My dream build service truck

RyanL · Sep 24, 2015

Low pay was $17.40hr time half over 40hrs. I mean it wasnt bad but the idiots that could barley drive end dumps made same pay as good operator, or mechanic/welder. I was operator for 8yrs, everything from 992 to d-11 to cat 5110b hitachi 1200 hoes. I was the guy that done what needed done, build ponds, reclaim, bench, fill in for absent people, etc. i also drove 50ton lowboy when needed moving equipment, or ran the National Crane truck when needed. I also mechaniced welded on and off through that time and full time mechanic the last year or so. Which included rebuilding d-9 trans, finals, welding shanks on ,etc. i aint trying to toot my own horn. I just let my work speak for itself but i felt like guys that are capable and stuff should be shown they are appreciated? Maybe im thinking wrong. Sorry for rant

lantraxco · Sep 24, 2015

No, you're thinking you're worth about ten dollars more an hour, or at least that's what I think.

RyanL · Sep 25, 2015

well gained another 2000lb its just now starting to touch overloads

JGibson · Sep 25, 2015

Looks awesome!

Sterff · Sep 25, 2015

Nice! Id put some E-track along the inside of the boxes.

RyanL · Sep 25, 2015

For the heck of it i requested a quote on a new IMT 14,000lb crane. Just bare crane is $32,000. Now i remember why i didnt order a new maintainer body a coulle years ago when i priced one for $120k bed and crane,etc no truck. Which explains why i am where i am today refurbing old junk, but hey its all paid for a end of the day.

CM1995 · Sep 25, 2015

RyanL said:
For the heck of it i requested a quote on a new IMT 14,000lb crane. Just bare crane is $32,000. Now i remember why i didnt order a new maintainer body a coulle years ago when i priced one for $120k bed and crane,etc no truck. Which explains why i am where i am today refurbing old junk, but hey its all paid for a end of the day.

You will make money, the ones with the new service truck will make payments.:cool2

rockytopcummins · Sep 26, 2015

RyanL said:
Low pay was $17.40hr time half over 40hrs. I mean it wasnt bad but the idiots that could barley drive end dumps made same pay as good operator, or mechanic/welder. I was operator for 8yrs, everything from 992 to d-11 to cat 5110b hitachi 1200 hoes. I was the guy that done what needed done, build ponds, reclaim, bench, fill in for absent people, etc. i also drove 50ton lowboy when needed moving equipment, or ran the National Crane truck when needed. I also mechaniced welded on and off through that time and full time mechanic the last year or so. Which included rebuilding d-9 trans, finals, welding shanks on ,etc. i aint trying to toot my own horn. I just let my work speak for itself but i felt like guys that are capable and stuff should be shown they are appreciated? Maybe im thinking wrong. Sorry for rant

I'll reply to this and then leave it alone, don't want to derail the thread too awful bad. That's better than what I was doing when I left my last job and went to work for CSX. Minus the operator part of it. I did pretty good with most equip but couldn't put anything on grade with a dozer, just never had enough seat time or anybody to teach me. Everything else you listed though, I did for this company for $13/hr. I originally took the job to get me by between getting out of the military and while I was trying to get hired with the railroad. Then I ended up in a spot where I absolutely LOVED what I did and was excited to go to work every day and they were the best people I'd ever worked for, they just didn't pay squat!!! I was killing myself on overtime every week just to make ends meet. I liked doing something different every day. I could be fabricating, turnin wrenches, loading trucks, hauling equip, never knew when I came in. Being the cost of living down here is lower, if they'd come up just a little over what you were getting paid I'd honestly seriously consider leaving the railroad and going back.

clintm · Sep 26, 2015

any body can go buy something someone else built but only a few can build it their self be proud of it:thumbsup

clintm · Sep 26, 2015

most of the fancy store bought service trucks that I have seen don't have enough tools in them to put a chain on a bicycle. but they look good the best real mechanics that I have seen are driving some thing thats a combination of a couple of trucks mated together some of them have not been painted yet because they are a master piece in progress might have to change something or add still in design stage

norite · Sep 26, 2015

Wow that truck is going to be sharp when you are done, and with 4x4 it's over the top.

norite · Sep 26, 2015

CM1995 said:
You will make money, the ones with the new service truck will make payments.:cool2

Words of wisdom for sure.

RyanL · Sep 28, 2015

the front boxes are deeper than the others. The truck batteries will be relocated. Im planning on mounting the welder in front of the bed with a little custom twist on it

RyanL · Sep 28, 2015

im sure there some guys out there that want kill me for doing this to lincoln SAE-400 welder but i have a vision, lol. Goin mount the engine/welder with radiator facing the cab. The welder will leach fuel off of the truck tanks. To keep it simple to fuel the 2 tanks on the truck before i leave my shop. I plan on just having fuel storage tank at shop. Sinse im 15miles any direction to a bigger town with fuel. The welder will use the truck batteries to start. Then i plan on mounting a 24volt alternator on the welder to keep two 8d batteries charged up for 24volt jump starting in the winter. I think it will work? The welder face is bring mounted in a box on the right side for ground reach and will have leads wrapped up in box to keep secure.

DARO · Sep 28, 2015

It will work. Someone else has that 24 volt alt thing going. I forget who. If you could spin a hyd pump off the welder for the crane.......

simonsrplant · Sep 29, 2015

If I were to be building my truck I'd have a donkey engine powering a thru motor PTO into the welder generator.
Particulars would run fuel from the trucks tanks and 12v, also, pipe into the trucks coolant system.
My reasoning:
Crane or compressor operation indoors with minimal emissions.
Less hours on the important motor, less idle time, less wear, less fuel.
If you go far enough north you could run the donkey all night at high idle and still start the truck warm. Again, no idle time, less wear, less fuel.
There are loads of reasons...
A guy had a similar set up on his rig and with tweaking it was awesome.

RyanL · Oct 1, 2015

not much progress just little things finished other fender flare thing. I got take break work on some other projects to make little money. I thought about the welder hydraulic pump awhile back but kind of forgot about it. But im thinking im going to try it the more i think about it. It would run cheaper probably and would be pretty slick to have a wireless remote for crane that has engine start/stop, idle, and air compressor on/off. That would start/stop welder. sinse on most of the bigger welding jobs ive did i usually run the air anyway for needle scaler, or have crane out. So why run two engines

simonsrplant · Oct 2, 2015

RyanL said:
most of the bigger welding jobs ive did i usually run the air anyway for needle scaler, or have crane out. So why run two engines

My thoughts is only one would be running, the small donkey motor powers a PTO for crane and compressor and also drives the welder. The main truck motor is kept solely for driving. If you catch what I'm saying.

RyanL · Oct 2, 2015

simonsrplant said:
My thoughts is only one would be running, the small donkey motor powers a PTO for crane and compressor and also drives the welder. The main truck motor is kept solely for driving. If you catch what I'm saying.

Yep im with you. Why run two engines when the 68hp perkins can handle all of it. And keep hours low on my truck engine

RyanL · Oct 2, 2015

My only question is now that im thinking about it. Will this affect the welder? By robbing power away trying to turn the hyd pump. Sometimes i have helpers and they use air or crane while im welding.

My dream build service truck

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