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Lets see your "ultimate" service truck!

Numbfingers

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2016
Messages
136
Location
Alaska
Occupation
mechanic
G'day everyone this is my ute, reading this thread has given me a lot of ideas, i want to build a truck next year.
My ute has enough to get me by with a petrol air compressor in the middle of my boxes, its all on a frame i just unbolt 2 3/8 bolts and put the legs in and lift off when i don't need the boxes on.
View attachment 162452
Nice! Who makes the boxes, and can you post a pic from the rear?
 

markshr151

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 29, 2010
Messages
176
Location
central fl.
This is the Business end of my truck. We work on raido towers and ropes, capstan,cooler,vice and stuff all happen right here. After I got it sandblasted I could see how bad many of my welds were when I first built it. So I rewelded most of it and modified the attachment points for better peace of mind. Every thing gets a coat of industrial apoxy primer then scorpion truck bed liner on appropriate parts. I thought this project would move a lot faster. If I could only stop working so I could get some work done. IMG_1678.JPG IMG_1683.JPG
 
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FSERVICE

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 2, 2009
Messages
635
Location
indiana
looks good... its all bout what you need for your specific jobsite, its been said "its not what you buy but what you build that matters" & you are doing a great job!!
 

markshr151

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 29, 2010
Messages
176
Location
central fl.
IMG_1723.JPG IMG_1728.JPG Can I get some input please?
1. Iam conserned about the twist in the frame when I put my suspension together. It seems like the torque rod is causing The frame to twist.Will this come out when I put the bed on.
2. What are your opinions on mounting the bed to the frame . Should it have room to flex or be mounted solid. I do not want to mount it in a way that would bust up my new utility bed .
 

Junkyard

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2016
Messages
3,621
Location
Claremore, OK
Occupation
Field Mechanic
It appears to be a single frame the full length, is that so? How many crossmembers are there along the length. I would cosinder an inner liner all the way or at least through the suspension area. What sort of subframe do you have in mind for your body? Might be able to build it stout enough to help. Also, was everything dead level and straight when you stretched it? Did it twist after you hung the rear bumper on it? If it's too late to slide a liner in it one thing we used to do on gin trucks was a fish plate on the outside. It was in addition to the double frame but those trucks got hammered all the time. I think with a little planning when you start your body you may be able to incorporate sufficient structure to cure this.

Junkyard
 

markshr151

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 29, 2010
Messages
176
Location
central fl.
This truck was a oil field winch truck with inverted kingpin and no gin poles. I figured if it can take that type of work a Utilitiy bed would be like a retirement. Yes it is a single frame with 7 cross members in 20' from the cab. I was very careful to make sure the whole truck was level and straight pulse I never separated the rear axel from the truck. I did remove the front drive axel. It is to late to do anything with the frame and it only twisted when I put the new shocks, air bags and torque rod on. I think it is the resistance of the torque rod bushings. But this brings me to another question. Do I mount the bed (that I will build from scratch) solid to the frame or allow it to have some movement to it. I need 4" from frame to floor of bed. Maybe some 2x4 steel tubeing as a sub frame?
 

Junkyard

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2016
Messages
3,621
Location
Claremore, OK
Occupation
Field Mechanic
I would mount it solid, tabs off the bed/subframe down to the truck frame with 5/8" bolts. Everything is going to flex and give in it's own way so I wouldn't make it any easier for things to move around. If you do the doors etc may close great one time and not the next. I wouldn't think the torque rod would cause the frame to twist like that. I've seen some beds with a thin piece of wood between truck frame and the bed or whatever is installed. A think piece of conveyor belt or something between the two might not hurt.

If you pull the torque rod back out will it straighten up? If that's all it takes to twist it that kind of bugs me a bit. What did you have in mind for the way you're building the bed?

Junkyard
 

dirty4fun

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2010
Messages
1,188
Location
N. IL
What brand or make drawer units do you fellows use? I would like to get a four or five drawer unit to fit in one of my side boxes. The opening is 28" W x 34" T x 19" D Some drawers would sure organize some of my tools and misc. so maybe I could even find them. Thanks for any help!
 

mikebramel

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2012
Messages
1,612
Location
milwaukee
American Eagle through Cherokee truck equipment in Tennessee ... shipped to local terminal

Custom 32"x21"x44"(from what I remember)

Took me a couple days of sitting down and laying out my tools to figure out what height and how many drawers. Works almost perfect
 

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crewchief888

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2012
Messages
1,781
Location
NWI
What brand or make drawer units do you fellows use? I would like to get a four or five drawer unit to fit in one of my side boxes. The opening is 28" W x 34" T x 19" D Some drawers would sure organize some of my tools and misc. so maybe I could even find them. Thanks for any help!

the company i work for doesnt provide any tool storage solutions or drawer units in any of our trucks.

ive been using a late 90's CM top box since '04 when i went into my 1st service truck. it's heavily overloaded, ad has literally shaken itself apart. couple years ago i cut out the lower drawer completely, and wleded up a new lower frame out of some scrap square tubing. it's bolted to an old lyon 3 drawer mid box, secured to the floor and back wall of the body. i keep my air tools in an old MAC side cab ive had for many years....

:eek:work tools 4.JPG M136 002.JPG
 

markshr151

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 29, 2010
Messages
176
Location
central fl.
After a few month of being to busy to work on my truck I am back at it and stoked to have scored a small crane for it today. Worked on drive shafts, u-joints, Carrier bearings, air lines, electric lines, fuel tanks, alum. Wheels, seats, new flooring and the frame twist went away when I turned the truck around.

IMG_1790.JPG IMG_1791.JPG
 
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CatBoy374

Active Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2016
Messages
25
Location
Belding,MI
Occupation
Operator, Laborer, Mechanic
Here's my dream service truck as i'm just starting out in the repair world
16' Pete 348 4x4
 

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