Ryan Cashman’s Crew Cab Dually is the Result of Knowing What You Want – and Making it Happen
It’s good to have goals. This is true in so many areas of life, including the hot rod hobby. It seems like the most active and successful car and truck enthusiasts we know are the ones who set goals, make plans, and commit to making things happen.
Ryan Cashman is one of those enthusiasts – a car guy who can make things happen. Not only did he oversee the build of this flamin’ hot custom ’95 Chevy C3500 crew cab dually, but also a killer ’69 Camaro street machine. Ryan is just 36 years old but says the laid-out dually was on the short list of vehicles he aspired to have in his garage.
“One of my bucket list vehicles has always been a truck that could do it all,” Ryan says. “Haul the family, tow my other hot rods, and be put in the show all at the same time. And who doesn’t want at least one vehicle with flames in their fleet?”
When Ryan came across the crew cab dually on Facebook Marketplace, he knew it could be that do-it-all truck. The deal was made, and Ryan wasted little time beginning the transformation into a custom hauler. He says it was an evolutionary process – one that involved redoing the suspension three times before achieving the desired results. He gives credit to the team at Octane and Iron for ultimately getting the truck where he wanted it.
“Lane Johnson and Jason Gerhart at Octane and Iron took control of the truck and the final build,” Ryan says. “The two of them put their minds together to come up with a plan to build a reliable, purpose-built show/tow pig.”
That plan included plenty of cutting and clearance work on the truck’s frame, along with the installation of Lowboy Motorsports control arms and a rear C-notch, plus air springs all around to get the truck down on the ground. Massive polished Alcoa 22-inch wheels got things rolling, with spiked lug nut covers for extra flash.
“On top of them executing the installation of the Lowboy Motorsports suspension, the detail work and innovation by Octane and Iron while assembling the truck was top notch,” Ryan continues. “3D-printed fuse block relocation, ECU relocation under the dash, ABS delete, custom inner fenders, 3D-printed wiring bulkheads, etc. So many small details.”
One detail that was much bigger was the custom paint work – there’s a lot of sheet metal to cover on a crew cab dually! Bryan Reitz of RF Customs took on the task of getting all that sheet metal straight and laying down the PPG gloss black paint. Then he called in graphic master Pat Maxwell of Maxwell Auto Design to lay out and spray those long and toasty hot rod flames with blue pinstripes. Reitz then finished up with final clear and a show-quality cut and buff.
Despite the wild exterior, Ryan kept the balance of the build relatively practical. The 454c.i. big block engine remains mostly stock, with a custom aluminum cold air intake and Magnaflow mufflers. Same for the 4L80 overdrive transmission. Inside, the stock dash was updated with Dakota Digital VHX gauges and a Cadillac Escalade wheel, while the seats were recovered in Katzkin two-tone leather.
The truck has evolved over the past three years, with its most recent incarnation being completed right before the Goodguys LMC Truck Spring Lone Star Nationals in Fort Worth. Ryan says the weekend provided one of the most memorable experiences he’s had so far with this multi-purpose hauler.
“With 40 miles on the truck since the final rebuild, we loaded my Octane and Iron-built ’69 Camaro and towed it from Magnolia, Texas to Fort Worth,” Ryan says. “We put both vehicles in the show and cruised them all weekend. Bucket-list item checked off!”
Photos by Damon Lee & John Jackson
