Yet another chip truck build

I have the day to myself today. Yesterday I drove to Richmond, Va and back. 20hrs behind the wheel without much stopping. Would have been a little easier without the D.C. traffic. My arse feels like it's been beaten with a paddle. Yup, taking today for me.

My chip truck truck is supposedly getting ''finished'' this weekend. Doesn't include boxing in the flatbed or paint. I've known the guy who owns the shop for 20 plus years. He's a great guy. Talked to him a bit on the phone the other day and asked where I stand with him dollar wise. His reply was "I'm not gonna hurt ya."
So I'm at the point where I'm starting to sell work and looking at grabbing a chipper. Funds are starting to "dry up" and need to be replenished. All my bills are current but the build is getting tight. I need to get things rolling and can't afford to wait another 4 months for weekend "tinkering" at my friends shop.
I don't have a welder and no where to finish it. There's always the plywood and lumber option but I don't want to look like a gypsy tree service. Feeling frustrated. I'll post my findings later after my visit at the shop.
 
Was there today. Truck is finished. Needs sides, sand blasting , and painting. Truck isn't going to get any further work done there. My friend's busy season is in full swing. As a large one bay shop ... he's got to take care of him first. Completely understandable. Says Jan-Feb is his next available time. Not for me.
I'll be doing what I can to get it in action myself. No steel. Not that it's what I want to do ...... just don't have the equipment or shop space to do it myself. No welder either. Is what it is. Work is selling and it's time to make everything happen. I'll post a couple more pics of the finished truck without sides, barn doors, or the top. Kinda embarrassing in a gypsy sort of way .... At least It will be functional with the temporary results I come up with. When I get back to doing more work on it in steel I'll post more results.
@hsell the hitch height is about knee level. Parked on uneven ground currently. If you need a more accuracy I'll run a tape on it. Guessing about 24''
 
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Southsound I'll be using Mike's idea with horizontal cross bracing inside. 1x3 bridging is pretty strong but only comes in 10' lengths. It's used in bracing in floor joists of residential houses.
 
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Thanks Craig.

I've been considering an open-top dump truck in the future. Currently, I have a chip body. Barely fits my mini, loaded heavy-end down for clearance as it tips. I'd have to lift the bed to load/ unload it normally (heavy-end uphill).

Sean
 
96coal449 said:
Is that C -channel?
Click to expand...
No it is square tubing. 1.5".
I screwed a 2x4 along the top of the sides, recessed down 1/2". And put 1/2" plywood across the top to lock it together. I have 2x4's every 2 feet going across under the 1/2" plywood to keep it from sagging. Built a 2x4 wall with horizontal studs at the front. Using the strength of the long walls to attach it to.
Will take some pics today for you.
 
Had transporter plates on her a few days ago. Had to get it to a certified scale so DMV could have a weigh in. Required since it's been modified. Truck steered true, with plenty of power (empty), and pulls hard. Air horn has a sharp report too. :D

Good tunes but no a/c for those nasty humid days. Both vent windows function well though. That little ride gave me some renewed faith though. ABSOLUTELY no regrets purchasing this truck. I still haven't built the sides and doors for the dump yet. Partly because I need to transport a 20' conex box down the back roads to my new 'base camp.' Been thinking hard about it and I may borrow a welder and do the box in steel myself.

One small issue ..... hydraulic pump has a drip. That's okay because it's still at the shop yet and it's on my friend to fix .... he supplied the pump. Pretty sure it's just an o-ring on the spool valve.
 
The pump has new seals in it and is staying dry. Rest of the truck stays dry too ..... no drips in the clients d-way! :D
The trip to the scale was short and under 45 mph. Brought her home yesterday .... and at 55 the front end's a little shaky. Drives like a 20yr old truck ...... well 'cause it is. I wish it had one more gear though ...... 7spd be nice for the long open road. Awesome truck around town though.
 
Bringing this thread back, here's an update. Not long after I brought the truck home, (just over a year ago), the hydraulic pump started leaking again. Within days and only raising the bed 4-5 times the seal was wiped out. So I said screw it and let her sit. Yesterday I pulled the pump off and disassembled it on the bench. Its a gear pump design and the shaft for the "idler'' gear has a bend to it. Ican't find any manufactures name on it. Just "made in the USA." It's an oldie but pumps strong other then the leak.
My next step is to pull the gear off and bring the shaft to a private machine shop to have a new one made.
my guess is it was dropped on a hard surface putting the tweak in the shaft.
Ive also located some c-channel for the uprights on the chip body in a private yard. That should save me a ton of coin in steel.

Did I mention this build would be slow as to I was in no hurry to build it?:D
 
Old thread with a small update. The pump no longer leaks. Machine shop straightened the idler gear shaft.
Nothing else has changed other than last fall I brought her to the new homestead.
 
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