New rig in process!

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Hi Everyone,Well I finally go started on my new rig. Got rid of my F-350 welding rig and my F-350 flatbed that passed everything but a gas station.Downsized to Ford Rangers. They do everything I need since I'm in semi retirement.All I do these days is Ornamental Iron and everything is local. By body just can't handle all the heavy stuff anymore.To my suprise I'm doing really with it.Anyway here's a pix of the rig I'm putting together, and when this is complete I'll put my flatbed together.Enjoy, George Attached ImagesIf I Can't Weld It!-----It Can't Be Welded!
Reply:Interesting choice for a power unit... I have some reservations, but will keep an eye on this thread to see how your idea develops...That being said, I have an almost irresistable notion to rig up a Nissan Titan with a deck, toolboxes, cylinders, and a Lincoln Ranger 305G so I can get under the skin of all the fellas that INSIST that anything less than a Diesel Powered Dually with a deck, is somehow an inferior welding truck.Granted the payload of a Titan isn't great, but I am sure I could do it, if for no other reason, than to prove it COULD be done.Best of luck on your projectLater,Jason
Reply:I like it, kinda rare to see a utility box on a mini.Lincoln SA 200Esab Caddy 160Thermal Arc 201TSMiller Dialarc HFI don't like making plans for the day because then the word "premeditated" gets thrown around the courtroom....
Reply:Is truck an automatic, or manual transmission? Automatic transmission probably will not like the extra load. Qualified & experienced at welding scrap metal
Reply:Originally Posted by little JeepIs truck an automatic, or manual transmission? Automatic transmission probably will not like the extra load.
Reply:I bet it has the A4LD Transmission the Aerostar has ,if not it's the newer one won't  get it at all but the A4LD is strong they drag with em and such, I  have pulled some heavy trailers with it but the dead load is gonna be hard on it... If it hasn't been rebuilt lately..... I'd do it with the hard parts and everything and a high dollar torque converter with brazed fins on both sides..... as that's what will shred up and take out your whole rebuild job ,it did mine and I would put a screw on type filter on the return line from the cooler line to trans...and make sure you have a separate cooler for the trans in front of the radiator, lot of rebuilds get the largest stacked fin cooler that will fit "old motor homes have the big ones" good luck the exploders,aeros and rangers had about the same setup except the aero is a ranger frame withe bunch of heavy glassMy aero weighs almost what my F-350 dually dump does so what your doing will work I bet the ranger is lighter without all the glass....but the trans is gotta be fresh or it will die soon oh theres a boost valve from sonnax to get more and faster line rise for faster shifts, stops the slipping as they ride out the last gear and slip to shift in the next  helps fight the heat when it shifts and really shifts firmly ..... without drilling or shift kits or anything and use the 6 gear spider gear they usually have a 4 gear  in em Good luckLast edited by Tony D; 06-19-2010 at 02:24 PM.Lincoln 225 Tombstone,Miller Big 20,Hobart 180,150' Argon,A/D hobart hood 22 Ton Log splitter,79 F350 dump eats 4.75 TONS and still turns cutters,grinders,And a  Hypertherm POWERMAX 30
Reply:Actually the Utility Box is 100% aluminum and not near as heavy as it looks. The trans is a fresh 5 speed with all new clutch. I just bought a new Miller 211 wire feed to mate up with my Miller Bobcat. There will be many times that I will not take the Bobcat on the job, so I'll mate the 211 up with my 6500 watt generator, which will greatly reduce the weight. I have my Bobcat mounted in a small enclosed trailer if and when needed.As stated in my earlier post I'm just doing Ornamental  Iron and Security gates these days, and everything is very local. I live in the Detroit Mi. area so security gates and window guards are very, very much in demand. Bad for the people but great for me!My smaller jobs I do right out of the garage, then install.It's going to be a few more weeks before the Ranger is finished, I'll add pix as I go. I have a feeling you are going to like the end result!Plus the Ranger is really perfect for it's intended use.Last but not least, I have a full size light bar going on top, chrome stacks going up the side, It will be painted Bright White with red lettering and wheels, with center caps and beauty rings, along with a windshield visor and steel rack!  So don't turn the station, more to come!Thanks for reading, George. ( Warrendale Gate & Rail)If I Can't Weld It!-----It Can't Be Welded!
Reply:Right on.  As long as you aren't loaded to the nuts I don't see any problems with using a smaller truck.  It'll be good on fuel too!
Reply:I had a ford explorer about ten years ago.  The thing was decent with gas milage empty but as soon as you put any weight in it or tried to tow something the gas milage went WAY down.  I bought a F150 after that and the empty milage wasn't as good as the explorere but when you loaded it up the milage didn't change much.  The F150 got better gas milage than the explorer when you added weight.  Then bought 7.3L diesel and it got better milage than either of them empty or fully weighted.I don't think you need a diesel or big truck but when looking at gas milage for trucks with weight I have found that the small efficient trucks aren't good when loaded.But the truck does look good, not sure about chrome stacks on a ranger though!
Reply:So, I also bought a 211 recently, and this idea of gate and bar welding is interesting to me, how do I get started? Are you doing them all in steel? Wrought iron? Stainless?Since I have made this investment, as well as a plasma cutter (cutmaster 39), and AC/DC Stick machine, and (I am) getting older, I am looking for new business ideas.I apologize if this is improper for this forum, and ask to be directed in the right direction.Millermatic 211Spoolmate 100Miller Econ TwinCutmaster 39