New Haul and Tow RV transporter truck build..... Season II

[pmmjarrett]

Man I hate flux core welding, only caught myself on fire about 10 times today.


The right half of the bed is completely welded up. Front corner is reinforced. Started to add a stop for tires up front from some scrap crossmembers and built the tool box mount for the right side. Unfortunatly I forgot to add the 1/4" spacer to the mount when I welded it to the frame pinching the top of the tool box so I can't slide it in. Oh well, chop it off and put it back tomorrow..... the right way.

The 5' 5000 lb per axle aluminum ramps, from discount ramps, to go from the step deck to the top deck came in today too. The plan to store these is on top of the tool boxes or slip in the ramp pocket in the bumper and store them above the set of 8' ramps.

Gotta go..... Big brother is watching me.

 

[pmmjarrett]

Spent all day yesterday just rebuilding the toolbox mount..... Can also store and lock the ramps for the upper deck above the toolbox. It's a bit of a pain getting them in and out of the mounts but they are pretty safe and secure there.

Been welding deck plate on most of today until a rain band from hurricane Earl came through. We dodged a bullet so far with him finally turning north.

Have all of the plate on the right side of the bed completely welded on and started installing the angle on the inside edge to stiffen it up.

 

[pmmjarrett]

The right side of the deck is completely done. Finished adding the inner brace to the deck plate, installed a 3" tall tire stop at the front of the deck and installed a mount to hook the 5' ramps to be able to drive onto the upper deck.

I also finished welding up the framework for the left side of the bed so I can gusset it and start decking it tomorrow.

 

[dewwood]

Looks like you are making great progress on the latest mod. Must be the hurricane did not stop you from working on it. Looking good!

 

[pmmjarrett]

Looks like you are making great progress on the latest mod. Must be the hurricane did not stop you from working on it. Looking good!

Earl just shut me down a couple hours early when a rain band came through. Rained only long enough to make me pack up my stuff and then quit. Didn't get squat but a nice breeze and overcast sky all day.

Should be slinging red paint on her sometime Sunday.

 

[nhunter]

Looking good. PS love the signature cause I ain't jumping out of no plane.

 

[pmmjarrett]

Looking good. PS love the signature cause I ain't jumping out of no plane.

Thank you. BTW, consider this....... There is no such thing as a perfectly good aircraft, I have the option to get out, you get the pleasure of riding it in.



Not much to show. All of the deck plate is in place, I have only about 30 more feet of weld bead to run on the deck plate and it's finished and then a couple small detail parts to weld on and she's ready for paint and final assembly. She'll be red tomorrow and ready to start making money again in a couple days.

 

[pmmjarrett]

Oh it's a wonderful day. All metal fabrication is DONE!!!!!!! Cut my supply of flux core wire just a weeeeeee bit short. My 22 lb supply of wire finished everything on the entire rebuild exept the last 7' of bead on the deck plate so I pulled out the TIG torch and finished it off vs lose 2 hrs running into town for more wire.

Operational test was a resounding success, had no problem loading my dually on the truck. My dually tips the scales at 8500 lbs as she sits with an empty aux fuel tank.

Finished out the aftrnoon slapping a little safety red rustoleum on her.

 

[dewwood]

Looking good! Are you going back on the road after the holiday? We are leaving Tue AM for northern Minnesota to visit son. Taking the scenic route thru the UP.

 

[jbeletti]

Another masterpiece finished Mike. Nice looking rig. Go make some $$ and see you down the road

 

[jpajax]

We met at Nashville rally just wonder if you put any more thought about putting a 5th wheel hitch on your hauler.

 

[pmmjarrett]

Dew, safe travels, been a looooooong time since I've been through the UP, beautiful up there. I should hopefully be headed towards IN in a couple days.

Jim B, see ya in Etown soon. Dinners on me...... Or breakfast, lunch, brunch LOL. I'd bet you'll be in Hershey soon if you ain't there already. Thanks again for the invite to Nashville, I had a great time.

Jim, not going to put a fifth wheel on it, it's possible but there's no real need for me to do it.

 

[jmgratz]

Just got back from Elkhart. While there we saw the Heartland RV storage lot where the keep the waiting for transport rigs was very full. Maybe you could get some hauls from there . Sure looks like they need it.

 

[pmmjarrett]

Just got back from Elkhart. While there we saw the Heartland RV storage lot where the keep the waiting for transport rigs was very full. Maybe you could get some hauls from there . Sure looks like they need it.

Will probably see some Heartland MPG, Edge and North Trail units on this truck very soon.

 

[Netem]

Another nice job Mike, Now you can shut that welder down for awhile and get some fresh air to them lungs. Be safe and make some money.

 

[pmmjarrett]

Heartland Siting.

How about a 20FS North Country and a 22FB North Country headed for Saskatchewan. These trailers are 11'2" tall and I am 1 out of 2 trucks operational in the US that can load this tall of a trailer and be under the 13' 6" max legal height.

 

[jbeletti]

Nice Mike. And did you notice the semi-trailer behind you? Heartland Express!

 

[jimtoo]

Really nice looking rig Mike... thanks for keeping us updated and informed.

Not sure I would want to drive that thing in town... the tail swing must be really wide.

Keep up the good work and make that extra money hauling cars back now.

Jim M

 

[nhunter]

Heartland Siting.

How about a 20FS North Country and a 22FB North Country headed for Saskatchewan. QUOTE]

Where abouts in Saskatchewan? I'm heading for Regina tomorrow and onto Weyburn satyrday. Will have to keep my eyes peeled.

 

[pmmjarrett]

JB I noticed that after I was long gone. If I caught it when I was taking the shots I would have gotten the whole Heartland Express in there.

Jim2, I have to be really careful with the tail swing. The up side is that the towed trailer tracks with the truck so I don't have to make wide turns like a tractor trailer.

Nhunter, dropped them in Prince Albert this morning, already back in ND now.