Forest Sevice Hotshot Crew Truck.
- Thread starter jkam
- Start date
shortbus4x4
Expedition Leader
You can set it up as a RV to avoid the weigh stations and port of entries. I talked with one guy who had one of these and had it registered as a RV to avoid the DOT.
That picture you posted of a Ukonom hot shot truck is from near where I grew up, my sister still lives in Orleans. I used to work on some of these trucks for Six Rivers National Forest, the crew haulers are called crew buggies while the big 4x4 crewcab engines are called engines.
That picture you posted of a Ukonom hot shot truck is from near where I grew up, my sister still lives in Orleans. I used to work on some of these trucks for Six Rivers National Forest, the crew haulers are called crew buggies while the big 4x4 crewcab engines are called engines.
Just picked up one of these that was used by the Sacramento district in New Mexico. Trying to find any maintenance history, manuals, FS operator manuals, etc. so I know some of the idiosyncrasies about this vehicle. Perhaps even hook up with a former or current operator for a question/answer over a beer or other beverage. Things like when you hit the Mode button in the transmission, if that performs the normal function (economy shift mode) or is adapted for powering the PTO/other. What the PTO actually powers (guessing the rear air conditioner, as I do not see anything else yet), and other questions I may not even know I have until I stumble upon them.
On a positive note, we travelled just over 1000 miles from Phoenix to Boise without a hitch. The FS really did a good job of up-specing these things with the high power/torque engine, heavier duty transmission, rear locker, larger fuel tank, air seats, air ride, and more.
Thanks for any info/insights on offer.
On a positive note, we travelled just over 1000 miles from Phoenix to Boise without a hitch. The FS really did a good job of up-specing these things with the high power/torque engine, heavier duty transmission, rear locker, larger fuel tank, air seats, air ride, and more.
Thanks for any info/insights on offer.
Ozrockrat
Expedition Leader
Remember without photos it didn’t happen
Mode button. If you find the TCM it will have a couple of codes on it. Take those to the local Allison genuine dealer and they should be able to tell you what it is programmed for. I have never seen one programmed for the PTO usually it changes the transmission shift points for power/economy.
This one shows it is 5 speed with 2 different shift patterns. It also shows that it has auto detect throttle so it can be used with various engines.
Coachgeo
Explorer
actually a good number of folk have done it without issue. They are members in here too. It is just like a house frame, but aluminum square tube instead of 2x4's. Principles are the same. Weld in a good redesign of the framing in the ceiling structure and your fine.
Oh, it happened. 1000 miles of diesel for two vehicles, and my wallet is lighter by a bit.
I'll try to find the ECM for the tranny, and get the codes. Thanks for the beta.
BTW, rear box interior volume on this one: Height 6' 2.5", length 14" 0", width 7' 8" or 7' 10" (can't quite remember that one).
shortbus4x4
Expedition Leader
Saw a bunch of these in action yesterday in S OR on my way home from N CA. I keep telling my wife I'm going to get one of these for our camping rig. Talk about storage!
The exterior skin is aluminum. I know because the magnetic tag for the test drive would not stick to it. Not sure about the interior skin, or frame. I believe the frame is actually steel though. I'll hit it with a magnet the next time I am out there to be sure. There will be quite a bit of cutting/welding going on.
Move door to passenger side, button up the rear door, loose some of the boxes on the passenger side as a result, modify others. Build a lift platform off the back up high to hold a moto/2x MTB/spare. Move/modify windows on the rear as a result. If we decide on a cabover, then would raise the roof a bit and add the cab overhang. Re-skin any areas modified, prime for paint. Might do some custom bumper work too.
Anyone have any beta on the correct rim/tire combo for Supersingles for these, I am all ears. If going that route, would like to have the same size rim/tire to be used for front and rear to get both wheels on the same track width. Similar to what I have read about on the Fuso pages. Still doing the research though. Build won't start for a few months.
Move door to passenger side, button up the rear door, loose some of the boxes on the passenger side as a result, modify others. Build a lift platform off the back up high to hold a moto/2x MTB/spare. Move/modify windows on the rear as a result. If we decide on a cabover, then would raise the roof a bit and add the cab overhang. Re-skin any areas modified, prime for paint. Might do some custom bumper work too.
Anyone have any beta on the correct rim/tire combo for Supersingles for these, I am all ears. If going that route, would like to have the same size rim/tire to be used for front and rear to get both wheels on the same track width. Similar to what I have read about on the Fuso pages. Still doing the research though. Build won't start for a few months.
shortbus4x4
Expedition Leader
What kind of mileage did you get on your way home with it?
I don't have a hard number. This one has a single 73 gallon tank, and the recommend only putting in 70 gallons due to expansion. Each time you hit a fuel stop the pump stops at either $75 or $100, so I didn't fully top up until I hit an actual high volume truck stop pump. $148 later... Then there is no real obvious point to stop pumping fuel. I made an estimate from the fill up and pumped to that height on the subsequent fill up. My calculations from that came out to 9.83 MPG. I am now using a higher line as there was a lot more headspace. Part of the learning process when you are unfamiliar with these trucks. Next fill-up should give better results, as the line I chose is more definitive.
Also when you pull all of those hills out of Phoenix to Flagstaff in 110 degree heat, it really does not help the mileage. After getting to the top I set the cruise at 61, put in ear plugs, and settled in for the trip. One of the first mods will be to add a lot of 80 mil sound deadening material to every square inch of the cab. There is literally nothing between you and the noise except a bit of plastic, a rubber mat, and sheet metal. Then add dampener on top of that, and re-assemble. The noise is mostly the air intake when you are in the throttle on big climbs. Higher pitch, and wears on you without earplugs. Cruising is not bad though, even without them. Could listed to the radio and all that.
Also think the air filter needs to be replaced, or blown out. That should help with the intake sound a bit. I noticed the intake gauge in the dash was into the yellow a bit. It was fine, until you had to do a big climb, then would go up to about 8. Spent a few years with Humvees in the Army, and never saw one of those gauges so much as move a tick. Of course this thing pulls a LOT more air, so it may be normal. Worth checking either way, and could have changed the mileage a bit as well.
Still learning.
Also when you pull all of those hills out of Phoenix to Flagstaff in 110 degree heat, it really does not help the mileage. After getting to the top I set the cruise at 61, put in ear plugs, and settled in for the trip. One of the first mods will be to add a lot of 80 mil sound deadening material to every square inch of the cab. There is literally nothing between you and the noise except a bit of plastic, a rubber mat, and sheet metal. Then add dampener on top of that, and re-assemble. The noise is mostly the air intake when you are in the throttle on big climbs. Higher pitch, and wears on you without earplugs. Cruising is not bad though, even without them. Could listed to the radio and all that.
Also think the air filter needs to be replaced, or blown out. That should help with the intake sound a bit. I noticed the intake gauge in the dash was into the yellow a bit. It was fine, until you had to do a big climb, then would go up to about 8. Spent a few years with Humvees in the Army, and never saw one of those gauges so much as move a tick. Of course this thing pulls a LOT more air, so it may be normal. Worth checking either way, and could have changed the mileage a bit as well.
Still learning.
Ozrockrat
Expedition Leader
You can pickup a Scangauge D and pull your mileage etc straight from the ECU. About $130 and helps read codes if needed. There is also a product called Silverleaf that interfaces the trucks diagnostic port (make sure you have a look and count the number of pins before buying) to a PC. It shows some great info especially on the later trucks with the J1939 bus.
https://www.scangauge.com/products/scangauge-d/
http://www.silverleafelectronics.com
https://www.scangauge.com/products/scangauge-d/
http://www.silverleafelectronics.com
lactic
Member
Heard they can leak antifreeze all over your friend’s street...
Cool platform other than that though!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Heard they can leak antifreeze all over your friend’s street...
Cool platform other than that though!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Well there is that. It is what happens when you park it on a serious downhill and don't cool it off enough by idling for a few minutes so as not to piss of your friends hoyty-toyty neighbors. Do you have to yell "on belay" each time you walk down to check the mailbox?
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