Tow and Haul RV transporter build

[tonkadoctor]

Back moving forward again. Scratching the idea of a deck portion I can reposition. When I started this build I wanted something that was easy to operate with my disabilities and flexible enough to haul almost any travel trailer including those usually done with single tow behind 3/4 and 1 ton trucks. Those guys ain't gonna be happy when they see me dragging a couple of 31' travel trailers out of the yard on a nice long gravey run. Another bonus now is they will unload a bit easier with a 4* down to the 8* beavertail.

I'm simply moving the front of the deck up 6". Still can haul up to 11' tall travel trailers which covers most of them and won't rip anything off the ultralites when loading. Will be able to get ultralites onto the upper deck easily so suspension movement in transit doesn't crush anything.


Repositioned deck section, need plenty of clamps and straps to hold it in place.

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Had to remove a couple sections of the rub rail to get in to cut where I needed.

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Only 6" from the top of the fenders to the deck now

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Better side shot

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All tacked back up and ready to get the deck plate back on.

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There's going to be a lot of grinding to clean a few areas up so it doesn't look like a hack job. I hate stuff that looks cobbled up. The other side will be easier to modify now I know exactly where I'm making my cuts and I won't have to remove all of the deck plate on that side either.

 

[VanBoy]

How far does this set you back from your original completion date?

 

[tonkadoctor]

How far does this set you back from your original completion date?

It's tight but still on track to finish on time, had a week to play with before, now I might have a day or 2 wiggle room.


Spent most of the day cutting parts and grinding. Both sides have modifications finished and tacked into place.

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Gussets are cut and ready to weld onto the deck crossmembers.

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6' of 3-1/2" square tube cut to length for stinger hitch.

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Parts cut for 12' ramps. Building them like equipment ramps and because of their length I will be adding a flat bar or round bar truss to the bottom to keep them from bending while loading.

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Tomorrow will be a busy day of just burning rod, a lot of it.

 

[tonkadoctor]

Long 13 hr day today and gotta be up at 4:30 AM tomorrow.

BED FABRICATION IS DONE WOOHOO.... for the second time that is... DOH!!!


Drilled 1/2" holes every 5" for the front 14' of the center channel for the ball stands.

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Made the mount for the winch cable sheave

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Welded the center channel to the mounts I made a couple weeks ago that are bolted to the frame crossmembers. Rear beavertail section is welded to the stinger receiver.

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Ready for paint tomorrow.

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Only a few things on tomorrows "to do" list

• Move original sections of brake line to axle
• Pick up tube and fittings for brake lines
• Fabricate new brake line tie in sections
• Finish brake lines
• Bleed brakes
• Paint bed & frame
• Put fuse at battery
• Install license plate bracket
• Install license plate light
• Wire sleeper interior light
• Wire winch
• Finish taping up wire looms
• Install trailer plug
• Install lights
• bolt wiring looms to frame

 

[NCheek]

The light at the end of the tunnel glows brighter...

 

[subway]

great work, looks like its been coming together nicely. didnt have much to say allong the way since i dont know much about this but have been following and enjoying the show.

 

[tonkadoctor]

Brake lines didn't go as planned, nor did anything else for that matter, spent most of an entire day just finding a place that had the correct fittings and could double flare the 5/8" steel brake tubing used on the parking brakes.

With my arthritis and back problems my body didn't handle the 10 - 13 hr days I was doing to finish on time. Also my funds are getting too low to finish it the way I want and get it on the road so I'm taking a break on the project right now and going to get back on the road next week with the dually for 3 - 4 weeks then come home and finish it the way I want it.


Sorry guys and gals but yer gonna have to watch reruns for a few weeks while I give the old body a break and raise some more investment capitol.

No worries though, I'll keep ya posted on progress to finish it.

Cheers, Mike

 

[NCheek]

Aww man, re-runs...

I can't blame you for being worn out, or running out of green, just go get rested and back on the road before all of us down here start going into withdrawals.

 

[toads250]

I hear ya restup and we will c-ya soon

 

[Exekiel69]

I have not missed one post on this thread, I'll wait the 3-4 week until You come back with more. I can hardly wait to see that truck working.

 

[VanBoy]

What? Continued till next season......

 

[Russ]

Go get 'em Mike. After being at the RV show this weekend you should still have a job for a while. Lots of people looking at trailers. Saw quite a few that had sold signs on them.

 

[tonkadoctor]

Go get 'em Mike. After being at the RV show this weekend you should still have a job for a while. Lots of people looking at trailers. Saw quite a few that had sold signs on them.

Well ya can't fire slave labor.

Big difference from a public show and a dealer only show. Sales of new units to dealers are way off this year.

One of the big problems is the banks have frozen the dealers floor plan financing and many dealers have tons of units they can't sell because they can't get your avg joe financed leaving dealers with too much old inventory as the 2010 models are already rolling out from some manufacturers.

Packing the truck out and leaving tomorrow afternoon for the Elkhart area. Most of the factories still in business should be back open after a very extended Christmas break and a lot of wannabe transporters have quit.

Promise I'll be back before "next season".... This is just a writers strike

 

[Freightrain]

Fantastic work so far. Nothing better then have the RIGHT equipment for the job! Building it yourself is just icing on the cake. Oh....only YOU to blame when it breaks though........!!!!

I'll keep watching reruns til the new season starts. Keep it safe out there.

 

[tonkadoctor]

Gonna be busy for a few days......... errr weeks.

Just took 2 repo'ed 40' toyhaulers to the auction and am leaving out for a 2700 mile one way run to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada tomorrow morning.

Mabey if it's sunny I'll go sit on the beach at Great Slave Lake and have a few Pina Colodas