98G's Welding Trailer build from an M200A1

[98G]

My welder has been living on an M105A2, but I'd like to be able to reach it better from the sides for oil changes and such.

I sold the bed off the M105, and planned to mount the welder on the chassis. That plan died when I left the chassis parked in the field. Someone driving by saw it and decided they wanted it. They stopped and bought it....

So I bought an M200A1. I realize that this is ten times overkill but it should make for a very nice welding trailer.

Here's what I've got to work with -

Miller Big Blue 400 Diesel Welder
M200A1 mostly complete
MRAP toolboxes
Green misc boxes
40mm ammo cans
120v air compressor
Miller Multimatic 200 welder
Hypertherm Powermax600 Plasma Cutter
2 Argon/CO2 bottles
29gallon air pig
5 smaller air tanks from PLS
Steel Pallets

The idea is to mount the big welder to the M200A1 along with assorted toolboxes. The air compressor and air tanks will also be permanently mounted to the M200A1.

The plasma cutter and mig welder, along with the argon/CO2 bottles will be mounted on a steel pallet. Normally this assembly will live in the shop, but the whole pallet can be loaded into the bed of the truck if I need it mobile.

Right now I'm figuring out which toolboxes to put where, and where to mount the air compressor. The welder is powered by an air cooled deutz, so I need to leave the front open for circulation.

 

[gimpyrobb]

Build it on a skid so you can put it on the m200 or take it off as needed.

 

[tobyS]

I couldn't have a weld trailer without a cutting torch. I use a 20# lp and lay the oxygen down for easy in-out. Cables and hose on mine are laid to pay out with just a tug. Also, what are you going to cover it with? I use an old water bed to give protection from the corners going through the canvas. Once and a while I wish the top was rigid when I've been caught with a hot welder and it starts to rain.

That's a nice looking and heavy duty welder, probably twice as heavy as my gas Hobart. You have too many of those tool boxes and should trade me a couple!

 

[zebedee]

Not sure what the regs are in AZKSMOOK (not sure about the pronunciation of that one), but in snowy NY - you can have trailered equipment without a registration so long as it has all the reqd DoT lights HOWEVER, if you have so much as one wrench in the smallest of tool boxes - it turns into a cargo trailer and has to be registered/taxed!

Looking forward to the build pics!!

Putting hoses on retractable reels?

 

[98G]

The welder has fork pockets and an integrated skid, as well as a lifting eye. It'll bolt to the trailer via angle iron rails. 4 bolts and it'll come off.

Retractable reel - I've got one. Glad you mentioned it.

It'll mostly live in the garage and be covered that way but I'm contemplating a framework to enable either a 105 cover or a deuce cover to be used.

Updated pics of the welder - it was removed from the teeny little trailer pictured above, and repainted.

Some pics of cans/boxes/etc.

 

[98G]

Regarding oxyfuel torch: I learned to use it, and passed the tests with it (cutting precision squares ,ovals, circles, and pipe layout, heating and bending etc) , but for some reason I just like the plasma cutter better for precision cuts up to 1/2" thickness.

I realise that the OF torch will do things that the plasma cutter won't, and for that I'll eventually have 2 bottles on a dolly. I've got a decent torch (thanks CARNAC!) but no bottles yet.

 

[swbradley1]

That welder looks familiar. Is it the one I swung up on your big trailer?

 

[98G]

That welder looks familiar. Is it the one I swung up on your big trailer?

That's the one

 

[gimpyrobb]

I just recently put an oxy/act kit together. I plan on leaving the gauges on and keeping the hose/torch separate till I use it. I put a set of quick disconnects at the hose gauge union and it makes life good! Just another possiblity for ease of use...

 

[98G]

The crossmembers on the M200A1 are 63" from front edge of the front one to rear edge of the rear one. Happy circumstances as my welder is exactly 63" long.

That'll put the center of mass in front of the axle, and it'll leave me a fairly substantial shelf area behind the welder. I think my small work table will fit there for transport.

I'm thinking a rectangular MRAP toolbox on each fender, and 2 more asymmetrical ones up front on the triangular portion behind the lunette. Mount the air compressor transverse right behind the front tie down loops. This should still provide optimal airflow for cooling the engine.

The 29gal air pig will go on the steel pallet with the plasma cutter and the MIG welder. The plasma cutter uses enough air to need it....

An ammo can on the rear, each side of the trailer. One for 6010 and one for 7018. Lastly, a cat litter bucket of water to drop the still-hot nubs of rod into.

Still in the planning and layout stage. I think the green oddball boxes won't be used on this...













(Yes Ray, that's your table still in the making above the air compressor)

 

[98G]

So today I disassembled the MRAP storage boxes. They're held together with a bazillion bolts and screws. No two of the boxes are identical, and they're infested with bizarre mounting brackets. I think I've found the way to mount them on the fenders. (I have two crates of these, so i have 2 of each)

I took an angle grinder and wire brushed the rails where the welder will sit, then painted them in deep forest green.

The tan boxes will be greened prior to mounting also.

(Hey Ray, there's your table in the background again. Today it got wire brushed where needed and shot with gloss black everywhere except the work surface)

 

[98G]

So today I fired up the plasma cutter and cut the obnoxious oddball brackets off the MRAP boxes. I also fabricated the brackets that will bolt the welder to the trailer.

One of the steel pallets from the 40mm ammo cans makes a perfect skid for the MIG welder and plasma cutter and associated accessories. It perfectly straddles the front lift points on the trailer. By skidmounting these items it allows me to take them on and off as a unit.

I'm going to end up with two toolboxes, one on each fender; and two rodboxes, one on each side of the rear of the trailer. My small worktable (36x24") will ride upside down behind the welder at the rear of the trailer (hooks to be fabbed).

The table legs will have a place to store the leads, and will work equally well upside down. The welder controls are easily reached with the table in the stored position(I had it this way on the M105A2 and rarely moved the table)

I need some heavy extension cord so that the MIG welder and plasma cutter can reach the 50 amp 240v plug on the welder. Seeing as overkill is underrated, I think I'll use 6/3 cable for this.

(Hey Ray, there's your table in the background again - it's complete now. It got the final wire brush work and coat of paint this morning!)

 

[gimpyrobb]

You should take the air compressor and motor off the air tank and stuff the assembly in a tool box. Being THAT manufacturer, it doesn't fit with the quality tools that are on there AND I doubt they will weather well out in the open. You can put the air tank(s) under the trailer frame for more "shelf space" on top.

 

[98G]

Lol, that air compressor probably won't be there long as I expect it to die without warning at any moment. I bought it in a moment of desperation - I had been idling my 5ton as an air compressor and the horror fraught abomination was cheaper than the fuel...

None of it will be facing the weather. It'll be inside the garage or tarped.

Thanks for the input

 

[98G]

My tractor forks won't even think about moving the welder. I conceded defeat and went to the steel store and had them move it with their big bad forklift.

The yellow strap is only there until I get it bolted down.

 

[tobyS]

Nice...really nice. Are you setting up mig or using stick? Myself, I like stick, big leads and then smaller whip on the end. Wish I had a diesel.

 

[98G]

Nice...really nice. Are you setting up mig or using stick? Myself, I like stick, big leads and then smaller whip on the end. Wish I had a diesel.

Thanks

I also like stick. I like welding thick stuff in 2-3 passes, especially pipe.

But MIG has a place. For me, MIG is the choice when thickness is less than 1/8".

 

[gimpyrobb]

...or aluminum!

 

[98G]

So I've scaled back the level of ambition for this thing. The toolboxes on the fenders interfere with the access panels on the welder.

I'm going to go with the table on the rear deck behind the welder, with integrated cable holders. And a couple of ammo cans for rod. Everything else is going on a steel pallet that can be added as needed.

Today I finished up the mounting brackets and got the welder bolted into place.

Factory mounting brackets are inadequate -

So I fabbed full length brackets out of angle.

 

[Tracer]

Looks clean 98G. It might be a little overbuilt, but that's better than the opposite. The M200A1 trailers look good, and their tough. keep us posted with your progress.