From fire tanker to flatbed dump

[rdbrumfield]

Spent some time on the project today and took a few pics. Had a problem with the welder and had to change out the wire sheath, was sticking and giving me the fits lol. Also with all the wet here, welding is one of those delightful things to do if you like getting shocked while laying a bead down. Maybe that's why some of them look like I have a bad case of shakes after new years.
These pics are of the way I bolted down the subframe to the truck, the system for operating the hoist. I didn't want to make a long slot in the floor so I went with a rod sticking up that I can twist, works great with little pressure. The one of the rear pivot is not by the book. They call for cutting out the truck frame and mounting it there. If I had done that I would not have had the room for the hoist mechanism between the bed and truck frame. Besides, no way am I going to cut or drill holes in that truck.
I see I need to do some deslagging from the stick welds on that hinge.
These are a few I took today, if there are any questions on how or why I can get into detail.

 

[rdbrumfield]

cross pieces, will have the stake pockets in tomorrow hopefully. They help tie in the side rails. I have done it this way on several trailer and flatbeds. works well.

 

[mjncad]

Looks good and it appears that it's going to be a tight squeeze getting out the door. Keep the pics coming please!

 

[rdbrumfield]

Well folks, the bed goes up and down lol. Got the plumbing done today, works great, and is fairly fast to get up there.
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Finished the cabguard framing and hung the clearance light steel. Won't put the lights on until the paint is dry.
Tomorrow I will put the steel deck on and do the cabguard plate and expanded metal, hopefully if I get that far. Then some cleanup with the grinder and paint. Oh yes, a two step ladder and a handhold on the cabguard, a place to put a shovel and broom. that should just about do it. Almost forgot, sideboards and a tailgate. Does it ever end lol.

NO, then there is the trailer hitch. I have a pintle-ball combo to use and wiring for that. Looks like another week. Oh well, it is raining outside anyway.

 

[ben2go]

Good build.That's a nice rig you found.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Now what are you going to do with the tank?

 

[rdbrumfield]

Any ideas farmer? I will take the lights for backup lights, but the rest will most likely go to the scrap yard.
It does have a nice 12v powered hose reel, wish I had a need for it. Thing is if I kept everything, well you know how it can get I suppose.

 

[jayste]

Can you convert the 12V hose reel mechanism into a way to run the auto-tarper if your local DOT insists on having one?...tarp that is. Just a thought. Nice job on the dump bed.

Jay

 

[Renze]

Do you intend to leave those strips of plywood between the truck frame and the dumpbed subframe, or are those to not scratch too much on the truck ?

From my time at a truck bodybuilder, i noticed in bodybuilders guidelines of several truck manufacturers that putting wood between the truck and the subframe was strongly disadvised, however this was common practice in the old days.

I see you mount the bed with long threaded rods: these will allow enough movement and stretch, to prevent your truck frame from cracking.
Another thing advised by Mercedes was cutting a V shaped notch in the horizontal flange of the subframe C-channel: This allowed the tip to bend, to prevent that the rigid end of the subframe channel would cause peak stresses at that point in the truck frame.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Any ideas farmer? I will take the lights for backup lights, but the rest will most likely go to the scrap yard.
It does have a nice 12v powered hose reel, wish I had a need for it. Thing is if I kept everything, well you know how it can get I suppose.

Yes, I know how it can get.

There are a lot of guys here in the high deserts of Idaho that use old tanker beds for cattle water trucks. You could probably get some money out of it if you listed it on Craig's list or in the want ads.

Does it have a pump on it too?