Rebirth Update #8...

Click here for Update #1...

Click here for Update #2...
Click here for Update #3...
Click here for Update #4...
Click here for Update #5...
Click here for Update #6...
Click here for Update #7...
Click here for Update #9...
Click here for Update #10...

For those wondering why there have been no updates lately, progress has not stopped, but on the contrary, has intensified...Several electrical-based projects have been underway, and a separate photoblog article has been published to chronicle the step-by-step process...An inquiry by Truckman concerning the popularity of the CB radios, and the availability of equipment on the Cracker Barrel Philosophers forum led to the re-awakening of the desire to listen in and participate on highway conversations between motorists, mostly truckers...As usual, not being satisfied with standard installation procedures, Truckman's original vision soon grew from the usual under-the-dash mounting procedure into something far more involved...

After deciding I also wanted a few more convenience items available for use in the cab, my thoughts migrated to the type of accessory consoles usually seen in police patrol vehicles...Ram trucks are occasionally seen in use by law enforcement supervisors and motorist assistance deputies, and purpose built consoles are available commercially...Unfortunately the prices on these are prohibitive to a retired gentleman living on a fixed budget, but the kernel of an idea began to grow in my imagination conceiving what my ideal console might look like if I built my own...As those who know me understand, the growth of such an idea can be dangerous if not contained...

Knowing this I compiled a list of essential features and desired accessories, and placing them in my mind's eye where they might provide the best use of available space...From there the catalog of items and materials needed began...Discarding the idea of repurposing even a used police console from Ebay, and since I do not own a commercial sheet metal shop, the first obstacle involved a search for donor products which could be reshaped to suit my needs...The online source, Amazon provided the answer as explained in the photo article...Amazon was also the source of most of the additional parts and pieces along with locally found items from Lowes and Harbor Freight...

The wanted features included the CB radio, a rechargeable flashlight and a secure place to deposit my concealed firearm when I am forced by law to enter a building such as a courthouse or hospital where it is not allowed...I also wanted a power inverter for A/C current, DC power receptacles and a USB outlet for charging purposes...The 50 caliber ammo can which I have been using as a more convenient depository than the glove box was relocated in the package tray behind the driver's seat and velcroed to the floor...It now serves for first aid and emergency supplies...Enough room was found in the console to add a small storage compartment for notebooks and ballpoint pens...For the flashlight, I wanted nothing but Streamlight as this was the product I recommended and sold in my gun store...For the exact model to suit my needs I sought the advice of one of my oldest friends, Deputy Bo Crabtree, and on his advice I bought the light from Steve Schneider at Texas Top Cop Shop, who explained in detail the features of each light...

The forward end of the console contains the switches, fuse blocks and relays to power the new accessories and equipment, as well as the additional exterior lights which will be covered in other updates as they become functional...To say the least, it has been challenging as well as instructional to design such a project, reawakening old skills at fabrication and electrical construction, as well as finding out why my sheet metal and painting skills have never been in demand...The less said about the latter, the better, although I can honestly say my best effort was given...In one of my former careers I excelled in creating automotive wiring that was noted for its soldered and shrinkwrapped joints... Unfortunately the ravages of aging eyes and arthritis necessitated a switch to crimped connectors as soldering soon proved impossible...Perhaps the use of the best available materials including all stranded, copper AWG wiring, and the extensive use of shrinkwrap tubing will forestall any problems that might arise from such shortcuts...

The new photo blog article will explain more in detail, and further update articles will be forthcoming as new exterior lighting becomes the priority...Photos to illustrate new articles will be added to the original photo essay...Elapsed time for this project: 41 days...Cost: I don't want to know...

More articles concerning Transportation/Motorsports...

Rebirth Update #7...

Click here for Update #1...

Click here for Update #2...
Click here for Update #3...
Click here for Update #4...
Click here for Update #5...
Click here for Update #6...
Click here for Update #8...
Click here for Update #9...
Click here for Update #10...

This is a short update to showcase a long awaited addition which went live yesterday...As long-time followers of this series know, I was reminded of many things I liked and missed about my old 1973 Chevy gunshow hauler when I began the current project on this truck...One of those missed items was the running boards on that older truck...They were the plain aluminum cab-length stepboards seldom seen on today's trucks...In current times fashion seems to dictate pretty nerf bars, or integrated sidesteps, with some even automatically raising and lowering for entry and egress...Without taking away from those designs, they just didn't suit my own tastes or needs...I wanted the plain running boards which I liked on the older gunshow vehicle...

My beloved previous truck, a quadcab dually, had wheel-to-wheel Tough Country tubular boards with expanded metal inserts which I really enjoyed...However these were unavailable even by special order for my current truck, and a diligent search through internet sources turned up nothing which suited my needs until I looked at the website maintained by accessory manufacturer Owens Products...This is an established older company with a diverse product line, but still listed the exact running board style I remembered from my long gone 1973 Chevy, and they still listed a part number for my particular truck...However it was out of stock, and a search of their many vendors turned up no matches...

It was listed on the website as available for order in either polished aluminum diamond plate, or black extruded aluminum with grit tape on the step surfaces...I did not want the polished finish on this truck, although I preferred the diamond plate design, so I opted to order the extruded option, and I was promised delivery in about six weeks...A young lady named Jenny handled my order from start to finish, and is to be commended for her patience and professionalism with this finicky and demanding customer...At the end of six weeks I inquired about my order, and was told they were waiting on the raw material from their supplier; she assured me of production in another four weeks...After that time passed another conversation with her brought her agreement that they really need a new supplier, and she said an option would be to change the order to polished aluminum which was already in stock...

This would entail my getting the product refinished to black myself, but given the only option of waiting even longer, I gave the go ahead to change the order...She even issued a partial refund to reflect the lower price of the material...She added a note to my order asking the production crew to rush my order since I had been waiting so long, and to my surprise it arrived at my door safely and ahead of the new promised shipping date...My thanks go again to Jenny for handling a difficult situation, and at the same time retaining a customer...This left the task of refinishing the boards to black, and since I really like the bedliner that was applied earlier to my flatbed by VIP Tinters, I took the unopened box of parts to Jason and Allan, asked to have them refinished and installed...As promised the entire job was done on time while I waited, and as a bonus it was noticed that tiny bubbles, unnoticed by me, had developed in my previously tinted windows...Both windows were retinted on the spot under warranty...VIP Tinters is entrenched on the Truckman Highly Recommended List...

As always, new photos of the additions will be found at the bottom of the accompanying photo essay here...

More articles concerning Transportation/Motorsports...

Rebirth Update #6...

Click here for Update #1...

Click here for Update #2...
Click here for Update #3...
Click here for Update #4...
Click here for Update #5...
Click here for Update #7...
Click here for Update #8...
Click here for Update #9...
Click here for Update #10...

While waiting for more parts and accessories to arrive, all special ordered, and some which had to be manufactured, I whiled away my time with smaller projects, such as replacing the paddle latches on the Rawson-Koenig toolboxes under the flatbed...the truck was purchased without keys to the existing locks, and ordering new ones from Rawson-Koenig only turned up some that were unusable because of wrong operating levers and their being permanently welded to the assembly...Grainger often has hard to find parts, and a trip to the local outlet with the old part in hand proved hopeful as the salesclerk ordered new cylinders for me based on her catalog descriptions...Alas these arrived and were also unusable because they would not engage the latch plunger...

At this point, I thought I should look for new latch assemblies instead of trying to replace the lock cylinders...Amazon lists many different styles and sizes, not all of which show their dimensions...Choosing from the ones which offered their dimensions, I ordered two new complete assemblies keyed alike...On arrival these were found to be not quite dimensionally identical to the old latches, but the lock cylinders were the right ones...But to make them work on the old latches I would have to cut away some of the supporting framework on the doors...Never being one to shy away from a challenge, I got out the tools and started cutting...

The old latches were fastened from the inside to the framework I had cut away, necessitating drilling new holes to mount the latches to the outside of the doors...Once this was done the latches were reinstalled with machine screws, new lock cylinders installed and tested for correct contact with the plungers...I had to adjust the latch faces on the boxes to get a tighter fit for the doors, but all turned out well...At least until I filled the boxes with what equipment I wished to carry for roadside use, and went to lock everything away for the night...This is when I found the "keyed alike" locks were not keyed alike...I had four keys to one of the locks, and none for the other...However a quick message to the Amazon seller got an apology and a new correct cylinder shipped immediately...It's good to be able to lock the meager contents of the boxes away from uninvited fingers...

In anticipation of another upcoming addition, I bought two steel gate pulls, and installed them on the headache rack as grab handles...The biggest item for this update is the Tough Country front bumper which arrived and was installed at Texan Hitch in Conroe today...Owners George and Robert specialize in customer satisfaction above all else...Like most business owners they stock what is popular, but when a finicky customer (like me) comes in, and can't be satisfied with what is on the shelf, they go the extra mile to please the customer...I noticed this low-key business approach on my first visit, and consequently came back to Texan when I was ready to buy...

The new bumper was ordered, and after a short wait (which always seems longer) it arrived at Texan Hitch, and I made the appointment for installation...I was in and out in an hour...I couldn't be more pleased with the product and the service...Those readers wishing to refresh their memories from the beginning of this saga can begin reading here, then follow the list of updates at the top right of each page...New photos were added at the bottom of the photo essay here...In the new photos the front bumper is the only clean part of the truck following yesterday's mudstorm...

More articles concerning Transportation/Motorsports...

The Solution...

In another internet venue, my friend WacoJoe presented an article from yet another source...I decided to print my response here simply because my limited attention has been focused elsewhere instead of posting my thoughts in this blog...

Just a thought, and by no means a summary of how I feel about the weakness of the human race, and its seemingly helpless surrender to the power of drugs, and the greed of those who purvey an artificial bubble of temporary happiness...The author's choice of title for his piece, "Seattle Is Dying," indicates that he believes Seattle is those who have surrendered to drug addiction, not only the addicts, or those who will "try" drugs for the first time today, or even those who are sworn to enforce and uphold the laws against such behavior, yet don't...For our purposes here, Seattle also is those who profit from the distribution of those drugs, and even those who profit from combating drug addiction...Since he only talks of the horrors without presenting a solution, he along with those others of good heart who offer comfort and support to the addicts without offering an end to the suffering, is Seattle, and as a result all are dying...

Even if those well-intentioned souls somehow brought about the end of drug-induced corruption to their city, the problem would still exist as long as one person was willing to sacrifice a human soul on the altar of greed for a quick profit, and another person was willing to buy into the fantasy that a temporary euphoria can be had for no further payment than a few dollars...The author's ending paragraphs spoke of only one of two true solutions to end the ongoing blight on human society...He failed to mention that the eventual death of those addicts ended the hell-on-earth brought about by their own choices...The other solution was to find the inner strength to either resist the temptation in the first place, or once in the stranglehold, to find an even greater strength to stop the destructive behavior, and never take it up again...Those two choices, strength to resist or death, are also the only ways out for the other half of this vicious circle, the supplier...


The many nuances of arguments for or against either extreme solution are open to discussion, but both stand equally alone as the only effective means to deal with the scourge...And before any of those who know of my own addiction to alcohol raise their voices, yes, I consider alcohol a drug...

More articles concerning Crime and Punishment...

Rebirth Update #5...

Click here for Update #1...

Click here for Update #2...
Click here for Update #3...
Click here for Update #4...
Click here for Update #6...
Click here for Update #7...
Click here for Update #8...
Click here for Update #9...
Click here for Update #10...

Perfectionism can be an all consuming disease especially when afflicted upon a person known to have succumbed to many addictions in the past, a person such as Truckman...Ever since recognizing the symptoms of devoting unwarranted amounts of time and resources to a particular project or pastime, I have been on constant alert for the signs of new addictions, those which can drain time and energy away from other callings in life which may deserve equal attention...Examples which brought on my hyper-sensitivity to such events were the abuse of alcohol and tobacco early in my life which brought on terrible, irretrievable losses...To a lesser degree, the acquisition of the tools of trade for a mechanic, and even the collection of photography equipment for a new hobby showed their roots in new addictions...In recognition of those events, I now look at every new day wondering what new attractions would lure my wandering attention...

Even something as commonplace as a means of conveyance for transporting oneself from point to point meeting life's demands can become addictive in seeing changes that could be made in a car or truck that could make it more distinctive and appealing to its driver...Truckman is no stranger to that occurrence, and I have talked of it at length in other articles...In view of this, when I first spotted my current ride beckoning to me from the used car lot, I already began to list in my mind the various changes that would become necessary for satisfaction if it became mine...And knowing from past experience that perfectionism only exists in my own imagination, I also understood that some of my wants and desires go far beyond practical needs, and that a tight rein would have to be kept on my own self as changes occurred to my mind...Therefore I began to prioritize my plans even before the title changed hands...

Some of those changes deemed absolutely necessary have already been accomplished, and discussed in the previous updates in this series...Others are yet to come, and some will continue to exist only in my imagination...Items such as conversion to four wheel drive, or that ten speed manual transmission I've always lusted for will continue to reside in my dreams, while more attainable goals dealing with convenience of ownership and safety of operation find their places in a schedule governed by a retirement budget...Other thoughts, such as onboard air with train horns and air ride suspension, remain on the "maybe so, maybe no" list...Small details such as those added since our last update are less noticeable, but listed here in any event...

Some sandpaper plus a few rattle-cans of Rustoleum primer and paint added uniformity to the spare tire stop mounted on the flatbed deck...The paint will no doubt find uses in the future as small wear spots appear elsewhere on the bed...Adding stickon decals announcing the use of "diesel only" in this truck were superfluous, but found their place nevertheless...Changing all the padlocks to those requiring a common key reduced the weight carried in my pocket...The addition of one of the original Ram hubcaps to the spare tire will probably go unnoticed by the casual observer, but I like it so I did it...And bolting on my personalized 45 FMJ license plates is always a crowning moment, signifying that the truck is truly mine...

Today I had an appointment at VIP Tinters on Hwy 242 to tint my two side windows with a ceramic material, and to spray a bedliner on the flatbed with the added protection against future UV damage from the sun...Remembering how faded the bedliner on my previous truck had become, I felt this was a good value...After comparison shopping, and asking others who had previously had work done there, I decided to trust my needs here...Their prices were competitive, their reputation is good, and as I found out by asking around, most of the local businesses that advertise spray-on bedliners bring the work to VIP Tinters anyway, so the middleman lost his percentage on this one...Having a very old, very sick puppy necessitated bringing him with me to wait since I had no other ride for the day, and Jason and Allen accommodated my dilemma by putting me at the first of the line, and assigning extra hands to finish the job sooner than promised...

This is ordinarily a time consuming job, and I was grateful that they were able to shorten my stay, while still turning out quality work...My original intention was to bypass the front area of the bed where the exhaust stacks, spare tire and extra equipment now reside, but after the crew conferred on a plan, they removed the spare tire, jerry cans, Hi-Lift jack and all mounting hardware to apply the bedliner to the entire flatbed deck surface...They did this without asking knowing I would be happier with the quality of the work...And they were right...

Everything that wasn't to be sprayed was masked off, then all equipment was reinstalled after the bedliner application...This is definitely high quality work with attention to customer satisfaction...And my puppy appreciated being able to go home a little sooner than he had anticipated...I recommend these guys to anyone...

As usual new pictures of the progression from "as found" to "my truck"are posted at the bottom of this photo essay...

More articles concerning Transportation/Motorsports...

Rebirth Update #4...

Click here for Update #1...

Click here for Update #2...
Click here for Update #3...
Click here for Update #5...
Click here for Update #6...
Click here for Update #7...
Click here for Update #8...
Click here for Update #9...
Click here for Update #10...

Just another short contribution to the saga of Truckman's truck...When we left our story last time, the new exhaust stacks had just been installed, and purists were horrified at the sight of the exposed plumbing which underlies all installations of beautiful chrome stacks...Not to worry though, as plans had already been laid to surround the unveiled piping with other equipment and accessories providing at least some shelter for those eyes which may be offended by bare foundations...

The first step was in selecting and mounting some of the hardware necessary to hold the Hi-Lift jack in place, and the eyebolts which would eventually secure the newly purchased spare tire...Chrome accessories were chosen for weather protection and aesthetic appeal (matching the shiny appearance of the wheels and grille surround) even though it was known that rust would eventually rear its ugly head...After making slight adjustments on the spacing of the studs to mount the jack, it was secured to the deck...

Next the jerry can holders were bolted to the deck using chrome sheet metal fasteners, and the jerry cans themselves were locked down with padlocks...Joey Belton of Texas Auto Pro of Conroe again stepped up with the stop for the spare tire mount...A heavy chain now runs between the eyebolts securing the spare tire and the Hi-Lift jack...When the weather clears, I'll address the bare metal on the exhaust brackets and spare tire stop with some Rustoleum...More to come in the following updates...

As usual, photos of the changes have been added to the bottom of the accompanying photo essay...

EDIT: The rain cap bumpers I chose failed to last, and new, hopefully more durable ones have been ordered...The Roadlux tires now on the truck perform well on either dry or wet pavement with no noise or vibration...It is noted that the truck now exhibits a slight amount of wander which might be attributed to front end alignment...When I drop it off at Texas Auto Pro for service next time, I'll consult Joey on the matter...

More articles concerning Transportation/Motorsports...

Rebirth Update #3...

Click here for Update #1...

Click here for Update #2...
Click here for Update #4...
Click here for Update #5...
Click here for Update #6...
Click here for Update #7...
Click here for Update #8...
Click here for Update #9...
Click here for Update #10...

Those readers breathlessly awaiting the next installment in Truckman's truck saga may breathe a sigh of relief...I dropped off the new beast at Texas Auto Pro in Conroe where my friend Joey Belton was waiting to install a custom exhaust...Having gathered an assortment of items from Amazon including a 4" stainless steel Y-pipe, stainless 4" flexpipe (necessary when connecting body mounted exhaust to frame-mounted exhaust to prevent loosening from torque-twist), two 4" to 5" reducers, two 5" straight cut chrome stacks and two chrome rain caps, we had a conference to discuss exactly where to mount the pile of parts...I left the truck in the capable hands of Joey to  work his exhaust wizardry...

As long time readers already know, Truckman elevates the exhaust of his diesel trucks above the level of the timid souls who drive lesser vehicles such as Prius (question for self: should the plural of Prius be Prii?)...In any case, Truckman does not wish to be accused of intimidating or frightening other drivers, and it is known that the exhaust on most factory equipped diesels is at eye-level to those who are forced to convey themselves in the smaller econoboxes...Therefore as a courtesy to Prius drivers, Truckman's exhaust is directed upward instead of at the windows of those unfortunate drivers who are unblessed with more robust transportation...

My previous truck had been "stacked" by Joey when he built a custom manifold to mount in the bed, but in the interest of expediency, I bought off the shelf items this time...It was first thought that the DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) would need to be discarded and the ECM be re-programmed, but I did not want to do that after having read of the myriad problems encountered by others who chose to defeat the factory emission controls...Some like to do this to gain extra power, but I am happy with the 305 horses that it has run with since new...Joey did have to trim some of the DPF tubing and move a temperature sensor to make room, but all EPA mandated controls are still intact, and Al Gore can sleep blissfully tonight in that knowledge...

Joey is also an excellent welder and fabricator, and had no problem manufacturing the brackets needed to mount the new exhaust...It's rattle-free and sounded great on the way home...I was unable to locate silenced rain caps to prevent rainwater from entering the open tops of the exhaust, but I found some nylon clips to install under the caps to prevent the "ting-ting" noise when they open and close at idle...No other new equipment has been installed, and other than applying a little wax as weather permits, the only other update is a report on fuel mileage...All driving so far has been in town, and the first tank produced 14.06 MPG calculated by hand...The overhead display showed slightly higher, but those have been known to lie...Also the new tires and wheels ride very well, with no noise and no vibration even from the unbalanced outer duals...

Truckman has been assured that with his new stacks, he can have his redneck card punched in confidence anywhere rednecks gather...New photographs have been added to the bottom of Truckman's photoblog essay...In addition an attractive member of the local paparazzi had staked out Texas Auto Pro hoping to catch a glimpse of Truckman for his adoring fans...I complied with her wishes and that photo is included also...

More articles concerning Transportation/Motorsports...