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Sept 1, 2009 22:20:03 GMT
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Dave, Just my 2p, but I wouldn't worry about the bed angle. A place I used to work had a 3 car transporter based on an Iveco Cargo, with one car below. one on top, and the third on a steep part of deck at the back. We used to carry LWB Transits on the back part, just strapped them on all four corners, and they were fine. Difference was, we always put them on forwards, because if the weight was too far back, the steering would be SUPER VAGUE! Similar body to this.  |
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This top beam has a dual function, it´ll act as a stop for the rear tyres whilst winching up and i´ll be welding a bracket to it for the winch pulley as the winch is going on the floor behind the front seats... Would you not be better mounting the winch on the bed you are building but at the back of the van and still use the pulley at the top then the custom built frame takes all the stress and you don't have to reinforce the van floor behind the seats for the winch? Also could you fit more than one pulley and use a cheaper, smaller and lighter winch? Like this: Is the car going to overhang the back of the van? Will the tow bar still be usable (thought I read that it will have the trailer on the back) could the ramps be removable and mounted elsewhere, I know this is not as neat. Sorry for the ramble John. Thanks for that pic John, No 2 is the cunning plan mate  The winch will be going on some horizontal frame struts behind the drivers/passenger seats. It be stronger than bolting it to the floor too. With the GT6 on the back it will overhang about as far as the frame sticks out on this pic...  this frame will be shortened to just above the end of the floor, so the towbar will still be usable once we´re finished....hopefully! ;D With the Triumph getting a removable front we should get away with retractable ramps now as the angle is not quite so critical anymore. They will be sliding out from under the flatbed and i´ll try to build them with a bit of leeway to account for uneven surfaces etc. Dave, Just my 2p, but I wouldn't worry about the bed angle. A place I used to work had a 3 car transporter based on an Iveco Cargo, with one car below. one on top, and the third on a steep part of deck at the back. We used to carry LWB Transits on the back part, just strapped them on all four corners, and they were fine. Difference was, we always put them on forwards, because if the weight was too far back, the steering would be SUPER VAGUE! Similar body to this. Thanks for that, I agree I think we´ll be alright too as long as we remember to off load the Triumph before we go on track ;D |
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Last Edit: Sept 3, 2009 10:10:00 GMT by Oldbus
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v8chevette
Posted a lot
PROUD TO BE BEIGE!!
Posts: 1,109
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Only just found this thread  You pair of loonys top work, thread now bookmarked  |
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stefan
Posted a lot
If it isn't broken fix it till it is
Posts: 1,598
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Sept 3, 2009 16:45:01 GMT
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This will be very cool when done.
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POWER IS EVERYTHING WITHOUT CONTROL
1985 Honda jazz
1997 Saab 93 convertible
2010 transit 280
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Sept 14, 2009 6:07:32 GMT
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Well i´ve been busy doing the van the last couple of weeks, i just haven´t found time to update the thread... I wasn´t happy with way the guttering was done so i welded in a new bit to extend it so that it goes all the way back to the flatbed...  which meant having to respray the orange bit again...  The roof is now fully prepped for paint, the sprayfiller has been on a couple of days and sanded back quite nicely so on the next warm day i´ll give it a coat of paint...  I´ve spent a lot of time getting the ramp sorted...  with lots of metal being welded in for bracing...  I´ve made up the first ramp....  which runs up and down inside the frame...  and will be hidden underneath the flatbed...  ..when not in use the ramps are held in place with a M14 bolt which runs through the frame and ramp...  which in turn holds the ramp in place whist loading and acts as a pivot to take up any uneven ground with the weight of the ramp and GT6 being supported by the frame...  and will hopefully look something like this when i´m finished...  You can see on this pic that i´ve painted the side too, i´m not happy with the finish so will be sanding it back a bit and will redo it together with the roof as soon as we get a warm evening this week. Next job up is to brace the frame on the righthand side and fabricate the ramp. Hope John likes it  |
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sparko
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,627
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Sept 14, 2009 8:31:16 GMT
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THIS IS FAPPING AWSOME!! how have i missed this build! i shall be reading it from the start after work later! love the ramps! nice work chap!
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Ether
Posted a lot
Posts: 4,450
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Sept 14, 2009 9:44:13 GMT
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Smashing work, chaps.
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Sept 14, 2009 12:40:47 GMT
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Nicely done, and in no way am I meaning to criticise here, but, I had a lorry with a similar design ramp to that, and they used to rattle like mad in the housing they were in. They drove me mad while driving it with the windows open and that was in a 40ft long lorry and not directly behind me like they are here. The only other concern is if they ever go rusty they are a swine to get in and out of the channel. When you use them it might be worth putting a block under the ramps halfway day with a couple of inches clearance, just to stop any bending taking place of the ramp, otherwise it will be hard to get them back up the channel.
Other than that excellent work, your a braver man than me chopping up such a nice vehicle.
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1992 Citroen zx
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Tim
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,340
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Sept 14, 2009 13:12:56 GMT
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Looking good! (cheeky edit!)
Is the ramp going to be bolted in when not used?
Just thinking it might rattle like hell, thats all.
good to see the ramp angle isnt an issue :-)
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Last Edit: Sept 15, 2009 7:19:00 GMT by Tim
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Sept 14, 2009 13:27:59 GMT
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Nicely done, and in no way am I meaning to criticise here, but, I had a lorry with a similar design ramp to that, and they used to rattle like mad in the housing they were in. They drove me mad while driving it with the windows open and that was in a 40ft long lorry and not directly behind me like they are here. The only other concern is if they ever go rusty they are a swine to get in and out of the channel. When you use them it might be worth putting a block under the ramps halfway day with a couple of inches clearance, just to stop any bending taking place of the ramp, otherwise it will be hard to get them back up the channel. Other than that excellent work, your a braver man than me chopping up such a nice vehicle. Thanks for your feedback Dean, they´ll be covered in grease so should be alright rustwise. I´ve built in some clearance to allow for a bit of bending but i´ll be making up some supports to "jack up" the middle whilst loading. |
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Sept 14, 2009 13:43:58 GMT
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looking good? Is the ramp going to be bolted in when not used? Just thinking it might rattle like hell, thats all. good to see the ramp angle isnt an issue :-) Cheers Tim, i´m hoping those M14 bolts will stop it from rattling as they´ll be tightened up when on the move - if not... John will have to turn the CD player up i´ll have to come up with something clever I´m having to guess a bit on the ramp angle but I think hope we´ll be ok especially as John is building the GT6 with a removable front. |
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Last Edit: Sept 14, 2009 13:48:38 GMT by Oldbus
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,543
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Sept 14, 2009 13:51:20 GMT
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Looking good  Could you skin the rubbing surfaces using a this sheet of nylon or something? Would help it to slide without grease and also maybe make it less rattly? |
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable. |
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Sept 14, 2009 20:43:20 GMT
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Looking good Dave ??
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Sept 15, 2009 5:05:42 GMT
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Great progress work! I was about to suggest how to attach the ramp but you beat me to it! If you do get the rattles it should hopefully only be when the car is off it (Weight should hold it down well enough when on), maybe a wingnut style bolt through each ramp near the top and bottom will secure it from any movement/rattling?
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Remade In Australia
thereimaginarium.com.au
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Siert
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,107
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Sept 15, 2009 5:46:50 GMT
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Great progress work! I was about to suggest how to attach the ramp but you beat me to it! If you do get the rattles it should hopefully only be when the car is off it (Weight should hold it down well enough when on), maybe a wingnut style bolt through each ramp near the top and bottom will secure it from any movement/rattling? I don't think the weight of the car has anything to do with the rattling of the ramps as the car will be standing on the flatbed and the ramps are under it. Having small wheels on the underside of the ramp would make moving it up and down easier, and possibly stop rattling if they have some soft-ish "tire". If the ramp is in use they'd just be in the air. But that's some unnecessary extra complications as I'm sure it will all work just fine like this. Great work Dave, as always! |
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Tim
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,340
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Sept 15, 2009 7:18:23 GMT
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Typo :-) Meant to be ... Looking Good! |
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Mark
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,097
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Sept 15, 2009 21:33:12 GMT
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Dave fancy a long extended holiday in Ireland to finish all my cars?
I pay in guinness and stew. ;D
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roverv8rod
Part of things
the little devil inside :)
Posts: 95
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Sept 16, 2009 9:57:53 GMT
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Thats gonna be quite a lot of strain on the winch and straps, and fixing points on the van and car (I'd have thought) holding the car at an angle like that. Can you put the ramp on actuators? :-) Just a little thought from this side of the earth, but wouldn't it be an idea to make little lifts where the back wheels come, so you could lower the lifts when te GT6 is in place on the ramps, and to jack them up to regain the car from the ramps? Seen this done on some car-haulers in the States, seems to work real good, and only costs a fragment of other strapping systems, chocks, straps and all that kind of stuff. The car would also be a little lower on de roofside of the hauler, when in place. The little lifts can be made hydraulically, or even mechanically on a little scissorjack on both sides. You would get a little lift on each side where the rear wheels of the GT6 fall in when the racer is on the hauler, and to get it out, you just jack up the little lifts to get an even ramp, like it is now. Further on, amazing work sofar, keep on going. Chris |
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Sept 17, 2009 5:34:58 GMT
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Looking good Could you skin the rubbing surfaces using a this sheet of nylon or something? Would help it to slide without grease and also maybe make it less rattly? Thanks for all the feedback guys, much appreciated. Seth, i was thinking about something like that too. We´ll see what it´s like once it´s up and running again. Great progress work! I was about to suggest how to attach the ramp but you beat me to it! If you do get the rattles it should hopefully only be when the car is off it (Weight should hold it down well enough when on), maybe a wingnut style bolt through each ramp near the top and bottom will secure it from any movement/rattling? I´m hoping that the main securing bolt will be enough but if not your "wingnut bolt through the ramp idea" should sort it out Great progress work! I was about to suggest how to attach the ramp but you beat me to it! If you do get the rattles it should hopefully only be when the car is off it (Weight should hold it down well enough when on), maybe a wingnut style bolt through each ramp near the top and bottom will secure it from any movement/rattling? I don't think the weight of the car has anything to do with the rattling of the ramps as the car will be standing on the flatbed and the ramps are under it. Having small wheels on the underside of the ramp would make moving it up and down easier, and possibly stop rattling if they have some soft-ish "tire". If the ramp is in use they'd just be in the air. But that's some unnecessary extra complications as I'm sure it will all work just fine like this. Great work Dave, as always! Cheers mate, you´re right Siert, the flatbed will be taking the weight of the car, not the ramps - as i´ve never built anything like this i´m not sure if this is going to work or not. I want to keep the basic design simple and sturdy but if it doesn´t work then i might end up putting the ramp on castors or rollers, with a bit of luck we won´t need them though. Typo :-) Meant to be ... Looking Good! No probs Tim, that´s how i read it! ;D Dave fancy a long extended holiday in Ireland to finish all my cars? I pay in guinness and stew. ;D If you swap the Guinness for beer then you might have a deal mate Thats gonna be quite a lot of strain on the winch and straps, and fixing points on the van and car (I'd have thought) holding the car at an angle like that. Can you put the ramp on actuators? :-) Just a little thought from this side of the earth, but wouldn't it be an idea to make little lifts where the back wheels come, so you could lower the lifts when te GT6 is in place on the ramps, and to jack them up to regain the car from the ramps? Seen this done on some car-haulers in the States, seems to work real good, and only costs a fragment of other strapping systems, chocks, straps and all that kind of stuff. The car would also be a little lower on de roofside of the hauler, when in place. The little lifts can be made hydraulically, or even mechanically on a little scissorjack on both sides. You would get a little lift on each side where the rear wheels of the GT6 fall in when the racer is on the hauler, and to get it out, you just jack up the little lifts to get an even ramp, like it is now. Further on, amazing work sofar, keep on going. Chris Thanks for your idea Chris, but i want to keep it a simple as possible. I can´t go any lower with the car otherwise the ramps wouldn´t work and i´d have a clearance issue with the cab roof. I´ve worked out how to secure the car properly and we´ll be staying with the ratchet strap idea as they´re easy to get and more than strong enough for the job.... Well i managed to get the cab roof painted blue yesterday, my camera was playing up so couldn´t take any pics....i´ll take some this evening once i´ve painted the side panel again... |
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DutyFreeSaviour
Europe
Back For More heartbreak and disappointment.....
Posts: 2,944
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Sept 17, 2009 15:06:50 GMT
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Of course Dave and I have been PM'ing away in the background - but I have to admit 2 things. 1. This is looking every bit as good as I wanted it to - always having faith in Dave's work has meant a couple of PM's and phonecalls on top of our original plans and we've been on hte same wavelength the whole time. 2. I can't wait to ge the whole thing together for a next season and start 'playing' at some of the fantastic tracks well within striking distance of Brussels ;D If there wa to be a point 3 it's more a guilt trip - SLOW DOWN MAN - I haven't even got over to UK to collect the other half of this combo yet!!!!  See you and the family soon Dave. Over the moon with everything so far mate, as you well know . John |
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Back from the dead..... kind of
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