Welder Sam
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Jeff, send that to me via fb please. I'm interested in that but cant make it out here.
Thanks
Thanks
-
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Wrecker wishlist of mods
- Thread starter Csm Davis
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Sam - do you need more pics or larger versions of those pics? I have a few more pics as I too am building a similar setup and have most of the stock/fitments etc.
rangereter
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You will definitely want all three dimensions of movement between the wrecker and disabled vehicle. Most of the time your attaching chains will not be hooked at the same lengths...without the towbar being able to twist it puts a lot of force on one side. I built a holmes 750 "like" arrangement this past year and have had good luck with commercial road tractor reverse tows, unloaded tandem dumps, etc. Will attempt to post pics of assy this afternoon.
Regards, Bob
Regards, Bob
Csm Davis
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Well if I was doing civilian trucks that might be true but the reason for using the wiffletree is I move military trucks by the shackles which are always the same unlike chains you are using I am looking at adding the swivel but don't think it is really needed.
rangereter
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Here are a couple of pics of the hitch I put on the back of my M936 this past year. I can back into about any vocational truck, or probably tactical too, and within five minutes have the disabled vehicles tires off the ground. For most "civilian" trucks, the hitch legs ride about level. I would guess that on a tactical truck the legs might run a little downhill, not nearly as much though if the legs were attached lower on the wrecker (ie; shackle points or pintle). I usually put some cushion between the hoisting bar and the bumper (more if it's a nice bumper), chain, lift and go (after dropping driveline, attaching air hose/cage brakes, hanging tow-lights, ect).
One time I was pulling a truck from the rail-head to NTC soon after it opened with my M543...had the tow-bar on the front bumper shackle mounts of the disabled truck and picked with a 5/8 chain, tires a good foot off the road...as I was cranking down the road at about 50, a little old lady backed out of her driveway about a 100 yards ahead of me...I put the brake pedal to the mat, looked into my mirror to see the disabled truck running up into my crane hook. When the truck came down, it caused me to pull a 40+ MPH "wheely". I did not hit the old lady, but I think we both had to change drawers afterwards...from then on, I got into the habit of always using the axle vices when on public roads while CC towing. If I would have had a holmes style hitch on the rear of my wreckers 30 years ago, I sure would have used them.
Regards, Bob
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One time I was pulling a truck from the rail-head to NTC soon after it opened with my M543...had the tow-bar on the front bumper shackle mounts of the disabled truck and picked with a 5/8 chain, tires a good foot off the road...as I was cranking down the road at about 50, a little old lady backed out of her driveway about a 100 yards ahead of me...I put the brake pedal to the mat, looked into my mirror to see the disabled truck running up into my crane hook. When the truck came down, it caused me to pull a 40+ MPH "wheely". I did not hit the old lady, but I think we both had to change drawers afterwards...from then on, I got into the habit of always using the axle vices when on public roads while CC towing. If I would have had a holmes style hitch on the rear of my wreckers 30 years ago, I sure would have used them.
Regards, Bob
View attachment 467351View attachment 467352
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your picture does not work
rangereter
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Sorry about that, lets try this again...
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- 1,651
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Bob, what did you use for the twist pivot?
Hope you didn't mind me tidying your shop a bit!
rangereter
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I used an 1-1/2" GR8 FT bolt that started out about 6" long (half threaded, half not) with a slotted/castle nut on the front side (with flat washer) to adjust for wear (if ever needed) or disassembly (if ever needed). The front and rear rotating halves are 1-1/2 by 5-1/2 inch bar stock about 12 to 13 inches long. I milled/countersunk the rear hoist-bar plate the depth of the bolt head (about an inch)...temp. tightened the bolt with scrap spacers, then welded the head of the bolt inside the milled out area of the plate (flush with surface). I know...clear as mud. And thanks for the help on the clean-up.
Regards, Bob
Regards, Bob
M35A2 KAISER
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I have thought about a chain rack beside the spare for commonly used chains. Our truck came with 11 and and 7 pulleys and the tool boxes get full fast. Has anyone did anything like this?
Welder Sam
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Mine came with 1/2 a box full of pulleys. Thought about trying to make some kind of rack for them but I have yet to get one out even.
- 1,651
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- Central NY
I would love to do something along these lines - but we don't have ground access lockers on the 816/936...
But may put lift gate spring/dampers on the lids to lift the weight of hooks/pig tails on the underside of the 3A 3B lids for the chain ends, so they are organised, also for some of the towbar feet maybe...
The big pulleys could be hung between the boom lift cyls on the turntable frame...
Welder Sam
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Most all my stuff will end up in this so I doubt ill do much in the way of storage.
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Csm Davis
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Dang it Zebedee I all ready owe the machine shop a weeks worth of wages and now I am determined to cut off my front outrigger pads and open up my storage. Oh well as long as I am cutting I might as well do some other stuff too. It is Christmas after all! Guess I need to print out this thead and give it to Santa Claus.
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M35A2 KAISER
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This would make a quick fix that would make finding what you want eaiser. I might steal this idea.
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Yeah - I think this would be a great mod:
1 - Convert front out rigger feet(pads) to stowable M819 rear type.
2 - Remove both locker 3A and 3B lids, with their piano hinges.
3 - Remove drip channel from center of two lockers - and fill in hole in front and back.
4 - Relocate one of the locker lids centrally, cutting in removed drip channel (#3 above) and adding a new drip channel to either side of lid. This forms new locker #3.
5 - Cut doors in either side of body sides on ends of former lockers 3A & 3B, accessible from the ground, similar to pic in post #72 & 74. Complete with hooks, pigtails etc., and 'weather' stripping/channels as nec. These form new lockers 4 A & B or 3 A and C.
6 - Plate over top of new side access lockers.
Inside walls/bulkheads between center locker (top access as before) and side lockers (new access from ground) don't have to be built to allow for through stowage of long tools - pry bars etc.
As always, I can "sketch" this for the visually challenged
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dmetalmiki
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usefull addition
I find my holmes gear very usefull. and to swing through 360 degrees. simply cut off the (floor) stops at travel limit.(viewed at the rear lower monting of the crane gear) easy with an angle grinder.Ron - I was trying to 'search' for modifying the crane from 270 deg to 360 deg rotation... didn't find anything!!!!!Tips?
DaveP, post #36 - do you have pics of the front side of the spreader - I need details of the swivel.
...but came across this old thread, which I can now add to.
Been fab'ing my version so have found a load of pics. Still looking for a scrap 850 Holmes unit to save time though.
Have found new US made 5/8 weld on grab hooks for the ends of the spreader bar tube.
Tube on the 850 is 5" ID x 40" long. Don't have details of pivot** (A frame connection) but swivel is with a simple sleeve that has two grease nipples seen in pic.
Suspension by whiffle tree - as pic of DaveP's 819 is a good option (cable is a bad idea) but I need to go with a pair of 5/8 chains, "Hammerloks" and a lift 'pear' ring route for authentisity of my project, similarly....
Ears I had to make on the rear body cross member are 3" by 1 1/2" with a 1 1/2" dia pins on a 4" 1/4 wall box.
Pic one is collection of civi units (750's mixed in).
middle pic is from an 816 on e-gay a month or two ago.
Soni's M123 (?) is also shown from his pics of the FEMTT build. (edit - added wrong pic3 - oops)
(NB Holmes 750 is a smaller unit.)
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dmetalmiki
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lower mounting that is.
Csm Davis
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Okay I like that but here is what I am going to do. Remove the outriggers completely I never use them. Turn the toolbox lids 180°so they open to the front and the crane will never completely block them from opening. And I am going to do a door on both sides of the truck. And the sides are getting cut so they will fold down 90°. This mod starts in the morning