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Scratchbuilt cobra neck lowboy


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I took on an easier project this time ! My buddy wanted a lowboy for his upcoming truck build , and the old options didn't fit the time line. I volunteered my time and started building. The project is a tri axle rogers detachable " cobra neck " lowboy.The drop air suspension came from the excellent set from moluminum,  rims will be mobius chomies, and low pro tires from double take replicas.!!! The major parts will be my normal favored method. I started the frame cheating using plans from the manufacturer site, bought a huge pile of beams for the deck . Smaller I beams became the supports.. 20180320_215418.thumb.jpg.a3a37fb85a8bdd11a3f9ace2ea692489.jpg

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Looking closer at the crossmember pics reveals the notched rails I made for the "bucket trough " giving escavator room . That was one feature I really wanted to add..

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The front suspension mounts on a pivot yoke, so I needed to add a reinforcing plate to the angle section for it .20180320_212227.thumb.jpg.4101fe7de5019eb9ab8dd53253dc4429.jpg

Next up the front...the cobra neck !!

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Now the fun part..the cobra neck! ! A friend was kind enough to take excellent photos of a trailer clearing up some of the vague areas I was unsure of..thanks Gary ! 

I used .040 sheet for the man beam this time then added the flanges once I had a suitable profile..

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Inside the frames was a area we started calling the triangle...garys pics came in very helpful here.. 20180324_224441.thumb.jpg.b5b21492b5161e73911f79a6768fe485.jpg

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Thanks for looking 

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Somehow I lost a few progress pics..gotta leap ahead to the details inside the goose neck. .mainly the support that drops onto the tractor during unloading ops,  and the triangle actuators. Everything was built from rod, tubes , and sheet stock from pics ..

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a quick mock up pic ...gotta make sure it looks right..lol ! 

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The deck will be covered w basswood strips and leaving the center exposed to show the framing . I dislike hiding all the work under panels. So far I'd had about 2 weeks works tied up into this...working on it about 2 hrs a night after daughter went to bed . Really fun project 

Thanks for looking 

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1 hour ago, DRIPTROIT 71 said:

WOW!!!!!!! I'm not sure what else to say! Excellent Work!!!

Thanks alot !! I originally planned using the kit lowboy for parts..but he wanted a modern trailer for his bill signs hauler..so I contacted jamie and secured enough sets for an appropriate trailer. Thanks for following along 

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I started working on the rear section,  the trunnion boxes located between the wheels . The last trailer I built I struggled keeping the 4 pieces even and level..this go round I glued a section of square tube inside then covered with Plastruct  HO diamond plate 

Finally mocked up the drop air suspension after everything dried 

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Lastly was turning my attention to the deck ramps a quick doodle on 040 sheet covered up the framing and received its tread strips 

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Almost there any feedback welcome ! 

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Thanks !!

I'm just waiting on the rest of the tires now then send off to the new owner for paint . I had few days off work so I spent the time fashioning the d rings , wood planking and misc details I noticed . Last night's major step was marrying the deck to the suspension section...total length ends up 25 inches !!! Hope my buddy has enough shelf space lol here's a few wip pics .

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The front suspension mounts required a different shape, they attach via a yoke or fork around the beam..I just made some strips and sanded the shape into them adding a few Meng bolts for detail. I left everything loose for painting

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Well...that's it for now ..oh that arm is the lever they flip to unlock the trailer when unhooking guess I captured the look pretty close CN55PL-CobraNeck_Photo-small.thumb.jpg.66f52bf38bfd3ec1b88668bf5954a2bf.jpg

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