C3500HD Tow pig

[Husker6.5]

Vector, Victor?

 

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How much clearance Clarance?

For the planned spare mount? Going to place it so a 37x12.5" tire would fit and space it away from the frame to where the outside of the tire is even with the cab.

 

[Will L.]

I was wondering off the ground, Can’t tell from angle of pic. Ive seen many underbody boxes mounted there a hair too low and get smacked. I helped a guy mount one there but he used an old spindle so if it made contact with the he tire would just spin and deflect the blow.
And, uhhh, 37x12.5- are you stealing my tires? Haha

 

[Husker6.5]

Depends what neighborhood, @Will L.!

 

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I was wondering off the ground, Can’t tell from angle of pic. Ive seen many underbody boxes mounted there a hair too low and get smacked. I helped a guy mount one there but he used an old spindle so if it made contact with the he tire would just spin and deflect the blow.
And, uhhh, 37x12.5- are you stealing my tires? Haha

The bottom of the fuel tank mounts are still higher than the bottom of the frame reinforcement plates, good there. Spare tire will hang down a similar amount, still above the bottom of the frame. Do like the idea of using a spare hub as the tire mount.

Lol can't fit humvee wheels, nothing smaller than 19.5 wheels will clear the brakes hahaha. But I am considering going to 35 or 37"s eventually which would require a swap to 20" wheels.

 

[Will L.]

There was problems with the spinny spare- so no. Up that high is fine mounted solid.

 

[Husker6.5]

Spinny spare. Is that anything like skinny jeans? LOL!

 

[Will L.]

More like his wife lean on the spare expecting it to be solid and fall on her butt putting her jeans in the dirt.

 

[red]

More like his wife lean on the spare expecting it to be solid and fall on her butt putting her jeans in the dirt.

Oops haha.

Not much work planned for the truck during the winter, mostly gather some parts up for spring/summer work for it. Started a new job as a truck driver so will be making progress on the truck again soon.

Did some checking with the physical size of the things that will be carried on the bed (jumper cables, some tools, lifting equipment, etc) and, well, the minimalist bed essentially becomes a flatbed from cargo boxes. Damnit haha. With that realization confirmed I started looking at the local stuff for sale and found a gin pole bed in good condition that is sized for this truck in good shape. Priced well enough that I might just go back to that plan instead of finishing the build.

The toyhauler will be paid off by early march so the truck will get financial priority after that. Bit of performance upgrade (turbo, tune), cooling system, air intake. Bed, then the dana 60 front axle will be rebuilt and installed.

 

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New tow rig....... not really. Found it for sale at 20k.

 

[btfarm]

Nice Red

 

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Nice Red

Not bought, no actual plans to buy it lol. I was searching local classifieds and found it.

Like that its a crew cab, heavier duty engine (CAT 3126 i think), air ride, and suspension seats.

No need for a class 6 tow rig, 2wd (4x4 swap would be very expensive), and it sits high as hell haha.

 

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Deal was good, say hello to the truck bed. Its 10ft long, 10ft 5in after the tail roller, designed for a 84in ca truck like this. Both lower boxes are 5ft long.

 

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Now 100% sure I've killed the stock gm4 turbo haha. Significantly down on power when towing, feels just slightly more powerful than the 82 6.2 diesel was. Turbo whistle isn't audible anymore either. Add to it, that's even with the wastegate wired shut. So decided to bite the bullet and order a super54 turbo rather than mess around with cheaper turbos building the right hybrid. 54 makes sense being a stick shift and the lower rpm range I use.

Also looking at picking up another truck next week. Lack of a back seat and no 4x4 are problems that can't be economically overcome on this truck.

 

[MrMarty51]

That is a beautiful winch/pole bed You got there.

 

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Gonna be headed back to Utah in August, have 3 semesters left to finish my bachelors degree and since I hurt my elbows last fall figure it's time to get away from physical labor jobs.

Sold the 1 ton and using some of the money to focus on the HD. Original turbo was worn out, even with the wastegate wired shut it wasn't able to make boost anymore so went ahead and upgraded to a performance turbo. Super 54, from Quadstar tuning. Seems to match up perfectly for the low-mid range rpm that I drive the truck at. Higher boost at the rpm's needed, lower EGT's, lower turbo drive pressure and not terribly expensive either.













Now for the gin pole bed. Stripped the stuff off the tail end of the frame, planning to do the cutting either today or tomorrow, then place the bed on the truck when the lifting equipment rental gets here later this week. Being that the stock fuel tank has a hole in the bottom of it (patched with JB Weld last year) decided to go ahead and go with the shorter option.

 

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Sliced and diced

 

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New bed finally sitting on the chassis.

 

[Husker6.5]

That looks sharp! Attached, or just sitting there awaiting final alignment/fastening?

 

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That looks sharp! Attached, or just sitting there awaiting final alignment/fastening?

Sitting, got a welder coming Friday since my stuff can't handle that thick of metal. Going to have him do the mounts and maybe go ahead with the hitch change. Cut out the current gooseneck and mount the B&W recessed into the bed deep, so the air ride hitch can be used. The top of the ball would be just below the bed deck.