BlaineM

Looking for a recommendation for what park to stay at with my HDT around Zion National Park Oct 2022, my rig is 70' long

looking good

14 minutes ago, Jim & Wilma said:

Impressive planning and execution to build what looks like a mature production article.  I'm sure there's elements you might have done differently, but I'll be darn spot them.  Good job!

Thanks Jim

So far I wouldn't change a thing it has all worked out great. But i havent hooked up a fifth wheel to it yet so time will tell.

She's all done!

On 12/24/2020 at 12:26 PM, trimster said:

What's the bed height? 

45" correction 46.5" 

2 hours ago, Brad & Jacolyn said:

Beautiful job. How long are those ramps?

16" x 16' long

Need to take it to Volvo for programming and then on to paint and LineX

Meet the fabricators

putting smart car on bed for the chock placement before ramps are built.

click on link (i don't know if this will work never put a video link in before)

https://photos.app.goo.gl/WBTYHjjTkk7Vdt5T7

doors hung

5 hours ago, alan0043 said:

Hi Blaine,

Great looking job !!! Canned wait to see it in person.

Al

Hopefully I can get to a rally in the next year or two.

6 hours ago, rickeieio said:

It appears you have built other things too.  You have too many nice touches for this to be the first.  Could you share?

Not really, my friend who owns the shop has built a ton of stuff. So there is a lot of experience behind this build. I built a harley from scratch years ago by myself but that was the last thing I actually built till this truck. Its been a lot of fun. 

4 minutes ago, jenandjon said:

I love it. The recessed lights are a great touch.

Thanks

Lights!

8 hours ago, alan0043 said:

Hi Blaine,

Great looking work. Please keep the pictures coming. Love those tail lights. They look cool !  😎 

Question for you. Do you have any side marker lights on the bed ?

Al

Yes I do have side markers, pictures coming soon. 😁

21 hours ago, phoenix2013 said:

Very pretty, removable so the ET access is possible, how's the pin clearance with the head aired up?

We still have to cut away some of the rear panel to make room for the pin, so after that the clearance will be good

rear panel taking shape

23 hours ago, dan412 said:

I wish I had the skills to do the things you do. Beautiful job.

I have a lot of help, the shop is a friend of mine

5 hours ago, phoenix2013 said:

Blaine, love that ingenuity, you have a seriously 3D mind. That cardboard trick brought some memories.

I had the truck designed in CAD right down to 1/1000th of an inch.

We started measuring the truck with the frame on it before we torched some steel for the skirts and toolboxes. "What the hell" something is seriously off. Time for the old cardboard trick. Turned out that the truck had to be in an accident and seriously tweaked. There was almost an inch difference front to back between the left side and the right side.

Love the fact that you are "exposing" your design and fabrication process to the world at large, that's confidence!

There's definitely a lot to it, thx. Would love to see your end product.

43 minutes ago, Steve from SoCal said:

From the work and environment it looks like this aint your first rodeo!!!

 

What are using to weld this together Cobra, Alumapro?      Great looking bed and details.

 

Steve 

ok so we are mig welding with a miller 350p pulse welder with an aluma pro push pull gun, the tig welding is with a miller sycrowave welder square wave machine for most outside body welding. Hope this answers your question. 

51 minutes ago, noteven said:

I don’t want to “preach” but there is a required pattern of lights on large vehicles to signify “not a car or light truck” just before you rear end it in a snowstorm or wheel out to pass and oops it’s 65’ 72” long 🤣...

It involves tail lights and the “group of three” middle lights, etc

You can have more than minimum ( see “cow trucks” and “reefers”)

 

Not to worry, the truck will be compliant I just haven't decided on the exact lights/markers yet. We definitely know the DOT rules.

47 minutes ago, noteven said:

Hi Blaine - please check the DOT lighting & reflector requirements for our size vehicles. 

Definitely will ! 

2 hours ago, Hewhoknowslittle said:

What a work of art!

i am impressed with your work!

Roger

Thanks Roger!

48 minutes ago, rickeieio said:

Very nice.  Are you incorporating some reflectors as well?

Great question, I am still deciding, but leaning towards no reflectors. 

12 hours ago, noteven said:

Hey Blaine your build is looking good. You might need three lights horizontally centered at the rear due to the dimensions of your truck.

There are more lights coming, still working on placement and style.