Bobbed Wrecker concept

[General Mcgregor]

Hello Fellas, Merry Christmas to you and the whole family!

I have been knocking this Idea around in my head for a couple weeks now ever since I was offered a half-bobbed (incomplete) deuce. I thought, "How could I make it cooler than all the other bobbers?" I would not bob a deuce unless it was already in the condition that this one is, the frame has already been shortend soooo...
Don't jump all over me bobby boys! I like short deuces but I could never bring myself to take a torch to one like that. If it was already done I would buy one but I don't think I could fight back the tears enough to keep a steady hand.

I don't know that I would ever do this but I thought I would tell you about my concept in case anyone else ever wants to attempt (or has attempted) it.

The Idea is to take a bobbed deuce and install a wrecker body on the back. Like a small wrecker body for a one ton or something of equal size. These are fairly easy to come by and other than the bobbing there wouldn't be that much work involved.
Having a more compact and less clumsy truck would be great for off road recoveries (of pickups, jeeps, suvs and stuff, not so much for larger stuff).

A W/W truck is a must, run a hydraulic pump off the T-case PTO to run the wrecker body.
Personally I would go with a soft top, don't really know why just seems right.
Install a couple of large tool boxees along the side.
I would keep the duals in the rear, but you could single it lift it or whatever.
Add a pipeline truck rack (if you can find one) behind the cab, for rollover protection and for added awesomeness.

Sketched up a concept drawing today, thoughts? Concerns? Critiques?
-GM

p.s. I will be posting this pic in the http://www.steelsoldiers.com/deuce/68987-mv-artwork.html thread if you would like to comment on the drawing.

 

[73m819]

That works for me, now that is a REASON to do a 4X4, if you do it, BEEF UP the rear springs

 

[caliber1]

Looks cool, you gonna mount some outriggers or something for winching?

 

[jwaller]

Looks like Cooters tow truck.

 

[mudguppy]

agreed - that sketch looks sweet! i'm also aligned w/ Ron - maybe use 5T front springs for the rear or add air bags.

lots of thoughts, very intriguing...

 

[doghead]

When it comes to wreckers, longer is better.

Looks cool but, won't perform as well.

 

[bones1]

I really like that, how about an older unit off a mac?.
Check this one out http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/pix/trucks/mark_redman/2008/12-18/diatusa.jpg

 

[Capt.Marion]

I like it as a creative use for a bobber! Would a K-boom maybe be an option to give you a small truck to use for general lifting of just about anything? It seems like it would be a bit more useful than a wrecker bed with such a short truck. I also feel like DH's comment is true enough that a wrecker bed might not be as useful as one would hope.

 

[73m819]

When it comes to wreckers, longer is better.

Looks cool but, won't perform as well.

Depends on the lift, there is a LOT of weight on the w/w front end, will work a lot better then most small 4x4 wreckers, a holmes twin boom 550 would just about be right

 

[M813A1]

Yes that lookscool !!!! Maybe go with a Holmes 440 or Holmes 600 Wrecker unit that has the outriggers attached to the forward roll over rack. as for the short wheel base you could add weights to the front extended bumper to give move puylling power and use ta/ stiffer springs in the rear to add leverage !! Great Idea ??

 

[Recovry4x4]

Depends on the lift, there is a LOT of weight on the w/w front end, will work a lot better then most small 4x4 wreckers, a holmes twin boom 550 would just about be right

Stole my **** thunder dammit. Yup, a Holmes 500 would be the hot ticket.

 

[General Mcgregor]

A twin boom or side outrigger setup is a great idea! You would probably need to add stabilizer pads or earth spades to keep from tipping though, the center of gravity would be much higher than most wreckers.
I don't think anyone would be looking to pull a 5 ton or anything, it's a good bet to say that anything being towed or winched would be smaller than a Deuce. Not to say it could not be capable of doing much more.

 

[73m819]

A twin boom or side outrigger setup is a great idea! You would probably need to add stabilizer pads or earth spades to keep from tipping though, the center of gravity would be much higher than most wreckers.
I don't think anyone would be looking to pull a 5 ton or anything, it's a good bet to say that anything being towed or winched would be smaller than a Deuce. Not to say it could not be capable of doing much more.

With the twin boom, you swing one OPPOSITE the pull to act as a counter weight while you swing and pull with the orther

The side outriggers are slide out and down to provide a outrigger type of foot., NOTE you can make these as long as needed

Now the trick setup would be a TWIN BOOM/ OUTRIGGER unit that would like this, only a lighter build

 

[General Mcgregor]

AH, terminology. I guess I am thinking of outriggers as cranes that rotate off the side to lift loads.

 

[73m819]

Your twin swing booms CAN rotate over each side

 

[General Mcgregor]

I know, I just thought they were reffered to as 'outriggers'. Guess I shouldn't build it until I know what everything is!

 

[73m819]

I know, I just thought they were reffered to as 'outriggers'. Guess I shouldn't build it until I know what everything is!

Now you do, start building

 

[73m819]

As a thought, since you said it would be HYD. powered, mount a 5t HYD. powered winch on the back of the bed, or tucked in at the boom mounts

 

[dodgedougak]

What a sweet concept! Look forward to progress reports. I also have a bobber that I bought all ready cut. I feel it is sort of like taking a pound dog to give it a good home! It may be a mutt, but I saved it and now it's my mutt!

 

[General Mcgregor]

If it was going to stay simple like the one in the concept (i.e. single boom) I think a 440 body would do quite nicely with some modifications (like covering up the wheel cutouts).