'46 Chevy Shorty - Page 53

Tango · 06-30-2015, 10:00 AM

Howdy All --- Since I am still waiting on a few significant elements from my friendly, neighborhood sheetmetal shop, I jumped on the back deck. Well...it's not quite ready to jump on yet, but at least I have a start.

Here is how it looks so far...nice, huh?

...oh...here is how most of that stuff is supposed to go together. It will be a fold up consisting of two, 24" deep sections. The part next to the body will be finished in light gauge steel diamond plate and the fold down part will be done with expanded metal to minimize drag when it is up and moving.

Here is how I originally had the frame mount brackets...

...but I decided to add a little more beef to the structure via some gussets.

The deck structure is all 11 gauge steel tube. Some 2" x 2" and the rest 1-1/2" x 2". Total weight should only be about 150 pounds or so before I attach my gennie back there.

Onward!

roach711 · 06-30-2015, 10:46 AM

Man, you do nice work!

Tango · 06-30-2015, 03:33 PM

Thanks roach --- I'm also working on a couple of adjustable, drop down stabilizers for that outer section to help minimize stress on the hinge. Don't want it to collapse while folks are dancin' back there.

Scooternj · 06-30-2015, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tango

Thanks roach --- I'm also working on a couple of adjustable, drop down stabilizers for that outer section to help minimize stress on the hinge. Don't want it to collapse while folks are dancin' back there.

Makes sense. The M-1101/2 series trailers have clamp on stabilizing legs for when the trailer's detached from the vehicle. Makes it a helluva lot safer climbing into it

(They're on the forward bulkhead, above the tongue)

Tango · 06-30-2015, 06:10 PM

Thanks Scooter --- wish I could see a close up of those puppies to see how they are made. Been thinking about some kind of a screw type adjustment so they can individually adapt to whatever terrain.

Scooternj · 06-30-2015, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tango

Thanks Scooter --- wish I could see a close up of those puppies to see how they are made. Been thinking about some kind of a screw type adjustment so they can individually adapt to whatever terrain.

Hollow square tube structure, with an adjustable inner square tube with locking pin and hinged spreader pad and connector, also with locking pin. One of my secondary jobs was being in charge of my squadron's fleet of vehicles, so I got very familiar with our equipment.

Redbear · 07-01-2015, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tango

Howdy All ---
Here is how it looks so far...nice, huh?

. . . the fold down part will be done with expanded metal to minimize drag when it is up and moving. . . .

Onward!

Most people think a panel with holes has less wind resistance. But I think if you check, you will find that the turbulence through all the holes will increase drag. You might want to research that.

Tango · 07-01-2015, 09:09 AM

Hmmm...Interesting. Thanks Redbear, I'll try to check that out. The edge of the deck will be just inside the line of the sides, but this old girl's rear end has a lot of curve that will likely pull air around and in behind her (feel free to go wherever you want with that one).

Airflow & drag can do some funny things. About a hundred years ago I raced formula GP motorcycles and built my own bike pretty much from the ground up. The seat/tail section was basically a copy of Yamaha factory racers that tapered closed behind the rider but had an odd, outward flair along the bottom edge. I read a study they had done indicating such a design closed the airstream but also created a slight ripple effect that prevented anyone from gaining any advantage from drafting.

Course my bus is never going to see speeds anything near what that scooter did...but anytime you can take advantage of some positive dynamics...it's got to help.

Now...if I can just get the folks at The Skunk Works to run some numbers on this...

ol trunt · 07-01-2015, 11:17 AM

Hey Tango. Take a look at the Atwood 82301 camper jacks. They are infinitely adjustable and can be had for a few bucks from most old school camper trailers--Even my motorcycle trailer has them. On my bus, I threw away the sliding portion and replaced it with a hydraulic ram. The base (frame mount portion) is quite robust and certainly would be strong enough for your beaver tail. Jack

Tango · 07-02-2015, 12:51 AM

Thanks Jack --- they look genuinely sturdy but I am hoping to work up something like a screw jack that is infinitely adjustable. Played with a couple of designs today that involve allthread and some pipe that might do the trick. We'll see how it goes.

milkmania · 07-02-2015, 01:16 AM

where'd you get the miniature tools???

M1031A1 · 07-02-2015, 10:26 AM

I had NO IDEA Milwaukee made Dremmel-sized tools!!!

Tango · 07-02-2015, 05:34 PM

Of course I use the miniature "model makers" line. You guys didn't really think my bus was REAL did you?

milkmania · 07-02-2015, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tango

Thanks Scooter --- wish I could see a close up of those puppies to see how they are made. Been thinking about some kind of a screw type adjustment so they can individually adapt to whatever terrain.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tango

Thanks Jack --- they look genuinely sturdy but I am hoping to work up something like a screw jack that is infinitely adjustable. Played with a couple of designs today that involve allthread and some pipe that might do the trick. We'll see how it goes.

6k landing gear, with adjustable feet?

$340.19

Atwood 75333 Heavy Duty 5th Wheel Landing Gear Long Handle Trailer Camper RV

M1031A1 · 07-02-2015, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tango

Of course I use the miniature "model makers" line. You guys didn't really think my bus was REAL did you?

Tango - I knew you were working on a smaller bus, but WOW, YOU know how to build-to-scale!

Tango · 07-02-2015, 09:35 PM

When I said it was a "Shorty"...I meant it!

And I think I have a plan for the stabilizers. It is pretty simple...some all-thread, a length of pipe and a couple of nuts. That way, each leg can adapt to whatever surface I wind up on. Think Lunar craters. I'll try to get a drawing worked out. It looks doable in my head...but that's the scary part.

HolyBus · 07-02-2015, 10:52 PM

$340.19 ? What do they really want that $.19 for? Some market bean counter idea? Build it cheaper and laugh at they pricing.

M1031A1 · 07-03-2015, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tango

It looks doable in my head...but that's the scary part.

Need we say more????

Sorry, sometimes I can't help myself!

crazycal · 07-03-2015, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkmania

6k landing gear, with adjustable feet?

$340.19

Atwood 75333 Heavy Duty 5th Wheel Landing Gear Long Handle Trailer Camper RV

Not very heavy duty. I wouldn't use on a bus. Plus, you want to be able to jack up separately.

milkmania · 07-03-2015, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tango

Thanks roach --- I'm also working on a couple of adjustable, drop down stabilizers for that outer section to help minimize stress on the hinge. Don't want it to collapse while folks are dancin' back there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazycal

Not very heavy duty. I wouldn't use on a bus. Plus, you want to be able to jack up separately.

I thought he was just wanting to stabilize it, not lift it.
stopped at Atwoods farm supply earlier today....

the jack in first 2 pics, is the same jack.... set at different intervals, with pins.

$66.99 each

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