wilderness lol. Two diodes tie together the inputs from the solar and alternator to monitor voltage minus diode drop on the XY 60.

When either the alternator or solar panels are producing over 13.8 volts minus 6/10 volt diode drop the alternator and starting batteries will be connected to the accessory batteries and the solar on highest leg. When the voltage drops below 13.1 volts on the highest leg, they will be disconnected.

 This way the two alternator will charge the accessory batteries when the truck is running and the solar panels will maintain the starting batteries when the sun is shinning. The diodes are necessary to avoid the two systems from back feeding each other on the monitoring input.

Wednesday June 17, 2026 — Old Smokey
Map: Severence Hill Trail
Map: Big Eddy Trail
Map: Duck Pond
Map: Cowee State Forest

I got the truck cap

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It’s nice, pretty much like the old one on Big Red. How fast time comes and goes. I got a second battery box, butt connectors and two sided sticky tape and now I have everything I need to complete my rig.

Little worried I’ll have enough room to mount the kayak rack and two panels on the new cap – I measured on the old rig and seemed like both would fit but I’ll figure out something. Also a bit annoyed seeing a defect in the roof paint job but it will be hidden under the solar panel – and being warned by Andy Ruth secretary that the tail gate lip is a bit fragile but I’ll learn to be careful I guess or replace it with something like a rubber door sweep, though they did say they can order that replacement part.

I guess nothing is perfect in this world and life is full of trials and tribulations. People have their opinions on my truck build but I kind of like it. I think it will be a good rig through retirement seeing it mostly built now and I’m looking forward to the mamy trips ahead.