sitting at almost 5,000 lbs now....forget about the 6,000 lb payload....
when finished you should be closer to a 4,000 lb payload....
Westmicher's New XLT 10 Project Begins!
- Thread starter westmicher
- Start date
sitting at almost 5,000 lbs now....forget about the 6,000 lb payload....
when finished you should be closer to a 4,000 lb payload....
westmicher
Veteran Expediter
This was our very first quote withour goals listed. The reference to "6,000 lbs on the tail" was addressing concerns expressed that the bed was too long . . . extending too far past the rear wheels. So 4,000 lbs cargo has always been the goal, which seems like it will be easy to achieve.
That being said, while the GVW IS 10,000 lbs listed on the door jamb by Ford, the chassis is actually a 12,500 lbs. GVW chassis simply downrated by Ford. As such it could still carry 6,500 lbs of cargo safely, assuming the truck weighs a maximum of 6,000 lbs. Only the 10,000 lb GVW rating on the door would keep us to 4,000 lbs. maximum cargo.
westmicher
Veteran Expediter
After another day of work, the entire box is framed is, minus filling in the angles at the rear. The cargo lashing rails are going on Monday.
chefdennis
Veteran Expediter
Really nice work!!! Keep the info and pictures coming...
ebsprintin
Veteran Expediter
I like the shop. --eb
westmicher
Veteran Expediter
We are done with the box frame, and concentrating on details now before we skin her. I'll describe many of those details in the next few posts. Here is the completed frame for now . . .
Before you ask, I decided to raise the cargo rails 3" higher to allow for a "Power Deck" cargo transfer system. Even though the GVW is 10,000 lbs, the truck can safely carry 12,500 lbs. IF WE WERE TO CARRY MORE THAN 10,000 lbs, making sure the load could be easily balanced is super important, especially keeping in mind that she will carry 4 skids. We don't want to be pushing & pulling on the parking brake & park pins with that much weight & distance.
Before you ask, I decided to raise the cargo rails 3" higher to allow for a "Power Deck" cargo transfer system. Even though the GVW is 10,000 lbs, the truck can safely carry 12,500 lbs. IF WE WERE TO CARRY MORE THAN 10,000 lbs, making sure the load could be easily balanced is super important, especially keeping in mind that she will carry 4 skids. We don't want to be pushing & pulling on the parking brake & park pins with that much weight & distance.
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westmicher
Veteran Expediter
The only steel we added was at the rear of the truck, to extend the truck frame & now for a combination step, fork lift stop, and anti-submarine bar (the later mandated by the feds to prevent a car from sliding under the truck & getting to our fuel tank. It also serves as a skid bar when we come to crazy mis-aligned curb cuts & such.
westmicher
Veteran Expediter
The Ford gas tank has an auxillary fuel port, which we are hooking up to our on-board generator. This will allow the generator to use gas right out of the tank, down to 1/4 full. NO MORE CARRYING GAS CANS!!!
westmicher
Veteran Expediter
The cab came from Ford mounted on rubber mounts, with 8 rubber mounts for the box. We added length to the frame and added 8 more rubber mounts to handle the entire box properly. The box is now completely rubber mounted, unlike most box truck which have solid u-bolt mounts.
westmicher
Veteran Expediter
The front view shows how we kept the wind resistance to a minimum, by staying as close as we could to the cab profile. A slick fairing is in the works now. We even gave bottom of the box a return angle that mimics the cab angle to help manage the wind under and around the bottom of the box.
ebsprintin
Veteran Expediter
I can't wait until this goes into production.
eb
eb
guido4475
Not a Member
Do you think polyurethane mounts would be a better choice for stronger and more stable body roll control?
westmicher
Veteran Expediter
With a total of 16 mounts and the rear axle width @ 80", I feel comfortable with the limited movement these rubber mounts will allow. However, the entire body can be removed easily just by removing the floor plywood to access the mounts, so we can change them if we have to. I think they will be fine.
westmicher
Veteran Expediter
I should mention that she weighs 5,480 now, so with the addition of the skin, door, and power deck, we may exceed or 6,000 lb. empty goal by 100+ lbs. which I can live with.
purgoose10
Veteran Expediter
I don't know if I can explain this in print but I will try.
When looking at the back of the box frame, I'm wondering if the top of the frame should have a stabilizer plate across the top from side to side. The reason for this when manufacturers build trailers or box trucks they strengthen the top to prevent side to side movement which eventually weakens welds. This would be most noted exiting the road onto a driveway (truckstop etc) and transitioning from hwy to driveway causing the frame to twist.
That's just an observation and it's a great looking rig. I can see a lot of planning involved. Keep it up.
westmicher
Veteran Expediter
That's probably a good idea. The chassis itself is very, very strong but I can see that the top rear frame could be strengthened more for insurance, especially at this point when its easier to do. I'll run it by the welder guy.
westmicher
Veteran Expediter
The floor is made of 2" x 3" aluminum shape, welded with crossbraces at each mounting point. The bottom pans are on most of the frame, the only exception had to be made near the axle because of a up-bump in the frame to allow axle travel. Although there will be no insulation ubove the axle, all of the rest of the floor will have 3" of extruded insulation, bonded to the bottom pan. !" aluminum tabs have been added where needed to facilitate FIRM mounting of the plywood floor. You can see where the access holes are for the frame mounting holes, and the bottom pan before insulation in this picture.
westmicher
Veteran Expediter
The box is mounted very solidly to the cab, and the entire box/cab assembly is rubber mounted to the frame. A partial bunkhead will go here during the final trim of the interior.
Looking good so far.
About the rear bracing,couldn't you have a piece welded all the way across the top.From corner to corner and then have it drop so far down.3 or 4 inches is all I'm thinking.That way it doesn't cut the height down much. Not knocking anything just wondering and thinking ahead. I do go to extremes sometime.
About the rear bracing,couldn't you have a piece welded all the way across the top.From corner to corner and then have it drop so far down.3 or 4 inches is all I'm thinking.That way it doesn't cut the height down much. Not knocking anything just wondering and thinking ahead. I do go to extremes sometime.