1976 Ford F-250 Highboy Camper Pairs 360 V8 With Honda XL125

The appeal of this 1976 Ford F-250 Highboy is the way its unusual factory layout supports a complete period adventure setup. It retains the 360-cubic-inch V8, four-speed manual and frame-mounted transfer case that define the model, while a Wolverine Pup camper and front-carried Honda XL125 add practical weekend gear. Free Wheeling graphics and a Warn 8274 winch round out the specification.

That combination also puts the truck near the end of the Highboy era. Ford’s tall four-wheel-drive F-250s used a separate, or “divorced,” transfer case from 1967 until a midyear change in 1977. Enthusiasts gave the trucks the Highboy name; Ford didn’t use it as a model designation. Today, clean examples have become collectible, with some well-preserved trucks reaching prices into six figures, though the source notes that lower-priced examples can still be found.

Why the Highboy sits so high

The defining engineering choice was the transfer case. On the 4x4 F-250, it mounted to the frame instead of directly behind the transmission. A short driveshaft connected the gearbox to the case, which then sent power to the front and rear axles. Making room for those shafts raised the front suspension. Ford used four-inch blocks between the rear axle and springs to bring the back of the truck up to match.

The result was a stock pickup that looked lifted. From 1967 to 1972, a Highboy stood about 5.2 to 5.6 inches taller than a comparable rear-wheel-drive F-250. The nickname may also echo older hot-rod terminology: a “highboy” hot rod left its body sitting on top of the frame rails, while a “lowboy” had its body altered to sit lower. The origin of the truck nickname isn’t known.

Underneath, early Highboys used a separate steel ladder frame, solid axles and leaf springs at both ends. A full-floating Dana 60 sat at the rear, with a closed-knuckle Dana 44 up front; buyers could specify a heavier Dana 44HD. Early trucks had drum brakes on all four wheels, and steering lacked power assistance. At low speeds, that meant more effort from the driver.

Engines, axles and the 1973 update

For 1967, engine choices included 240- and 300-cubic-inch inline sixes and a 352-cubic-inch V8. Ford introduced the 360-cubic-inch FE V8 in 1968, rating it at 215 bhp and 327 lb-ft. It was the only factory V8 available in a four-wheel-drive F-250 through 1976; the larger 390 and 460 weren’t offered in a Highboy. Four-wheel-drive F-250s paired the V8 with a manual transmission.

The sixth-generation F-Series arrived for 1973 with new bodywork, but the 4x4 F-250 kept its narrower frame. Its frame rails sat about 33.5 inches apart, the same spacing as the previous generation and the larger F-350. The rear-wheel-drive trucks, by comparison, moved to rails four inches farther apart.

Ford replaced the Dana 24 transfer case with a New Process NP205 for 1973, retaining the divorced, frame-mounted arrangement. A four-speed manual came standard on four-wheel-drive pickups. From 1974, buyers could also choose full-time four-wheel drive with the New Process NP203. Power steering became available, though it worked as an add-on assist rather than through an integral steering box.

Fuel storage reflected the trucks’ age and packaging. The main tank sat inside the cab, behind the seat. An optional 20-gallon plastic auxiliary tank fitted between the rear frame rails, a useful addition given the 360’s appetite. Ford didn’t offer a SuperCab F-250 4x4 until 1978, although crew-cab Highboys were built alongside regular-cab versions.

For 1976, regular-cab trucks gained an open-knuckle Dana 44 front axle and disc brakes, replacing the earlier closed-knuckle axle and front drums. That change mattered when carrying a heavy load, such as a slide-in camper, though the source provides no braking-distance figures.

The shift away from the Highboy layout

During the 1977 model year, Ford revised the F-250 4x4. The change came in February at serial number Y20,001. From then on, the transfer case attached to the transmission, using either the part-time NP205 or full-time NP203. The truck also adopted the wider frame used by two-wheel-drive models and integral power steering. With the revised layout, Ford could lower the suspension.

Those later trucks became known among enthusiasts as Lowboys, distinguishing them from the earlier, taller pickups. Early 1977 Highboys are an unusual transition case: Ford had dropped the 360 V8 and offered 351M and 400 V8s, but those first trucks still had the narrow frame and divorced transfer case. The Lowboy continued through 1979. For 1980, the F-250 4x4 moved to Ford’s Twin-Traction Beam independent front suspension.

A camper and motorcycle for the period

The example shown keeps its original 360 V8, four-speed manual gearbox and divorced transfer case. Its add-ons follow the truck’s era: Free Wheeling decals, a custom front bumper carrying a Warn 8274 winch, and a vintage Wolverine Pup slide-in camper for overnight stays. A vintage front mount carries a 1978 Honda XL125 motorcycle, giving the owner a way to travel beyond the truck’s route once parked.

The arrangement has a clear trade-off: a camper and motorcycle make the truck more capable as a recreational setup, while adding equipment to an already substantial pickup. The source doesn’t give the camper’s weight, the truck’s payload, fuel economy or the motorcycle’s mounting details, so those are important points for a prospective buyer to check against the actual vehicle.

Mecum is scheduled to offer the truck at auction in late October. The listing is available here. Its draw is the combination of original drivetrain and period equipment: a distinctive example of the Highboy formula at the point when Ford was about to change it.

Images courtesy of Mecum and Ford.