Welding Rig advice needed.

[firestorm13666]

I'm plan on getting into welding, and fabrication as a career. Right now I'm trying to get things ready for when I'm ready to start working. Right now I have a 1987 1Ton 4speed Chevy with a utility on in need of work. The truck isn't in bad shape and I have the parts to repair it. I plan to repaint it white and dressing it up some. I also have a good 6.2L diesel that is going in it. I know the bed is about shot so I'm thinking a flat bed. I'm looking for any advice I can get on making this truck into a good rig. Also any info on the legal end of things would be helpful as well. Thanks

[trouble007]

If your just starting out in welding i would recomend going and working for someone else for a few years before going out on your own. IMHO

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[DemonSpeeder]

Try looking at the welding rig truck thread, lots of ideas and inspiration, there are also many build threads here as well...

[Coaltrain]

[QUOTE=trouble007;1276841]If your just starting out in welding i would recomend going and working for someone else for a few years before going out on your own. IMHO[QUOTE=trouble007;1276841]

x 2. This is a hard business to break out into.... And even harder to stay in. get your feet wet as a helper and see if this is really something you want to dive into. Good luck.

[MetalMan23]

Originally Posted by trouble007

If your just starting out in welding i would recomend going and working for someone else for a few years before going out on your own. IMHO

I agree, you'll learn a lot more, and faster if you have someone who's been in the field for a long time teach you. But there's nothing wrong with being ambitious, just make sure you don't jump in over your head.

[MetalMan23]

But that being said, that bed looks pretty shot, you're probly gonna have to dump it. Maybe build a nice aluminum flat bed

[smokin_dodge]

I fully agree with everything already said - welding is not just a business you "fall into" - you need years of experience in most cases, and odds are your going to spend a small fortune getting your own rig built.

Money and starting out aside...

With all the rust on the utility bed, it would suggest stripping the truck down to the frame. You will want to go over every part of that truck if its going to be used for work. One of the biggest downsides to owning a welding truck is when its down for maintenance and (not trying to pry into your financial situation) but if all your money is tied up into your rig and your down for a month, you could lose your ***!

Again, I fully agree with what has already been posted. Check out some of the other builds to get an idea of what state your truck needs to be in to work.

[stihl91]

Here is another idea i would work at weld shop to get a idea of what you will be doing so you have experience and can perform the jobs correctly. And once you start making money put a little of it in too the truck take little bits out of it.

[MilitiaMetals]

If you are in a rural farm area you will make money, chances are there are very few welders, there are 2 that do repairs in my small town of 350, one is me and the other is my boss. We cover an area of 40 mile radius so there is lots of work. If they can't get us to do the work, then its a 45 mile drive for the next guy minimum, and the next welder is even farther away. My recommendation, keep a full time job, do the mobile on your spare time, if it takes off, then slowly dive into it.

Also I would stay away from the 6.2 or 6.5 unless they have been rebuilt, have witnessed too many people blow them up, and I don't care if anyone says they are good or ok, they are junk, end of story. They are too lightly built and are prone to blowing head gaskets, pistons, snapping cranks, the injection moduals on the newer 6.5's always burn out. My uncle and friend are journeymen diesel mechanics and have worked on enough of them, in fact my opinion is vastly based on their knowledge and experience. My father in-law had a 6.2 ...he snapped the crank........uncle had a 6.2 blew 3 pistons, friends father had a 6.5 and he snapped the crank ......neighbor had a 6.2 and put a rod thru the block. The are ok if the truck is going to be driven like a car, thats about it. Plus they are ungodly expensive to fix. So I guess what I am trying to say is, stick with a 350 gas lol

[SeanMurphy265]

I've been slowly getting into the welding business on my own. I would say #1 get debt free! That is the key to surviving. #2 Get yourself a few thousand bucks stashed away for equipment. I'm talking about having money ready for when you find that great deal, or someone who is selling out; that kind of stuff. If that were my truck I would put a good crate motor in it, find a regular bed for it, and make it look as nice as a work truck can look. Make it as dependable as possible. Those old Chevrolet's are cheap and parts are everywhere. I would fix myself up a 5x8 trailer with all my welding equipment and tools.

I would then sell my daily driver and pay off any bills, or put some money into my business. Starting out I think it's important to do away with any bills you can. If you own two vehicles then you have two tags, inspections, insurance, gas, etc that you have to maintain. Do everything you can to lower your living expenses!

As the business grows and I could afford it then I would look at getting a newer truck with a welding bed if I could pay cash.

[cd19]

I don't want to tell you what to do but that truck is pretty used up. Some food for thought. I just bought a 2003 GMC with new aluminum flat bed 2500HD 6.0 Automatic 4X4 with 4 nearly new tires with almost 230,000 miles for $3400. I had to put on a set of manifolds and a few small things but it's my beater truck and I am under 4 grand. Deals are out there, sure this truck is high miles but its not rotted out and is a modern piece of equipment. Heck it's newer than my personal truck. If you have to keep that truck junk the bed, it's not worth fixing. Build yourself a rig bed you can show your customers.

[MetalMan23]

Originally Posted by SeanMurphy265

#2 Get yourself a few thousand bucks stashed away for equipment. I'm talking about having money ready for when you find that great deal, or someone who is selling out; that kind of stuff

This is very important, you never know when a good deal is gonna come up, for a piece of equipment you need.

[Dualie]

i dont have much advice but your pics make me very glad i live in a dry climate.

[firestorm13666]

I would like to thank everyone for all the advice you have shared with me, and if there is anything else you feel would be helpful please share. Reading over what has been said I feel I'm on the right track with what I have been thinking. Right now I'm more or less gathering tools,equipment, and knowledge. From what I have seen and experienced myself I know better then to rush things in life. So I really plan on doing things the best that I can. As for the truck my plans are to make it look and be dependable as best it can be. The reason for the 6.2 is the truck now has a carbureted engine in place of the TBI that was in it. Who ever swapped the engine in did a half assed job. That parts isn't a big deal for me. What is a big deal is that I do not know what would make the truck DOT legal emissions wise, nor do I know what regulations I would have to follow with it being used for work. Where I live there is no emissions testing as of now but I would like the truck to be as legal as it can be. As for the rest of the truck I have a lot of new parts for it, and I have already installed four new tires. As Sean said mounting things on a trailer would also be a good idea if the truck brakes down. It just happens I have a nice frame that my grandfather built that would be just right for a welding trailer. If there are any questions anyone has for me I will answer them as best I can. If it helps I can list what tools and equipment I have so far.

[MetalMan23]

How much welding experience do you have? What processes?
I'm interested on what equipment you already have...

And its not a bad idea to have a trailer set up with that old truck

[anickode]

IMO, unless you're getting into pipelining or serious off-road portability, a trailer setup is definitely the way to go, at least for the major stuff.

If you want to do more of the mobile fabrication thing, I'd do something along these lines:

Rebuild or replace the utility bed on that truck. The locking tool storage space is invaluable. You need WAY more equipment to do mobile fabrication vs ironwork or pipelining. Remember, YOU have to be your own tool crib.

Outfit the truck to accommodate hand tools, air tools, stands, etc, ladders, materials, and a work surface, with locking tool storage inside the locking compartments.

Install a good air compressor on the truck.

Put your welding machine, torches, and other "vitals" on a trailer. Keep one set of leads on the trailer, with extra lead locked in the truck.

A small jib crane would be a nice feature on the truck as well.

This way, if your truck takes a dump (and they all do at some point), you'll still have the ability to be mobile with your vital equipment, and all the ancillary stuff can be loaded into the bed of another pickup, back of an SUV, or whatever, keeping you in business.

There's nothing worse than having to pay for major repairs on a vehicle AND losing your source of income all in one shot. (except for having your shop burn down)

[firestorm13666]

I fully agree with you anickode on your reasoning for a trailer. Murphy's law does have a way of making a mess of things. As for locking storage, well that is a must. I know the bed is shot, and not worth the time or money to repair it really. A flat bed with boxes mounted on it might be a better choice at this point.



To be honest I am lacking in experience more then anything. I have really only welded minor things that needed welding for myself. I'm making plan to take welding classes, but with my work schedule there isn't many options for me. There is a local shop that has classes that will work out for me, and the guys there have been good to me so far. They are a welder repair shop that does welding, and teach classes as well as do certification testing. The owners are friendly and maybe with taking classes there it might get my foot in the door if I have what it takes to be a welder.



Well as for equipment that is all I really spend money on. So here is a list of what I own so far.



Oxy/Fuel gas



Lincoln branded Harris cut/weld setup running propane.

Linde port-a-torch

And working on another setup just for work right now, so far I have a Victor SR450D oxy reg , Rego torch, and 50 feet of grade T hose.



Welder



Glenn-Roberts 250A AC arc welder with a Miller TC-150 DC Converter

L-Tec UCC-305 Arc/Tig

Lincoln Weld-pak 100 with mig conversion kit

Linde VI-206 power supple with a Mig-31 feeder

Miller WC-3 weld control with Airco Miget spool gun

Miller AEAD 200LE engine drive with a worn engine, not in bad shape for being a 85.



Gas cylinders

1: 300CF oxy

1: 125CF oxy

1: 20CF oxy

2: 125CF C-25

1: 125CF argon

1: 80CF nitrogen

2: 20LB CO2

1: B acetylene

1: MC acetylene

2: 100LB propane

1: 30LB propane



Two different Tig torches one air cooled, and one water can't remember what they are off hand. Around 100LBs of rod in total, 6011,6013,7014,7018AC mostly 1/8. Not much for leads really. That is what I can come up with off hand with out going over things. I have other tools but that is what I have as of now for welding equipment.

[MetalMan23]

Well you're certainly not lacking in equipment, that's for sure. But classes is a great idea

[drujinin]

My brother is a Farrier just barely surviving. He was coming down a curvy hill when a car T-Boned his truck. Same deal, no backup vehicle, no money. Mom and Dad loaned him their pickup truck till he could get an Insurance settlement. He wised up and bought a trailer, then a truck. Good thing for him as now the truck isn't 100% tied up with Horse stuff. He fixed up a nice little shop in the trailer.
I too, do "Farmer Repairs" and have it all tied up in a trailer and the the Home shop. That way I can go out in a field, if necessary they can tow the trailer out in the field with a tractor and not tear up my truck.

[anickode]

Originally Posted by MetalMan23

Well you're certainly not lacking in equipment, that's for sure. But classes is a great idea

Yeah... This is kind of like owning an airplane and not having any flight training.

[firestorm13666]

Good analogy anickode, and if it were not for a few set backs in life things might be different. Thanks again for the advice everyone. I had some time over the weekend to take a few pics of the trailer frame I'm planning to use. The frame is 4ft wide, and 8ft long minus the tongue 11ft with it. From what I can tell my grandfather who built it was planning on making a tilt or dump trailer out of it. The tongue and main part of the frame are separate parts. It has a pivot point on the main part of the frame. As it sits now I feel it is a good start for a welding trailer. I believe it is built out of 1/8 or 1/4 inch structural channel.

[firestorm13666]

Haven't had much time to update this or to do much else really. Started welding classes in August. Working full time and going to classes four days a week doesn't leave much time for other things really. Still have till the middle of May to go. Things are going good so far. I've passed bend test for 1-4G in 6010, and 1-2G in 7018. Still have Mig,Tig, and pipe to do after stick before the class is over in may. The goal is to get 6G at the end in May. The school I ended up going to hired the owner of the welding repair shop I do business with as substitute teacher, and to teach their part time classes. This ended up with me taking the engine drive to his shop to get looked over. Turned out the started was shot, vavles were out of adjustment, points worn out, and the carb gumed up form sitting. Now after the work I have a running welder, that should last me awhile I hope. With the start of spring and warm weather on it's way I'm hopeing to get started on the truck and trailer. From what I have talked about with my instructors it seems that If I want to get out there and weld it would probably be for a unoin, and I would be traveling a lot. Also would likely be pipeline work. I'm hopeing that having a rig of my own on top of being young,single, and in good health would help me to get my foot in the door somewhere.

[matt1morton]

I'd really suggest finding a welding shop that would let you hire on and build experience. I've been welding for most of my life and I finally decided to begin working in a shop about five years ago. I only thought I knew how to weld. The experience I've gained is invaluable and I still learn things all the time. The bonus to this setup is you get paid to gain experience! Plus, with the right job you could begin taking evening/weekend work on the side. Just my .02!