Truck/Hauler

[doug_1994]

In the most recent "My version of a rollback" and last months "Crawler Hauler" . I want to do this to my 1 ton Chevy.

A little back ground. Its a quad cab, diesel (6.2), duelly. It has about 5,000 miles on the new short block. Its an auto, two-wheeler and the 8' bed is pretty much toast, but otherwise its a solid truck.

I don't want to make it into a "flat bed". I figure a little roll over the wheels to keep a lower COG. And runners to keep things a little lighter.

This is just in the "idea" stage. I allready have a trailer, but bought a new house, and there is not much room. I figured I could kill two birds with one stone. I'm only using this truck to pull my pile around with.

Anybody got an idea, or some links?

Thanks,

Doug

[RustoleumWhite]

I think you need more wheel base.


On the "Crawler Hauler" thread he started with a flatbed truck, which has much more room between the back of the cab and the rear axle. The latest 'Roll Back' thread shows what happens when you put a flat deck on a standard (remove bed) chassis. While it works, in *MY* opinion the rear axle need to be moved back a decent amount to put more of the front of the trail junk infront of the axle center line. It will LOOK allot better for PoPo and other folks on the road, plus get rid of some of the light front issues.

A regular cab cab on your truck would be perfect. An extended cab would still give you more room for a 'flat bed'.


Course, you haven't told us your trail rig, wheel base, weight, weight front axle, weight rear axle... pictures of either....



This is all my opinion of course... working in the idea and design stages of my own right now... but I'm starting with a 1.5/2-ton truck, so I will be more comfortable with 5-6K on the back.

[doug_1994]

Originally Posted by RustoleumWhite

Course, you haven't told us your trail rig, wheel base, weight, weight front axle, weight rear axle... pictures of either.....

Sorry.

Specs:

1994 YJ, 4.0, NP435, 231/300, 60 front, 14 rear, and 39.5 Iroks.

EDIT: 110" wheelbase

I have no idea what it weights.

I see what your saying about the wheelbase/axle placement. I like the quad cab though for the room inside.

I would of loved to start with a 1.5 or 2 ton truck, but I allready own this one.

Thanks,

Doug

My rig:

[Airpup26]

I like the YJ a lot.

[RustoleumWhite]

Nice rig.... for a YJ


your probably looking at least a 12-13' 'flat-bed' to fit that rig and it *look* safe. Nothing wrong with sticking with the 4-door... might think about a frame stretch.


Eventual plans for mine include swapping from a regular cab to a crew-cab... but I'll have the frame stretched at the same time. Turning radius will suck (worse), but the stability and piece of mind will be worth it (IMO).

[yager]

your probably close to 4500#. With 110" WB you will need at least 13' of 'deck' space.. I think the truck is upto it but you will need to stretch the wheelbase. Search ebay for 'hodge' conversions and see how long those trucks are. Most are stretched 1 tons. Also search ebay for hauler sorts of trucks for ideas on decks.. Keep us updated..

[doug_1994]

Thanks for the compliments, even if its a YJ

Originally Posted by yager

your probably close to 4500#. With 110" WB you will need at least 13' of 'deck' space...

I searched "hodge conversion" on Ebay and Google, turned up nothing.

I kinda figured my jeep was in the mid-4,000lb area but not sure.



Earlier today in my searches, I was thinking about wheelbase and weight position.

I was on the road tonight, and it came to me like I was standing on my toilet, and I was hanging a clock, and I fell, and I hit my head on the sink. And that's when I came up with the idea for the weight position...

which... is what makes hauling the jeep possible.


I started thinking about "stretching" the center (like yager suggested) , but then thought.

Why not add to the end?

I have an identical truck to the one I am wanting to make into a hauler. I could cut that one up. Make a second axle kinda like a semi tractor. Even if the "front" axle is only gonna drive it. It would have brakes, its own suspension and divide up the load.

So I started searching. This is what I came up with.

This is what I would kinda get my truck looking like these...







but only with a "bed" kinda like these...






Am I retarded, not anywhere where I need to be, or is this a good idea?

Any comments would be great, good or bad.

Thanks,

Doug

[crashnzuk]

I think the 3rd axle is a bit hoaky. Even if you did this, you would still need to push them back. Just stick with the stretch the frame and add a ramp deck idea. I like both of those trucks in the pics. Also note how much distance there is between the cab and axle on those trucks.
Travis..

[RustoleumWhite]

No, your not totally retarded


Local guy did something very similar. Took and older F250, had custom rails bend up for the rear and rigged up tandem POWERED 9"ers.


It worked.... for a while. Bombed all over with it. Sold it to another local guy (that I wheel with occasionally) and he still runs it. The 9"ers took a dump one day, so he now runs a single powered D60, and IIRC a tag axle behind it.



I'll have to see if there are any pictures floating around of it. It was low budget, but it worked.

[yager]

Sorry its Hodeges (with s)

That pic of the ramp truck is from here.... (note name in title)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevr...spagenameZWDVW

I sorta like the 3rd axle idea.. I think slapping in a 6k/7k trailer axle with large elec brakes would be easy to do.. and it would allow you to talor the braking via the controler when empty or loaded.. Possibly install it with air bags so you could load the suspension just right..

The stretchs ive seen and looked at were very simple and plain. Literally somoene bent up some steel similer thickness to the main C-channel and welded it on with some overlap plates. The real strength comes from the bed/body. As they form a grid work of suport above the main frame.. Similer in concept to a truss.

Keep up posted !!

[coyote]

suncountrytrailers.com does wedge conversions too, it's popular with the circle track guys...

[doug_1994]

Originally Posted by RustoleumWhite

I'll have to see if there are any pictures floating around of it. It was low budget, but it worked.

Low budget = name of the game.

If you could dig up some pics that would be great.

Yager, I is see what you mean about the Hodges conversion. I didn't know that was what it was called.

Coyote thanks for that site.

This red and black one. How long do you suppose that wheel base is?



Again, I like the flatness of this one. Keep everything low. Its a quad cab also, but looks alot shorter.



That is a "dovetail" on this black one correct?

Doug

[Duallie]

Click my link for my hauler.
I started out with a '72 C30 cab/chassis.
Stretched 13' with some leftover frame off of a 5ton 6x6 I helped part out.
Cadillac 509/thm400/Eaton.
Disc brakes all around.
Four gas tanks.
Wood-covered bed for light weight.
Stacks.
Winch.
8200 lbs empty.
Just your basic way-too-nice-to-thrash-now 30' C30.





TurnipTrucking.com

[doug_1994]

Originally Posted by Duallie

Just your basic way-too-nice-to-thrash-now 30' C30.

Nice.

Do you have any build pics? What is your wheelbase?



This is what I'm starting with.





But, I also have this. Its a four wheeler with a 60, and a Jasper TBI 350 (with 18,000 miles).
The cab on this one is so far gone though, and I don't want a gasser to haul with.







I have so much shit running through my head right now.

Thanks for posting.

Doug

[HAMMER502]

what are your plans for the rusty one?

[doug_1994]

Originally Posted by HAMMER502

what are your plans for the rusty one?

Cut it up.

Doug

[gottagofast]

here's mine ..... no need for another axle.... I have a stinger on the back and can actually haiul two jeeps.

[doug_1994]

Originally Posted by gottagofast

here's mine ..... no need for another axle.

gottagofast, Thanks for the pic.

What is your wheelbase?

I'm trying to find out how much I need to add to my frame.

Did you convert your truck yourself?

I want to do allmost exactly what you got.

Doug

[wanderer-RRORC]

there was a guy around the web SOMEWHERE that build an open steel setup that let his rig actually drive over the back wheels THEN drop back down on the other side to make it super low..the front axle almost touched the frame of the tow rig it was so low...

oh..and the full "wedge bed" sucks..my buddy had one..turns the front of the towed rig (on the back) into a big wind catch..build one with a little ramp on the back then flat to the cab..much nicer setup..yea..you loose storage space..but if your good you can build it into the bottom edge..and just not carry as much crap..

[okor]

I have one underway now that has a crewcab ford cab on a 70 ex u-haul frame with a cummins and a 21 foot deck. I've got a d70 and d80 under it right now, but I'm going to look at another set of axles out of a 5 ton this weekend. I've put construction of it on hold till I get the axles. I also did a last minute cab swap with the original cab as I just picked up another one. Way too many progects on the go. But the decktruck should be under construction again with the big crew cab out of the shop this weekend.

My deck is all steel. Made out of 10ga sheets that were 14'x 6'to start with. I'm a brake operator so forming these big plates into a deck was no problem. I've actually designed it, and built another deck with the same design as a trailer. 21 feet of truck deck and14 feet of trailer deck. he truck is going to be about 33 feet long, trailer should be about 18-20 feet. I'm gonna need 40 acres just to turn this rig around.

[RustoleumWhite]

okor,

why so much deck length?? 21' seems over kill when 12-14 would suffice more most trailrigs.


curious.

[Duallie]

Originally Posted by doug_1994

Nice.

Do you have any build pics? What is your wheelbase?

Doug

I don't have any build pics on smugmug yet.
My wheelbase is 222", my bed is 14', and the dovetail is 6'.

[nightcrawlers]

Originally Posted by RustoleumWhite

okor,

why so much deck length?? 21' seems over kill when 12-14 would suffice more most trailrigs.


curious.

my guess would be for versatility. since he also built a matching trailer he may be doing some hauling and recovery for a living,or for extra $$. if you had a recovery service,it prolly would take that much deck to haul another crew cab long bed,or other large vehicles. you definately wouldnt want to be limited on what you could haul.

im sure the extra deck space comes in handy when wheelin also. you could fit a tire rack,tool/parts boxes,whatver in front of the carried rig so you didnt have to waste interior space.

i towed with a suburban,and now a crew cab with an 8 foot flatbed,and for longer trips i bring enuff extra parts,tools and camping gear that i have trouble fitting it into my back seat,8 foot bed,and the deck of my 20 foot trailer.

i personally would give yourself some extra room now in the design stages. if you limit yourself to just barely what it takes to get your rig on it,you may find its not enuff trust me,it will suck to have to tuck shit up under the rig,and inside it,and everything in the cab with you only fits one way. ive been there and done it when i used to drive it to the trails,and to a lesser extent when i pulled it with a towbar. it sucks to have to unpack shit at camp before you can wheel. i like to pull up,back my rig off and hit the trails

[ka4yqi]

If you run one with a tag axle, get a 4wd truck to do it with. Last one I seen you could piss under the back drive tire and get stuck.

[okor]

Originally Posted by RustoleumWhite

okor,

why so much deck length?? 21' seems over kill when 12-14 would suffice more most trailrigs.


curious.

A couple reasons, The material that we had lying around the shop was 14' which wasn't long enough, so we are using 2 full sheets and then one sheet cut in half. It'll be an actual deck tow truck when not on vacation primarily pulling wrecks for scrap and I need the length for loading fullsize crewcabs, I've done it on 19' decks, but that just sucked, and so I can carry 2 zukkis on the deck and pull another one. We have a lot of guys here who want to make a real trip out of their wheeling but can't get their rigs too far away, so if I can take their rides, then they can foot the fuel bill and I wheel for free. Still cheaper for them than having a tow rig setup of their own. Having 2 seats up front, followed by three in the back and then 3 more in the xcb area, I can take a few friens with me as well. Of course, if I break down we'll need a bus to get home.

Of course the main reason, because I can.