A lot of people drive trucks, but not many drive a truck like Keith Gallagher's.
His 1972 Ford F-750 stretches to 36 feet and can hold 15 people. Gallagher finished building the truck, called the Freedom Express, in 2004 and rents it out like a traditional limo. He or his partner, Jerry Cockerell, drive the truck.
"Riding in the truck is an absolute adventure," said Gallagher, 45, who estimated spending $180,000 to build the Express. "The whole time you're going to see people screaming and pointing and oohing and ahhing."
Often dressed in his trademark suspender coveralls — sans shirt, of course — Gallagher built the Freedom Express with "blood, sweat and tears."
To create the Express, he cut off the front and back of an 8-foot pickup truck bed, then went to another bed and cut off 6 more feet, then another, until he had the length he wanted. He welded the beds together and put the truck on four "gianormous" tires.
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"My experience is that I've created something from an idea when I was a little kid," Gallagher said. "(That idea was) to build a big truck to tote around all my friends in."
The first issue is getting into the truck, which is accomplished by climbing a ladder that pulls out from underneath the fuel tank. A remarkably smooth ride follows.
"The truck is built from probably eight different trucks," said Gallagher, noting the Express gets 14 miles a gallon and can reach a speed of 85 miles per hour. "There's a Caterpillar engine in it and 20,000 watts of sound."
In 2005, Gallagher decided to start renting the truck. He charges $200 an hour with a two-hour minimum — and a 15 percent gratuity. Like most limos, you provide the alcohol and music. A 42-inch flat-screen can play DVDs.
Bachelorette parties are his favorite, but he's also carted around celebrities.
"(Actor/musician) John Corbett was in the truck several times," Gallagher said. "He's a very congenial person."
On Sept. 1, he plans to unveil The Gambler, a charcoal-gray truck with lollipop-red accents that's 5 feet longer than Freedom Express, can seat 22 and cost about $320,000 to build. This one, too, will be an open-air ride.
"The whole idea of the pickup truck limo is to be open," said Gallagher, whose Web site is www.stretchedamericansteel. com. "I use the old classic American pickup truck."
When he gets pulled over, it's usually because a police officer wants to get a picture next to it, Gallagher said. That has happened on the way to Phoenix and Las Vegas for that very reason.
He and his truck do charity work, too, such as giving a ride to kids who achieve perfect attendance each quarter in the Flowing Wells School District.
The Hackensack, N.J., native moved to Tucson when he was a couple of years old and now lives in Picture Rocks. His 24-year-old daughter lives in town.
Before his monster limos became a complete reality, he used to host a half-hour TV show called "Stretched American Steel."
Gallagher carries $5 million in liability insurance. He estimates that he could sell the Freedom Express for $250,000, and when it's finished, the Gambler for $800,000.
So, why doesn't he sell?
"This is more fun," he said.
While on one of his trucks, Gallagher has a few simple rules. He keeps a clicker in the front to add up how many times passengers puke. At the end of the ride, he adds up the number and multiplies by $250.
Also: "You're not allowed to hang alcohol out the window," he said. "If you do it once, you get a warning. If you do it twice, you get out, and the person to your right gets out, so you have someone to walk home with.
"I have good mirrors. I can see everything."
"As far as limo buses go, this is the best. There's nothing like it in the world"
Jonathan Russell of Launch Pad Promotions and Wreckords, who's also the lead vocalist with the group Stands With Fists.
