When it comes to creating custom vehicles, sometimes the budget or the available tooling doesn’t really matter as long as you have imagination, spare time and can put in the effort. Andrew Watson from Maine, US, had all the ingredients, thus during the pandemic he built what he calls the “Destructor Tructor” – a combination of a truck and a tractor.
This weird build is based on a Chevy K10 pickup from the ’80s. The truck was in bad shape and was going to end up in the junkyard so Andrew decided to save it. He also had a two-wheel-drive tractor with a loader that was constantly breaking down. Just like that he had the idea of combining both vehicles into one, so he could enjoy a four-wheel-drive tractor with a heated cabin and optional A/C.
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Everything started with repairing the frame of the Chevy. Then he had to cut and modify the loader in order to fit the pickup. Using steel from a boat trailer, he built a metal construction to support the loader. A small engine for running the hydraulics and the fluid reservoir are rear-mounted, with levers inside the cabin for operating the loader while on the move.
Not having any experience with hydraulics, Andrew had to learn through trial and error but the end result is rewarding. The front suspension has been raised and upgraded with a custom leaf spring pack in order to handle the extra weight and contribute to better weight distribution. The front fenders of the Chevy had to go, so instead a pair of LED headlights were mounted high on the metal construction.
Under the bonnet, there is a straight-piped V8 305 small block engine mated to a three-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all four wheels. At the back, where the bed used to be, there is now a steel arch with an integrated winch allowing the “Destructor Tructor” to pull logs and other stuff.
The custom vehicle is put to good use by its owner, moving dirt and debris, plowing snow from the driveway, moving pallets, and crushing rocks. In a quest to test the weight it can hold, Watson once used it to lift the back of his 1999 Dodge Ram pickup which happened without any issues.
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Getting ready for an early Halloween celebration, the vehicle got a custom red paint contrasting the blue body color, the family handprints together with the world “Zombies” sprayed on the side, a “Destructor Tructor” badge engraved on the front, and a set of fitting accessories (mask, chains, chainsaw etc).
Watson plans on continuing to work on the “Destructor Tructor”, constantly improving its capabilities. The next step is to install tracks for the rear axle, new tires in the front, and a stronger winch. The ultimate goal is to hand it over to his son when he grows up, seeing it as family legacy.
We would like to thank Andrew Watson for sharing with us pictures and information about his build