Astro 95 Ramp Truck

[Sugar Creek Racing]

Sunday morning mock up.

I’ve wanted to build a ramp truck.  However, after working for GM for many years I really wanted it to be a GM chassis.  (The only kit ramp trucks are the Malone heavys and the Louisville Ford.)

My plan is to use the AMT Astro 95 for the chassis.  I’m using two of the Louisville ramp bodies to build one dual axle ramp body.  I will add the second axle opening just forward of the one showing in the picture and add a bit of length to the bed so the car isn't hanging off the back. (I’m using a Dodge Daytona in the mock up because I figure that is as long as the load will ever get).

This is a fun build, so, there is no basis in reality for this build other than there were some dual axle ramp trucks in racing back in the day.  I’m thinking of putting it in some sort of museum livery to explain any discrepancy in time frames between the truck and it’s loads.  Basically a vehicle sent out to pick up acquisitions and projects for the museum.

Any thoughts from the group before I cross the point of no return and start slicing and dicing?

[am73grand]

I really like the museum Idea.

This is what I love about truck building. You can be so creative!

[gotnitro?]

Hack away great sounding project 

[Sugar Creek Racing]

The major surgery on the ramp bed is complete.  If I use the kit fuel tanks, the bed would be that far back.  I still have the exhaust stacks to go in the gap between the cab and the bed and figured I could fab a rack for a couple spares for the truck on the front wall of the ramp bed.  Keep thinking it would look better with the bed closer to the cab.

[gotnitro?]

Imo , it would look better closer . Maybe have the tanks inside the side openings on ramp bed?  

Really like the idea your coming up with 

[Sugar Creek Racing]

14 minutes ago, gotnitro? said:

Imo , it would look better closer . Maybe have the tanks inside the side openings on ramp bed?  

Really like the idea your coming up with 

LMAO!  I was just sitting here thinking “wonder if those tanks would fit inside that first set of doors?” and then your post pops up.

I agree.  Tanks will go in there and the bed will slide forward.

[gotnitro?]

On 6/6/2020 at 8:43 PM, Sugar Creek Racing said:

LMAO!  I was just sitting here thinking “wonder if those tanks would fit inside that first set of doors?” and then your post pops up.

I agree.  Tanks will go in there and the bed will slide forward.

Great minds think alike ! I was looking at my KW  coe wrecker and think I used smaller tanks from another kit . Their mounted rght below the sleeper. 

Love the look your after with the stretched ramp bed 

[Hermann Kersten]

Very nice project and idea!

 

Hermann.

[slusher]

Really nice project you have going!

[Sugar Creek Racing]

Got a few more hours in.  That was a lot of cutting to open all those doors!  Going to need a lot of stuff to fill it all back up.

Gotnitro?  I think that tank idea is going to work out really well.  It looks much better with just enough room for the stacks.

 

[Sugar Creek Racing]

Thanks all for the comments.  It is a good time getting back into a “meaty” project.

[Sugar Creek Racing]

One thing I’ve never liked about this ramp body, as it comes from the kit, is that when you open the doors the spare tire rack intrudes into the door opening and you see tires (which would leak like crazy if it were a real vehicle.). So, since I had extra body parts leftover from splicing two of these together, I figured I’’d slide the rack back by adding a section to each side of the upright compartment and move the tire rack out of the way.

[Deuces ll]

Interesting..... ?

[gotnitro?]

Awesome work definitely like the stowed tanks and ramp slid forward 

[Sugar Creek Racing]

Just a quick update.  Got everything mocked up today.  I extended the work compartment, extended the ramp floor inside, and extended the tire rack/roof.  Also, removed the tread pattern from the roof.  Thinking of putting some AC or a skylight or something up there.  I didnt care for the way the scoops looked in the ramps.  So, I’ve skinned the sides and extended the front to make another storage area.  One more thing to change the profile a little from the kit design.

 

[Mopar - D]

Very nice I like your modifications. 

[Sugar Creek Racing]

Happy Father’s Day!  My treat was some undisturbed build time.  I wanted to stow the fuel tanks in the forward compartments on the ramp so that I could mount the ramp further forward on the chassis.  The Astro kit comes with both round and rectangular tanks but I didnt like how either were looking in the opening.  Plus I hate removing the molded in straps.  Weighing everything together, I decided making my own tanks would be better.  So, made a mold and vac formed some tank halves sized to fit the openings in the ramp.  I’ll post pictures and if there are questions, I’ll resppond.

[kilrathy10]

This is a serious project, and it looks excellent... I'd been thinking about converting this very ramp body in this fashion... I can't say I'd add as much detail as you have, but I was thinking the dual axle was the way to go.... I love what you've done, here.... Beautiful job with all the cuts and parts you made.... This baby is going to look awesome....

Edited June 22, 2020 by kilrathy10

[gotnitro?]

Awesome work!  Great idea going w different tanks , I also dislike the seams ..a neccessary evil I guess 

 

[Ralph Henderson]

great all around!!  Liking them tanks! could use a couple for a project I got going..

 

[Sugar Creek Racing]

On 6/21/2020 at 10:22 PM, kilrathy10 said:

This is a serious project, and it looks excellent... I'd been thinking about converting this very ramp body in this fashion... I can't say I'd add as much detail as you have, but I was thinking the dual axle was the way to go.... I love what you've done, here.... Beautiful job with all the cuts and parts you made.... This baby is going to look awesome....

Thank you, it is actually a pretty simple conversion to dual wheel.  I cut one bed side at the edge of the compartment just forward of the wheel opening, the other the compartment edge just behiind the wheel opening.  Resulted in 8mm measured at the bottom edge between the wheels which was perfect for the Astro axle set up.  Then you just slide the ramp floor rearward on the flanges.  If you arent opening the doors you dont even need to add the floor inside.

[Sugar Creek Racing]

On 6/22/2020 at 11:24 AM, Ralph Henderson said:

great all around!!  Liking them tanks! could use a couple for a project I got going..

 

Well, I have the mold now.  If you are comfortable gluing them up as shown, I can send you a couple.  No guarantees on how quick I could mail them, work is a little crazy right now.

[Ralph Henderson]

7 minutes ago, Sugar Creek Racing said:

Well, I have the mold now.  If you are comfortable gluing them up as shown, I can send you a couple.  No guarantees on how quick I could mail them, work is a little crazy right now.

watch for a pm! Thanks!

[Sugar Creek Racing]

The bed assembly is finally glued up as an assembly.  Started looking at how to mount the rear axle assembly.  I think I’m going to cheat a little, since the frame will not ever be visible, I’m not planning on a full detailed frame in the “gap”.  To mount the frame section there isn’t a good surface to glue to due to the ramp cavities.  Decking the bottom over with .060 sheet to get a smooth surface to mount the frame section to and build up the storage compartments on.

[gatorincebu]

 

  Very interesting project . And some nice fabrication going on here.

 

   Be Well

     Gator