MikePowers321
Carpal tunnel level member
- Location
- Leeds, Ny
wow....very nice Josh
Grapple Truck Body Build
- Thread starter joshua glackin
- Start date
tc262
Branched out member
- Location
- SE Wisconsin
Josh can correct me if I'm wrong but that looks like a military trailer he modified. The benefits are they can often be found extremly cheap (for what your getting) and like new with hardly any use on them. The hitch style puts almost no tounge weight on the truck which I'm sure is already at axel capacity when loaded. Only down side is backing it up.
That sure is a beutiful rig!
Jeff
Branched out member
- Location
- Marlborough, MA
Tongue weight, bet you're right. As for backing, I got so used to watching the 42 wheel gravel trains while I lived in Michigan, and those guys could back into any spot you could park your Honda Civic in, so I know it's possible with a little practice.
For those of you who've never seen one, here's a Michigan gravel train. Grossing 164,000 pounds!
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Tongue weight, bet you're right. As for backing, I got so used to watching the 42 wheel gravel trains while I lived in Michigan, and those guys could back into any spot you could park you Honda Civic in, so I know it's possible with a little practice.
For those of you who've never seen one, here's a Michigan gravel train. Grossing 164,000 pounds!
Holy crap, I would not want to replace the tires on that thing. CHA_CHING!!
TreeLogic
Branched out member
- Location
- Coastal SC
Never seen those but I've seen the big UPS double trailers and just assumed they only went forward.Tongue weight, bet you're right. As for backing, I got so used to watching the 42 wheel gravel trains while I lived in Michigan, and those guys could back into any spot you could park you Honda Civic in, so I know it's possible with a little practice.
For those of you who've never seen one, here's a Michigan gravel train. Grossing 164,000 pounds!
joshua glackin
New member
Your spot on about the trailer. It has been a learning curve backing up but I'm getting pretty good at it. I installed a back up camera that's pointed at the hitch and the front tires of the trailer that helps a lot. I have some of these trailers if anybody's interested please PM me.
Jeff
Branched out member
- Location
- Marlborough, MA
Some states out west allow triples and I've seen those backing up at truck stops. Seems kinda like pushing a chain, but somehow they make it work. I know some of the gravel trains have an air operated pin that locks the dolly rigid to the second trailer, so that way you're only steering 2 trailers instead of 3.
Bragger
classictruckman
Participating member
- Location
- Ottawa Valley, Ontario, Canada
seems to me that it would have to be one hell of a pin to stand that kind of force
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- Location
- Decatur, AL
Do you plan on upgrading your grapple, or do you find it is adequate for what you're loading?
DOOLEY
New member
- Location
- BOZEMAN MT
I saw a comment ? Are you selling this truck?
As far as gravel trains go, backing them up you do have a "pin" or dolley lock but you are only supposed to use the lock when backing straight up so you dont break the pintle eye and two hitch arms off your pup trailer. I drove gravel train for a year and I still couldnt swing my truck in first shot like the other guys. I stopped driving due to the stress of driving with some of these michigan drivers around here, people cutting you off when you weigh in at 145k to 180k depending on who loads you.
Hello Joshua I'm a new on this forum how much does it cost to you to build this box. Thank you for your time.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I know I’m digging up an old thread. One of the only ones out there though...
I’m planning on fabbing up my own box as well. Not sure if it’s cost effective or not, but finding a dump box is pretty difficult. Anyways, it will be going on a deck over dump as it sits now. Deck is built, double trunnion dump to 90 degrees. I plan to skin inner and outer with 11 gauge, angle inner like you did as well. 3” .180. Or 2x4”. T1 inner, out is for aesthetics to be smooth.
I have seen guys do the same fir stringers, but use channel rather than box. Thoughts?
Will have a 22-24’ box and cab mount loader. Loader choice is still in air... palfinger or 910/915 elite. Currently I want to get the box built and loader later. We want it primarily for hauling logs or as a large chip unit, obviously loader ready when we get to that point, We currently have a grapple unit separate on site nearly at all of our cranevremovals. So for the most part the loader really isn’t a priority at the moment and a new 910 or m13 is pretty incredible on cost, I’m almost considering a wallboard loader with another mecanil...
my questions to you guys:
1.What are your thoughts/recommendations on stringer spacing for sides? 8’ side height
2. Notch out dimensions for the loader on front of box? I only want to fab box once and not cut once loader is mounted.. the sectioned portion you typically see on the front or rear of a box. If we use wallboard unit I doubt it’s needed.
3. Finding 8x24 sheet in CO has proved to be difficult. Hoping a shop in my hometown will pull through.
4. Top will be capped for a retractable tarp in channel. I will build it myself but I don’t want shit and do at blowing out when
5. opinions on type of rear dump door. Figured barn doors would be best? Or a single top swing like your typical tandem dump... I like that being one piece...
many other insight would be appreciated
I was dead set on a jmac unit for a long time. Their lead time and demand is unfortunately what I can’t wait on. Loved the setup being a rear mount dump....
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Lumberjack
Branched out member
5: I'm a big fan of a roll off container style door, built strong with the ability to open easily even with a heavy load against it. I've never seen barn doors built like that.
If you're chipping into it, the single door could be built with two panels, top and bottom. Chip over the bottom section, close the top section for hauling debris.
If you're chipping into it, the single door could be built with two panels, top and bottom. Chip over the bottom section, close the top section for hauling debris.
Tim Meagher
New member
- Location
- Orlando Fl
Can't really help with bed specs but many reasons to choose a rear mount over a mid mount. Less weight, larger bed, less risk of turn over at the dump, more versatile. You can have a 50yd mid mount or a 70+ mid mount that weighs the same empty.
I did a bunch of research last year and paid a builder to mount a bed, Palfinger and extra axles to a truck. The guy was fantastic and his body design is one of the best out there. I may have saved doing it myself but time,labor and finished product are important . The truck is damn near perfect. 71 yards + on a 24.5' body.
My .02. I can't say I'm a fan of the Jmac. It has its place. Thats a long large bed to try to dump. Fine if you have a flat area or play close attention. Those beds are only 40-50 yards. Its got added weight of a hoist. I'd prefer a 65-70+ non dumping bed any day of the week. With the right operator and debris grapple unloading shouldn't take more then 15-20 min tops even with mulch.
I did a bunch of research last year and paid a builder to mount a bed, Palfinger and extra axles to a truck. The guy was fantastic and his body design is one of the best out there. I may have saved doing it myself but time,labor and finished product are important . The truck is damn near perfect. 71 yards + on a 24.5' body.
My .02. I can't say I'm a fan of the Jmac. It has its place. Thats a long large bed to try to dump. Fine if you have a flat area or play close attention. Those beds are only 40-50 yards. Its got added weight of a hoist. I'd prefer a 65-70+ non dumping bed any day of the week. With the right operator and debris grapple unloading shouldn't take more then 15-20 min tops even with mulch.
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Tim,
I appreciate the input. I guess I should have stated the primary use of the truck. Where we are located debris is 12$ a yd to dump. Unlike a lot of other places throughout the country, a full truck is 40-80$ to dump for up to 80 yds of chips. Vs 800-1000 of debris
We do not intend to ever load debris with the truck. We chip everything, It’s purpose is to be the main support truck on large crane removals, chip truck with a 20” chipper and remainder for large logs at end of job.
9 times out of ten our k boom will be there, as of now the loader is not priority, but the box more so. I however might put a fassi 390 on it down the road to serve as a mini grapplesaw or log mek if you want to call it that. I’m more interested in building the box correctly and once. There does not look like much to it I just didn’t want to go overkill in material, and asked. I have built our decks and frames on other trucks, certified on all positions on plate/pipe for many years... I just want to build the box right and was hoping for input.
I have reached out to palfinger and 360k plus for a build is just a big bite for something that will not be a storm debris truck, and can’t serve as a chip unit either. It can, but the loader will be covered in shit within a couple months even with a tarp. I liked jmacks tarp setup and rear mount loader specifically for loading the chipper as well... even more redundant, the chipper currently has a loader...
We have a few new chassis trucks and I’m done with the modern emissions shit. Kenworth is a joke imho with the issues we had on the Cummins , and feel the one box on the Detroit’s is as good as it gets. Truck has been bought and is what we want on motor, trans, pre emission, and a DBL frame truck. The deck is absolute overkill.
Here is a pic of the truck for reference. The twin trunion mt will dump a load of lead if you needed to, I used these in the oil field before and am familiar with them/winch line, etc.
I’m also trying to pin the box to the deck in order to remove it if we want. Yes I know that sounds crazy but we pin some of decks so on 20 min you can throw a 5er setup on them, and yes it really takes all of 20 min...
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flushcut
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Delavan, WI
Amazing dump angle!
Tim Meagher
New member
- Location
- Orlando Fl
I didn’t realize you were building it to chip into , thanks for clarifying.
I totally hear you on emissions stuff . It’s better then before but can still land you stranded and at the mercy of some electronics.
2020 was the last year for glider kits ( new chassis with reman Pre emissions engine /trans. ) My brother gave me the go ahead to find a few and build them into high capacity grapple trucks.
One has a 500hp series 60 and the other has a c15. Should run a million miles without a hiccup.
That dump deck looks stout !
This was pulling the truck out of the shop when I picked it up last year. It’s a bit loud when on the power but drives well.
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