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We ended up having the hitch sent to the Maine border so we could have some more things mailed as well (smart car ramps, etc) and then take them though customs ourselves.

 

NOW.. The fun of the install.. lol

 

I just got it partially unwrapped, but that thing is HUGE and BUILT SOLID!!

I ended up getting 2' of volvo frame for free when I traded in my other parts on some seats, so will be getting that cut to the dovetail shape of the existing frame for attaching.

 

 

 

 

2006 Volvo 670 singled long

2011 Heartland Sundance 3300CK

2006 Smart passion

2001 F350 DRW CREWCAB

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Congrats. You're gonna love the ET.

2006 Volvo 780 "Hoss" Volvo D12, 465hp, 1650 ft/lbs tq., ultrashift

Bed Build by "JW Morgan's Custom Welding"

2017 DRV 39DBRS3

2013 Smart Passion Coupe "Itty Bitty"

 

"Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first!"

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Jason, your thought about using an engine hoist to deal with the ET will work. When not using my truck hoist it's what we use to deal with ETs for shipping them and installing them. We utilize three points to balance the load.

First we remove (or not install) the two back 1/2 inch bolts holding the rear stop plates and replace these with 1/2 inch lifting eyes.

DSC_0027.JPG

We use 1 1/2" lifting strap for hoisting and that's how we position it.

DSC_0028.JPG

 

DSC_0029.JPG

Lift it a little and see how it "balances" side to side and forward and back, usually we have to put it back down and shift the straps a bit to make it go up relatively evenly.

Here you can see how we used it to install Rod's rebuilt unit in the back of his truck.

DSC_0016.JPG

Originally the hoist had a 3 ton hydraulic cylinder, it quit after a year or so of "abuse". I had the hoist re-welded and stiffened here and there and now it is "sporting" a 6 ton cylinder.

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Well,

 

I called a local rental place the other day, they wanted $35 a day for an engine hoist and I knew since I am working outside, I would need to space it over a few days weather dependent (Cdn winter). So I checked into new.. I could get one for $250, but thought it was only another thing to store..

 

So, I went full hillbilly and went to a lumber store and bought three 12' 4x4 posts. Used it to take the ET off the truck, and started drilling the holes into the bottom angle I needed, then today used it to raise it up and position it.

 

Now my next decision will be:

 

Use the 2.5ft of volvo frame I have from the wreckers and cut to fit the origional dovetail and extend it back, or just do the 6" high steel formed to a C to "finish" off the back.

 

My origional back had 3 lights in it, I may just put a steel plate between the angle iron with my lights in it temporary.

 

As a hindsight, I wish I had ordered the one with the hitch that had the light cutouts. But wasn't sure what my longterm plans were with the bed.

 

So... Here is my "hillbilly engine hoist".. It got the job done ;)

 

 

tripod_zpsa2625534.jpg

 

hitch_zps1523d6de.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006 Volvo 670 singled long

2011 Heartland Sundance 3300CK

2006 Smart passion

2001 F350 DRW CREWCAB

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Red Green would be proud. The only way to do him any prouder, would have been to tighten the winch line with the suspension aired up. Hit the switch, truck drops, hitch swings back, gravity carries it through it"s arc to the high point, the winch line breaks, and the hitch lands on the pallet. Ta da!

I have been wrong before, I'll probably be wrong again. 

2000 Kenworth T 2000 w/N-14 and 10 speed Gen1 Autoshift, deck built by Star Fabrication
2006 smart fourtwo cdi cabriolet
2007 32.5' Fleetwood Quantum


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Red Green would be proud. The only way to do him any prouder, would have been to tighten the winch line with the suspension aired up. Hit the switch, truck drops, hitch swings back, gravity carries it through it"s arc to the high point, the winch line breaks, and the hitch lands on the pallet. Ta da!

 

Now why didn't I think of that? That would have been faster! :)

2006 Volvo 670 singled long

2011 Heartland Sundance 3300CK

2006 Smart passion

2001 F350 DRW CREWCAB

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Doesn't look like you need much of the rail extension, I would have 6 inch c-channels bent to do it, that's all you need.

Yep, I think that would be a lot easier then cutting the extra frame rails to the dovetail shape, etc.. Thanks

2006 Volvo 670 singled long

2011 Heartland Sundance 3300CK

2006 Smart passion

2001 F350 DRW CREWCAB

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Now that is ingenuity in action....no need to buy a stinkin' lift. I used to use a good sturdy oak tree limb for hoisting things. It always worked and you didn't have to store it. You did need to get what you wanted to hoist under the tree, though. Charlie

Don't ever tell a soldier that he doesn't understand the cost of war.

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Now that is ingenuity in action....no need to buy a stinkin' lift. I used to use a good sturdy oak tree limb for hoisting things. It always worked and you didn't have to store it. You did need to get what you wanted to hoist under the tree, though. Charlie

 

Yep, I used trees a few times in the past to do work, one time, parked a car between two and ran a chain between them to hoist a motor out, another time, parked a field car between two trees and pulled the front bumper back out, "stretched the car back". ;)

2006 Volvo 670 singled long

2011 Heartland Sundance 3300CK

2006 Smart passion

2001 F350 DRW CREWCAB

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Nice work. One thing that real nice is you can slide that right in there like that. Do think a lot about a longer extension rather than just enough, a slight bit of added room in front of the ET can make access to the area much easier. It will also give more flexibility in placing those 13/16" bolt holes where you can actually drill them. . Just a thought.

Yamaha V-Star
2007 Kenworth T2000 tandem aircutter
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2003 Holiday Rambler 36' Presidential
short trips-88 Allegro on Astro

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Nice work. One thing that real nice is you can slide that right in there like that. Do think a lot about a longer extension rather than just enough, a slight bit of added room in front of the ET can make access to the area much easier. It will also give more flexibility in placing those 13/16" bolt holes where you can actually drill them. . Just a thought.

Thanks. Trying to keep just enough room to get the bolts in and to get my leveler working properly. I wanted to try to stick as close to the 65' as possible. IF my measuring is correct, I am down to 65'4"..

2006 Volvo 670 singled long

2011 Heartland Sundance 3300CK

2006 Smart passion

2001 F350 DRW CREWCAB

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noteven, on 31 Jan 2015 - 09:27 AM, said:

mr. cob did a nice straightening of the pin box on his trailer that shortens the overall length.

 

http://www.rvnetwork.com/index.php?showtopic=112410&hl=

 

That may be on my todo list. I guess it depends if I need the bed space or not.

2006 Volvo 670 singled long

2011 Heartland Sundance 3300CK

2006 Smart passion

2001 F350 DRW CREWCAB

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  • 2 weeks later...

Well, after doing all my measurements, I am down to 65' 2" when hitched up.

 

Now I am looking for advice/suggestions on if I should move it further back.. :rolleyes:

 

I am singled long with a 13,200 front axle. I have NO way to get the truck to the scales to check weights.

 

Here's my specs:

 

BOC to rear wheel center 127"
BOC to hitch pin 158"
WC to Hitch pin 31"
Bed space not counting the winged area to hitch pin: 142"

With the width of the smart car of 68" and the safe space for the trailer 54", I am left with 20".

 

Sometime, I would like to haul either a 4 wheeler or a golf cart along with us so trying to debate if I should do the bed length I want now or do without the extra space.

 

I wish I also knew how close to overloading my front axles. (D12) I could move my fuel tanks back to help with that I believe?

 

Being close to 65' was a concern for me, but being over weight on the front is more of a concern, and if I can make the trailer trail/turn better by being further back will be a big pro as well.

 

Looking for feedback as to if I should extend the rear frame another 28" to give me plenty of room for further bed upgrades and to take some weight off the front axle by putting the ET further back.

 

That would bring my length to 67' 8". And make the WC to hitch pin 59".

 

That would give me 54" for the 5er swing, 68" for smart and 48" for toys

 

Thoughts?

 

Thanks!

2006 Volvo 670 singled long

2011 Heartland Sundance 3300CK

2006 Smart passion

2001 F350 DRW CREWCAB

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Never extended it yet.. Been busy getting about 6' of snow since lol

 

BUT.. I would need to add 11" to frame in the current hitch position..

 

So I would have 39" of new frame from the rear of the truck.

 

Thanks

2006 Volvo 670 singled long

2011 Heartland Sundance 3300CK

2006 Smart passion

2001 F350 DRW CREWCAB

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I'm still confused about the 39 inches. What I am after is the length of the rails from BOC to the absolute end (the end of slope where the bobtail light panel was). Then any extension you are planning and again I'm assuming the ET will be pushed back to be flush with the end of this extension. Then the depth you will subtract if you keep the wings (probably around 17")

You get me all that and I will draw you a nice picture.

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Hi,

 

From BOC to the end of my rails is 158.5" / 13' 2.5"

 

To finish closing in the hitch as is, I would need to add only 11". I was think about adding 39" instead.

 

I was also thinking about the best way to reinforce that if I do it is to replace the angle iron with lengths the same as the ET Hitch + 39" (roughly 731/4") that way I can use all the existing bolt holes and the extra length of the angle iron would help with the reinforcement of the rails besides the welded 39" extension 6" bent steel.

 

The ET hitch would then be slid back 28" from where it is now. That would put the very back of the frame to the wheel centers at about 70". Would that be too long?

 

Thanks

2006 Volvo 670 singled long

2011 Heartland Sundance 3300CK

2006 Smart passion

2001 F350 DRW CREWCAB

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Thanks

 

Would doing a longer 1/4 angle iron underneath the hitch be counted as a reinforcement?

 

So at the very back, there would be the 4" angle iron going from where the front of the hitch is now to the very back, then the 6" frame on the outside.

 

Going with a 12" is not a problem.

2006 Volvo 670 singled long

2011 Heartland Sundance 3300CK

2006 Smart passion

2001 F350 DRW CREWCAB

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Thanks

 

Would doing a longer 1/4 angle iron underneath the hitch be counted as a reinforcement? The hitch has 4 x 4 x 1/2 the length of the hitch, you could get, let's say, couple 6 footers and run them forward from the end of the hitch. That would certainly do the trick with 6" channel, but I really need to find the picture of the 6" channel reinforcement, it was very "elegant", you will like it when you see it.

 

So at the very back, there would be the 4" angle iron going from where the front of the hitch is now to the very back, then the 6" frame on the outside.

 

Going with a 12" is not a problem.

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Just "happened" to "own" two trucks like yours, both singled long 127" to the axle from the BOC. On one I "installed an ET" to 11 inches beyond the end of the original rails and on the other to 39 inches beyond the end of the original rails.

 

pie%2520assy%252011%2520jpeg.jpg

 

pie%2520assy%252039%2520jpeg.jpg

 

What would you like know about them? Neither one is buried in 6' of snow, as a matter of fact both are "sitting in my driveway" in 71 degree weather.

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