Cabover Welding Rigs

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One of the things I keep dreaming of is when I can build a welding rig- and I keep dreaming of building one on an Isuzu (or whatever GM brand I go with) NPR. That having been said, I've also noticed that most people seem to be making flatbed 2500s (or F-250s, which are pretty much the same as a Silverado or Ram 2500) into their welding rigs instead of cabovers.Has anyone tried building a cabover rig? Got pictures? How'd it turn out?Currently working as a Paralegal, but still interested in hobby welding.Miller Bobcat 225ntOne- Character Fractions: ¼ ½ ¾ ⅛ ⅜ ⅝ ⅞
Reply:I seem to recall people describing the NPR using words like noisy and gutless.  They were company trucks, almost always bought by people who didn't have to drive them.Chevy, Ford, or Dodge pickups are often bought by the people who are going to drive them.  Big engines and creature comforts.As the truckers used to tell me when I had a cabover semi "If you have an accident, you'll be the first one there".
Reply:When I did plumbing and hvac work I liked a tool bed on on 1 ton chassis.  Much easier to take tools in and out plus they can be secured against theft while parked overnight much better than a van body.
Reply:Most of the NPR rigs start out as a flatbed and end up as a used truck a couple years later.    Uncomfortable SOB's but dependable and cheepVantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Love cab overs myself.   Yeah, many are gutless if you get the 4cyl and automatic.  I had a 2000 UD I bought new, 6cyl, 6speed, cruise at 75 no problem. Comfortable.  Regret selling it.  Would love another one.  They turn on a dime tooTiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:We had a couple of Izuzu's at work. Hard to get into/out of, uncomfortable once you did get in, gutless as all get out, handled like a barge you didn't steer it you aimed it, expensive to repair (which it needed a lot of. A good truck.....for a boat anchor....Mike
Reply:I worked for a company for a short while. They had an Isuzu cab over flat bed. I think a 6-year old girl on a bicycle could beat it down the road! Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:When I was tall,(5'9") I didn't mind a tall truck. Now I'm short, (joints, and spinal discs sag), I resent climbing up into a tall vehicle for every widget I need. My son drives a GMC 2500 4x4 pickup. I can't see over the sideboards. With tailgate down, I can't reach far into the truck. Sunday I noticed my daughter in law 5' tall walking past it. I could see truck above the top of her head. Tall trucks are less fun to work out of than short ones. I drive a van. With doors on all sides, I can usually reach without climbing. I can close the doors, push a button, and contents are dry, and secure. 4 wheel drive conversion is expensive.If you go forth with the cab over idea, figure out how you will access one item at a time. Either a fold up catwalk down each side, or stairs, and a path down the center. Those pigs are TALL, you can't fly.An optimist is usually wrong, and when the unexpected happens is unprepared. A pessimist is usually right, when wrong, is delighted, and well prepared.
Reply:Originally Posted by bentI seem to recall people describing the NPR using words like noisy and gutless.  They were company trucks, almost always bought by people who didn't have to drive them.Chevy, Ford, or Dodge pickups are often bought by the people who are going to drive them.  Big engines and creature comforts.As the truckers used to tell me when I had a cabover semi "If you have an accident, you'll be the first one there".
Reply:As long as you don't have to get off the pavement, they might be OK. However they get stuck in mud very easily, just no good off road. A lot of jobs are off road so it might hurt you there.
Reply:I've got some experience with isuzu cabovers, and on the whole, i like them. turn much tighter than a pickup and easiest access for maintenance and repairs of any vehicle i've seen. Don't know if your looking at new or used, for used I recommend the 1998-2004 NQR or NPRhd  with the 4HE1 engine. I've found Isuzu to be very good mechanically and average at best electrically, so either buy something old enough to have few fiddly electrical bits or something brand new you can take care of from the beginning. they are not great off road, good low end torque and the bigger tires on the NQR help alot, with some weight in the back they'll get through deeper mud than you'd expect, but still only 2wd without full truck tires. can be tricky to get central hydraulics, wiring prone to corrosion from road salt, 1400lb snowplow wears out the kingpins pretty quick though they do ok with lighter plows. about a foot taller than a pickup so can't get in parking ramps. avoid 2009-2012 models as early def system were bad. great visibility combined with the tight turns lets you get them into and out of really tight spots
Reply:Just a choice in the USAPlenty of cab over trucks working every day across the pond.We had a NPR gm 6.0 gas engine. Plenty of power but if you do a lot of driving  on the highway , they are not comfortable at all.Just not designed for that.Great city trucks.Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:I have a 2003 Nissan ud 1400 I have been using it for a Welding rig for about 6 months now. It had alot of great features mainly it is amazing on tight jobs and in the city. It can haul tons on the back mine weighs 7,000 and is rated to haul another 6900. The bad is it does not have alot of power for pulling my Welding trailer. It has the 4.6 Nissan diesel and the aisin 4 speed auto. I will post some pics when it gets light. The reason I bought it was the price point I wanted a 1 ton dually and it was resonably priced with 185k miles.Sent from my C811 4G using TapatalkVantage 300 kubota ,miller 304 xmt ,lincoln ln 25 pro , ranger 305 G, plenty of other tools of the trade to make the sparks fly.
Reply:Here's my CoeSent from my C811 4G using TapatalkVantage 300 kubota ,miller 304 xmt ,lincoln ln 25 pro , ranger 305 G, plenty of other tools of the trade to make the sparks fly.
Reply:I like cab overs. Of course there are crappy ones just like anything else. In the right configurations cab overs offer extreme off road capability.
Reply:I was gona buy a f8000 vanpelt fire engine coe recently, it was going to be to much work to make it an enclosed crew cab.Pull the fire box off and youve got a huge platform for what ever bed you want to build. I was going make bed side that matched the cab then layed out flat for a fab table surface.esab 260 multimasternew tech 150 invertorlincoln 140 cheapo
Reply:Originally Posted by jr tigI was gona buy a f8000 vanpelt fire engine coe recently, it was going to be to much work to make it an enclosed crew cab.Pull the fire box off and youve got a huge platform for what ever bed you want to build. I was going make bed side that matched the cab then layed out flat for a fab table surface.
Reply:Originally Posted by GmmandanI have a 2003 Nissan ud 1400 I have been using it for a Welding rig for about 6 months now. It had alot of great features mainly it is amazing on tight jobs and in the city. It can haul tons on the back mine weighs 7,000 and is rated to haul another 6900. The bad is it does not have alot of power for pulling my Welding trailer. It has the 4.6 Nissan diesel and the aisin 4 speed auto. I will post some pics when it gets light. The reason I bought it was the price point I wanted a 1 ton dually and it was resonably priced with 185k miles.Sent from my C811 4G using Tapatalk
Reply:Originally Posted by mikecwikI like cab overs. Of course there are crappy ones just like anything else. In the right configurations cab overs offer extreme off road capability.
Reply:Originally Posted by soutthpawIf you had the 6cyl and 6speed, it would haul as for a big truck.  Easy to work on too with the cab up.
Reply:Originally Posted by GmmandanVery true I looked but I couldn't find one in my price range without 300,000 to 400,000 miles. I have talked to acouple of people and am getting prices on doing a built Cummins 4bt with a 6 speed Allison or Asian auto if I decide to keep it long term. The engine in it runs great and doesn't burn or leak any fluids I hate to butcher it... Sent from my C811 4G using Tapatalk
Reply:I was riding down the interstate the other day and there was a load of new ones on a  truck and I followed it to a local dealer they had a 4 wd one but it was a 4 cylinder diesel. It was $53,000 with no body. I can get a ram 5500 4 wheel drive for $49,000 and have plenty of power but the turning radius stinks and I do alot of work in very tight places. Sent from my C811 4G using TapatalkVantage 300 kubota ,miller 304 xmt ,lincoln ln 25 pro , ranger 305 G, plenty of other tools of the trade to make the sparks fly.
Reply:Check out the video Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk