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Wrecker wishlist of mods

zebedee

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I find my holmes gear very usefull....
What's that extra stuff under the Holmes lift bar..... That for hooking the neighbours Hilman Imp?

Did you just move from Lincoln to London? - That's a step backwards isn't it! (What with the diesel smog tax and all!)

OK - To the modification - are you up for some pics and dims on the Holmes gear? The extending box tubes are my current project - as well as the swivel link to the cross tube. NB - I'm OK with mm's, I brought all my metric tapes when I left Blightey. :wink:
 

zebedee

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OkayI like that but here is what I am going to do. Remove the outriggers completely I never use them.
Just the leg inserts or the whole tube that is part of the bed? - looks like a lot of work for an extra 6" of space...

Turn the toolbox lids 180°so they open to the front and the crane will never completely block them from opening.
... So you have to step into them to get the stuff in the middle as reaching over the open lid from standing on the bed floor will be so much fun! and you'll rip the a$$ out of your drawers on the crane hose clamps too... Nevermind - I forgot about the baboon arms (just like mine)

And I am going to do a door on both sides of the truck.
So you will have open out sides and open up top... Why not open down side doors with chains/stays then you have a shelf.

And the sides are getting cut so they will fold down 90°.
So you can walk down the side around the crane cupola - interesting.
I am keeping my sides where they are but adding "greedy boards" ('Hungry boards' for Phill-RAEME) for all the extra toot that will be stowed.....

I take it you will have your Christmas Elf taking pics as you go...
 
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swiss

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Posting up pictures for 73m819

This is a picture of the spade mounting brackets designed for soldier a removal and use while soldier b sleeps in the cab :)
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1387286055.099873.jpg
 

Csm Davis

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Just the leg inserts or the whole tube that is part of the bed? - looks like a lot of work for an extra 6" of space...
Just the legs
... So you have to step into them to get the stuff in the middle as reaching over the open lid from standing on the bed floor will be so much fun! and you'll rip the a$$ out of your drawers on the crane hose clamps too... Nevermind - I forgot about the baboon arms (just like mine)
You already have to get in the box to access the middle and if they are turned around you won't have to worry with the hoses like you do now. And you can stand on the steps to open them.
So you will have open out sides and open up top... Why not open down side doors with chains/stays then you have a shelf.
Because I can store stuff on doors like in earlier picture and I will have a couple of big shelves on sides and front bumper.
So you can walk down the side around the crane cupola - interesting.
I am keeping my sides where they are but adding "greedy boards" ('Hungry boards' for Phill-RAEME) for all the extra toot that will be stowed.....
I still am nimble enough to get in the cupola, but it will make loading heavy items easier. What are greedy boards?
I take it you will have your Christmas Elf taking pics as you go...
Yes of course!
 
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Csm Davis

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Here are a couple of pics of the hitch I put on the back of my M936 this past year. I can back into about any vocational truck, or probably tactical too, and within five minutes have the disabled vehicles tires off the ground. For most "civilian" trucks, the hitch legs ride about level. I would guess that on a tactical truck the legs might run a little downhill, not nearly as much though if the legs were attached lower on the wrecker (ie; shackle points or pintle). I usually put some cushion between the hoisting bar and the bumper (more if it's a nice bumper), chain, lift and go (after dropping driveline, attaching air hose/cage brakes, hanging tow-lights, ect).
One time I was pulling a truck from the rail-head to NTC soon after it opened with my M543...had the tow-bar on the front bumper shackle mounts of the disabled truck and picked with a 5/8 chain, tires a good foot off the road...as I was cranking down the road at about 50, a little old lady backed out of her driveway about a 100 yards ahead of me...I put the brake pedal to the mat, looked into my mirror to see the disabled truck running up into my crane hook. When the truck came down, it caused me to pull a 40+ MPH "wheely". I did not hit the old lady, but I think we both had to change drawers afterwards...from then on, I got into the habit of always using the axle vices when on public roads while CC towing.
This is why I am going to this setup but I will be looking at the angle of the legs and if I need to move them higher on the wrecker I will and as I am moving all the same trucks I will get it right or as close as possible.

Now I have a question about y'alls rigging I ha yet to see a bar held up with chains or cables that will hold up to 10,000lbs or more of bouncing truck.
 

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73m819

Rock = older than dirt , GA. MAFIA , Dirty
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Posting up pictures for 73m819

This is a picture of the spade mounting brackets designed for soldier a removal and use while soldier b sleeps in the cab :)
View attachment 467916
Is there someone who can turn this picture like it should be, right now it looks like a GIMP pic. with the wheels up.
thanks
 

zebedee

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This is why I am going to this setup but I will be looking at the angle of the legs and if I need to move them higher on the wrecker I will and as I am moving all the same trucks I will get it right or as close as possible.
High enough for you?
rear close up sus tow1.jpg
This is how ALL the Australian M816's were modified (amongst other things) before entering service.

Now I have a question about y'alls rigging I ha yet to see a bar held up with chains or cables that will hold up to 10,000lbs or more of bouncing truck.
Has anyone else stopped to think of the shearing force that those two little pins in the transport legs have to carry???
When setting the boom for a sus tow, over half of the booms weight rests on those legs, with some preload if the hydraulics are powered down, then you pick up a truck... Those two pins have lasted for decades so I think if anything is going to fail - we should look there so long as rigging/tackle etc., is appropriately sized. .... and so too have the two pins in the shackles on the front bumper of the casualty.......

What are greedy boards?
Sorry Big Jeff - they are short stake sides that go in the stake pockets along the body sides... Name comes from dump trucks owners always wanting to go that bit heavier by putting a plank/board on the top of the dump sides between the front bulkhead and back gate gussets... [thumbzup]
 

Csm Davis

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Okay so as promised here's pictures of my mods today! Sorry about the sideways pictures tap talk is doing it or something even tried turning them in my pictures and then loading them it rotated them 180°
 

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Csm Davis

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Try one more time. Yes it worked would a mod please delete the sideways pictures in the previous post.
 

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zebedee

conceptualizer at large
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Just found this diag. Thought I'd post it for reference.

Included a dimension comparison of a couple of parts from medium to the 850 which would be appropriate for the M543/M816/M936...

Parts.jpg
 

dmetalmiki

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Light chains for travelling only.

In answer to your questions. The light chains are travelling only as I like the "look" and convenience when working. For lifting or towing I allways use (those just visible) 30ton chrome recovery chains. of couse SOME jobe are just TOO big to handle (see picture!)
I also have a ground anchor bar fitted across the underside rear for (additional) winching. (and WHAT are milimetres???)!(joke) I will measure up for you later, but that fitment I have is just "standard" holmes wrecking gear.
 

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dmetalmiki

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You will find the wreckers "complex" trucks..and once mastered are imensly satisfying to maintain drive handle, use and collect the complete recovery equiptment and also "make your mods and additions. good luck with YOUR new toy.
 

dmetalmiki

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HA! but London covers a huge area..and (rather) like L.A. etc. you can drive out a way and be in the middle of no where..like we are..nearest shops 6 miles. From home and barn a road 8 foot wide for 2 1/2 miles to a village road.
 
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