My own personal tow truck build

[lawrence0485]

May be a 3 yr old thread but i haven't seen it before and i think its a pretty slick truck. Thanks "Forum Newbie" for diggin it up

[el bob]

First time I saw this as well. Impressive build, especially on the financial side. Great way to win a bet with friends.

[farmall]

GOOD thread from the dead!

Wrecker capability is great to have, and you can tow almost anything with that style. They are also dandy for pickin' and moving vehicles around the yard.

Check the Tow411 forums for pics of light-duty wreckers and techniques.

[dumb as a stump]

I like the higher paint job. Ps there used to be tons of tow trucks around here like that, then they changed the laws and every one had to buy new the type The old ones were being sold at scrap prices after that.Sooot I didn't see that it was a 3 yr old thread ..Oh well

[soutthpaw]

I actually have just about all the parts to build one of these wrecker lifts too. Have sling, winch, hydraulics etc. The assembly seems like it will put a lot of weight on the tail end of the frame. I would have tried to get the lift futher forward to the can though.

[Old Doug]

That is a nice truck but that set up was made to go in the bed of a pickup and the sling is about 2 feet longer than it needs to be It sticks out farther than it has to and puts a lot of extra weight on back of truck through leverage. The best pickup ever built to make a tow truck is a Chevy 1963/ 1971 with coil rear spring because you can cut frame of even with rear tires and have zero over hang. A 1/2 ton chevy like this will tow more than most 1tons.

[Canoe2fish]

great build thread! The way you managed to make the sling's boom lay under the the 5th wheel is indeed innovative. Wondering if the pivot components on the 5th wheel are a little light though...
What a steal on the truck too!!

[OldSchoolPSD]

I applaud the ingenuity and craftsmanship, but it would have been ten times easier to build an under reach wheel lift setup and a flatbed. The sling can handle more weight, but you can't really tow anything that doesn't have a nice solid front bumper without tearing something up.

I like it alot, but I don't really get it...

[Canoe2fish]

Originally Posted by OldSchoolPSD

I applaud the ingenuity and craftsmanship, but it would have been ten times easier to build an under reach wheel lift setup and a flatbed. The sling can handle more weight, but you can't really tow anything that doesn't have a nice solid front bumper without tearing something up.

I like it alot, but I don't really get it...

I totally agree with that statement, however the OP was on a set budget and the sling setup fell in his lap for dirt cheap.

[soutthpaw]

Biggest issue I see is with the severe angle of the sling with a car on it. Llike 45* should be straight up and down. The the truck brakes hard the car will ramp all the way up the sling. Same if rear ended..
Plenty of discussion on sling ramping at tow411. That center extension on the bottom should be removed all together esp without an extendable boom to compensate for the the lower length.
This is like the homemade trailer threads in that what he has built has an increased risk of endangering those around him when towing. I am sure posting this on pro tow sites would bring plenty of flaming

[dumb as a stump]

Boys this is a 3 year old thread

[soutthpaw]

Originally Posted by dumb as a stump

Boys this is a 3 year old thread

Yeah I pointed that out but being some folks are saying its cool, thought I should point out the dangerous poor design of the thing.

[1955_Chevy_6400]

Originally Posted by smokin_dodge

Looks like we got a newbie to the forum world.

At least his comments aren't as bad as ed's, but at the same time kid needs to learn to not make stupid comments on 3 year old threads...

I did not realise how old this thread was until I saw the comments after me. I do not see how it was a stupid comment not knowing how old it was. And I am not a newbie to the forum world.

[dabar39]

Originally Posted by soutthpaw

I actually have just about all the parts to build one of these wrecker lifts too. Have sling, winch, hydraulics etc. The assembly seems like it will put a lot of weight on the tail end of the frame. I would have tried to get the lift futher forward to the can though.

The sling is located in the same place on the chassis as if the truck had a regular bed on it

Originally Posted by Old Doug

That is a nice truck but that set up was made to go in the bed of a pickup and the sling is about 2 feet longer than it needs to be It sticks out farther than it has to and puts a lot of extra weight on back of truck through leverage. The best pickup ever built to make a tow truck is a Chevy 1963/ 1971 with coil rear spring because you can cut frame of even with rear tires and have zero over hang. A 1/2 ton chevy like this will tow more than most 1tons.

The sling is a factory made unit and this particular unit was made in 1991, there is no more stick out with this placement than if this was bolted down to a regular pick up bed

Originally Posted by Canoe2fish

great build thread! The way you managed to make the sling's boom lay under the the 5th wheel is indeed innovative. Wondering if the pivot components on the 5th wheel are a little light though...
What a steal on the truck too!!

I figure the 1/4" walled seamless tubing is a might bit thicker and stronger than the original 12 ga. stamped sheet steel mounts supplied from the factory

Originally Posted by OldSchoolPSD

I applaud the ingenuity and craftsmanship, but it would have been ten times easier to build an under reach wheel lift setup and a flatbed. The sling can handle more weight, but you can't really tow anything that doesn't have a nice solid front bumper without tearing something up.

I like it alot, but I don't really get it...

Nothing to get really, I was told it could not be done so I had to accept the challenge. Besides it was designed to take cars to the shredder, wasn't worried about tearing up rubber bumper covers.

Originally Posted by soutthpaw

Biggest issue I see is with the severe angle of the sling with a car on it. Llike 45* should be straight up and down. The the truck brakes hard the car will ramp all the way up the sling. Same if rear ended..
Plenty of discussion on sling ramping at tow411. That center extension on the bottom should be removed all together esp without an extendable boom to compensate for the the lower length.
This is like the homemade trailer threads in that what he has built has an increased risk of endangering those around him when towing. I am sure posting this on pro tow sites would bring plenty of flaming

I have used the Illusion repo slings for many years before wheel lifts were the norm, hundreds of repos later I can safely say that I have never dropped a car or had one ramp up a sling on me. Anyone who wants to flame this truck is more than welcome to if they can personally show me that they have built something better.

Originally Posted by soutthpaw

Yeah I pointed that out but being some folks are saying its cool, thought I should point out the dangerous poor design of the thing.

Not sure I understand the dangerous poor design comment, are you speaking about the truck in general or the Illusion Tow Sling that I used? If it is the truck in general that is poorly designed I'd like to have you elaborate a little more and if it's the Illusion Tow Sling being the dangerous poor design you need to take that up with them. They have been making this sling for over 20 years that I know of and I'm sure if the several thousands of units sold were that dangerous and poorly designed they would have stopped selling them by now.



Now for an update on this truck, A few months ago I came across a 1970 C-30 wrecker in the local scrap yard with a No-Mar dual winch bed on it. Didn't buy the entire bed just the cable operated wheel lift assembly for $50.00 and 2 hours of labor to remove it, an extra $10 got me the chrome wheel simulators. They were missing one center cap for the rear but for 10 bucks I'm happy and I'm sure I will come across a center cap in my future journeys. Couple of modifications later it was bolted up to the frame of my truck. Here is the finished product Flame away!

[ItsAdam1]

its the wheel lift operated by hydraulics or the boom sling?

[soutthpaw]

Originally Posted by ItsAdam1

its the wheel lift operated by hydraulics or the boom sling?

The wheel lift is operated by winch. The unit iself is not powered at all. Oh I am not going to argue with the OP either. The fact he has not ever had a ramping issue is luck. That's all. Post the pic over on a pro tow forum and it will get torn apart like bird poop trailer hitch builds here.
The rest of the build is cool but on a regular truck u can extend the boom to get the. Sling more vertical.

[zapster]

Nice to see ya back Dave..

I have the same wheel covers on my truck..
Just keep an eye on the lugs!!!!Seriously!!

...zap!

[OldSchoolPSD]

Nothing to flame on there... That underreach is a sweet setup. Need to get some 1" plates and make up some frame forks... there's enough wheelbase there to really put some weight on it.

[BILL D]

Nice work and nice set up