Project Bud

Mo wrote:The guy must be good and it would be worth the wait but I have a feeling it will be after Christmas maybe even next year

I have the same feeling....it's okay though as our temps are about to bottom out and I wouldn't be able to use this set-up in that kind of weather anyway. Supposed to be single digits at night for the next 2 weeks at least.

I'm just happy to hear that it will probably be workable, now I can keep gathering the parts for the build up.

I have finally decided on how to both insulate and reduce noise for this project. My goals are to reduce the sound amplifying effects of the aluminum box so that the tnt doesn't sound like a fire-cracker in a tin can, while improving the thermal insulation.

I was looking at neoprene or Ensolite panels, but I really wanted something a little simpler that didn't take away space or the ability to mount things to the walls. I also had to figure out what to do about the ceiling....can't see hanging panels up there without them falling down on a hot summer day.

Well, this looks like the answer....thanks for the advice US Navy. If you have any doubts, watch the video on the bottom of the page!

The hardest part for me is going to be waiting for the weather to get up into the 50's so that I can apply this product.....soon, very soon.

http://www.mascoat.com/sound-damping-and-control.html

Looks interesting but how much is it?

Nice Job finding good products
from the site the DB damping is more for sound
what about to insulate are you going to use neoprene or Ensolite panels on top

Sound reduction is my main purpose as I don't see myself being very successful heating this thing when it gets below zero any way. I am just trying to prevent the amplified sound of the metal.

Cost? Probably on the high side. This company also makes "Lizard Skin" which is a similar product and used in the auto restoration world. It takes about $350 to coat the interior of a car with that stuff!!

I was told that this stuff had the same ceramic coating base, but would be cheaper. I haven't heard back from the salesman yet, though.

you can spray bed liner may be like five coats your self and save some money
they have it on many colors

The bed liner was in the running (Durabak) and I liked the color options, but getting it to stick to the aluminum was going to take a lot of work. The ceramic stuff is supposed to stick without as much prep work.

I still liked the idea of a navy blue interior, but I guess I am a little lazy.

LET THE ANGELS SING

The fabricator is finally going to work on my truck this weekend! The forecast shows 50's all next week, so once the Zoo marathon is over, I can finally get to building this truck.

The only update I have is that my enthusiasm has turned to impatience and I just want this thing on the road making money. So, I am going with marine carpet on the walls for now instead of the fancy coatings.

I know, kind of boring, but I need to get this done before the spring rush starts up. Then I can start mounting the shelves, hangers, reels, etc. and be installed by the end of the month....with some luck.

Really just need to decide on the heat source now, the rest is already planned and staged for install.

Just in the knick of time

Kick to the nuts again with this project

I just got the call from the fabricator....there's a problem.  In order to window frame some bracing to support the interior walls, the TNT will have to be raised onto its own platform for enough material to weld in the lower brace.

I was thinking about mounting the machine on wood blocks like ACE did on Ryan's install, so it might not be a negative in the end, but it does delay things farther.

I leave for a week in Nashville in the morning, so the project is halted again as the fabricator said that we "Really need to sit down and discuss this again before we go farther".

Don't really like the sound of that last line, but I will not know more until I return from my dose of sweet tea at the end of the week.

Just one more thing to think about sitting in a hotel room.

Just met with the fabricator tonight.....trouble, but fixable.

The lower part of the back wall could not be removed as it contained a hidden spine that supported the rest of the flooring.  So, the lower 6 inches of the wall has to remain to keep things together.

That means he is going to build a platform using 3/8 inch plate the length of the front floor to mount the TNT onto.  That will also raise the machine another 6 inches.

To add to the fun, in order to avoid building a custom brace off the chassis to support all the weight, he wants to mount the machine centered in the box instead of biased to the passenger side.  That will move the control pane back about 18 inches from the edge.  

Neither adjustment is ideal, but should at least work.  If I had the money, I could install a slider to that platform and be able to slide the machine out of the truck for servicing.  I really wish I had the money.....might have to find that money as it would be a cool feature since the machine will be a tight fit through the opening that is being cut.

Bottom line is that it will be another couple of weeks until it is done since he just received higher priority jobs ahead of me.  Define that as "more profitable" jobs ahead of me.  

Dang that kinda sux, 18" from door.

Can't the weight of the machine be offset by other equipment mounted on the other side?

Kinda sounding like a beverage truck isn't the best deal after all?

How far is ACs machine from the side? I hope the reels are too far inside the machine that would be a real pain in the arse or should I say pain n the back. Stay patient is going to be awesome when it s done

The reels are located in the second compartment, so that isn't affected. I was going to slide the machine back some anyway to make room for a banjo-style waste drain, but not quite that far back...might be tough to reach the controls from the ground.

At least the platform will be open underneath so I can run the apo pump and hoses beneath the machine's drain. That at least will be very convenient.

Not so sure about using the beer truck now either, but when / if it ever gets on the road....hopefully it ends up worth all the struggle.

Can you explain the "banjo-style waste drain" ?

Davey Cracker wrote:Can you explain the "banjo-style waste drain" ?

It is just a brand of drain valve, but they are awesome valves.  They last forever and can be rebuildable, but they do stick out farther than the guillotine style. It also easier to install different elbows, nipples, etc. to tie into an apo.

http://www.polytanksales.com/media/catalog/category/banjo-ball-valves.jpg

Man Milspec, sounds like you are having one hella time, I would not have thought a Tm was more weight than all that water, beer, what ever they carried around in that truck, it sure didn't look like a light weight truck/ box to me.
Sorry for all the trouble your having that takes a lot of the fun out of doing projects real quick.

That's what I was thinking, the weight of the TM compared to cases of drinks stacked 8' high...........seems all those bottles and liquid would be pretty heavy and also the reason the truck is built so strong?

milspec6 wrote:

Davey Cracker wrote:Can you explain the "banjo-style waste drain" ?

It is just a brand of drain valve, but they are awesome valves.  They last forever and can be rebuildable, but they do stick out farther than the guillotine style.  It also easier to install different elbows, nipples, etc. to tie into an apo.

http://www.polytanksales.com/media/catalog/category/banjo-ball-valves.jpg

Wow, that is really cool!........I've never seen one of those before.

Thanks!

Davey Cracker wrote:That's what I was thinking, the weight of the TM compared to cases of drinks stacked 8' high...........seems all those bottles and liquid would be pretty heavy and also the reason the truck is built so strong?

The weight is probably comparable as it is designed to hold soda stacked 6 feet heigh in a 4x4 space. The key is that they load both sides of the truck at the same time, so it is balanced. My plan was to mount the tnt biased to one side....that is what he is concerned about.

It is really driving me nuts right now. There are days when I think about just unloading the whole show and buying a box truck with a mount already installed, I am really tired of working out of that van. What keeps me from doing that is that you have to climb in/out of box trucks to get your stuff and that kills the knees pretty quick over a long day. The whole point to this truck is that it has a lift height of about my waist, so I will have easy access to everything.

Well, that is if the dang thing ever hits the road.

I get the feeling that fabricator is way over thinking this?.........I mean really what is that much different with the bud truck than the vans and box trucks we use when it comes to mounting the TM on one side of it? We all do it, heck some people mount TM's on one side of mini vans!!

Is there something I'm missing here?

You're probably right about my fabricator, I think he is over-engineering things as well, but he has been doing this exact kind of thing for 40 years....might know a few things that I am missing.

He has modified these kind of trucks for 2 large water distributors in this area over the last year and is probably hiding the real ugly stuff with this modification.

At least he told me that it will make a great truck for my purposes when finished, so he supports the idea.

A miracle happened today....welder called me and said that he was finished.

I don't know how it looks yet, but will view it tomorrow....and cry over the bill. At least I can finally start making this project a reality and be on the road in May....albeit with less finishing touches until the business starts recovering financially.

Now to figure out how the heck I am going to get the machine up into the box.......could be interesting.

I don't !believe!! Cherry picker won't work.

That was my original plan, but my driveway is gravel and that truck isn't fitting in the garage. So, even if I put plywood panels over the gravel, I will still need to turn the lift, get it high enough, and be able to slide it all the way in through the narrow opening.

I am looking for a forklift, bobcat with forks, or even a tractor with forks. It might take a few days, but I'll find someone.

Which reminds me, is it better to mount the LG heater on a platform or to the floor?