M816 wrecker

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Haha very familiar with the auction sites, latest deal I won and one of the reasons why I started building that 5th wheel hitch. http://www.govplanet.com/jsp/s/item/917417?do=1

I want to swap over to the 12r24.5 tires, those tires are about 1" shorter than the current 395's so that's close enough. Finding used tires with good tread for about $100-150 each with retreads being a little more than that. Gonna cost a bit more up front but after selling the current tires it would be pretty close to the same cost as just getting replacement wheels.

 

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And the wrecker is back at the lot. Will unload it from the trailer tomorrow. Also picked up the 11 wheels for it, size 24.5"

 

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Drove it off the trailer without any surprise issues and parked it in it's spot. Next time it leaves there it will be on either 11r24.5"s or 12r24.5"s.

 

[MrMarty51]

Nice toys you have there Red.

 

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Nice toys you have there Red.

Very useful toys to have. The wrecker, white van trailer, and the 5kw diesel generator sitting next to it are mine. The tractor belongs to a friend (military M915a1. Big Cam 400, Allison auto, with interaxle diff lock for 4x6) and the lowboy was a rental that was actually very reasonable at less than $500 for the week.

Poor wrecker is most likely going to spend the winter sitting there waiting for tires. the worn out dog bones (rear suspension links) didn't like that incident and look like the lower 4 are about done so will be replacing them. so the list of repairs/mods to the wrecker over the winter/fall:

Lower 4 dog bones (have 2 spares with good joints)
Replace the broken wheel studs (maybe delayed till spring)
Get the new wheels blasted/painted
Clean up the dash plumbing
Clean up the dash wiring
Fix the air leak (1 audible but not bad)
Secure the 3rd air tank better
Install the cab heater
Install the Jake brakes
Plumb in the 3rd axle air brakes
Install the replacement crane cable

 

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Immobile but still being worked. Sale of the dump truck remains fell through so plan is to keep the dump bed/subframe and cut up the rest for scrap.

 

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Partially split a hydraulic hose the other day. Not bad enough to be a gusher but enough for a steady flow that made a mess. Thankfully these trucks use the old system, relatively low pressure (below 3000psi) with a high volume of fluid compared to the new system of high pressure/lower volume. That's great because 2 4ft hoses cost me $87 shipped, compared to roughly $100 per foot with hoses for the newer systems.



Draining the tank









With the hose replaced the next task was to unload the scrap metal and gravel from the dump bed and load it onto a trailer for the guy who bought the bed.

 

[MrMarty51]

Nice to ave the equipment to move stuff around with, You are a very fortunate man.
Nice looking Dodge Lamb too. OOOPPPSSSsssss, sorry, I mean Ram.

 

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Yesterday finally got around to messing with the wrecker again. Worked out a trade for some heavy duty 5/8" chain and had to find a place for it. Probably not going to stay on the bumper but works for now haha.




Spent today getting the last of the m51a2 dump truck remains ready to go to scrap. The 14x20 NDT tires will be going onto the wrecker for now so the truck can drive around the lot and to the shop at least. The tires have seen better days.

 

[MrMarty51]

Yesterday finally got around to messing with the wrecker again. Worked out a trade for some heavy duty 5/8" chain and had to find a place for it. Probably not going to stay on the bumper but works for now haha.

View attachment 51311

That looks like a bad @s rig right there. I love it.

 

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Aint the prettiest setup but the dirty hooker is almost mobile again. Replaced the wheel studs on the 3rd axle passenger side then installed the 4 intact bridge truck tires/wheels. Going to chain up the middle axle, then start the prep work to remove the bed. Bunch of mods/repairs coming up that it will be much easier with the bed off.

Those tires/wheels are only temporary, and it aint going on the road with em.

 

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And now it's mobile around the lot. Chained up the axle and drove it over to the shop door so the welder could reach it and air up the tires to 50psi (rears are at 40psi in the pic).




Reason for the welder is to secure the stock manual outriggers. They have 2 hinges by design, letting them pivot (for storage). With the bed secured to the truck chassis it's fine, but I keep picturing the bed falling when it's sitting there on just it's outriggers because of those joints. So I welded up the pivots to prevent that from happening.




The eventual plan is hydraulic outriggers so this is just temporary. If the wrecker is driven on the road before that mod is done then the outriggers can be removed from the bed by pulling 4 pins and sliding each one out of it's tube.

 

[Paveltolz]

Awesome work. I like the look of the chains hanging off the bumper. Definitely Mad Max-ish. With all you're doing, my delays and prevarications on doing stuff makes me feel unworthy. Keep it up!

 

[MrMarty51]

I like that, Mad Maxish. Might be a new name for the wrecker. LOL

 

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Awesome work. I like the look of the chains hanging off the bumper. Definitely Mad Max-ish. With all you're doing, my delays and prevarications on doing stuff makes me feel unworthy. Keep it up!

Feel free to come on by, the wrecker is stored maybe 10 minutes from Saratoga Springs haha.

I like that, Mad Maxish. Might be a new name for the wrecker. LOL

Haha well it got dubbed "Dirty Hooker" a few weeks ago haha.



Spent time today getting the bed ready for removal. Removed the air lines that run to the rear winch components, removed the 10 bolts that secure the rear brackets, and the 8 large Ubolts (left 2 hand tight) that secure the bed to the chassis. Still need to remove the power divider, it's linkages, and the 2 PTO shafts that run to the bed. Waiting to do those until just before the bed is lifted.

Planning to place the order for the cam locks (from cargo shipping containers) on monday.

 

[Paveltolz]

Feel free to come on by, the wrecker is stored maybe 10 minutes from Saratoga Springs haha.

I'd enjoy that. Best time to drop in and address please?

 

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I'd enjoy that. Best time to drop in and address please?

message sent.

 

[Paveltolz]

Got it

 

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Met up with Paveltolz for a while today, got to see the madness of this vehicle project hahaha.

So here is the bent outrigger from yesterday.







Needless to say they aint exactly the strongest setup. Managed to bend it back into place using a come along





Again I'm not going to keep the manual outriggers they will be removed permanently, but to remove the bed the first time they are a necessity (bed must go up to clear the rivet heads of the chassis). Speaking of which, the bed is now lifted off of the chassis and everything is disconnected.


These pictures are for ideas with where to mount a hydraulic tank. These pics are of the stock tank and possibly mounting it just behind the cab. Other option (without buying another tank) is to use a spare fuel tank I have mounted down along the passenger side. Both options have their downsides.

 

[Paveltolz]

Yes, I got to see the 'Dirty Hooker' myself today and I have to say I'm even more impressed with Red's drive and desires not only for this truck but, life's goals. You're a good man and you've got my respect. This project sounded big and impressive on the forum but, up close and in person...pics don't do it all justice.