Completed brush truck video added 6-25-11

[amccullers]

We are in the process of building a brush truck. The truck is a 2000 model Chevy 1ton that was a former ambulance. We will be putting a flat bed on it and moving our skid from our 3/4ton chevy. I've been buying some lights and radios here and there from this board, the only thing I need now is to replace the halogen flashers on the grille and fenders with strobes. Here are the first pictures of the truck and a console we built here at the station, the console is not complete yet still waiting on my money to clear pay-pal so I can buy the radio and cut the hole for it. Then we will cover it with vinyl that matches the seats. The switches are the marine rockers, and there will be a total of 10. The hole on the side of the console will be if I have to get back in there and work on something. I've bought a fuse block and a buss bar to make the wiring easier, never done that before. With a little time and patience maybe it will turn out half as good as some other members wiring jobs I have seen.


Any comments will be great.


Andrew

 

[RL1]

I like the switch's and think the box going to be nice. What tones are you guys running on the Alpha? Also, are you sure that truck is a 2000? Looks...older...

 

[asweezy]

Why not replace the halogens looks like 500 or 700 series with leds? if they are 700 series you can use an M7 with adaptor.

 

[amccullers]

The wires are not there for the flashers either, and I have 52 series strobes for the bed. And we don't have the money for LEDs alot of this is my own money. On one flasher all I need is twist lock strobe tubes to replace the halogen bulbs, so I only 2 73 series strobes.

 

[CenTexPSE]

Chevy continues that body style in the 3/4 and 1 ton models up the the 2000 model year (maybe 2001, not sure)

 

[kitn1mcc]

looking good so far

 

[amccullers]

I went to my local whelen distributor for some 5 more switches, it would be over $100 for havis shield, I told them I didn't need switchs that bad. So I went to the local electrical shop and got the same looking switches for $38 with tax and I think they are marine grade.

 

[kitn1mcc]

actually could have went to way tek wire got the for less

 

[kinnelonfire75]

Good job. Keep us updated on the project!

 

[EVT]

Good job on that console! I hope you're planning on painting that truck!

 

[amccullers]

Did some more work on the wiring today. It is the first time I have put this much detail into wiring something, it makes me feel good. The bar will be a loaded MX7000 R/C/R. The extra switches will be for work lights on the back of the truck.














And the truck will be painted white over red. Tell me what you think.

 

[Station 3]

I like it when your done show us a video :geek:

 

[TheZach]

Lookin good so far... nice clean wiring!

 

[VolEms]

Why are you putting in Strobes when you can get LED's for pretty cheap, unless you have them already. Nice job keep us posted.

 

[amccullers]

I would love LED's but I have strobes already. Have 2 6 outlet supplys and 6 52 series strobes. I just need 4 73 or 700 series for the front to replace the halogens that were there. And when most of this is comming from my pocket, I do what I can.


On the bed there will be 6 52 series strobes, 2 on the sides and 4 to the rear. There is no other tones on that model siren, or I can't find how to change them. Whelen says there is suppose to be dip switches, but I don't see any.

 

[ohi007]

looking good, nice job in progress. great job on the wiring also.


will be waiting for the finished pics.

 

[traumajunkie]

There is no other tones on that model siren, or I can't find how to change them. Whelen says there is suppose to be dip switches, but I don't see any.

They should be on the back of the unit I think, like 8 of them.

 

[amccullers]

Trauma I don't see anything other than the harness, I'll take picture and post tommorrow.

 

[traumajunkie]

Ok...maybe some models didn't have it.

 

[kitn1mcc]

is that thhn type wire

 

[amccullers]

Can you put that in english, I'm not sure what your asking.

 

[catfish]

Can you put that in english, I'm not sure what your asking.

+1 ahaha

 

[traumajunkie]

+1 ahaha

THHN Wire stands for Thermoplastic High Heat-resistant Nylon coated.

 

[amccullers]

Yes I had to go read the spool. I install security and fire alarms on my off days, and the boss had it sitting in the shed.

 

[BlazinOKFF]

What color of strobes are you looking for?

 

[kitn1mcc]

yeah i try and stay away from no automotive type wire it is not good in vehicles

 

[amccullers]

Blazin I just bought some 700 series from the board. But thanks

 

[amccullers]

Trauma, why not use it in vehicles?

 

[traumajunkie]

Trauma, why not use it in vehicles?

Wasn't me that said it. But since u asked, the more flexible the better in something that moves IMHO and its not very flexible.

 

[amccullers]

Ok I did read that online about that wire.

 

[BlazinOKFF]

Blazin I just bought some 700 series from the board. But thanks

No problem at all...good luck with the rest of the project!

 

[kitn1mcc]

got look on waytekwire.com for good wire at good prices

 

[RMBROWN]

Sorry but that dosent look like a 00 chevy i have one and i dosent look like that. like the console though hopefully you will post a video of the build when its done.

 

[amccullers]

Well it is, looks like they made several styles that year.

 

[N6FOG]

Wasn't me that said it. But since u asked, the more flexible the better in something that moves IMHO and its not very flexible.

THHN only has 7 strands, and is really stiff. It's great in house wiring, since it'll bend around in the conduit.


Most of the 12ga wiring for automotive use has 19 or 37 strands. Small wires can handle multiple flexes and vibration better than one big one can.

 

[amccullers]

The truck is being painted by a firefighter and he has the red done and will paint the white tomorrow. We bought a flatbed and had to cut it down to 10ft, so now it will go back and have it sandblasted. As far as the strobes for the bed I'm gonna put 2 amber and 2 red to the rear and have them alternate and then put 1 red on either side of the bed, I'm thinking I want to have the rub rail cut and bent in so they come to the edges of the light and the light will be on the actual bed and not be out there for them to be nocked off by trees.





[Broken External Image]:http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u259/amccullers/P1010003-2.jpg





As far as the bar I'm going to make led bars out of the pieces I have left of my MX, I got to thinking about all the power it takes to turn 5 rotators.


Let me know what ya'll think

 

[pdk9]

the red paint looks good imo. did u make/plan a deadline by when you'd like to have this 100% finished?

 

[asweezy]

The mx LED bar are you going to get RX2700 tops for it? Also what LEDs are you going to use? I would use a larger nice GEN3 LED COMBO of TIR and LIN Style with a flasher to sync them all.

 

[txfire]

Where did you get the fuse holders and power/negative straps at?? I like those....

 

[kadetklapp]

Wow, any reason you didn't go with a 4x4? I don't think I've ever seen a brush truck that wasn't four wheel drive. I'd be afraid to lose that apparatus without the extra traction!