Structo dumptruck conversion

[frizzen]

I wanted to build a light dumptruck, this is mostly based off of the tonka conversions of smallhaul and several others i've seen on here. (Steal oll the ideas!)

For the donor, I picked up a 1/16 Redcat rock crawler. 4wd, solid axles, locked diffs and trans, and axle hexes were about the width i needed.

Originally i wanted to convert my 1930s style nylint, but once i had axles it looked too narrow with the fenders, so I grabbed a 1960s Structo hydraulic dump truck tandem axle with the pow-r-r-r motor noise maker.

http://imgur.com/8tDrDAvh.jpg

My plan was to just go quick and dirty on this, use the original stamped frame and try not to get too crazy in hopes of making the indy show.

Tires are just the modified stock hard rubber that's been under it since it left the factory.

I ordered a set of tamiya semi springs, but what i got is too long. it's like 3 inch eye-eye. I can't figure a way to get my front axle under the fender and not have to chop off the front bumper to get spring shackles through it.

http://imgur.com/ZhdbmASh.jpg

Pics will be here as soon as photobucket starts playing nicely. Photobutt is awful and should feel bad.

http://www.tnttoytrucks.com/Structo602.html. it's pretty close to this truck.

[frizzen]

http://rsmg.pbsrc.com/albums/v413/frizzen/Mobile%20Uploads/20160727_053654.jpg?w=480&h=480&fit=clip


http://rsmg.pbsrc.com/albums/v413/frizzen/Mobile%20Uploads/20160727_053811.jpg?w=480&h=480&fit=clip

The 20 min edit rule isn't good.

[frizzen]

So i'm painfully aware now that tamiya # 9808091, 9808092, 9808094 was the wrong type of spring. 4.75" long spring was way too big, but it's what amazon had.

Anybody know what springs i was actually wanting to buy?

[C-MurDaA]

i think you want the ones for the tamiya highlift (f350 or tundra)

[PrimeRigg]

the springs for the hilift are longer than the semi set, you might want to modify the ones you have.

[frizzen]

I curled up the 'b' helper springs, and got the front end looking a little better. Once i got the front of the springs mounted, and played with shackle lengths on both ends.

http://i.imgur.com/ib442O9h.jpg

And mangled a hole in the chassis, got the trans mounted up to some brackets.

http://i.imgur.com/s9WunDEh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/4yK3ptAh.jpg

And i still have some suspension travel when it's got a load of dirt on.

http://i.imgur.com/79mOqQGh.jpg

Cab mounts i went really easy / lazy: I stuck a bolt through the bumper rivet holes and cab, threw a nut on those, the bolts slide into the original chassis rivet holes, then the stock tabs slide into the original slots.

[frizzen]

Bottom view

http://i.imgur.com/uGd7NKYh.jpg

Got the interior back in. Trans clearance wasn't as brutal as i expected it to end up.

http://i.imgur.com/j8tXKDoh.jpg

I know by the stunned silence you've all been wondering who would run such a modern, immaculate, classy, and well preserved vehicle in their fleet?

http://i.imgur.com/AkD8BjLh.jpg

I haven't come up with a great company name yet... We better hope i get creative before my dragline crane becomes part of that guys other division Mike Oxbig Erection and Mining. :cop:

[frizzen]

Much fun at the Indy 2016 show on friday!!!

http://i.imgur.com/tg2g3lph.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/cvEnE7Sh.jpg

shook a spring loose, hit the shop
http://i.imgur.com/CjkVU2Uh.jpg

hit the general store for lunch
http://i.imgur.com/n3xV48kh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/AmTEhOCh.jpg

[frizzen]

Here was the truck before i started modding, i had yanked one of the tandem axles off since it only had enough retainer clips for one rear. I was hoping for a stance more like this than my big lifted truck.

http://imgur.com/8tDrDAvh.jpg

[frizzen]

So lessons from indy:

Rock crawlers aren't fast. Taking the 3.770 tall tires off and replacing them with 2.315 tall tires means that you need to pull over and let everyone pass. Seriously, everyone passed me. I can reach top speed in under a yard. I have more torque than the tires could ever use. Must regear the trans!

Drilling brass bushings from round stock by hand makes a really wobbly setup. I need to either redo wheel pin drive using tubes, or grind the tires to the new round, or get different rim/tire combo.
I also learned its possible to have a car shake the rear suspension apart, um, in like 1 battery pack. :lol: but the crowd seemed to like it

Setting the suspension up for heaping load of dirt doesn't work that well for crumb rubber. Full load of rubber, no movement.. this didn't help the out of round tire situation since there's no real spring or any dampening. Once i got home I loaded the bed with soda cans, and learned the rear springs didn't get near max out until 6 pounds, i need to pull a leaf..

My transfer case still needs lowered since my drivelines are horrible, i need to shorten the rear springs. i need to put deans plugs on so i can use better battery and charger. I need some lights, a trailer hitch, and mudflaps. i've also got a few ideas for some interior detailing...

Kinda getting tired of talking to myself though.

[frizzen]

If anyone may be interested in these donors, here's a bit more i've learned.

Turns out I used a 1965-66 only configuration Structo hydraulic dump truck. I still have no clue if it's supposed to be based on any kind of real truck, or just a generic truck.

Stock steering on the Redcat Everest / Exceede Maxstone donor is kinda bad and understeers a lot, here's the biggest part of the fix:
http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/newbie-general/270474-exceed-rc-maxstone-16-upgrades-tuning-10.html
Redrill knuckles for zero ackerman, make new draglink and tierod. Eliminates tire scrub, it's still turning a 4 locked truck, but atleast you can steer the same direction.

On the trans, up to 370 brushed motors fit, and stock esc will support them.

The differentials have a 14t pinion, 38t ring. Which is 2.714 to 1.

The motor pinion is 14t. i don't yet know the spur size, or the trans total ratio.

Any specs or dimentions that might be helpful?

[frizzen]

So what's the most important part for a DUMP truck to have?

Yeah, you'd really think so...
http://i.imgur.com/aX4GW14h.jpg

But instead of getting that part so it can DUMP: i made light mounts, hacked servo board so the lights can be activated from the tx, made a trailer hitch, started working on a trailer, and made the steering wheel i'd thrown in there look less like a round servo horn.

Other than softening the rear suspension a little by pulling the smallest helper spring, i haven't done much of the planned mods.

Thinking i may try adding Plastidip to the tires to see if it helps with the traction situation. I knocked more rust off the hubcaps, but didn't try for too shiny, this trucks not about that life.

[frizzen]

I picked up a Helion (4300 rpm) 370 motor to replace the stock 260. So i moved up from an inline 6 to a flathead v8. It took making the motor mount holes ugly ovals, and a little file work on the skid mounts, and taking a ridge off the side of the trans.

Stock pinion is 14t, to 61t spur. not sure about 3 gears in trans. Axles are 14t pinion, 38t ring

I also picked up a delrin cutting board to use as spacers for a t-case drop.

[roadranger]

Nice work on getting the ol' girl running again!
The hood/fender contours link like a 65-66 Chevy/GMC, but that grill looks like an IH…

[frizzen]

Thanks roadranger, it's getting there. Most of the driveability issues were because i wanted to keep the stock wheels, or rushing to be able to drive at Indy.

I'd put out the help wanted signs a while ago, these 2 nicely dressed germans inquired about jobs while i was at RuralKing. They said they overspent on christmas and agreed to work for me at half price just to have a job.
http://i.imgur.com/fxL6ZKvl.jpg

They look awful clean cut for Mike Oxbig, but we know the interview isn't usually the real guy anyway. We'll see how they work out...

[RCP57]

Haha. Nice!

[Rvjimd]

Frizz,

Could you post a few pictures of the underside of your truck? I'm going to abandon the independent suspension and try something more like yours.

I need pictures and design ideas for the axel and suspension and drivetrain. Not sure if or how I am going to be able to use my dromida truck diff parts since they are NOT solid axels, but I'm gona see if I can figure out something...

Jim

[frizzen]

Post 6 has a pretty good top view, and post 7 has an ok bottom view. The t-case has been dropped, and spring shackles changed to aluminum since then.

Anything specific you'd like when i grab some better pics?

[Rvjimd]

I don't know how I didn't see those? I thin the post 7 is what I need. How did you attach the axel to the leaf spring, some sort of U bolt? Is that in one of the pictures in the thread?

Thanks!

[frizzen]

The leafsprings i used had 3 holes already drilled. Axle to leaf attachment was just a bolt through the leaf into existing hole in the top of the diff, post 6 kinda shows on front.

U-bolts would look better and be more scale, this was just trying to reuse existing hardware from the donor crawler so i didn't have to hit the hobby shop.

[frizzen]

Hopefully these help some

http://i.imgur.com/TWL2xx1h.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/0QxcMKzh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/wxM2PwQh.jpg

[Rvjimd]

Frizz, ya that helps a bit. You probably say in the thread, did you use taymia axels on this?

Today I bought a yeti Jr. 1/18 or maybe it says 1/16 but it turns out to be NOT the perfect donor for a dump truck. The rear axel is solid, but it has open diffs and the front end is independent suspension and not a solid axel.

Jim

[Rvjimd]

Well, what sucks is when you click on edit because you are under 20 min, but by the time you finished typing the new stuff it is past 20 min limit and it screws you...

[frizzen]

No, tamiya axles are way too big, and expensive.

This is a 1/16 scale Redcat Everest / Exceed Maxstone rock crawler. 4wd, Solid axles, spools in both, standard hexes, lots of axle mount options, 3 gear trans, no center diff, 2 ch radio. They go for $100-120 on most hobby shops or amazon. Some better parts are available or adaptable, lots of tweaks to make things work better.

[Rvjimd]

Frizz, did your motor swap take care of the slow speed issue? Or did you also change gears?

Jim

[frizzen]

The motor swap got me up to the speed of semis in the city layout, plus a bit. I'm sure they'll still drop me easily in the open in higher gears, but i'm driving a single speed beater dump truck not a ratrod. The 370 really helped.

http://www.scale4x4rc.org/forums/showthread.php?t=58173
Said that i either needed Losi Mini Crawler or 1/16 Redcat everest axles if i wanted to tuck anything under fender or bed

My new 'steelies' gave me more grip and a touch more speed than my 'whitewalls', and fixed the wobble/shaking. I'll probably try to find some street or rally tread instead of the hard slicks it comes with.

I have not done a regear, and probably won't since it did petty well at lebanon. I might consider it on a nicer looking truck to really dial it in. I can easily haul 5 cans of soda in bed, and another 6 in a trailer, so i've atleast got enough torque i want.

[frizzen]

http://i.imgur.com/6CRuAX9h.jpg
Took the the Dump and Sandloader trailer to play. I didn't think to get pretty posed pictures.

If you do something like mine, watch out for driveshaft bind on the front. It has a horrible angle, short shaft, and leaf springs are harder to fix yoke angles than linked axles.

[Rvjimd]

Ah, hadn't thought about the steering geometry issues.

I would love to see some good pictures of your rig pulling the sand loader! Do you have the loader powered? I may have seen one of those, but it has been YEARS, probably played with one as a kid in the sand box! :p

Are there pictures of your dump solution? Did you use an actuator or what?

Jim

[Rvjimd]

Frizz,

You handing out near the keyboard today?

Do you recall any specs on the leaf springs? How long eye to eye, width, shackle length, height unloaded?

I'm gona try 1/4" wide and add a helper under the rear ones for sure. I'm using strapping to start with. They might be a prototype until I get a little further into it.

AND, anyone else following along, if you have done leaf springs and have any tips I'm ALL ears!

Thanks,

Jim

[frizzen]

The tamiya leaf spring i gave p/n for in beginning are 0.260" wide, mains were 4.5" eye to eye, and have several helper springs available. forward got cut down to 2.3" eye to eye, both got a helper spring. I'd like shorter rear springs to push the axle a little further back, it now sits between the original tandems.

On mine rear shackle is .700 eyes, mounted aft side of spring. Front shackle i just used some bike chain outer link plates to get it together for indy, also mounted aft side. The shackles should be close to vertical but pointing toward the axle at rest. Set your fixed eye to center the axle, then shackle length tunes the spring rates. (Ignore the lightning holes in my frame, they were for testing)

For dumping i'm still planning a figreli / actuonics unit. I got confused trying to make sence of what i needed, and instead spent the actuator budget building a VW bus so i could operate 3 machines at the show.

Loader isn't powered other than the hand crank, but maybe somewhere down the road. I'd like to do a belt drive with a generator hiding components.
http://i.imgur.com/7bHV0pnh.jpg

[Rvjimd]

That loader looks cool behind the truck! Thanks for all the measurements and install tips! I'm headed to the shop now, hope to get the axels mounted today, I'll post some pics, I think I started a build thread for mine, but I have more of my truck in your thread at this point! :p

Jim

[frizzen]

It's all good, seems like i tried doing a lot of my crane in your thread.
We're having fun and exchanging knowlege.

[frizzen]

I still think I'd like to use a figreli / actuonix actuator for the main lift ram.

Bed is 5.20"w by 7"L by 2.5"h. Hinge is 1.5" fwd of the gate, ram attach 2.25" fwd of gate. Original 'hydraulic' ram is an oil damped spring 100mm open, 80 closed, 20mm travel. (Eww, metric) I'm open to suggestions of better ways to do it.

L12- 30mm ranges mount hole lengths from 82 to 112mm

So i'm thinking i need an L12r-30-210, or L12r-30-100. I think the 210 ratio slow speed would fit this look better?

Or there was talk of an L16-30 becoming available and only 14mm longer than the L12-30-.

[Rvjimd]

Thanks for forging all the measurements! I think they are the same for me. Your truck was originally a tandem axel? I have one of each but I started with the single axel truck.

I did a YouTube video a year ago or so where I made a screw drive linear actuator, I may try to do something like that and see if it works. It uses delrin rod drilled and taped to fit threaded rod. I used one of the micro gear motors.

Jim

[frizzen]

Yep, i thought this beat up tandem axle looked coolest of what that antique shop had, and even if I couldn't stick with tandems, it would give me spare wheels for a trailer, plus the bed was bigger and had a tailgate. It came down to either this or a red/yellow Tonka, and i'm pretty sure everyone has seen *that* conversion already. Didn't want "Hey, why does this build suck more that i remember?"

Then i figured out an axle donor, but couldn't find spare axles seperately and didn't want to buy a whole second truck to scrap just for 1.5 axles. Even if the diff matched up enough that i could figure out a pass-through, the rear axle mounting didn't really look like it would work upside down.

I originally was going to do a servo powered cable bed lift with 2:1 or 3:1 advantage, but chassis space got real tight once i had it driving. Winch drum at back of cab, pulley at rear frame, pulley on the lifting arm, dead end at the bed. But the driveshaft and my leaf mounts were pretty close in that area.

https://youtu.be/2R0stfMjJ7w
I don't know, these are 50 throw instead of 30. 100 ratio looks good and quick, but 200 ratio looks good and more powerful too.

I went beyond Cardboard Aided Design, and made a scrap wood actuator template. Then i remembered the motor housing and remade it to correct dimentions. In the stock holes, it'll lay frame, and can go a little past vertical.

http://i.imgur.com/FFAIqv6h.jpg

[frizzen]

My first operator didn't like the rig and wanted to run other equipment. Taking night classes and all that.

'I quit, and i'm going that way.'
http://i.imgur.com/us80Eael.jpg

So we hired this new guy. So far he's really enjoying the old truck and isn't complaining about not having new stuff.

http://i.imgur.com/syOT0nVh.jpg

[Rvjimd]

I hadn't recognized that the mirrors were diy, nice, I should do something like to mine. I also need to do a video of it hauling!

[frizzen]

Can't back up accurately without mirrors, and most trucks i saw from this era just have the big single mirror on the bracket. So i just grabbed a little Brass sheet, copper wire, solder, silver sharpie. Didn't feel like making them as nice as what the crane truck has.

I didn't know how big of a hit this would be over at the first meet, so I guess i was thinking 'scale points' like at rock crawling events. I thought they seemed to fit the look. It's not nice or fancy, but Mike isn't making a lot hauling since all the bigger trucks got popular.

[TheBennyB]

Looks good. When you getting some truck nutz on this thing? Talk about going over well at a meet.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RPM-R-C-Products-Dirty-Danglers-Pink/112102075727?_trksid=p2385738.c100677.m4598&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%2 6asc%3D20160908110712%26meid%3D951287c4c6d04c8ea92 2bf9cdc6e570b%26pid%3D100677%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D8%26 sd%3D122092382079

[frizzen]

Hahaha, wow i didn't know those were an rc thing. Probably not for this one, who wants to dump on their sack, or knock it into stuff offroad.
but if i were doing a 'Brodozer' style truck, i'd have to get those. Then make a scale yeti cooler, find either some Tapout or Monster or DC stickers...

Now that i've got a better looking Mike, I still need to figure out more of his look. What's his hat logo? Does he have a trucker tan, some stubble, stained shirt, overweight? Who is he?

[frizzen]

Playing around with some other trailers.

Custom structo bed
http://i.imgur.com/16uyaShh.jpg

Nylint
http://i.imgur.com/NlsUJUoh.jpg

[skeeter]

NICE! I like it a LOT

[frizzen]

Let's do some work
http://i.imgur.com/4uFlljsh.jpg

Those earlier trailers are ok, but...
What's the absolute coolest trailer you can ever stick behind a dumptruck?

http://i.imgur.com/h1ak2Xah.jpg

Alright, nice!
This 1950-1954 Doepke 'Unit 357 Crane' has been hanging out in my garage for a while, but I keep saying I'm not going to start *another* project until something is "finished". I built a brass towbar and a sleeve to connect the stock short little Doepke towbar to my hitch. Slide the joggle bar through the hole, slide sleeve over both to lock the bars rigid. It should track better than the video of TheStuffz crane behind his truck.


The ladies got their tetanus shots, so time for a celebration that photobutt has been pruged from the build.

http://i.imgur.com/62P50emh.jpg

[frizzen]

Tire changes are hard at this scale...
http://i.imgur.com/3LfIA61h.jpg

I really liked the hubcap over real rims idea. A rare earth magnet is stuck to the inside of cap, which holds it to the lug nut. The cap amazingly comes to the edge of my rim, with the fake sidewall left exposed.

[skeeter]

I like what you've done with the hub caps

[frizzen]

Thanks to Mustang46555, i now have a DUMPtruck! Not just a truck that looks like it should dump. I'm running a used Figreli L12-30-100-12S, and i'm feeding it off an old servo board with no feedback so it holds any position. I'm not sure if it's got enough torque.

https://i.imgur.com/5fmYQach.jpg

My driver got a magnetic implant, with a magnet between his back and seat, and another on back side of the seat. Now it doesn't matter this has vinyl seats, doesn't have seatbelts, and rides like a dumptruck

I learned that if you're towing a mobile crane, you need a way to secure the outriggers up. Also make sure your sandloader chute handle is over center so that doesn't drop.

I need to rework the tail light mounts into mudflap holders.
I need to make a new drawbar plate for new heavy duty pintle hitch instead of the tow ball.
I need to look more into the 1.9 rally car tires, these slicks are still hard slicks.
--
Also threw this together in a hurry for the meet
https://i.imgur.com/4vznMXAh.jpg

Woodsman trailer full of 16 inch log rounds and splits, with a Polaris Sportsman 850 AWD strapped down. Drop the trailer, pull the straps, and the quad could be hooked up to the front. Add a rider and a chainsaw, you're ready to get more firewood.

[skeeter]

Your next company asset, perhaps?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1950s-era-Pressed-Steel-Dump-Truck-Tonka-Toys-Toy-Model-Old-Retro-14-L/382229964093?_trkparms=aid%3D333008%26algo%3DRIC.M BE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140127102845%26meid%3Ddc12a9 7b2bf8452a83784f7236eb7360%26pid%3D100148%26rk%3D3 %26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D272403860014&_trksid=p2059210.c100148.m2813

[frizzen]

Heh, i like the way you think. i kinda like that one...
https://i.imgur.com/x4s8VcXh.jpg

Actually, the orange Tonka Dump and Doepke Unit Crane are probably next up on the block to start converting. The econoline cube Ambulance in there already has a thread started. I'd love to eventually do my dads 1962 America Lafrance AMF Wen-Mac Texaco fire truck, but don't want to mess it up.
https://i.imgur.com/T6wi53ph.jpg

Since you like crusty. Here's a Nylint stakebed i picked up to either just be a tow-truck load, or try to restore and build into a box truck (really want to build a 1930-60s Gillette razor delivery truck at some point)
https://i.imgur.com/KhCd0fPh.jpg

[skeeter]

Iliked it, & I knew you'd like it too, & it's at an affordable price too. I though about getting it, but decided I've already buried myself in projects for the winter, & don't really need anymore right now.

Yes, I do like crusty kool toys

[frizzen]

I smoked the original servo, so a hitec hs225mg was installed

Tamiya rally block tires, sp-476 or 50476. Put on the Traxxas steelies.

https://i.imgur.com/8w6HFnxh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/5qzIM1th.jpg

[skeeter]

I would LOVE to find old crusty toys like those for THOSE prices! Everything I find is just as crusty but they want a LOT more $$ for it.

[frizzen]

I felt like knocking together a little trailer. Kinda based on the old single axle car haulers. Good for baby excvators, skidsteers, shipping containers...

https://i.imgur.com/coxnLnGh.jpg

Drop hitch to level it out

https://i.imgur.com/koDtvq5h.jpg

Yet somehow the jackscrew gearmotor still hasn't been fabricated into a bed lift...

[frizzen]

I may have been complaining for a while that my Tonka Sandloader doesn't really work as a loader for my dump since they won't reach the bed on my lifted Structo, and it's really only useful to the truck as a trailer that's hard to back up.
They kinda work on the 'no tailgate' style dumptrucks, i don't have one converted. Plus you probably aren't going to move that much material, the bulldozer tracks these are based around only have 0.200" tall scooping paddles.

Something bigger. I like OLD stuff that you can see doing stuff and things when its working.

https://i.imgur.com/82FaCPch.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/ATh8oyMh.jpg

Careful mr bruder, this was built before safety warnings so there is no sticker to say there aren't safety stickers. "Don't stupid". "No dumb here". "The entire thing is a crush point". "This WILL kill you, and it will hurt the entire time". Yeah, maybe it's better the new stuff has less cool things to watch working, whatever.

I tracked down a 1946 Doepkey #2001 Barber-Greene Bucket Loading Elevator. Little rough and needed some work, but not too bad for being 74 years old. The real question is how it'll do in crumb rubber?

But seriously what is it?
https://youtu.be/8eImDhZbVC8

[skeeter]

I just watched that video. This is an amazing piece of equipment. It reminds me of the machine they use to use when the county dug out the ditches. Very similar in concept.

[Zabco]

"Modern version"

https://i.postimg.cc/HkMrv9H4/Barb-Grn.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

2012 HCEA annual meet, Bowling Green, OH

[frizzen]

It was probably one of theirs skeeter, that company now makes a bunch of wild looking ditch diggers and asphault paving machines. They're pretty cool to watch work!

Great pic of a cool machine zabco! Looks like a fun meet.

My metal scratch-building is weak, so abusing old toys is more my speed.

1946-49 version
http://www.tnttoytrucks.com/DPKBGtrack1.html
1953-56 version
http://www.tnttoytrucks.com/DPKBGwheel1.html

Mine is a 1946 version of tracked bucket conveyer, because things like swivel-chute, springy track tensioner

[frizzen]

I know at the meets and shows we always have Excavators and Wheelloaders loading trucks, or maybe Bulldozers feeding Conveyors up to a Hopper that can load trucks...

I think it's always interesting to look back at older ways of doing something.

https://youtu.be/aX63fqhys3s

Oh wow man, check out how loaded that gets.

[skeeter]

That'll be a fantastic addition to your growing construction company, once she get re-powered!

[frizzen]

It's been quiet, here's a teaser. With my level of skill, a large pickup truck box is still a little hard to accurately hit with a dragline bucket.

I'd been looking for some more old toys, mostly trying to find a Heiliner scraper, but i want them ALL, like the Wooldridge belly dump, or Euclid belly dump. I found the back end of a Wooldridge wiggle-wagon that was rough enough the collectors didn't seem to notice. I thought this could be fun to put behind a semi like my 50s Tonka, or as second box behind another complete Articulated Dump Truck

Mike Oxbig Hauling

https://imgur.com/JUF94STh.jpg

Let's get loaded man

https://imgur.com/ZKRGzWWh.jpg

...but Mike Oxbigger

[skeeter]

I love that old trailer!

[Tgrzes]

I’ll second that! Love the old metal trucks!

[jerry56]

I'm really glad to see you picking these back up.....I really like these Tonka conversions...
I have a couple of those trucks you mentioned... Now that the seasons have changed and the outside work is winding down I look forward to getting back to my RC...

[frizzen]

Thanks guys!!! I've always found the pressed steel toys to be a great balance of 'more impressive' but still 'more relatable' than most of the other stuff. They may not fully be as scale as the new high-end stuff, but i really dig them. The cool old mechanical machines speak to me louder than hydraulic stuff does.

That doepke wooldridge trailer is from 1948-49 is sitting with a 1954-56 tonka ford.
Guess i'd need to get the tonka started, probably on wpl axles with leafs and d12 wheels, then get some tamiya 5th wheels & kingpins, then figure out how to adapt heights for various rolling stock behind it.
Or if i can find a complete wooldridge, i think it'd look great as a wiggle wagon with a secornd box

I was thinking maybe 2 channels on the trailer to do like bomb door close, and a closed-latch release? Do belly dumps usually go with variable doors?

I still really need to come up with Bed Dump on the the old Structo. I keep coming up with wimpy ideas that are full of fail.

[jerry56]

for bed dump consider Huina screw drive or some combination of screw drives and 360 servos or gear motors... when I start on my Tonka rebuild I'll post pictures of what I'm talking about.

[frizzen]

Why did i mention that it should be easier for Curious George to hit this box with a dragline bucket?

https://imgur.com/mqsMHh7h.jpg

Good idea on the jackscrew servos jerry, i'll have to check into those. If you've got some of those other old trucks, i'd love to hear your thoughts on possible conversions

I think the worst part of converting pressed steel toys is either Finishing one, or deciding what would be coolest for the Next project. For me it all started with "Construction looks fun, I need a doepke Unit crane like SmallHaul and TheStuff were converting."
No, but i can actually find a nylint Michigan crane, and a structo dump truck.
Now i found a donor for a nylint 1930s dump truck.
Then i find out my texaco LaFrance fits the tamiya semis.
Lost of targets of opportunity: i need a tonka sandloader, and i need a tonka Dodge dump, and i need a better tonka sandloader, and i need a tonka 50s Ford semi tractor, and i need a doepke Barber-greene loader, and i need a nylint chevy U-haul,
Ok now i really need a doepke belly dump... uh, no i don't have a problem, and really don't ask about the stuff around here i wasn't considering for conversion.

Hey, I'm not JUST into making weird cars and lowriders.

[Jared]

I think those old bottom dumps were just trip the doors and let 'er fly. They were moving big yardages and get it dumped and back for another load was the name of the game. They opened by gravity trip and had some method or other of closing. I know some had a cable running to each door and up to a winch that was driven off the back tires. I would probably mount a servo on the back, put a sheave or pulley on the end of a horn and run a string/cable/what have you from one door, through the sheave and back to the other door so they will be equalized. Or just run it directly through a hole in the horn. Use a switched channel so its either open or closed with the flip of a switch. That's what I would do, anyway.

[jerry56]

I went thru the same thing.... I wanted to convert everything....but realized you have to pick something or you spend all your time accumulating things to convert and never get started. I have been collecting Nylint cranes,4 so far, one Doepke unit crane, a steam type shovel and a couple extra Tonka dump trucks. I figured if I wanted to do them I better buy them now because they are going to get more expensive and harder to find
I have a Tonka dodge dump truck, a delta loader, a Bruder D-5, Bruder ram, WPL tractor trailer.
In order to complete my "construction company" I want an excavator and larger track loader...so that is my immediate focus...I have them and pretty much all the parts for both. Once the weather runs be back into the house I want to get them started and done ...
if I ever get to them I have a Tournadozer, speed swing, grader, tournarocker, Doepke Euclid belly dump... and a Johnny Express
The belly dump has me stumped....not a lot of room for drive motors or steering... and I have no idea how I would make it dump ....there is no place to "hide" anything

[frizzen]

Ok cool, i didn't figure there was much dump gate control you could do with bomb bay doors. I know with the shutter type doors like on tonka belly dumps, you could open them more linear.

I was thinking when i get started on the Wooldridge i could hide door-moving servos in the gooseneck bridge. Also i'd probably use either wire ropes or chains to actuate things.

At some point along the way, I lost track of what my ''construction company'' needs. Got a Crane, Dump truck, Forklift, Loading Elevator, a small Trailer. My dads getting a D5 Bulldozer.

With those Euclid dumps, i thought it looked like the tractor probably needed a ton of rework to convert. It looked like you could cut out under the hood to try to cram some stuff in. Drive motor and rear axle looked to be the big problems. Could probably add a plate onto the the trailer gooseneck triangle thing to help hide some new parts.

[jerry56]

Your right they do kind of look like tractors...and making some sort of enclosure in the tongue would work I was thinking maybe in the back so it could be inline with the doors and make some kind of worm drive with a shaft the ran the length of the dump bed...??? IDK
I'm sure there is a way to do it..... but I don't know what it is yet....so I'll simply back burner it and watch and read it will come to me eventually. I have a ton of stuff to work on so it can wait for now. Huina excavator upgrade then a Bruder 963. once those are done I'll work on the Tonka dump trucks.... then my cranes!!!!

[frizzen]

I really wasn't sure about trying to mount anything low on a Belly Dump trailer. Unless you're working over a dump bridge grate, they usually do rough offroad work. If a Dozer or Grader guy isn't cleaning up between runs, there's going to be a lot to get hung up on at the dump area. With the Euclids i'd even wondered about using a metal Crawler driveshaft welded to a bridge for the Hitch joint instead of the toy setup.

What, Cranes are last on the list? Do i need to start posting more about my nylint Michigan crane to hype you up? I still can't figure out what i'd like to run for its drive tandems.
Also I was thinking when i get to it, i may try to do a chain drive axle for my Unit 357 crane. Then maybe eventually i could try to build the bolt on parts for a cable hoe or facing shovel with the other one.

[jerry56]

LOL the cranes aren't last.....just need an excavator and big loader first....then get my Tonka dump truck rebuilt. I've learned a lot and know I can build a better dump truck now. The cranes and cable hoe are going to take a little more skill. I'm planning on using WPL running gear on a custom chassis... thinking a 55 or 80 turn motor with a 3:1single speed box feeding a WPL transfer case. The WPL axles are the right width and the tire size looks pretty good...

[frizzen]

My sister got really into painting 'Tabletop Gaming Figures' (Dungeon/Dragons type stufff), so i had her do some painting on Mike

https://imgur.com/rtAqeAxh.jpg

I'd never liked the yellow letter sidewalls on the Traxxas wheels, and had mostly been thinking it should just go black walls. But really for the mid-60s steel toy look, i think Structo was onto something with hubcaps and gangster whites. Went with a kinda off-white since you know they aren't out there with whitewall bleach...

https://imgur.com/oVXf1woh.jpg
---
This vid shows a really slick tilt cab hinge & latch system i may need to copy
https://youtu.be/Al2PWATMxoE
--
A guy was watching somebody doing pressed-steel toy custom restoring. Shine-Juice for Patina cars.

https://youtu.be/N9LRVWljjpA
Flood Penetrol. (Lowes carries it in paint area)

I'm usually not a ''Patina" guy, but i'm not fixing the paint on this "Mike Oxbig" rig or the ''Whole Lotta Rosie" truck i haven't started.

[frizzen]

I made the Yellow-letter sidewall Traxxas wheels into Whitewalls, still on Tamiya rally tires. Since i think the original 1960s look fit the truck a lot better: Gangster Whites with Poverty Caps

https://imgur.com/xwfKCHsh.jpg

Also i've been watching videos of a guy customizing pressed steel toys, who is really into making them Patina Rigs, that mertioned great results with wiping on a paint additive "Flood Penetrol". Call it whatever Shine-juice, Patina-sauce, it adds some shine and protection to keep it from getting worse. It's based on Boiled Linseed Oil, but it wets and flows out better, and seems to dry quicker.

I normally consider "Patina" to be a swear word, but i'm still ok with it on this truck. I did dig into the repaint side of the bed with some scotchbrite, and knock the high spots off the rust.
Right now 2 coats of Penetrol even have the rust shiny and reflecting light. It didn't even screw up my Sharpie lettering from 2016.

[jerry56]

It has character for sure....one of the originals...
That Buddy L Mack with tandem wheels is a real hard to find truck at a realistic price... I'd love to do one but they are just to much money.... Nice one to have ...

[frizzen]

Ok, so it's still not a looker... The truck has got a good personality... It should at least keep the truck from getting worse...

Yeah, the Buddy-L Macks selling online made me feel better about that price, but i'm not getting other vehicles electronics for a while. Found out the red truck is based off the real Mack M-15 to M-100 quarry haul trucks from 1960-70s. It seems having the centered cab was on the *SMALL* end of payload like below 20 tons, but the tandem rear axle starts around something like 40-45 tons.

I know that 'Denny Bob RC' converted one of them for rc as a Single rear axle a couple years ago. At the last Lebonon IN meet 'Izzy' had made one with Tandem rear axles.

[jerry56]

That's why we all build them different.... keeps things interesting...
Yeah I saw that build..... I'd still like to find one just to have on hand in case I wanted to do one, I thought I saw in the pictures at the Lebanon show...
Over the last year or more I've been trying to stock up on parts I know I'll need for the equipment I have in case they get to expensive or hard to come by since they all come from one place...

[frizzen]

Well yeah, the important thing is putting another potential vehicle in the dead-lot to think about converting instead of ordering parts to actually complete stuff.

This Structo isn't a big truck but takes a while to fill with my Dragline since i made that bucket too small. My belly-dump Wooldridge has pretty good hauling capacity, but it's not "Park a dumptruck in the bed of a dumptruck" capacity.

Sadly you're probably right about need for stocking up on electronic rc parts soon, and it's rather depressing that you have to think about the influences of geopolitics to play with toy trucks.

[frizzen]

If someone builds a dumptruck, what's the most important aspect of a DUMPtruck that it has to be able to do?

Well after something like 4 failed dump mechanisms for the rig, i finally gave up and ordered a 6v linear actuator off that jungle website, plus an rc winch controller.If someone builds a dumptruck, what's the most important aspect of a DUMPtruck that it has to be able to do?

It would have been cheaper to go direct through one of the asian sites, or better going through Actuonix since they have brackets, datasheets, and better ordering system.

La-t8-6-5-25/80-188

https://imgur.com/qN0kWvhh.jpg

I went a little long on the stroke so i could still be able to leave dumps all over, even uphill.

https://imgur.com/ujSpKrgh.jpg

Over the winter i was looking at my projects plus the Dead-Lot, and noticed i'm kinda almost trending toward a fleet livery? Reddish-Orange solid or with a Blue-Green kinda cab.
(Except the 1930s rig is Black with Green cab)

[jerry56]

I never liked the look of the square linear actuator but I finally gave in...the 21mm stroke was perfect for my Tonka's and the end switches were kind of nice.... I just painted the actuator and called it good...
Yeah you do have that "well used" theme going....LOL My crane fits right in...

[frizzen]

I'm not all about the actuator squareness either, but it all just works much better than any of what i had made.

Na, that's not "well used" fleet appearance like your crane has...
Pretty sure previous owners were like "thems all original, i know what i got" attitude, until the battered twisted parts are dragged out of the way somewhere to forget about, maybe some flooding happened, and i found them sometime much later after that?

(I think you're just trying to badger me into showing something 'restored' or 'nice' or 'not looking like a hammered turd')

---
Soda can dumptruck lift test:
24oz / 2 cans laying in bottom of bed, lifts it like unloaded
36oz / 3rd can in another row, up against fwd bulkhead, sounds more strained, lifts well
48oz / 4th can sits in notch from bottom row, straining even more, lifts slower.
No further testing, steering axle is too light to be useful at 48 oz.

[jerry56]

LMAO.... not at all... I know your crane is shiny and new looking,,,,and your other cranes are nice to start with,,,