Flatbed and composite panel build on Dodge 2500
- Thread starter Jeep
- Start date
Our storm chasers truck made Ford Canada's new F-150 commercial, it's pretty cool to just be watching TV....and a commercial comes on.....and you go "hey!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5ER4H4XmEk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5ER4H4XmEk
Jeep, have you any experience in replacing OEM glass with a laminated or multi-layer glass? As you may well know, it is common to have this type of glass in luxury cars, but not trucks like Jeeps or Mitsubishi FG's. With the latter, the purpose could be three fold: you have a large flat windshield that is more prone to stone chips, you have a high level of wind turbulence due to the cab design and you have a large area of glass that makes heating and cooling of the cab more difficult than in a traditional truck or SUV.
Maybe you used a product like this in your storm chaser truck?
Composite glass (Makrolon, et al) are used in up-armouring and marine applications where impact is a concern, but I do not presume that it would last long off road where tree limbs, road salt and trail dirt would scratch it to bits in short order.
Maybe you used a product like this in your storm chaser truck?
Composite glass (Makrolon, et al) are used in up-armouring and marine applications where impact is a concern, but I do not presume that it would last long off road where tree limbs, road salt and trail dirt would scratch it to bits in short order.
I built a fleet of armored trucks a long time ago (working with as a contractor to an armored car company due to location), that was back when EVERYTHING was 2" thick! The storm truck has a film to keep the glass together upon impact, it takes a beating, I watched the testing. If a rock or something smokes a window it will shatter it but it stays intact and in the frame and will take quite a few more hits, it does its job, now put a new one in! Nice thing about that kind of product is it is very light weight. I will have to look up Makrolon. That said, if you truly desire a bomb proof truck....I can actually build you a bomb proof truck! It's pretty cool stuff.
Nah, don't need a bomb proof truck by any means, at least not literally. It came up in conversation with a mate of mine and we were looking at it from a sound deadening and insulation standpoint, as compared to standard single pane, non laminated automotive glass (econo-box, work truck, family sedan, etc)
I have seen the impact resistant films used by car audio companies to augment a security system. Here is an example of one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=VyKlP2trTrc#t=51
I have seen the impact resistant films used by car audio companies to augment a security system. Here is an example of one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=VyKlP2trTrc#t=51
Cascadian
Observer
Congrats Mark! That has got to feel good to have your work appreciated enough for other (BIG) companies to feature in their marketing.
mk216v
Der Chef der Fahrzeuge
mk216v
Der Chef der Fahrzeuge
Got a lot done, all DC wiring is in, AC wiring will be performed by a certified electrician. I'm a licensed mechanic by trade and that covers the DC aspect professionally. I was thinking of rewiring the Blue Sea panels, they are acceptable, not really outstanding. The big box is the control for the electric jacks, remote control or in case of emergency hardwired control, or in case of electrical failure they can be manually raised and lowered. The 2 coils are CAT5 and will be shortened up by one of my guys with the right tools for the job. All wiring is accessible, and even the wiring in the external wire channel is easy enough to access, I don't see any of it ever being an issue.
Solar panels on the roof, just under 1/4" thick. They will be bonded after paint. I'm really thinking of shooting this thing with grey aliphatic, the wire inlet is pretty nice, holds all the connectors in place and provides a weathertight entry point, if I don't spray this (aliphatic is thick and a great sealant) I will cover it with with a self levelling sealant for double redundancy.
Hella Marine 22 amp heavy duty water proof 2 pin surface mount connectors for the jacks, the jacks can either be bolted on and stay on or pinned on so the can be quickly removed and disconnected. The power points can then be used for a remote controlled 12 volt margarita mixer!
Camper jack brackets, 1/4" 6061 aluminum, riveted on with permalock rivets. We know from destructive testing the 4 rivets and a foot of material will take 11 000 pounds, so I'm not even remotely worried about strength, this thing should be under 40 000 lbs. Aluminum jack brackets were about 3 lbs, box of supplied steel brackets and barn door hardware was over 20 lbs.
Not quite in place but you get the idea. Reico Titan jacks, longest stroke, highest load jacks I could find, pretty stout for a RV part, I was surprised.
Solar panels on the roof, just under 1/4" thick. They will be bonded after paint. I'm really thinking of shooting this thing with grey aliphatic, the wire inlet is pretty nice, holds all the connectors in place and provides a weathertight entry point, if I don't spray this (aliphatic is thick and a great sealant) I will cover it with with a self levelling sealant for double redundancy.
Hella Marine 22 amp heavy duty water proof 2 pin surface mount connectors for the jacks, the jacks can either be bolted on and stay on or pinned on so the can be quickly removed and disconnected. The power points can then be used for a remote controlled 12 volt margarita mixer!
Camper jack brackets, 1/4" 6061 aluminum, riveted on with permalock rivets. We know from destructive testing the 4 rivets and a foot of material will take 11 000 pounds, so I'm not even remotely worried about strength, this thing should be under 40 000 lbs. Aluminum jack brackets were about 3 lbs, box of supplied steel brackets and barn door hardware was over 20 lbs.
Not quite in place but you get the idea. Reico Titan jacks, longest stroke, highest load jacks I could find, pretty stout for a RV part, I was surprised.
Got some more doors on, starting to look good. My wife was in it and said "you should have done them in black" . Anybody ever see the way Homer Simpson strangles Bart? Went through my mind!
Got the Espar configured on a switch, you can run it on the timer super easy which will get you hot water in a couple minutes, or you can run it off of a conventional thermostat. Thermostat has an off switch for convenience too.
Here is a shot of the rivets used in this build. They have a 4000 pound shear rating, a 2500 pound pull out rating, and are waterproof to 40 psi. The back side is nice smooth and compact so it won't be adding anything sharp in the wire channels in cases where the jacks and other accessories like the ladder, rear storage locker, and roof rack will be mounted.
Got the Espar configured on a switch, you can run it on the timer super easy which will get you hot water in a couple minutes, or you can run it off of a conventional thermostat. Thermostat has an off switch for convenience too.
Here is a shot of the rivets used in this build. They have a 4000 pound shear rating, a 2500 pound pull out rating, and are waterproof to 40 psi. The back side is nice smooth and compact so it won't be adding anything sharp in the wire channels in cases where the jacks and other accessories like the ladder, rear storage locker, and roof rack will be mounted.
Rolled it over by the door and put the jacks on.
Bolted the jacks on, the Hella connector are pretty sweet, and water tight.
Stood back, lowered each jack until they hit the ground, and hit the "raise all" button and lifted it up 4' in the air in a couple minutes. The electric jacks are nice, but are in the 200 pound range, hence the quick release, if stays on all summer they will come off. I pretty much anticipate they will come off. I will most likely use my gantry to take it on and off once I put the lifting points and roof rack on, nice to have that option.
It squatted the truck 2". I am going to weigh it in the morning and see where we ended up at.
Bolted the jacks on, the Hella connector are pretty sweet, and water tight.
Stood back, lowered each jack until they hit the ground, and hit the "raise all" button and lifted it up 4' in the air in a couple minutes. The electric jacks are nice, but are in the 200 pound range, hence the quick release, if stays on all summer they will come off. I pretty much anticipate they will come off. I will most likely use my gantry to take it on and off once I put the lifting points and roof rack on, nice to have that option.
It squatted the truck 2". I am going to weigh it in the morning and see where we ended up at.