I want to go with a a dedicated shoeing truck but didn't want or need a kitchen sink rig. So in the absence of a small diesel van available here in the USA I opted to try a Dodge Dakota with a V6 and semi retire the dually and trailer. The next step is a Topper and slide out. I have seen slide outs for sale from $900 to $1500, I reckon I could build one for a fraction of that. Has anyone done it and if so how?
I've been thinking about building a slide out too. I went on youtube and google and found a design that I like and think will work best...unfortunately I can't find that info now.
Okay here is the one I like best...I plan to make mine out of metal for the framing and I plan to bolt it down. .... here it is
Shane for whatever reason I cant get the link open but extendo bed has a cool picture of theirs which is patented here http://www.extendobed.com/features/assemblycloseup.asp I was in TSC yesterday and discovered the tracks they use for sliding doors, I was thinking of using them as my rail if I can find a caster / bearing to fit the profile. Then a mount a sheet of ply to these rails
I'd wondered the same thing. I guess you just have to use a bunch of them, so you don't stress any of them too much.
The Dakota has a six and half ft bed so at most four feet will be hanging out of that a foot will be supported by the tailgate. I was thinking three at $29ea. Hard part is finding rollers
I've been thinking about roller blade wheels. Just not sure how to mount them. The Yard store in Wichita has 'em cheap. If you call them, you may be able to order casters cheap.
Smitty I have family in Dublin and Ticknevin and even when I was a kid I remember the trips to England to stock up at the lower prices. Some things never change and I doubt the Euro helps.
I don't know what the weight that you will be carrying in the pull out , but thinkin that a real good size person is what, 270 lbs(125 kgs.), do you think rollerblade wheels will do it, with the constant weight? I would suggest steel. Steel wheels can be taken off of steel casters. Don't forget that for it to slide out the weight bearing will be on the top of the wheel after your mass goes beyond a point unless you set up for a triple axle. For design thoughts of the pullout set up ,as I suggested last week to Smitty, go have a look at drawer glides , the type that used in better kitchen cabinets and for that matter file cabinets and mechanic tool boxes another engineering how to, would be overhead garage door tracks. If you used 1/8 angle for you bottom track and 3/16" for the top track by 1.5 " leg and put your wheels on an axle ,it could be assembled in pieces in place Just make it out of heavy enough glides to hold together and not bend but not so heavy that you top out your rig before you put your tools in. Regards Ray Steele
Ray, Yes, they will. Much better material than the cheap plastic casters are made from, with really good bearings. I was considering them for something else, as well.
I got a seven foot long extendo bed just sitting in the car port if anyone wants it. Been for sale for a while.
