Company Tow Truck

[Steve Frazier]

Don't mean to highjack your discussion, but here is a photo of our company tow truck. As you can tell, we don't have much of a budget to work with at our school district. Believe it or not, it gets used a couple of times/month. Starts right up every time. View attachment 1729

The school district I attended had a truck very similar to that one, they ran it a long time. Not sure they don't still have it, I'll have to check it out!

 

[Truck Shop]

Outside rails showed up this afternoon and was able to get them welded to original rails and the bolt holes mapped for drilling. Should be able to get it drilled
and the inside of frame painted tomorrow.

Truck Shop

 

[td25c]

Looks strait & true Truck Shop , Nice work !

Fab shop did a nice bend on the frame rails .

 

[Truck Shop]

Looks strait & true Truck Shop , Nice work !

Fab shop did a nice bend on the frame rails .

When they ask for bend radius I always tell them a 25 cent bend/match a 25 cent piece to the die. Well I got done today what I wanted, drilled and painted.
Should be dry in the morning. And we will roll the rear drives back in place.

Truck Shop

 

[rzucker]

Just curious, what procedure do you weld rails with? Not judging, I use a couple different wires depending on the intended use of the truck and how much reinforcement the splice has. Normally it's ER-70S-6 wire as hot as it will run with out drooping, Or thick rail gets a good Dual shield wire, and Hobart 21B is a good fluxcore self shield wire that I have had excellent results with on repair welds.

 

[Truck Shop]

I just use a standard 0.45 wire and preheat the rails. Some years back even though I had a wire feed in the shop I still stick welded with 6010 then 7018.
My main thing is I don't like the weld to be more than 5/8" wide. I usually try to keep it at just over 1/2" after V-out. But I always preheat no matter what.
It's always worked doing it that way for me. And I never use anything less than 8' insert this one got 9' foot inserts.

Truck Shop

 

[Truck Shop]

Darn near done with this part of it, just waiting on drive lines now.

Truck Shop

 

[Truck Shop]

Ordered the 4"x 6" x 3/8 40' rectangle tube for the upper subframe that holds the wheel lift. That's the next phase.

Truck Shop

 

[td25c]

That looks great Truck Shop !


Got the Zack lift spotted or bought ?

 

[Truck Shop]

That looks great Truck Shop !


Got the Zack lift spotted or bought ?

The Zacklift is the easy part, they keep three built ready to go. And it's only a 188 mile trip to go get it. Plus by buying it from the factory in Cle Elum, Wa. it was a better deal all the way around.
And that was another reason to buy it because it's made real close by.

Truck Shop

 

[rzucker]

Yes, I have to agree... that is looking real good.

 

[rzucker]

I just use a standard 0.45 wire and preheat the rails. Some years back even though I had a wire feed in the shop I still stick welded with 6010 then 7018.
My main thing is I don't like the weld to be more than 5/8" wide. I usually try to keep it at just over 1/2" after V-out. But I always preheat no matter what.
It's always worked doing it that way for me. And I never use anything less than 8' insert this one got 9' foot inserts.

Truck Shop

Myself, I prefer .035 wire, it gives me more time to insure good fusion on the sides without having to chase a big puddle around. But that's just me. Usually a 5/16" or 3/8" rail is 2 passes overhead to vertical up then across the top. I haven't done one with stick for 20 years and never used 6010 on a rail. Pipe yes.

 

[Truck Shop]

Myself, I prefer .035 wire, it gives me more time to insure good fusion on the sides without having to chase a big puddle around. But that's just me. Usually a 5/16" or 3/8" rail is 2 passes overhead to vertical up then across the top. I haven't done one with stick for 20 years and never used 6010 on a rail. Pipe yes.

I take that back I had changed the liner in the gun and was running .035 wire- two passes.

Truck Shop

 

[td25c]

The Zacklift is the easy part, they keep three built ready to go. And it's only a 188 mile trip to go get it. Plus by buying it from the factory in Cle Elum, Wa. it was a better deal all the way around.
And that was another reason to buy it because it's made real close by.

Truck Shop

That's cool ! Time for a little road trip up to visit the Vitch's .

Going with a new Zackovich lift ?

They sure look like a nice product with the test of time behind them as well .
http://zacklift.com/fifthwheeler-and-permanent-mount-models/

 

[Truck Shop]

Thanks,-------------Ed's business cards from years ago read { When in a ditch don't bitch call Ed Zackovich}.

Truck Shop

 

[Truck Shop]

Between other work I got a few things done on it today. Cut the after frame to needed length and boxed from end one foot. Squared the rear axles to steer and
loosened u-bolts and centered rear springs in spring hangers. finished some wiring.

Truck Shop

 

[td25c]

With the frame extension & Zack lift should have plenty of tool box room on the new truck .

Any thought about adding gas drive welder & torch tanks to the rig ?

We don't leave home without a welder , torch & winch

 

[Truck Shop]

It will have two tool boxes and another on top of frame for towing light bar and hoses. And we may add a 30,000 lb winch later. But no welder or torch.
It's strictly for towing brake downs. If it's not in the shop on a concrete floor I'm not working on it at my age. Too many years I spent working out
in the rhubarb patch.

Truck Shop

 

[td25c]

10-4 Truck Shop !

My problem is the rhubarb patch customers won't leave me alone .

They either want something repaired , welded , winched out , or drug in .

I kind of like those rhubarb patch guy's but don't tell them I said that . LOL !

 

[Truck Shop]

Today I changed out the gear oil in the rear drives and found zero metal on the magnets. Also changed out shoes an two drums to finish out the mechanical end of it.


Truck Shop

Hi Bob!