Transporter bed fabrication.
Discussion
I have a few concerns about my oncomming transporter project. Cost, thieves and weight.
This stuff...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PUNCHED-DECKING-TRAILERS...
...will work out a little heavier than Aluminium but costs less and can be welded in place so it won't be unbolted and nicked while I'm at work (there has been a rash of Aluminium theft recently due to scrapping licencing making it difficult to weigh in drain covers these days).
What do you guys think?
Does anyone here have any experience building beavertails and have any tips, ideas or suggestions to help?
Thanks in advance Rob
This stuff...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PUNCHED-DECKING-TRAILERS...
...will work out a little heavier than Aluminium but costs less and can be welded in place so it won't be unbolted and nicked while I'm at work (there has been a rash of Aluminium theft recently due to scrapping licencing making it difficult to weigh in drain covers these days).
What do you guys think?
Does anyone here have any experience building beavertails and have any tips, ideas or suggestions to help?
Thanks in advance Rob
Trouble is I'm on a very tight budget and making a bed will cost as much as buying a second hand one. Only the costs will be spread out making it affordable and a new bed will look tidier than a used one even with a lick of paint.
I see what you mean about the holes. The more potential anchor points the better. I'd like the finished truck to be a Swizz army knife with wheels to maximise it's usefulness.
I see what you mean about the holes. The more potential anchor points the better. I'd like the finished truck to be a Swizz army knife with wheels to maximise it's usefulness.
I seem to remember there being quite a few build threads on the ford transit forum when I last looked, been years since I've looked at those though. You're on the right track with thoughts about weight, the only other important things I can think of are storage and how versatile the bed is.
You need to figure out what length ramps you want, how you will secure them to the back and where you will store them. I like having a bar running along the back that they slide along rather than having fixed locations, means that you can easily change the width for different wheel bases.
If you slap a winch on the front of it you want it as low down as possible to stop you killing spoilers. Do you want completely flush sides so that you can have an overhang or would you rather have a lip, if you have a lip then that can have the holes in it to secure with.
You need to figure out what length ramps you want, how you will secure them to the back and where you will store them. I like having a bar running along the back that they slide along rather than having fixed locations, means that you can easily change the width for different wheel bases.
If you slap a winch on the front of it you want it as low down as possible to stop you killing spoilers. Do you want completely flush sides so that you can have an overhang or would you rather have a lip, if you have a lip then that can have the holes in it to secure with.
The chassis is home; just.
Within moments of becoming the official new owner of the Transit I got my first case of truck envy when this...
...rolled up to recover it for me.
Seriously nice bit of kit and I want one of those cranes now. Not that I need it for anything other than extending it toward me so it looks like an Alien jaw. :wtf:
[size=85]Sorry two hours sleep today.[/size]
While I was in the presence of a superior machine I had a good look round. Instead of cutting the chassis and making a beaver tail to drop onto it this guy has cut it, bolted it in place and seam welded the rail back together again.
Extended the chassis to the end of the beaver.
And used one inch box to re-enforce the side rails of the bed.
When I said "just" earlier I was referring to the chassis only just fitting in my garden.
So a long tail is out of the question logistically and it will swing out too much anyway. I'll move my shed a stuff around it long term.
I know driving can be stressful and to help this Transit has a Lazyboy bum holder...
...in case that doesn't help you can check your blood pressure as you go...
...why is it with smiley Transits the cup holder's are always missing?
So the project begins.
Within moments of becoming the official new owner of the Transit I got my first case of truck envy when this...
...rolled up to recover it for me.
Seriously nice bit of kit and I want one of those cranes now. Not that I need it for anything other than extending it toward me so it looks like an Alien jaw. :wtf:
[size=85]Sorry two hours sleep today.[/size]
While I was in the presence of a superior machine I had a good look round. Instead of cutting the chassis and making a beaver tail to drop onto it this guy has cut it, bolted it in place and seam welded the rail back together again.
Extended the chassis to the end of the beaver.
And used one inch box to re-enforce the side rails of the bed.
When I said "just" earlier I was referring to the chassis only just fitting in my garden.
So a long tail is out of the question logistically and it will swing out too much anyway. I'll move my shed a stuff around it long term.
I know driving can be stressful and to help this Transit has a Lazyboy bum holder...
...in case that doesn't help you can check your blood pressure as you go...
...why is it with smiley Transits the cup holder's are always missing?
So the project begins.
Two hours sleep today so I have prioritised jobs and started the last one first.
The buttons are missing from the stereo.
So I even used the right too for the job.
I have an old CD/Tape/Radio/TV head unit from a mates camper he converted to digital and it only picks up analogue so it was basically rubbish.
I need to trim the dash a little; then remove...
...and adapt this bracket to make it fit.
I'll blow the speakers tomorrow.
While I was messing about I found this...
...the master switch for the old tail lift. That'll do for the strobes and amber beacon. Also another expense; now there isn't a ruddy great box in the way I need to buy an interior mirror. I'll do that when I replace the screen.
The buttons are missing from the stereo.
So I even used the right too for the job.
I have an old CD/Tape/Radio/TV head unit from a mates camper he converted to digital and it only picks up analogue so it was basically rubbish.
I need to trim the dash a little; then remove...
...and adapt this bracket to make it fit.
I'll blow the speakers tomorrow.
While I was messing about I found this...
...the master switch for the old tail lift. That'll do for the strobes and amber beacon. Also another expense; now there isn't a ruddy great box in the way I need to buy an interior mirror. I'll do that when I replace the screen.
While I think about it. Thanks again to Sean the chap with the hi-ab rig...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/7-5-LORRY-AND-HIAB-HIRE-...
...top bloke.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/7-5-LORRY-AND-HIAB-HIRE-...
...top bloke.
What cars are you hoping to carry? You need the weight of the finished vehicle to be as low as possible and that means using aluminium for the body.
I used to have an all aluminium Volkswagen LT35. Unladen weight was 1,810kg. This was achieved with an all aluminium body and ramps. As I was moving new cars, I didn't have a winch which saved me 45kg. Removing the spare wheel, carrier and tools gained me another 40kg. Finally I removed the bench passenger seat and fitted a singles passenger seat which helped to keep the weight down. In addition the 3.5ton LT are single rear wheel which saves a load of weight over twin wheel set ups.
That left me able to carry cars weighing 1,600kg and a allowed 90kg for the driver. By contrast my Uncle had a twin rear wheeled Transit with a ridiculously heavy steel body, winch and spare wheel. He was pulled by VOSA with a new Renault Clio on and was just over weight. He removed the Clio and the truck weighed 2,285 with him sat in it. His truck was therefore neither use nor ornament.
I used to have an all aluminium Volkswagen LT35. Unladen weight was 1,810kg. This was achieved with an all aluminium body and ramps. As I was moving new cars, I didn't have a winch which saved me 45kg. Removing the spare wheel, carrier and tools gained me another 40kg. Finally I removed the bench passenger seat and fitted a singles passenger seat which helped to keep the weight down. In addition the 3.5ton LT are single rear wheel which saves a load of weight over twin wheel set ups.
That left me able to carry cars weighing 1,600kg and a allowed 90kg for the driver. By contrast my Uncle had a twin rear wheeled Transit with a ridiculously heavy steel body, winch and spare wheel. He was pulled by VOSA with a new Renault Clio on and was just over weight. He removed the Clio and the truck weighed 2,285 with him sat in it. His truck was therefore neither use nor ornament.
My track day Panda weighs in at about 600Kg so I have plenty of scope.
I'll be taking it to a weighbridge with a full tank of diesel when it's finished to see how much I can carry.
Weight is the only advantage of Aluminium. If I could get it a lot cheaper then it could be a possibility.
I'll be taking it to a weighbridge with a full tank of diesel when it's finished to see how much I can carry.
Weight is the only advantage of Aluminium. If I could get it a lot cheaper then it could be a possibility.
To object to domestic duties today (shopping) I did a bit of my own...
...£20 for a pin and ball hitch, bunch of nuts and bolts to fit it and some backing plates. I covered one with red reflective vinyl so that's the tailgaters taken care of.
I also got my grinder out...
...to fit the stereo.
Priorities eh?
Some interesting stuff to come later.
...£20 for a pin and ball hitch, bunch of nuts and bolts to fit it and some backing plates. I covered one with red reflective vinyl so that's the tailgaters taken care of.
I also got my grinder out...
...to fit the stereo.
Priorities eh?
Some interesting stuff to come later.
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That's perfect.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181096411838?ssPageName=...
Just won a starter motor for a fiver.
If it works great if not it £20 a new one.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181096411838?ssPageName=...
Just won a starter motor for a fiver.
If it works great if not it £20 a new one.
Mobile inspection pit?
Could be useful.
Last night I won a starter motor for £5 and went to collect it today.
There are two types of starter for the Banana engine the big type...
...and a smaller one.
The larger of the two doesn't fit my truck...
...I could grind that mount off and make it fit but I tested the motor and the solenoid doesn't work either. I'll take it apart to see why later or use it to power my winch I guess. Better still clean it up and chuck it back on eBay.
Could be useful.
Last night I won a starter motor for £5 and went to collect it today.
There are two types of starter for the Banana engine the big type...
...and a smaller one.
The larger of the two doesn't fit my truck...
...I could grind that mount off and make it fit but I tested the motor and the solenoid doesn't work either. I'll take it apart to see why later or use it to power my winch I guess. Better still clean it up and chuck it back on eBay.
Instead of boxing the bed and then triangulating it adding weight. I was thinking of making it triangular to start with...
...the runners need to be wide enough to take a Fiat Multipla and narrow enough to fit a real Mini on there so all of my mates cars are covered. With enough room between for ramps and under the cab end for a winch.
...the runners need to be wide enough to take a Fiat Multipla and narrow enough to fit a real Mini on there so all of my mates cars are covered. With enough room between for ramps and under the cab end for a winch.
The most common design flaw I come across when using vans are crap angles making the car ground out at the front and in the middle, even reversing on makes the tailpipe hit first. The higher that you make the bed then the worse the angles are, you want to keep everything as close to the floor as you can. The other options are to get some extra long ramps or raise the front of the van every time you load.
Actually, as you are only using it for your own stuff you could make it so the the bed has a slight incline from the back up to the cab. Trust me that every inch counts when you have a short bed, playing with lumps of wood to load every time gets boring
eta. Ah look, youve already thought of it
Actually, as you are only using it for your own stuff you could make it so the the bed has a slight incline from the back up to the cab. Trust me that every inch counts when you have a short bed, playing with lumps of wood to load every time gets boring
eta. Ah look, youve already thought of it
Liquid Knight said:
Edited by s p a c e m a n on Tuesday 19th March 21:20
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