FRUEHAUF DUMP TRAILER "DONE"

[Semi Trailer Mechanic]

What's goin' on...

Looks like I can fill out the repair order turn it in and park it on the yard it's done!!!

I started out w/ the early 90's AMT Fruehauf dump trailer kit. As everyone who's built this kit knows the suspension lacks detail and the leaf springs aren't all the exact size. I decided to scratch build (8-leaf) the springs and u-bolts(somewhat crude as this was my first shot at this). Next I cut off the spring hangers and relocated them as needed. As seen here....

Next I added axle spindles and the spiders (foundation for the brake shoe anchor pins and s-cam) Also shown here the gate latch (lock) assembly was made. Along w/ those mods addition work was done to the dolly assembly by making sand shoes,k-bracing,diagnal supports, and the portion of the legs that extend and retract.

Underneath the slack adjusters were trimmed down and the brake chambers were made from several chambers from other kits in the parts box. On the chambers fine styrene round stock was used to make the chamber actuator rods (attatched to the top of the slack adjuster(s)The s-cams are just aluminum rod. 1:1 s-cams new are this color. Because the "s" portion of the cams would be obscure I left that detail off. The s-cam bushings are made from rectangular stock and round stock (in the spiders)

The rims (Dayton Hubs) Are a combination of those found in the Fruehauf's kit and those found in the AMT Loadcraft step deck kit. I cut off the Pro-Par style hub caps from the rims in the Fruehauf kit and glued them to the rims from the Loadcraft kit and painted them Tamiya field Gray. New these hub caps (1:1) were clear plastic but after a while the gear oil tarnishes them close to this color. The hubs were painted w/ Tamiya Matte Black andthe rims are painted Model Master Aggressor Gray. The bolts that hold the drums to the back of the hubs were painted Model Master Steel and so are the wedges/lugs. The drums were made from the drums in the Fruehauf kit. They might look unproportioned but I've worked on a few (1:1) trailers where they used "mountain brakes" basically over sized shoes and drums. FYI Out of the 17 years I've been a mechanic I've seen two trailers w/ these brakes on them. I painted these Testors Rust on the outside and Model Master Steel for the machined surfaces. Yes I have to get the finger print of the frame!!!

To give this a different look I wanted the gate to be a two-way gate. The barndoor hinges were scratchbuilt like those on a 1:1 and a vice style sludge lock. Also added was the chain hold back (the driver uses when the gate is open and the trailer is being dumped.Shown here I was going to make a Mountain Tarp (Roll-Over tarp) so the bows are seen.

On the bulkhead a crows nest was scratchbuilt and a couple steps, and the hydraulic hose/screw fitting. In the center a access(covering the opening in the bed to get to the bleed screw at the top of the cylinder) flap was made. The header boards are basswood strips stained w/ Minwax walnut and the mounting plates are Plastruct 1/100 diamond plate. The lights are craft store gems (red/amber)

The chassis is painted Tamiya Semi Gloss Black and the body is Tamiya Bare Metal Silver. The mud flaps are sheet styrene w/ some logos I found online,croped and printed on BMF decal paper. That about sums up the details here's the following pictures.

THANKS FOR LOOKING!!!

[Jeff Johnston]

That looks completely realistic !!!!

[randx0]

looks great but your builds usually do keep it up .

[kilrathy10]

I just had to bring this one back....I thought other people would like to see this one, too......I never did comment on this one....It's very good.....Oddly, I'm only the third person to comment on it....Six years is a long time never to notice something.....Great work, Man.....Just some awesome scratch building.....

[tbill]

what a work of art. It looks like I need to really surf the old posts, some real gems tucked away here.

[slusher]

Great looking trailer..

[Danno]

Excellent!

[truckabilly]

Very nice trailer.

[every second counts]

That looks amazing.

Ewan

[Truck parts]

Nice build

[Tesla]

Great looking trailer!

[Bige37]

Very good looking trailer! The flat bed that I'm doing is my first ever trailer so ive got some practice coming my way to get to this level! Again awesome job!