[gumby79]

1+ 4x4 chassie( torsion bar ,they are easyer to keep low) rwd gas, fwd electric . Mount the batteries under the bed inbord of the frame. Doable, expensive, and time consuming. With a 4wd frame you can still drive in rwd wile you are building. At 19 I'm guessing that you have 1 rig so no projects that will take more than 72hrs (standerd weekend) are not aloud without consequences. Conciter a small diesel wv tdi 130-190hp stock. Or a 4bt Cummins backed by a nv5600 or nv4500 130hp tunable to much more . 4bts from bread trucks are a dime a dozen($1500 ebay for a cut frame includs trans ,wires , and evrything in front of the fire wall) the 6bt will fit in a 73-87 chevy by cutting the fire wall. 4bt is tight with all the coolers . Trick is keep the boost down, you should be able to pull 20-30mpg in a full size diesel with a 1000 load ,if you drive it right. If you could swing it +1 one of the new mid size diesel trucks may pay for it self(granted you will be working it for the next 50 years). There is an eco/aero modle Canyon/Colorado ... it is EPA rated at 29mpg. Active grill luvers and about 10 modds for better mpg. A frend got a 4x4 its purity pepy @160hp and 38X ftlb tq has pulled 35mpg hwyfrom the liometer . Basicly the same power in this as my stock 91.5 IC Cummins with 7200 tow J2807 and a lighter pacage.