colbystephens' build and wheelin' thread! Post 289: my NEW truck body!!!

[dremu]

Hate to say it, but why build? Blazer receiver hitches should be a dime a dozen -- I've got at least one extra, but I'm a bit of a distance from you =))

That said, the ones I've seen are, hmm, 1/4" plate I think, but of course I'd have no idea as to what grade of steel. You want pix or anything?

-- A

 

[Chevy305]

Stainless

 

[colbystephens]

i'm building it because i want specific size/location etc. etc. i want it to be how i want it. my boss is paying for it (supplies), so i'm going to build what i want!

good tip on the 1/4" plate. now i gotta figure out the grade. i guess the plate size doesn't matter if i don't know what grade i'm picking.... hmmmmmm.

aside from the fact that stainless would be MUCH harder to build, stainless is a major "no go." no bling for me.

 

[y5mgisi]

I think they are all 1/4" - 3/8" mild steel.

 

[colbystephens]

cool. that's what i've been thinking too. so, posted here is my quick little blue print for the rear hitch.

i'm wanting this to basically encase the frame horns. i'm thinking the bottom plate will be only 4.5 deep, so i can access the back to install the pin in the hitch and so that i can tighten the bolts that will hold it to the frame. i'll use 6 grade 8 bolts. on the top of that sheet of paper i have the idea of what i want it to look like - it'll have some nice bright reverse lights outside the frame horns. the lumpy lines represent locations where there will be welds. there's a mistake on the bottom drawing, as the back of the box will be open, so no welds there.

i think i'll use 1/4" mild steel plate. because of all the support i'll build into it, i think 1/4" plate is enough. i want this to be strong enough to winch off of, do you think i should use one or two pins in the reciever tube? i guess i need to find out the shear stress allowable in the pins to decide that. i suspect one pin will be enough - i doubt i'll ever even winch 12K lbs.

 

[JIM88K5]

I have a rear bumper built by 55willy that I bought from a member here and I did not use it. I'll let it go for cheap. It could be a good place to start.

 

[Muddytazz]

I have

You have what? lol

 

[55Willy]

winched more then 12K pounds, didn't you get your northwest edition decoder ring for short sentences? LOL

 

[Muddytazz]

LOL its out in the rig and I'm inside

 

[55Willy]

dang he edited his post.
how cheap jim?? LOL

 

[Muddytazz]

I quoted him, so I have the proof lmfao

 

[colbystephens]

I have a rear bumper built by 55willy that I bought from a member here and I did not use it. I'll let it go for cheap. It could be a good place to start.

jim - i have a pretty specific idea in mind for what i want to do, but i guess i've got some interest if you can post pics! why don't you send them to me over PM

 

[JIM88K5]

Damn... I'm busy typing away and I look up and it says " I have " So I fix it within like 3 seconds and then move on cause I usualy kill threads with my replys. I figger I'll check back and you guys are roasting my ass...
I HAVE I HAVE I HAVE I HAVE I HAVE I now have an empy beer bottle. Be right back...

 

[JIM88K5]

Cause I'm like Forest Gump behind a key board...

 

[JIM88K5]

You guys slay me....

 

[colbystephens]

ok, so i'm collecting my materials for my hitch-bumper. here's what i've come up with so far:

1/4" mild steel plates of appropriate size to build the hitch.
1 reciever.
2 reverse lights (semi-truck application! )
1 wiring harness, converts 4 wire to 6 prong application.
2 d-ring shackles.

still need to get a 6" drop stinger, license plate light, misc. hardware, a hitch pin. can you think of anything else i might want on my hitch?

i also got some material to start a front bumper!

ok, now for the important questions. below is the wiring sitution i currently have. pictured is the driver's side tail light wiring:

here's the wiring harness dealy i've got to work with:

can someone tell me which wires need to be spliced together to make this whole situation work properly? i want to do as little guessing as possible. i assume the white wire in the new harness goes to a ground, but what about the extra two wires? where do they hook up? i assume for the other wires (the ones going into the plug) that i need to just match the colors.

also, what should i use to mount the d-rings? a simple block of metal, mounted to the hitch with a hole drilled to the appropriate size?

discuss. Thanks guys!

 

[Element]

Damn... I'm busy typing away and I look up and it says " I have " So I fix it within like 3 seconds and then move on cause I usualy kill threads with my replys. I figger I'll check back and you guys are roasting my ass...
I HAVE I HAVE I HAVE I HAVE I HAVE I now have an empy beer bottle. Be right back...

Shipping might kill me, but I'm sorta interested in that bumper...shoot me a PM with a few pics of it, and I'll see if I can't work out something with a buddy of mine who works at FedEx...might get a discount on freight.

I'm tired of seeing the cockeyed rear chrome bumper on my Blazer

Anyway, definitely nice build-up thread. When I read these, then go out and see my truck sitting in the drive way, it makes me want to bust the tools out and start working on something.

 

[Muddytazz]

Colby, when you come over on saturday, I'll show you how to wire up a trailer plug

 

[gmc4cw]

white is ground, but you knew that. the blue wire is for a trailer brake controller signal. the black is 12V positive to charge the breakaway battery. the green is right turn and right stop. yellow is left turn and left stop. brown is marker lights and license plate light.

I get the plug in adapters for these year trucks. scroll down and you will see what I am talking about.

http://www.autoanything.com/towing/hidden-wiring.aspx

 

[colbystephens]

Colby, when you come over on saturday, I'll show you how to wire up a trailer plug

very cool! thanks!

well, i went out and got my 6" drop stinger, 2" ball, reciever, hitch pin, and a plate light. looks like i've got just about everything at this point. i'll post up pics saturday.