The photos below are what we saw.
The
first action was to complete removal of the equipment stored in
the HiLo's tool boxes. We obtained a pallet and started
schlepping items from the boxes to the pallet.
The
antecedent conditions for removal of the HiLo were removal of
the spare tire, tire crane winch and hydraulic system.
Once the tool boxes were empty, the "dirty baskets" were removed
to allow easy access to the systems to be removed. Note
the large bundle of loomed cables coming from the electrical
compartment.
The
electrical compartment had cables for the high-current DC,
hydraulic control, winch control, truck battery charging and
feed lines from the 12 VDC subsystem in the truck.
This
circuit board was fabricated almost 10 years ago and has
withstood a tremendous thrashing during our off-road
adventures. The main DC feed line was disconnected and the
support circuits and fuses were removed and stored for possible
later use.
Once the
extra components were removed from the circuit board, the DC
lines were reconnected and tested to insure that no damage was
done. The HiLo will see a new life as a recreational
trailer for one of the shop's employees. Axles will be
installed and a new tow hitch will be attached.
Next to
be removed was the tire crane hydraulic pump.
Once the
hydraulic pump was removed the tire crane winch, hydraulic
cylinder and crane boom were next.
The
cylinder and boom were heavy and awkward and were laid on the
floor.
Thor and
Lance trailer were pulled out of the shop. Lance was
disconnected and parked in the outside lot. Thor was then
backed into the shop and between the booms of the lift
tower. The plan was to use booms to get underneath the
HiLo's frame and lift it safely off the frame of the truck.
It took
several repositionings of the truck before the lift geometry was
correct.
The front
booms were initially placed inside the tool boxes but it later
proved to be an error and they were repositioned to the frame
posts.
Once the
booms were placed under the frame posts, we were ready to
disconnect the 4 (big) bolts that held the HiLo on Thor's frame.
After
the boom positions were double checked, we started
lifting. The process went as planned.
Free of Thor for the
first time in 10 years, the HiLo was lowered closer to the
ground until a trailer could be brought in to remove it from
the shop.
Naked
truck photos get me hot. Thor's frame had not seen
daylight for ten years.
The
frame and attached components will be cleaned and inspected
before we move to the actual build-out. We anticipate
placing our battery box between the frame rails. This will
help offset the additional weight of the Lance trailer to help
keep the combined center of gravity low.
A view
of the frame from the top shows the damage that was done to the
outboard propane rack in a trip to Baja California some years
ago. We may place a horizontal propane tank between the
frame rails and remove the outboard tank; not sure yet.
Our
current plan is to re-use the frame mounts for the HiLo as the
mounts for the Lance. We inspected both the pivot bolts
and frame for wear and were surprised to find only a very small
amount.
We had
been living in Lance for about a week, so it was time to head to
the local RV park to dump our black and gray water tanks.
Without the weight of the HiLo on Thor, it rode really
rough. Once our chores were completed, we headed back to
the shop to get the combine unit inside in preparation for the
following days's actions.
| Previous Adventure | ||
| Trip Home Page |
Photos and Text Copyright Bill Caid 2019, all rights
reserved.
For your enjoyment only, not for commercial use.