National 13110a, new to me

I was at a museum this weekend that had some WWII era trucks, the front bumper on this one really got me thinking! Another thought was having a bumper that manually drops down to fully conform with applicable DOT standards, but is easy to raise up when needed, built and designed right it could still have the needed strength when pushed on from behind, by a car for instance. But it could have a break away option, maybe hinged higher up, so bottoming out would just lift it up. It could have a shear bolt so it wouldn't flap in the breeze going down the highway, but easily replaced when needed. I almost always know by now when a particular approach is going to be a problem and it would be no big deal to get out and fold it up first.IMG_20150912_142222_287.webp
 
Courierguy said:
I was at a museum this weekend that had some WWII era trucks, the front bumper on this one really got me thinking! Another thought was having a bumper that manually drops down to fully conform with applicable DOT standards, but is easy to raise up when needed, built and designed right it could still have the needed strength when pushed on from behind, by a car for instance. But it could have a break away option, maybe hinged higher up, so bottoming out would just lift it up. It could have a shear bolt so it wouldn't flap in the breeze going down the highway, but easily replaced when needed. I almost always know by now when a particular approach is going to be a problem and it would be no big deal to get out and fold it up first.View attachment 33435
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the whole idea of undressed protection is not to be breakaway!
 
I ended up keeping the new bumper real simple, and since completion have been through the Port several times and not been called in by the nitpickers there. MUCH higher then that pretty but impractical stainless one that came with the crane, but I do miss the step up function of the lower bumper, so I made a removable step out of bar grate that plugs into either side. High and secure enough to be OK if I forget to remove it before travel, but the intent is to take it off for max clearance. I have a couple smaller welded on bar grate steps higher up. I also extended a 8" drop hitch to 10", to get the ball low enough for my car's tow bar, about all I'll ever tow.

I had to fab some new mounts for the LED tail lites and extend the wiring to them, I also added another LED light bar and will also get some of that reflective tape the big rigs use, being slow I like having a real well lite up rear end, especially as we have an 80 MPH speed limit here. Plus some easy to get at tow hooks, as usual a bigger project then I thought but I already have backed into job sites that would have been a problem before.
 
I had those hooks laying around the shop for years, and for the hopefully very occasional use they should be adequate. Not what I would have bought new but I couldn't resist using them for free! I wouldn't want to use them if being lowered down a mountain by a dozer (done that) but that's OK, I don't plan on doing that again anyway. If the pull is at the right angle they'll work I think. In a real pinch going under the bumper first is a good idea.
 
The latest addition to the National is working great, I've used it several times and I am glad to have it onboard. The "Trail Viper" is a fat tired folding electric bike, you can pedal along and increase the range, or just use the throttle. I built a aluminum box for it between the Mack cab and the hydraulic tank, it's out of the way, stealthy, out of the weather, and takes me around 30 seconds to pull it out, fold the handle bars up and flip the folding pedals out and ride off at 20 mph. Dead silent, just tire noise like any bike

In the last few days, I had one job where I wrapped up early and had 3 hours before my next. Having the bike handy let me park the crane and run around town doing errands, eating lunch etc., without the hassle of driving Miss Piggy. Here's a pick of the bike inside the new CAT facility I've been working on. These E bikes are weirdly fun to ride, try one out, they are getting more widespread all the time, the market is really expanding. I have another one, a full sized mountain bike I converted to e power, it does well over 30 and climbs like a raped ape. They have the utility of a light motorcycle with the freedom from BS of a bike (park it anywhere, somewhat flout traffic laws and get away with it, ride on sidewalks etc.), and on those multi day jobs I sometimes do they are fun to have along. Practical to go get lunch or ride back to where my car is, or for just screwing around.

Back to tree work using cranes.bike3 002.webp IMG_20160217_150328127.webp
 
Looks good. Mine is working great, as in not hanging up on things and after going through the port of entry a bunch of times, still legal.
 
Yes, that was the problem with the one that was on there, it got hung up on everything. This one is much higher, and the little step is hung on 2 very tight bolts, so if it catches anything it simply pivots, then I loosen it off, reposition it and tighten it up again.
 
I have a removable step made out of bar grating, that drops into a couple holes in the top of the bumper. Depending on how I'm set up, I can use it on the right or left. I only use it if it's the kind of job that will require me to get down out of the cab a lot, and towards the rear. If I forget to remove it (not yet) it's not any lower then my original step bumper and won't hurt the bumper if I caught it on something. Plus it'd be easy to repair.


BTW, I've used the little E bike several more times now, for real, on jobs. Besides being a practical mode of transportation, it's fun, so a welcome break from a stressful job like setting big trusses in high wind. I upgraded it to a 52 volt system, instead of the 36 volt that it came with, now it easily hits 35 MPH.

My favorite use, and one that makes me glad I took the time to make sure I could get it out and in the crane super quickly, is when I'm driving across town on the main drag. I can park the crane somewhere easy, get the bike out, and run some errands a few blocks away, and have more fun plus do it quicker then if I was making multiple stops and finding parking spots for the crane. No surprise, but the bike is way easier to get around busy parts of town then the crane! I get 6 mpg going down the highway with the crane, I hate to think what the mpg is in traffic. I recharge the bike for free with my home or crane shed solar system so i save money too.
 
classictruckman said:
It's a factory CW, i'd actually like to do as courierguy did and upgrade to a larger factory CW.
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I guess I've never seen your Elliott's hind end. I can't imagine what BIK would charge for a counter wieght I tried to buy a out rigger float from them they wanted $1,400 for one, I bought direct from manufacturer in the states had it on my door step for less than $500. I buy Elliott parts from cropac cheaper and quicker.
 
Since that above post about the most recent use of the e bike I now carry, made this AM, I have another. I was on a HVAC job today that required the guys I was working with to run back to the shop and get their wheeled cart (150' radius to the unit, I was told earlier maybe 70')! While they were in the middle of apologizing for the fact that they'd be gone for a half hour or so, I said " no problem, I have some errands to run." I did so, and faster then I could have driven the, in my car not to mention using the crane, and later today when finally back at the crane yard, I was able to get in my car and haul ass out of town instead of driving back INTO town (my crane yard is south of town, and I live 13 miles further south) thanks to having those wheels on board.
 
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