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Mini Dump Truck Build
- Thread starter dozerbuilder01
- Start date
mike93lx
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Remote controlled?
harley jim
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dozerbuilder01
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Made some more progress. I may have mentioned I was going to use a front axle from a Jeep. Pretty much ended up just using the inner C's and the knuckles. Since my brother offroaded with it…..hard....I pretty much had to replace everything else.
Then I made an adapter from the 4.5 x 5 to 8 x 8 bolt pattern.
Even though I don't plan to make this thing a race car, I did adjust the camber just a bit on one side after pressing on the C's.
Then I used my home built weld positioner (that thing has come in handy) to weld it together.
Used my fixture table to mock everything up. Just like the rear, the front will be a simple swing arm suspension with a track bar. With a top speed of 8mph and no driveshafts, vehicle dynamics and pinion angles through the range of travel isn't a concern. As long as it turns and ***** up a few bumps, I'm good.
And there it is. Some more motivation to keep me going.
I do need to finish designing the front end. The problem I have is the cab on those trucks is offset. But my kids and i are going to sit in the center. I started to design the cab in the middle but it just looked weird. So I did an offset cab as shown in the image below. It looks more like the real thing when nobody is driving it but it won't be functional. Obviously. I'll probably use it to house the electronics and maybe a small air compressor. And when it's being driven, i'll be sitting in the middle, looking thru the handrail. I don't know if that would look weird or not. Any thoughts?
Then I made an adapter from the 4.5 x 5 to 8 x 8 bolt pattern.
Even though I don't plan to make this thing a race car, I did adjust the camber just a bit on one side after pressing on the C's.
Then I used my home built weld positioner (that thing has come in handy) to weld it together.
Used my fixture table to mock everything up. Just like the rear, the front will be a simple swing arm suspension with a track bar. With a top speed of 8mph and no driveshafts, vehicle dynamics and pinion angles through the range of travel isn't a concern. As long as it turns and ***** up a few bumps, I'm good.
And there it is. Some more motivation to keep me going.
I do need to finish designing the front end. The problem I have is the cab on those trucks is offset. But my kids and i are going to sit in the center. I started to design the cab in the middle but it just looked weird. So I did an offset cab as shown in the image below. It looks more like the real thing when nobody is driving it but it won't be functional. Obviously. I'll probably use it to house the electronics and maybe a small air compressor. And when it's being driven, i'll be sitting in the middle, looking thru the handrail. I don't know if that would look weird or not. Any thoughts?
harley jim
Well-known member
Get a yellow helmet you will blend in. Lol
Just kidding.
I don't think it will look bad at all. It is really looking nice. I have a soft spot for minatures.
Sent from my SM-A102U using Tapatalk
Just kidding.
I don't think it will look bad at all. It is really looking nice. I have a soft spot for minatures.
Sent from my SM-A102U using Tapatalk
xtremek
Well-known member
I think it'll be fun and fine. Sitting in the cab would be better, but not functional. YOu got to go with what you have.
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90roadster
Well-known member
" I don't know if that would look weird or not. Any thoughts?"
First, this is an awesome thread and I get motivated to go out and work on projects in my shop every time you post something new.
Second I would personally go with your original design with the driver in the middle and no glass cab. Just my 2 cents. To me it seems more functional.
I assume you will be able to fit yourself into this one?
Lastly when my new technician at work told me about his friend who was building a mini dump truck in the Northwest suburbs I immediately knew who he was referring to! Keep up the good work, would be awesome to see it in person some day.
harley jim
Well-known member
What happened to this build
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
He hasn't been around for over a year now
Looks like he did some updates on his blog. Also mentions that his Instagram is where to look. Instagram account has a vid of his son driving it: Dozerbuilder01 around February.
www.minidozerbuild.com
Caterpillar Twenty Two Replica Miniature Bulldozer Build
Caterpillar Twenty Two Replica Miniature Bulldozer Build (Completed) / Caterpillar 785C Replica Mining Truck Build (Pending)
moab11
Well-known member
Has anyone heard if there have been any updates?
OP
dozerbuilder01
Well-known member
I'm still alive. Kids are at the prime age of activities with sports and school and all that. It's hard to get time these days. But when I do have time, I typically work on the project and the internet takes a back seat unfortunately. But here goes.
In no particular order, I'll make a few updates.
Finished up the rear axle. I needed to adapt the straight keyed shaft of the hydraulic motor to the splined axle shaft to drive the hub (from the GM 14 bolt rear end that I used)
In no particular order, I'll make a few updates.
Finished up the rear axle. I needed to adapt the straight keyed shaft of the hydraulic motor to the splined axle shaft to drive the hub (from the GM 14 bolt rear end that I used)
OP
dozerbuilder01
Well-known member
Here's some random pictures of the front end. Did a lot of work on the sheet metal and the "guard rails"
Here's the sheet metal support. I also have the front bumper done in the picture. Guess I didn't take any progress pics of that. It's cold rolled by the way. And sanded. Not aluminum.
I made a homemade bead roller for the sheet metal. Nothing fancy but it got the job done.
For the guard rails, I didn't want to just weld a flange on the bottom of the tube. I can't weld that good. So I made the pieces seen below to slip the tube over, weld it, then sand it smooth.
I also wanted really tight bends. So I made my own bender to do that.
And I needed 4 of these so I made a fixture to weld them together.
Here's the sheet metal support. I also have the front bumper done in the picture. Guess I didn't take any progress pics of that. It's cold rolled by the way. And sanded. Not aluminum.
I made a homemade bead roller for the sheet metal. Nothing fancy but it got the job done.
For the guard rails, I didn't want to just weld a flange on the bottom of the tube. I can't weld that good. So I made the pieces seen below to slip the tube over, weld it, then sand it smooth.
I also wanted really tight bends. So I made my own bender to do that.
And I needed 4 of these so I made a fixture to weld them together.
OP
dozerbuilder01
Well-known member
I guess I didn't take too many progress pics of the steps either.
It's a little hard to see everything in this picture but here's all of the guard rails and steps. Of course it's all fake. But that's what the die cast looks like.
Then I machine a front grill. It needs to be tumbled and anodized at some point.
No pic with the steps installed yet.
And here's why the grill looks the way that it does.
It's a little hard to see everything in this picture but here's all of the guard rails and steps. Of course it's all fake. But that's what the die cast looks like.
Then I machine a front grill. It needs to be tumbled and anodized at some point.
No pic with the steps installed yet.
And here's why the grill looks the way that it does.
txvwnut
Well-known member
You know you have to build a wheel loader next. Can’t just have an awesome dozer and dump truck.
36truck
Well-known member
Amazing work. Your attention to detail is top self.
Anybody know anything about the brake in this photo? Looks like a good size for a homeshop. Probably out of my range, but maybe I can find a used one.
whateg01
Well-known member
Just a guess, but I bet op knows something about it.
OP
dozerbuilder01
Well-known member
It is an Atek 24ton brake press. Probably a little unique in the world of press brakes because it is entirely pneumatic but I really like it. It is a home shop but it is a revenue producing shop. So that has allowed me to purchase better tools over time. And the Atek press is made in the USA. Only a few hours from where I live.
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dozerbuilder01
Well-known member
The steering shaft was too tall so I had to shorten it.
This is how much I wanted to take out but my welding skills weren't so good on the thin stuff.
So I made a new one out of some thicker tubing a plate.
And I turned it down true.
Then machine the square holes that were needed.
And there it is.
This is how much I wanted to take out but my welding skills weren't so good on the thin stuff.
So I made a new one out of some thicker tubing a plate.
And I turned it down true.
Then machine the square holes that were needed.
And there it is.
OP
dozerbuilder01
Well-known member
Here's a picture of the engine layout. Because of clearance, I couldn't use the mechanical fan. Had to mount the radiator and fan outside the frame. The right hand side is the direction valve (reverse, neutral, speed 1 and speed 2) as well as the valve for the dump bed cylinders.
I will try to cover both sides in a way to make it look somewhat like those compartments on the real dump truck. Again, I'm not going for 100% replica but I try to make it similar.
And how am I controlling the valves when they are behind the operator like that? Arduinos and linear actuators. Why? Because I learned something new. And it was cleaner to runs wires and saved space with push buttons vs cables and or linkage and levers.
I have a linear actuator for each valve. And each of them has a built in potentiometer for positional feedback.
And I have two Arduino's. Each one as a relay shield on top of it. And a screw shield on top of that. The reason I have two is:
One for the the linear actuators. I need 2 relays for each actuator to change the direction. So between 4 relays, 2 pots, 4 buttons plus 4 led outputs for the buttons, I use almost every I/O on the board.
The other is the air suspension. I'll cover it in more detail later but basically, because I'm using air shocks and I'm not a good suspension designer, I want to be able to auto level the dump truck once I get in it, or I put a heavy load in the bed. So I wrote a program to do that. So it always looks level and doesn't sag front or rear and look weird. Because that will bother me if it does.
I'm currently working on all of the wiring now. Air compressor, cooling fan, starter, shut down relay, headlights, the controls above etc. So I'm not done yet.
I will try to cover both sides in a way to make it look somewhat like those compartments on the real dump truck. Again, I'm not going for 100% replica but I try to make it similar.
And how am I controlling the valves when they are behind the operator like that? Arduinos and linear actuators. Why? Because I learned something new. And it was cleaner to runs wires and saved space with push buttons vs cables and or linkage and levers.
I have a linear actuator for each valve. And each of them has a built in potentiometer for positional feedback.
And I have two Arduino's. Each one as a relay shield on top of it. And a screw shield on top of that. The reason I have two is:
One for the the linear actuators. I need 2 relays for each actuator to change the direction. So between 4 relays, 2 pots, 4 buttons plus 4 led outputs for the buttons, I use almost every I/O on the board.
The other is the air suspension. I'll cover it in more detail later but basically, because I'm using air shocks and I'm not a good suspension designer, I want to be able to auto level the dump truck once I get in it, or I put a heavy load in the bed. So I wrote a program to do that. So it always looks level and doesn't sag front or rear and look weird. Because that will bother me if it does.
I'm currently working on all of the wiring now. Air compressor, cooling fan, starter, shut down relay, headlights, the controls above etc. So I'm not done yet.
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whateg01
Well-known member
I always hated the electric fan noise on vehicles that didn't come with electric fans. I suppose that the fans on large machines like this might actually be electric though. I dunno. I have thought of finding a way to drive a "regular" fan with a hydraulic motor to eliminate the electric motor sound.
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dozerbuilder01
Well-known member
Last thing for now is the hydraulic tank. I started with a smaller propane tank. And then I modified it. There's a large tank in the same area on the real dump truck. Not sure if it's the fuel tank or some compressed air tank. But I went for a similar look.
The left is the return and the two on the right are the feeds to the pumps. Yes, the return dumps into the tank right next to the feeds but I'm not worried about heat. I won't be running this thing that hard.
And I did finally get to drive it. Keep in mind though, this was just about 2 years ago. That's how long things have been taking to get done. During that test, I had no brakes (don't need them too much on flat ground with the hydraulic drive), a crude electrical panel basically to start it, and no controls for the shifter. Just had to reach back and change it. But it moved under power. And it was fun. Even though it looks so weird without the dump bed. But that will come eventually.
The left is the return and the two on the right are the feeds to the pumps. Yes, the return dumps into the tank right next to the feeds but I'm not worried about heat. I won't be running this thing that hard.
And I did finally get to drive it. Keep in mind though, this was just about 2 years ago. That's how long things have been taking to get done. During that test, I had no brakes (don't need them too much on flat ground with the hydraulic drive), a crude electrical panel basically to start it, and no controls for the shifter. Just had to reach back and change it. But it moved under power. And it was fun. Even though it looks so weird without the dump bed. But that will come eventually.
RickP
Well-known member
Both this build and your dozer build are pretty amazing!
Your kids will definitely have good childhood memories with toys like these. Thanks for sharing progress photos and details with us along the way.
Your kids will definitely have good childhood memories with toys like these. Thanks for sharing progress photos and details with us along the way.
xtremek
Well-known member
That thing is HUGE!!! Looks a little bigger than a large quad, am I seeing it right?
whateg01
Well-known member
I'm curious to see what the final weight is
OP
dozerbuilder01
Well-known member
I managed to get to a point where it looks like a dump truck. And I have a lot of the stuff on the front end removed at the moment. Need to put all that back on and it may start looking good. I'm about at the point where it's the last 10% of the project takes 90% of the time.
xtremek
Well-known member
That belongs on the "Thread of Awesome". Very cool. How old is your son now?
harley jim
Well-known member
Definitely the best build I have ever seen!
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dozerbuilder01
Well-known member
My older son (the one I built the dozer for) turned 13 about a month ago. One minor issue with the dump truck. He's currently 6'2". I'm 6'1" and I can fit in the dump truck. He eventually may not be able to. My younger son is 10 and I started this project shortly after he was born. Their activities currently take priority over play time in the garage so this has been taking a lot longer than I anticipated. I didn't want to do the bed until very last. Mainly because it's so big and it will just be in the way. But I figured I would build it now to give me some motivation to finish.
OP
dozerbuilder01
Well-known member
Thank you. I appreciate it.
strength_and_power
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2015
- Messages
- 1,393
Awesome, just awesome
casmurbax
Well-known member
Awesome, when do you think it will be ready for me to pick up?
I can't wait to see it finished.
I can't wait to see it finished.
Jacko264
Well-known member
Absolutely awesome
will you be my dad please
Graham
will you be my dad please
Graham
rattle_snake
Well-known member
So Cool! Thanks for sharing.