Need help reinforcing a standard utility body for a crane

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Well I've ended up with almost what I think is the perfect truck with the exception of finding a place to put a crane. I've got a little liftmoore 2700 pounder that I'd like to put on the truck and it has a "regular" utility body on it. Having never seen a body with a crane mount up close I need some help and/or some pics...please....I'd like to put the crane on top of the side boxes. I'm sure it would be easier to mount it to the bed but I've got a sliding cover which I would like to still be able to use to keep things under cover. I'm already planning on rebuilding the rear bumper to something more useable so putting in some outriggers, beefing up the compartment and rear body section is something I know I've got to do but I would like to see what is out there and what works so I've only got to do it once.
Reply:The Wilcox truck bodies I've seen designed with a heavy crane set on "top" of the box had a heavy steel post that ran thru the rear box to support the crane. Pretty much made that rear box unusable for anything but small items. That heavy steel post was attached to the subframe of the body, and hence to the outriggers.http://www.wilcoxbodies.com/custom-t...uct-details/41.No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Yeah DSW has that right you will loose that box and it will give your crane a higher center of gravity so you will loose some lifting capacity But then again you are putting on outriggers so that will help with the stability problem that comes with the high center of gravity problemBacked my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:I dont really like the idea of losing the compartment. Would it be possible to make a heavy "insert" to go inside of the box to support the crane and still leave the space usable?
Reply:I've seen some that had a heavy square tubing frame built into the compartment. With cross bracing and other stuff you still lost a lot of the compartment but not all of it.Millermatic 252XMT 304'sDynasty 280DXHypertherm PowerMax 1250Miller Trailblazer 302 EFIOptima PulserXR feeder and XR Edge gun and more athttp://members.dslextreme.com/users/waynecook/index.htm
Reply:Most of the ones i have seen done leaves you enough room to coil up your crane control cord and have the out rigger controls and a master cut off switch and that was itBacked my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:Maybe Tozzi will send you or post up a photo or two of his crane setup.  That is if it's mounted to the top of his truck body.  I can't remember.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Paging Tozzi....
Reply:If I wanted to save as much space in the box as possible, I'd be looking at cutting out the whole box and building a heavy steel "column" that matched the interior dimensions. Then you could possibly cut out some oval access ports in the column and weld in some shelves. I'm thinking along the lines of how they do inspection hatches in heavy steel structural bridge columns. Down side is that to do this you would have to add a lot of weight vs a smaller column since the top plate alone would have to be heavier to take the load vs a plate sized for a smaller column about the size of the base of the crane. Also you'd be talking a huge amount of extra work, both in fabricating the column as well as opening up the side box and then putting everything back in place. To me, it's not worth the effort.Also one note. Many "cheap" bodies like Omaha, Stahl, and the newer Reading boxes sometimes don't have a true sub frame like heavier crane bodies do. The sheet metal body acts as most of the box structure. Since duallie cab and chassis trucks have a straight frame anyways, some times these bodies don't even have a sub frame. They put the hat channel sub floor members right on the frame rails to save cost and weight. If you are using a cheap light weight body, you may have a lot more work than just the column in the box and the outrigger supports..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I have an AutoCrane body, the box the crane is mounted on has a 3/4" plate and a frame of angle iron insude the compartment. Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk Attached ImagesDisclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:Adanswelding did a nice job on mounting his, dig up that thread and check it out. My body is made for the crane, so it is extra beefy compared to a standard one.Sent from my HTCONE using TapatalkDisclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:[QUOTE=TozziWelding;3372301]Adanswelding did a nice job on mounting his, dig up that thread and check it out. My body is made for the crane, so it is extra beefy compared to a standard one   thanks john.i try you know fake it till you make it.