M816 Wrecker dumb question

[houdel]

Here is a M816 Wrecker dumb question. How is the crane operator supposed to safely get into the crane compartment? The side of the compartment comes right out to the edge of the wrecker body, so how you safely get in there?

On my M125 wrecker with the M816 body, the previous owner added a 6" wide catwalk to the M816 bed so I have someplace somewhat safe to put my feet while I grab the side of the crane compartment with my hands and scoot my way over - a little dangerous, particularly if it happens to be icy. Does a regular M816 have some other way to get into the crane compartment?

 

[joec]

Yup same way. I enter from the cab on. Or you can climb up the rear.

 

[acetomatoco]

I go up from the driver's door to the step over the left fuel tank to the top of the in bed tool compartments and then, facing the boom, side step on the edge of the body to the opening in the operator's station, step in and set down.

 

[M1075]

My M816 has a flip-up platform to stand on when using entering/exiting the crane seat. About 6-8" wide.

 

[papercu]

wrecker

Yer gotta remember the ones that operated them "in the day" was mostly in their twenties and didn't need fancy things like safety. Wayne

 

[emr]

RE: wrecker

Mind if I suggest some sit ups. ...Randy

 

[dmetalmiki]

easy on M62

Reading that post makes me pleased I got an M62. allmost enuf room to "dance" into the crane seat!

 

[jason@snakeriver]

You ought to look at the cab on an M-819 aircraft wrecker. You have to open the little door and work your way in.
Ours was off for transport, and we left it off. Tom @ Snake River

 

[houdel]

Re: RE: M816 Wrecker dumb question

My M816 has a flip-up platform to stand on when using entering/exiting the crane seat. About 6-8" wide.

Great idea. Gotta add something like that to my crane seat. We get WAY too much snow out here to tiptoe along the edge of the bed. Course, I'd have to be crazy to drive my beast in the snow! But, I must have been crazy to buy it in the first place!

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=19684

 

[DaveP]

You ought to look at the cab on an M-819 aircraft wrecker. You have to open the little door and work your way in.
Ours was off for transport, and we left it off. Tom @ Snake River

I know exactly how that goes!

 

[madsam]

I have a 6 foot aluminum step latter that I have issued to the truck. It is light enough to toss up on the back and take with me. I not only lean it on the bed to get into the gondola, but I use it in the front fender to check the oil or open the hood. I need a lot of sit ups to climb up all the time into the back. The latter makes that easer.

 

[pa.rich]

Oh yeah we used to climb like monkeys back in our twenties! Now I think about every step. I will be adding a couple steps to the M51 cause the old knees dont want to cooperate. I have had knee trouble since I was 16.

 

[beaubeau]

Pa.rich, If U can't run with the big boys, stay on the Porch!!Lol It is a Dog getting Old!! I used to jump up and down to get on the rigs, now I must Crawl. I got an old GMC Log truck with Prentice loader. That is quite a hump,getting to the top to run it. Phil

 

[steelandcanvas]

DaveP, That's one sweet lookin' wrecker. I love the enclosed cab for the boom operator.

 

[Gamagoat1]

When older gotta dance slower, once yer in the gondola soldier B" does the work. (Where is that @#$%@#)

 

[5tonpuller]

M y soldier B" is in college. So I guess I am soldier A & B. The soldiers here just move slower.

 

[madsam]

I never has a soldier b..

 

[Gamagoat1]

Me "Two, A and B

 

[madsam]

my latter solution. I keep it angles a bit out so that the boom does not hit it.

 

[m816]

Just like the other guys have stated, We were a lot younger back in the day. Some of you may have seen the little nerff step that was on the ten ton 123's. Well I made a couple for five tons and it really helps the knees. If I had put one on my wrecker, I may have held on to it a little longer. After back surgery and a host of other problems , climbing around a wrecker became too much. The fun part is driving the crane but absent soldier # 2 and having to rig and drive the crane then re rig just became too much. I don't know what is worse, the pain or the booze to get past the pain?