Wrecker anchor spades on a M818

[70deuce]

Found a good place to mount the two anchor spades on my tractor that came off a 800 series wrecker. Front sockets have been mounted under he bumper and was looking for a place for these. I think I found it. Fabricated a rear mounting bracket that the eye end drops in to and gets pinned. The the spade end is just held in place with a a piece of farm fence hardware which was a 1/2" rod with a 90 degree bend on one end that I bent some more into a "J" hook and threaded the straight end for a 1/2" nylock nut and washer. This end is held tightly against the 5th wheel platform. The "J" hook is grabbing the frame that supports the tool box and spare tire. No interference with 5th wheel articulation unless I was climbing 30 degree hills with a trailer on. That won't be happening. Even in that case the unlock arm is the only thing that will hit. Works good and is a very solid mount. Don't see many tractors with these on them. What does the crowd think?

 

[KsM715]

Looks good, but I gotta ask, what are they for?

 

[maddawg308]

Looks great!

But why do you require wrecker spades on your tractor?

 

[dm22630]

WOW! Great looking truck!

What are those for?

What tires are you running?

 

[70deuce]

The tires are 11X20 Goodyear G286 tube radials. Real nice ride on these. Tomorrow I'll take pictures of where the anchors are used on these trucks. They basically stop the truck from moving forward or backward in the wrecker's case while winching.

 

[scooter01922]

I'm pretty sure we all get what they do on a wrecker Whats perplexing me is why your TRACTOR needs them???

 

[steelandcanvas]

His tractor has a winch and he would like to use the spades to help keep the tractor from creeping toward whatever he is trying to winch, just as you would do on a wrecker. Nice job with the stowage, Phil.

 

[scooter01922]

Ah, now ya see there thats why the basic info is important. I didn't know his 818 was W/W. Seems a lot of them don't have winches and as it didn't mention a winch in the post or in his sig i asumed it was without.

 

[70deuce]

Thanks Jonathan and why not on a tractor? Does it need them? Maybe not. Probably not. I had them and eyed the truck (with winch) and they just seemed to belong where they ended up. But with a winch up front the same reason a wrecker has them applies to this truck. Nothing wrong with coming up with a unique vehicle. Might give someone an idea if they might be using their M818 for some sort of winching duty. Pretty nice winch up there on 5 tons. If it has a winch up front these are very effective holding the truck in place. Much better than the emergency brake or chocks can do by themselves on these trucks. Its got the same winch up front as the wrecker does. If our club wreckers ever get stuck , these anchors will come in handy. Gave me a chance to play with the welder also.

 

[70deuce]

For thosewho haven't seen how these things are used I will post additional pics with them in place for winching. Interesting design.

 

[nk14zp]

looks good

 

[powerhouseduece]

For thosewho haven't seen how these things are used I will post additional pics with them in place for winching. Interesting design.

Please do! Im just wondering how you mount them while using winching. I always had the problem of winching people to me while I am the one who is stuck.

 

[nk14zp]

then they need the feild chocks

 

[bulldog_mack13]

You have a winch now , geese Phil

 

[rockman]

Hook them into the front shackles?

 

[mbarber84]

I think it looks awesome....nice addition, nothing wrong with unique!

 

[jwaller]

there is a cup that mounts on the underside of the bumper that the back of the spade fits into. then there is a pin that holds it in place so it can't fall out.

I like the idea of having them on anything with a winch and I've often thought about adding them to my 818 but mine is getting so heavy already that it's beginning to limit what I can tow with it.

 

[rizzo]

I have 3 sets of spades. I used one on the back of a deuce once. put the balls on the rear shackles and used a 2 inch strap under the bottom of both bumperettes to hold them in place. I then hooked my wrecker to it and pulled. spades worked great and moved less than I thought they would.

 

[70deuce]

Here are the pics of where they go on the front of the truck. Wreckers have the same sockets on the rear. Two pics show my front mounting point on the spare tire platform.

 

[steelandcanvas]

Nice job Phil, I like your "J" hook tie down idea, something a little different.