Started some tube work... Update 8-21-11

[Avery4jc]

It'll be a slow process but we started doing some tube work yesterday. I'll keep track of it all in this thread with a bunch of pictures. Maybe it'll give other bedless truck owners some ideas and I sure wouldn't turn down ideas from anyone as we make progress.

Yesterday we got the main crossmember burned in along with the main hoop. It was kind of a PITA but in the end the fit and finish made it worth it. I think it follows the shape of the cab well. The plan down the road is to build a roof rack so the flat top bar will be a good base for that.

 

[FRIZZLEFRY]

Needs more triangulation

 

[zombie1969]

Did you get the pipe from Midas?

 

[FRIZZLEFRY]

From a plumbing supply place I think

 

[KansasTwister]

Looks good.I love the bedless trucks but i use mine too much

 

[dremu]

Pimpin' the CK5 shirt

-- A

 

[BadassBlaze]

looks good. Paint your shackle flip!

 

[Avery4jc]

looks good. Paint your shackle flip!

It's clear coated so it stays like that.

 

[BadassBlaze]

Ahh ok! I was gonna say I'm surprised it didn't have a bunch of rust on it

 

[ktmoutfront]

About time. That truck has looked naked way to long. Agree on more triangulation. But I am sure you are not even close to done.

 

[Avery4jc]

About time. That truck has looked naked way to long. Agree on more triangulation. But I am sure you are not even close to done.

haha yeah a few more feet of tubing is in the works. This is just all we had time for saturday. I'm thinking Blazer Bash 2015 or so we'll race our pre-crawlers.

 

[ARAMP1]

Dude, that's looking pretty good!

 

[ktmoutfront]

haha yeah a few more feet of tubing is in the works. This is just all we had time for saturday. I'm thinking Blazer Bash 2015 or so we'll race our pre-crawlers.

I had better have the real crawler done by then. May have to figure out how to haul both in 2015.

 

[Avery4jc]

I had better have the real crawler done by then. May have to figure out how to haul both in 2015.

Dude it'll be 2015 just use your hovercraft truck/trailer.

 

[Avery4jc]

Update! We got some more tube in today. I think it flows really well so far. Obviously we still have more tube to add but here's what we got finished up today...
The plan is to cut a few inches off the back of the frame and move the rear bumper/crossmember forward so that where that rear-most piece of tube lands on the frame it'll be right over the top of the crossmember that'll be welded in place.
The shocks are being transferred to the tube work once we make up some tabs and obviously there's some triangulation to be added next time we get to work on it.

 

[thatK30guy]

Looking good, A!

 

[magik235]

Please describe your shock setup.

 

[Avery4jc]

Please describe your shock setup.

Not sure if I follow but I'll do my best.

I have Bilstein 5150's up front and 5125's out back. The rear ones are mounted on top of the spring plates (Ballistic fab plates with some tabs I ordered from them and welded on). The top of the shock is currently on a Ford stamped tower but once we make some little tabs the top of the shock will be mounted to that piece of tube running right behind the current towers.

 

[ktmoutfront]

I think you should add a couple more tack welds to each joint to add strength.
Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Avery4jc]

I think you should add a couple more tack welds to each joint to add strength.
Just my 2 cents worth.

Do you have any idea what wire and gas costs these days? Not to mention all the extra weight that comes with a full weld.















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