A Show & Tow Double-Duty Dually

VERSATILITY IS DEFINED AS THE “ABILITY TO ADAPT OR BE ADAPTED TO MANY DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS OR ACTIVITIES.” In the world of custom trucks, most builds are targeted toward one specific end—not versatility—and for most enthusiasts, if their truck can look good on the show field, pull some hardware come trophy time and get a few thumbs up on the road it’s been a good day.

But what about the show trucks that haul the show trucks? The trucks that are built to shine up and pull focus while laid out at the show and do double duty to haul a trailer and serve as daily drivers for the weekday 9-5 grind. More than just another pretty face, these are the trucks that make stuff happen.

Matt Brunner from Wellington, Florida, owns the slammed, smoothed and simple dually laid out across these pages and built it to daily drive, show and tow. As the foreman for a Bentley, Rolls Royce and Aston Martin shop, Matt spends his days working on high-end rides, so when it’s quittin’ time he enjoys climbing behind the wheel of a good old fashioned pickup truck.

The build began with a visit to Brian Cuenot at Cuenot’s truck Automotive in Loxahatchee, Florida. Ordered originally with a 6.5-liter diesel, this ’97 C-3500 was in need of some tuning and proper sealing. Brian got the old school bowtie clacker purring like a kitten and sealed all of the leaks before upgrading the stock transmission with a B&M shift kit.

Now that the truck was running like a top, it was time to ditch the stock nosebleed stance and make it look cool, too. Enter Frank and the crew from Reds Miami. The truck was brought down to earth with a full air ride suspension system, custom c-notched rear frame. To set off the slam six 22-inch Diesel Wheels Impeller style wheels were mounted up. Reds made a set of custom adapters and custom machined the wheels to fit within the stock fenders when the truck is laid out.

To seal the envelope of this laid out land yacht Matt delivered the truck to Renato Silda at Superior Craftsman in Oakland Park, Florida, for some simple metal mods and a fresh blanket of color.

A roll pan replaced the factory rear bumper and the tailgate and stake pockets were shaved for a smooth and clean finish. Up front, a painted smooth front bumper replaces the original. Luis Berrios at Superior Craftsman sprayed the fresh white Spies Hecker paint. Clear headlights, marker lights, a billet grille insert and billet bowtie round out the custom exterior style.

Inside the cab, the threads were left stock save for a Budnik billet steering wheel and a white-faced gauge overlay. Beats are kicked via a Pioneer head unit and DS 18 mids, highs and amps combined with two 12-inch subs behind the seat.

Matt Brunner, with the help of Reds Miami and Superior Craftsman, put together one clean and classy dually that turns heads on the street, at the shows and while pulling Matt’s 26-foot trailer filled with his other automotive passion: custom Volkswagens. Matt’s truck is proof that with the right custom touches and a simple and clean approach the results can be a homerun.

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TRUCK SPECS

OWNER

Matt & Terry Brunner
Wellington, FL
1997 Chevy C3500 Dually

ENGINE

• 1997 6.5-liter diesel
• Maintained by Brian Cuenot/Cuenot’s Automotive- Loxahatchee, FL
• Stock Transmission with B&M Shift Kit

CHASSIS & SUSPENSION 

• Full air ride suspension by Reds Miami
• Slam Specialties front bags
• Air Lift rear bags
• Air Zenith compressors
• Manual valves
• Custom c-notch

WHEELS & TIRES 

• 22-inch Diesel Wheels impeller wheels
• Custom built adapters/ wheels machined to fit inside stock fenders
• Zeetex 265/35/22 R SU 1000 tires

BODY & PAINT 

• Rear roll pan
• Smooth front bumper
• Shaved stake pockets
• Shaved tailgate handle
• Spies Hecker White sprayed by Luis Berrios at Superior Craftsman, Oakland Park, FL

INTERIOR & STEREO

• Budnik billet steering wheel
• White-faced gauge overlay
• Pioneer head unit
• DS18 amps, mids and highs and two 12-inch subwoofers

SPECIAL THANKS FROM THE OWNER: “Special thanks to my wife Terry Brunner for the support during the build. Also special thanks to Frank at Red’s Miami for the sick and trick suspension work and for working hard to get the 22s to tuck within the stock fenders. Special thanks to Renato Silda and Luis Berrios at Superior Craftsman for the body and paint work and to Brian Cuenot at Cuenot’s Automotive for keeping the truck running right.”

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