Landscape truck build

[hseII]

be kinda difficult when mowers are loaded on it

it is going to have a small winch on it so its possible to use that for the gate but that just seems like a hassle to do every time you load or unload a mower. the winch serving double duty was one of my first thoughts on this thing but it got ruled out pretty quickly. also thought about an air cylinder since i will have a compressor and tank for the air ride but again i ruled that out as i think the cylinder diameter would have to be awfully big with only 100psi to work with

You’ve got quite a few things working against you: the weight & mass of the ramps in relation to the angles you need to load mowers being the main issue.

Our goosenecks have a 1” steel rod that goes from 1 end to the other with 1/2” plate ears that attach to the trailer frame.

The ramps are attached by pipe that just fits the Steel rod.

As I’m not at home, I had to find something on the Intertube to explain.



Now, consider a Spring Steel spring on each ramp that gives them the assist needed.

These are Attached by 1 leg of the spring going thru a 4”ish length of 1/2” pipe welded to the ramp, & the other leg hits the apron of the trailer.

 

[hseII]

I don’t think you’ve got enough there to do that, & by the time you changed it, you could have a harbor freight winch & some gussets installed where the headache rack & bed intersect.

 

[Dub11]

What about these ?

https://www.googleadservices.com/pa...ahUKEwj90-HTrbvaAhVOba0KHT-wBwgQwg8IHg&adurl=

 

[fordf150]

@hseII I have some small torsion springs here already, decided on the leaf spring idea because i didnt think i could get enough umph out of such small springs to do any real lifting. I need to add more hinge sleeves so might be the time to go ahead and add a couple springs while the hinge pin is removed. already ripped the hinges off the bed once when i just had the top welded, reinstalled them and welded both sides of the tubing to the bed on the second go around. edges of the grating can really take chunks out of ya when the gate falls off so need to make sure that doesnt happen again.

What about these ?

https://www.googleadservices.com/pa...ahUKEwj90-HTrbvaAhVOba0KHT-wBwgQwg8IHg&adurl=

no rails to bolt them to and the bed is only 72" wide so mower decks will surely be hanging over the sides at some point.

 

[hseII]

@hseII I have some small torsion springs here already, decided on the leaf spring idea because i didnt think i could get enough umph out of such small springs to do any real lifting. I need to add more hinge sleeves so might be the time to go ahead and add a couple springs while the hinge pin is removed. already ripped the hinges off the bed once when i just had the top welded, reinstalled them and welded both sides of the tubing to the bed on the second go around. edges of the grating can really take chunks out of ya when the gate falls off so need to make sure that doesnt happen again.

View attachment 120803




no rails to bolt them to and the bed is only 72" wide so mower decks will surely be hanging over the sides at some point.

Expanded metal is like a razor knife due to the process in which it’s made.

 

[fordf150]

well made it back to the truck last night and tonight. added a couple steps and grab handles for climbing up on the bed.

 

[fordf150]

and messed with the tailgate....its almost done. I can pick up from the floor to closed position with one hand. Ended up splitting the gate and making a bifold ramp along with adding a second leaf spring for more lift assist. with the second piece still folded the gate will balance itself at about knee height. it only drops to the ground when i flip out the last 2' of gate. still need to add a couple legs for the first section to sit down on and a couple latches to lock the second section folded and lock the gate in the upright position but thats minor details at this point.

 

[Dub11]

and messed with the tailgate....its almost done. I can pick up from the floor to closed position with one hand. Ended up splitting the gate and making a bifold ramp along with adding a second leaf spring for more lift assist. with the second piece still folded the gate will balance itself at about knee height. it only drops to the ground when i flip out the last 2' of gate. still need to add a couple legs for the first section to sit down on and a couple latches to lock the second section folded and lock the gate in the upright position but thats minor details at this point.

View attachment 121209 View attachment 121210 View attachment 121212

Looking great.

Are you going to paint the bed with?

 

[fordf150]

most likely Nason Urethane Black paint....been awhile since i bought paint so will have to do some digging to figure out whats easy and cheap to get now

 

[Dustin4185]

I was going to recommend spitting the ramp. I have built a ramp for a old box truck and that was the only way to get it light enough.

 

[Seirraniagara]

Very well thought out my friend. I would change the wheel wells and make them deeper. In my neck of the woods, pot holes swallow little honda civics. Also, I would use checker plate for flooring as mesh bends to easy. Finally I would spend the money and buy P.O.R paint(paint over rust) it is tough as nails, look up the specs. Very well thought out. I am assuming you will put racks on sides, and tie down rails for the straps.

 

[fordf150]

Very well thought out my friend. I would change the wheel wells and make them deeper. In my neck of the woods, pot holes swallow little honda civics. Also, I would use checker plate for flooring as mesh bends to easy. Finally I would spend the money and buy P.O.R paint(paint over rust) it is tough as nails, look up the specs. Very well thought out. I am assuming you will put racks on sides, and tie down rails for the straps.

wheel wells just clear the tires with suspension compressed and since these are actually the wrong tires that are a size or 2 bigger than intended there will be plenty of room once i wear out the first set of tires and install the correct ones. What your seeing in the pics is the suspension sitting on bumpstops, once air is plumbed it will have an automatic load valve on it to maintain roughly 3" of clearance from the wheel wells which should be plenty for normal road travel.

The whole bed was thought out with the idea of keeping the weight down as much as possible. Rangers have a GVW of around 4000 pounds. Commercial Z's can easily weigh 16-1800 pounds so 2 standers or a stander and z will be pushing 3000# plus the weight of the truck which as a best guess i have figured around 2800# with this bed and i have yet to figure out jsut what i will be carrying in tools/supplies but there is room for 48" boxes on the sides under the bed plus i am going to remove the back seat and install a side box as inside tool storage. 2000# over the GVW is plenty so saving that couple hundred pounds on deck plate was worthwhile for me, didnt hurt that deck plate was double the price of expanded metal.

tie downs are just going to be wrap the ratchet strap over the side and hook it on the angle. headache rack is going to get a rack made to hold a 5 gallon can of gas, and a few homebuilt scabbards to hold saws, handheld blower or hedge clippers. havent come up a rack idea for the trimmers and backpack blowers that wont get in the way so kinda resigned to just carrying bungy cords to strap them down to the bed....cant do anything on the sides as its only 72" wide and a 72" deck Z is closer to 74" wide wit. i need a flat bed with no sides so the decks can hang over each side.

 

[Seirraniagara]

Amazing, good for you. Very good to see things that people make that are well thought out instead of always just accepting offshore quality junk, just because it takes time to do things right. Great luck to you. I have a small landscape company, but never had luck with any Ranger I owned, they are great trucks. It is truly inspiring to see your build. It might inspire me to build a smaller hualer of my own. Current fleet is 2 gmc 2500 hds. I have 2 big zero turns I pull but I need 14 feet of trailer. Are you planning anything over the roof of the truck.

 

[fordf150]

had an O CRAP moment today. its my bday so today is the day to get plates...since i was finally going to the title office to renew the plates on my fleet I decided i might as well get the title to the ranger in my name and get plates for it.....4 hours later and my "office" ripped apart i cant find the title. had it just a few months ago and put it somewhere for safe keeping, no idea where that is at now

 

[Dub11]

had an O CRAP moment today. its my bday so today is the day to get plates...since i was finally going to the title office to renew the plates on my fleet I decided i might as well get the title to the ranger in my name and get plates for it.....4 hours later and my "office" ripped apart i cant find the title. had it just a few months ago and put it somewhere for safe keeping, no idea where that is at now

Oh sheet that sucks.

 

[Likesaws]

had an O CRAP moment today. its my bday so today is the day to get plates...since i was finally going to the title office to renew the plates on my fleet I decided i might as well get the title to the ranger in my name and get plates for it.....4 hours later and my "office" ripped apart i cant find the title. had it just a few months ago and put it somewhere for safe keeping, no idea where that is at now

Did you finish this truck, and find the title. How about latest pics.
Interesting build.

 

[Lightning Performance]

Cable is lighter faster easier for a step. Just cover it with a section of pipe. U-clamp the ends behind the rail.
Nice bed and tail.

 

[fordf150]

Did you finish this truck, and find the title. How about latest pics.
Interesting build.

sorry for lack of update on this project but life got the best of me this summer and i havent been online much.

couldnt find the title so progress stopped while i gave it some time to remember where i put it for safe keeping. tried contacting the woman i bought the truck from but she refused to file for lost title , never did remember so couple weeks ago i found another truck... same year, different shade of blue but close enough for the registration reporting, same body configuration that had been crashed so i bought it to borrow the title until my title decides to show up. soon as i get some free time we will get it finished up and on the road.

 

[J_M____]

A lot of states don’t title vehicles over 20 years old. You only have a little over a year until you can make up a bill of sale to title it. Use the other title until then.

 

[Likesaws]

sorry for lack of update on this project but life got the best of me this summer and i havent been online much.

couldnt find the title so progress stopped while i gave it some time to remember where i put it for safe keeping. tried contacting the woman i bought the truck from but she refused to file for lost title , never did remember so couple weeks ago i found another truck... same year, different shade of blue but close enough for the registration reporting, same body configuration that had been crashed so i bought it to borrow the title until my title decides to show up. soon as i get some free time we will get it finished up and on the road.

Yes life gets busy. I have trouble remembering where I put stuff too.