Rancher — Scuzztrans’ RTE custom Western Star

Rocklea Truck Electrical brings years of Western Star custom work together in Scuzzy’s new Rancher.

Original ACT archive feature. Images from the ACT archive; no individual photographer is identified in the retained feature.

Scuzzy is at it again and this time it is a brand new Western Star that Brock MacDonald from Rocklea Truck Electrical (RTE) has spent five weeks transforming.

Scuzzy had a few requests but he put his trust in RTE and gave the company free rein to build the truck.

Brock tells Australian Custom Trucks Magazine this Star represents a culmination of all the work RTE has done on Western Stars over the years, all rolled into one, with a few added extras just to add to its uniqueness.

“It’s not a standard build by far, it is probably a lot of things we have done over a number of years put into one job,” he explains.

It is an impressive work of art on the outside. The interior is also notable with a push for driver comfort and ergonomic design.

It’s the dash that RTE worked on to make it more driver friendly that really stands out.

Brock says RTE removed all the gauges and switch panels because of how the automated gear change buttons sit and to add ease for the driver reaching the other switches and gauges.

“There are a whole lot of switches underneath the dash, which are hard to get to,” he tells ACT.

RTE took the switch panel from down the bottom and put them all on the top of the dash.

The DataStar system display was moved to the triangle opening in the cavity above the drivers’ head.

The DataStar can display engine and fuel levels as well as other information electronically.

He says the existing gauges still show the same critical information right in front of you though.

RTE also got rid of the ashtray and made a panel there to put all the air switches so it is all easy to get to. Great initiative and great design idea! Continuing with the inside, RTE put in stainless step trims with the “Scuzztrans” and “Rancher” logos.

The inside was treated to one of RTE’s Sleeper Air units as well as a microwave oven up inside the parcel shelf and a TV. The truck has two Engel fridges, one behind each of the seats.

RTE also put Rancher trims inside the grab handles.

Heading back outside the truck the front benefits from a customised King Bars Hume Bar.

King Bars created holes in the bar to put 15 amber LEDs. Two additional sets of driving lights were also added, two long distance LEDs and two spread beam LEDs. RTE also supplied the headlight backers and the stainless bug deflectors on the lights.

Moving to the side, the blinkers were changed on the side of the bonnet.

The fibreglass wheel flares also received stainless flares, this is a rarity on Western Stars.

Because it is running wider wheels, the mudflaps behind the steer tyres were modified and extended out further to minimise rocks and dirt spraying on to the fuel tanks.

Brock explains the aircleaners have chrome-plated inlet pipes with a special adapter that is used to sit them inside. This is to get rid of the pre-cleaner so it becomes a straight through system that helps improve visibility and creates a cleaner look.

Lucidity LED lights were also added at the front and rear of the aircleaner.

A new 14-inch visor was added as well. The mirrors were re-skinned. The mirrors and lights were then put back into the mirror heads.

Seven Grakon roof lights were put on the top of the cab as well as beacons.

This build was the first time RTE used Silverback Chrome branded “Monster Stacks”.

Brock says the stacks are dual piped and straight through with a five-inch pipe going through the middle and up the guts.

He says you can literally get straight out of the truck and touch the pipe and they should be cool. I wouldn’t recommend that though, just in case.

“The reason for that is we didn’t run any exhaust shrouds on it. It was a trial and error thing but they don’t get hot,” he says.

The fuel tanks were all painted and then wrapped in stainless and four stainless steps were added. They then added the kickers and trims with lights.

Under window trims were also added to give it a “chopped” look.

Lelox rear guards were added and the customisation continued with the back trim with the Rancher emblem put on it with a set of horns and the Western Star logo, which are all backlit.

An air electrics box on the rear and deck plates were all added as well as a full taillight bar.

The extras included mudflap weights and turntable angle covers.

To finish it off RTE had to do the rear walk plate so it’s all usable to hook up road train dollies.

“It’s an awesome truck, the truck is all class,” concludes Brock.

Rear Vision: where are they now?

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