Tow and Haul RV transporter build

[tonkadoctor]

So the age of the truck won't matter?

Don't twist things. You are talking about 2 different types of trucks than we talked about before. No comparison.

Age does matter. 5 yrs max for us to start in the pickup fleet with my company.

There is a little more room on age with a medium duty truck and I had to specificly get permission from Horizon in writing and verbally to lease on an older truck by submitting good high resolution pictures and specs and a little bit of a business plan as well as why I wanted to buy that particular truck.

I was given permission to bring THIS particular truck on because of its condition, low mileage and they already know I don't drive junk raggedy trucks and I run hard. I know another driver that just bought a ragged out 1990 Kenworth T600 that was told NO...... And he bought it before asking. OOPS.

They also know my background having owned semi trucks and trailers. I also have a perfect safety, driving and claims record. I have already run well over 100,000 miles since the end of January. 82,000 on the Dodge alone since I bought it in April, I also have over 1 million documented safe miles in 8 years of driving tractor trailers.

Horizon probably won't do any hiring until late January. They are accepting applications and doing background.



Now as for why nothing older than 5 years to start......

1). Image, we haul NEW products straight from the manufacturers to dealerships, we haul and drive stuff for the PGA players and tournaments, haul stuff to NASCAR tracks, private owners, FEMA, Banks, Auction houses etc... Many of these loads are time sensitive and customers want to see their stuff hauled by modern equipment with professional drivers and get that warm fuzzy that says their stuff will get there OK and on time.

2). DOT

3). May be an insurance requirement for the comapny.

4). It's THIS companies policy. Every company has different rules. IIRC Quality may go back as old as 10 years.

 

[tonkadoctor]

So, what are they paying for a single haul now, are they going to double that for a double haul, or just give you a percentage more then a single????

Single tow right now out of IN is $1.15. I'm getting $1.25 on the 40' Toyhauler behind me right now. Headed to Grande Prairie AB then back home next week. So no updates on the truck this week.

Tow Haul trucks are getting IIRC $2.06 right now out of Indiana. Reloads pay single rate for each unit.


Kinda sucks I had to lay GEO off too...... But OTOH I don't technically know if you can lay off slave labor

 

[geonc]

Kinda sucks I had to lay GEO off too...... But OTOH I don't technically know if you can lay off slave labor

Just keepin' a brotha down ;p

"lay of"...hehehehehe..... I ain't even started werkin' yet

Gimmie a shout when ya get back Mike

 

[tonkadoctor]

Hey GEO,

On my way home, should be there tomorrow afternoon, in Indiana right now.

Going to Ohio to pick up a couple nice Bostrom Peterbilt air ride seats I won cheap on Evilbay in a few hrs soon as my trip $ettlement hits.

 

[geonc]

Nice score Mike! Methinks I know where they are going

Travel safe

 

[towcat]

only problem is he's going to have to drop the floor on the cab in order to make them work. national seating used to make the air adjust assy, but I haven't been able to find it in the website today.

 

[tonkadoctor]

Yea buddy, seats are way too tall. Going to call a couple places tomorrow for a quote on the bases. National makes both 3" air ride and 2" fixed bases for the OBS cabs.

Want the seats more for the armrests, quality and comfort more than the air ride.

On closer inspection the Talladega LSO (option on Pete's) is Bostrom and the Standard Pete seat is a National.

Another issue with air ride seats is I'll have to modify the seatbelts. Air ride seats are teathered to the floor and the seatbelts are bolted where the tethers bolt onto the seat. No biggie and the seat belt tethers are fairly inexpensive. The 3 point assemblies are the same style and mounting as used by Ford so no change needed there, just bolt them to the seat where they normally bolt to the floor.

 

[tonkadoctor]

Nice score Mike! Methinks I know where they are going

Travel safe

No you ain't putting them on the 4 wheelers to go mudding...... You'll want leather for that.

Home now, gonna work on the sleeper some tomorrow, thursday - saturday weather ain't looking good, friday is the kids surgury so that's out but next week from sun - thurs looks perfect for the stretch to 38' long.

Picked up 10# of Lincoln E7018 1/8" today. Will get this rod baked in the oven at 500 - 600F for an hour or 2 so it's good and dry and bring out the old toater oven for a holding oven and keep it at 150 - 200F.

 

[geonc]

Mike, with this high humidity and up comming rain, the oven is a great idee!

Sending Paula a few

 

[tonkadoctor]

Thanks George, much appreciated.

Called on the seat bases for the F series cabs. $260 for air ride and $99 for a standard base. Think I'm going to make my own air ride low profile base for less than $10

Here are the seats.

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[tonkadoctor]

Back on the job doing preparations for the frame stretch.

I've been drawing plans and speaking with another tow haul driver and decided to go with a 65%/35% bed ratio to the center of the rear axle which is a 133" frame stretch giving me a wheelbase of 310".

Before moving the new frame section in the shop, I took a few measurements out of curiosity and found the rear section of the frame that still has ****** factory cuts is the exact length I need to the center of the rear axle and will be able to use it without cutting there and still be able to bolt up the rear spring hangers without drilling holes. That's why you see it in the pics with the tail light end out of the shop. This also allows me the overhang I need without adding another butt splice on tail end making for a stronger beavertail.

I cut the ends of the trucks frame where needed to get rid of bad sections where somebody got a little too happy with a torch when they removed the last body before selling it too me.

Also had time to remove a section of the double frame reinforcement. I will not need a double reinforced frame for the light work I do. Will use the metal removed here to make the fish plates to strengthen the splice where the 2 frames are joined.

I am going to give a big kudo to Harbor Freight 4-1/2" cut off wheels. I opened a fresh 10 pack of them today, figured I'd use up at least 15-20 today...... Used only 4 to make two 15" cuts and two 12" cuts through 1/4" 50,000 psi structural steel. That's 54 linear inches of 1/4" steel with 4 discs on my electric grinder...... wonder what I'll need the other 3-4 packs of discs I have left in the drawer

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[FordGuy100]

Tonka, this is a pretty dang cool project you got going man . Looks like progress is coming along pretty good. I dont know if I asked you already, but do you ever plan on doing any motor mods. Nothing to crazy though, I realize that.

 

[tonkadoctor]

Tonka, this is a pretty dang cool project you got going man . Looks like progress is coming along pretty good. I dont know if I asked you already, but do you ever plan on doing any motor mods. Nothing to crazy though, I realize that.

Killer Dowel Pin mod, change oil to synthetic, bypass filter, nothing else.

 

[MMeier]

310" wheelbase, thats what... a 4 piece driveshaft?

 

[h2odrx]

310" wheelbase, thats what... a 4 piece driveshaft?

Yeah how is that going to work?