1997 Towmaster trailer rebuild

[Creekside]

As promised, I'm starting a thread on the rebuild of this trailer. I purchased this from Purplewave and it was formerly owned by Modot here in Missouri. I wanted something cheap enough that I could tear it apart and repaint to match my dump truck and as it worked out this was missing most of the floor and needed brakes and hubs gone through.

This was taken once I got parked at the hotel on the trip down. I drove down on a Sunday, loaded first thing Monday morning and headed home.

 

[Creekside]

It had been drug with the air brakes locked up, one hub wouldn't spin period, missing a wheel and tire, one other hub showed signs of dragging really bad. Definitely not an option to pull it home. I have removed the locked up hub and drum and will be having the shoes relined. I have stripped the remainder of the floor, the add on runners, and all of the light wiring and brake plumbing. Today I cut the bolts out of the pintle ring and moved it up one set of holes so it sits more level behind my dump truck.

This weekend we will straighten a couple damaged cross members, repair some cracks in the ramps, and prepare to build rub rails with pipe spools for both sides and the front. After that it goes to the sandblaster. It will be getting painted to match my dump bed, along with Dove gray wheels, gloss black hubs silver hardware and red ramps. I'll hopefully have more updates this weekend.

 

[tnt_motorsports]

As promised, I'm starting a thread on the rebuild of this trailer. I purchased this from Purplewave and it was formerly owned by Modot here in Missouri. I wanted something cheap enough that I could tear it apart and repaint to match my dump truck and as it worked out this was missing most of the floor and needed brakes and hubs gone through.

This was taken once I got parked at the hotel on the trip down. I drove down on a Sunday, loaded first thing Monday morning and headed home.
View attachment 118193

I gotta say I love your cab over. I was rolling out of the I80 truck stop yesterday and there was a stretched tandem axle just like yours. It was in great shape.

Good luck with your trailer rebuild

Just my $0.02

 

[Creekside]

I gotta say I love your cab over. I was rolling out of the I80 truck stop yesterday and there was a stretched tandem axle just like yours. It was in great shape.

Good luck with your trailer rebuild

Just my $0.02

Thank you! I love running this old girl. We’ve spent a few nights at I-80.

 

[ka9mnx]

What engine/trans in the Freightliner? What year?

 

[joekingcorvette]

You are one talented mechanic. How many miles on the truck?

 

[tnt_motorsports]

What engine/trans in the Freightliner? What year?

I’m gonna guess 1988 with a Cummins and 10 speed Eaton.

Just my $0.02

 

[Malo83]

Love those old cab overs, been following FSC Speed Shops and his cab over on YT.

 

[Creekside]

What engine/trans in the Freightliner? What year?

11.1 Detroit and 9 speed, 1994

You are one talented mechanic. How many miles on the truck?

Around 750,000

 

[Creekside]

Got a head start on the rub rails today. The stake pockets from Amazon showed up several days early. Hopefully I have time tomorrow to finish tacking them all on and then I’ll start running the 3”x3/8” flat bar down the sides.

 

[clinebarger]

Like the Cabover, Don't see them much anymore. My grandfather owned a heavy haul trucking company & we had a 1976 Peterbilt Cabover daycab that was cut down to a single axle for a yard truck/mule duty. Had a 3406A Cat & a 9 speed. At the time I had a 1977 Buick LeSabre with a hot 455/Built TH400....And being young & dumb I was constantly breaking it or tearing it down for "upgrades". When I'd try to catch a ride home with granddad, He said "You're not getting it my car with your nasty/dirty self, Drive the Mule home sh*thead!!" It's funny now but at the time not so much when we had brand new 359's long hoods with 3408 Cats in the yard along with a brand new big block Chevy C30 tire truck.

Just a kid concerned with his image around town, Even took a date out once in the Mule.....No second date. Looking back, He was being very gracious to let a teenager drive such a piece of equipment.

 

[Creekside]

Got all of the stake pockets welded on the right side today, have to finish out the left side and put them across the front. The 3” X 3/8 flat bar should be delivered tomorrow on our express truck so hopefully I can start putting the outer rails on.

 

[Creekside]

Started welding the rails on the last couple days. Today I started working to pull the bend out of the front of the trailer(it had been hit hard and was bowed forward) using a little force and lots of heat from the rosebud it’s slowly starting to pull back. I won’t get it perfect but it’ll be better than it was. Also put the front stake pockets on today.

 

[53' Stude]

I gotta say I love your cab over. I was rolling out of the I80 truck stop yesterday and there was a stretched tandem axle just like yours. It was in great shape.

Good luck with your trailer rebuild

Just my $0.02

I’ll 2nd your take on the truck. Very beautiful cabinet. Nice work so far creekside also

 

[Creekside]

Still gaining ground slowly. I don’t think I’ll make it to the sand blaster by Saturday at this point as I keep finding little things to take care of but better to do it now.

 

[Creekside]

I hauled gravel until about 2pm today but worked on the trailer this evening for a while. No pictures but I removed the jack to wire wheel and paint the front of the mount and back of the jack itself. I cut off the rotten foot and bottom of the leg and added an old plate from the railroad (not stolen, we used to service railroad equipment and they were given to us to get them off the truck). It’ll be heavy but I’m not lifting it everyday. Next I cut the damaged 1/2” safety chains off that had been drug for a long time. Gotta swing by the truck place for a new chain that I’ll cut down to the proper length. I’ll put the hooks back on whatever is left and throw it in my chain box on the wrecker. Nearly ready to get blasted now.

 

[Creekside]

Been really busy with Farm Fest the last couple days but found time this afternoon to get a crossmember re-squared and welded back down. Massaged it back into place with a couple bar clamps. Also shot some Dove Gray paint on wheels for our 16’ utility trailer. I had a local guy sand blast and prime them(same one that’s doing this trailer when he’s ready). New 14ply tires going on tomorrow or Monday.

 

[RhondaHonda]

I love threads like this with pics and progress updates! Is the gooseneck trailer in the first pic a single axle? It looks really long to have just one axle but maybe it’s just the pic. Keep the updates coming and I love the cabover as well.

 

[Creekside]

I love threads like this with pics and progress updates! Is the gooseneck trailer in the first pic a single axle? It looks really long to have just one axle but maybe it’s just the pic. Keep the updates coming and I love the cabover as well.

Yes it’s a single axle. It was built to haul cars and pickups so the single axle is fine. It’s a 22,500 axle. Pretty handy trailer and not much maintenance.

 

[53' Stude]

Creekside: I wish I had your skills. Very great thread; please keep us updated.

Thank You friend