2007 August | Trucks and Trailers

How to Build a Dog Box for a Truck

August 27th, 2007 by shenron

If you have a dog, you probably want to take it everywhere you go, whether it is to the park, hunting or to the beach. For those that own trucks, fitting a dog in the cab can be uncomfortable and dangerous, since it’s hard to drive with your dog jumping around the seat beside you. For truck owners, one way to make it easy, safe and comfortable is to build a dog box for your truck. Here are some tips on how to build a fairly simple dog box.

Before you build your dog box, keep a few things in mind. First off it has to be safe for your pet. It needs to have good ventilation, enough space and be comfortable enough for your dog to stay in it for up to an hour. It also needs to be secured tightly to your truck. One way to easily build a dog box is to look for dog box truck plans which are available both for free and for a small fee. You should also keep in mind that each truck is different and each dog is also different so your dog box will in many cases be unique.

Step One

Choose the materials to make your dog box. There are plenty of options, however one material that is light weight and very strong is aircraft aluminum. Others include wood and polyurethane/vinyl. You want to make sure that any material you choose can stand up to the elements and will be comfortable for your pet.

Step Two

Figure out the measurements of your dog box. Keep in mind that your dog will need some space to be comfortable. Many dog boxes are usually at least 24 inches in width, have a length of about 39 inches and a height of 22 inches. Keep in mind you will also need a floor and ceiling (6 pieces in total). One of these pieces will require a door for the dog to enter and exit safely. Once you know the sizes of the materials you will need, you can start creating templates and making your materials ready for construction.

Step Three

Cut all six pieces of material to your dimensions. Drill small holes for ventilation. Many dog boxes have ventilation holes on the doors, in addition, you might want to put ventilation holes on another area of the dog box. Because your dog box will need to be secured to the truck bed, you will need to either weld latches on or drill holes into the bottom of your dog box. When you drill these holes, make sure you sand them down and that there are no sharp edges that can cause injury to your dog.

Step Four

Once you have all the materials cut to your specifications, you can start assembling the dog box. If your dog box is metal, you will probably want to weld it together, if your dog box is made from wood, simple nuts and bolts should do the trick. Keep in mind that all pieces should be assembled except the front panel that most likely includes the door. Before you fully assemble the dog box, you will need to insulate and create a comfortable space for the dog inside.

Step Five

Now that the dog box has been assembled, you can start making the interior comfortable for your dog. Some dog boxes add a wood floor that is easy to clean. Others might use carpet, pillows, etc. Make sure that within the dog box there are no sharp edges or anything that can injure your pet. Remember, your truck will be bouncing around. Before completing the interior make sure that there is very good ventilation. Your dog will need to breathe and stay warm or comfortable depending on the outside weather.

Step Six

Once the inside of the dog box is complete, you can attach the front panel that will presumably include the door. Make sure that the door stays shut securely. You don’t want the door opening up while on the road.

Step Seven

Now that the dog box is completely assembled, you can finish the box. Some choose to paint the box or add an attractive sticker or design.

Step Eight

Once your dog box is completed, you will want to secure it to your truck bed. There are several ways to secure your box to the bed; two ways are either through bolting it to the bed or using harnesses to keep the box steady and secure. With bolts, use the holes you created in the dog box and drill down into the bed. Use strong, thick nuts and bolts to attaché the box to the bed. With a harness, buy a harness that works and fits with your truck.

Step Nine

Test your dog box first, without your dog inside it. Make sure that your dog box is safe and secure in your truck bed. Take your truck on rough pavement to see whether or not your dog box moves. Also make sure that inside the dog box, the dog can breathe and that the temperature is comfortable. You never want to subject your dog to extreme hot weather or cold weather. If everything is good, start using your dog box. A good tip to remember before each trip is to inspect the box to make sure it is secure and safe.

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How to Repair Rusted Truck Frames

August 27th, 2007 by shenron

Those that love their trucks usually keep them for many years until they are on their last legs. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take that much time for rust and the elements to attack it. Rust is a huge problem and a common occurrence. Here are some tips on how to repair it.

Step One

When faced with a truck frame that has plenty of rust remove any extraneous parts. You want to isolate the frame on its own and work on it piece by piece. If you have some pieces that are not part of the frame, but are welded on to it, remove them with a metal torch, grinder, hacksaw, etc. Once the frame has been isolated, inspect it well.

Step Two

Sandblast or sand down the entire frame or area that has been affected by rust or rot. Obviously if you are going to sandblast, you might as well sandblast the entire frame; however for those frames where rust is located in a select area, sanding the area is good enough. Start with a low grit sand paper such as 36 and then move up.

Step Three

Metal that has been damaged by rust or rot should be removed completely. Use your hacksaw, grinder, cutting torch, etc. If you are removing a part of the frame that will create a separation, keep in mind that you will need to realign the frame before welding the new piece of metal to it.

Step Four

Create a patch. In order to create a patch, you will need to make a template. Use regular cardboard and a razor to create a template of the patch that will fill in the rusted areas. When creating your patch, the template should include all parts of the rusted area, such as any holes, bolts, braces, etc. Once the template for the patch is complete, make sure it is an exact fit.

Step Five

Now that your template for your patch has been created, you will want to transfer it to metal. One of the easiest ways to transfer your template to metal is to lay the template on top of the metal and spray paint over and around it. You will immediately see a perfect outline of sheet metal and it will even include areas in which you will need to cut out holes, etc. Once the patch is outlined, cut it out using a hand held jigsaw or other cutting tools. Make sure the metal you use is strong and it helps that the metal itself is treated. Once cut, smooth the edges and holes.

Step Six

Now is a great time to apply rust proofing to the patch or the entire frame since it is easy to access.

Step Seven

If you have cut the frame into two parts, you will need to realign it before welding it together. Make sure you realign the frame on a level surface and if possible work from the inside out, this way any welds you make will not be visible.

Step Eight

Now that the patch is ready, you can fit it on the frame and weld it in a similar manner as the original. While you don’t have to worry if the weld doesn’t look pretty, at least make sure that the weld is very strong.

Step Nine

Now that the patch has been welded on, you can sand down the area. Make sure the area is smooth. Once smooth, add a primer and paint it. Once the paint has dried, rust and rot will no longer be a problem for your truck for the next few years.

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How to Repair a Truck Bed

August 27th, 2007 by shenron

Truck owners are generally a loyal bunch when it comes to their trucks. Most truck owners will keep their trucks for years and years even if they have lots of mileage and damage. Truck beds are possibly the most important part of the truck to most owners, they give the truck utility.

With a damaged truck bed, you lose a lot of the truck’s practicality. Truck beds for the most part are fairly simple to fix and generally don’t cost that much money or require lots of time and labor. Here are some tips on how to fix the most common types of problems:

Fixing Rust or Rot in your Truck Bed

Most truck beds are exposed to the elements all year long, what’s worse is that debris can cause water, ice or snow to sit in the bed for days, weeks or even months at a time. If you have noticed that your truck bed is beginning to rust or spot serious rot problems, you can try the following fixes.

Cut out the rust or rot in the bed and replace it with a new piece of sheet metal. Cutting out rust is for serious rust issues only. If you have a small piece of rust in your truck bed then simply sand down the rust, add some rust coat on it, add primer and finish with paint or a filler.

If your truck bed has significant damage due to rust take out your grinder, cutting torch or hacksaw and remove the rusted piece. Now simply sand down the edges and add some rust coat to the area that was sanded down. Once sanded down, take a piece of sheet metal that is about 1 to 2 inches bigger than the hole and place it on top of the hole. You will be bolting the new piece of sheet metal to the hole. Make sure the new piece of sheet metal you are using is strong and treated for outdoor use. One tip is to use carriage bolts when attaching the new piece of metal, these bolts will be flush with the bed. Carriage bolts are also good so that you don’t trip over bolts that rise above the bed.

If your rust is very negligible and you mostly want to prevent it from becoming a problem, there are a few products on the market to strengthen your existing bed. These products are mainly liquid bed applications that are made from polyurethane/rubber and are applied to the bed similar to paint. They are very affordable and take only minutes to apply.

If you love your truck and use your truck bed regularly, make sure to inspect it on a daily basis to catch rust and rot problems before they get too serious.

Fixing a Dent in Your Truck Bed

If you are a truck owner that uses the bed a lot, you already know how easy it can be to make a dent or scratch. Here are some tips on fixing these common occurrences.
An easy way to avoid common dents or scratches is to purchase a bed liner. Bed liners come in a variety of materials such as rubber, chrome and steel. For the most part they are affordable costing from about $100 and up.
If you realize you have a dent then first inspect it to see just how deep it goes. Many times you will be able to pound out a debt from underneath using a rubber mallet.
If the dent can’t be pounded out from underneath, use a suction dent removing tool. Usually these tools work for small to moderate dents. The suction dent removing tool can be purchased usually for less than $50.
If your dent is pretty stubborn, you will have to make a hole in the center of the dent and remove it with a dent tool. Dent tools are a great way to pop out a dent and once the dent is popped out, just sand the hole down and add a little filler then finish with some touch up paint.
For extremely dented beds, you will probably have to remove the dented piece, create a patch as stated above and bolt it on.

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Mitsubishi Triton

August 13th, 2007 by shenron

The Mitsubishi Triton has a long history of production having started in 1978, and continued on to the present day. The original name was the Mitsubishi Forte until 1986, then the name was dropped in favor of Triton and L200 (as it is known in other markets). It has been known as the Mitsubishi Forte, Mitsubishi Mighty Max, Mitsubishi Strada, Mitsubishi Strada, and currently as the Mitsubishi Triton. The vehicle is a normal front engine layout with two wheel drive or four wheel Drive and has either a 2.5L or a 3.2L turbo-charged Diesel with rail injection. The success of this model has been largely credited to other markets than the Japanese market with 32 thousand sold in Thailand (where it is manufactured) and 88 thousand sold world wide, and this is in 2004. The difference between total produced and sold is that in 2002 there were 100,000, while in 2004 the number was up to 120,000. Unfortunately this compact pickup truck will not be seen in the American market with no plans for its import in the future.

Currently it is on the third era of vehicles, and in the past had, at one time, been used in the United States by both Plymouth and Dodge as a re-badged truck to supplant their lines that lacked compact pickup trucks. The Plymouth Arrow Truck and the Dodge Ram 50 were based and used the Mitsubishi Triton until 1993 when those lines of vehicles were discontinued. In the Thai and world market the truck comes in various cab models, and the most popular is the four door that also comes with many add-on features. Some of the higher class models come with a seven inch LCD monitor and DVD player, along with improved speakers and other things to enhance the ride. The vehicle has been seen as a very competent competitor in markets around New Zealand and Australia, which also saw more cab options than the ones that had made it to North America under its imports by Dodge.

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Mitsubishi Raider

August 13th, 2007 by shenron

The Mitsubishi Raider is a car that was conceived with the idea for Mitsubishi to get a foothold in the lucrative pickup industry, with their foray debuting as a mid-sized pickup truck based on the Dodge Dakota. The Mitsubishi Raider is currently still not selling anything greater than a few hundred a month, but it is hoped that soon this will change. he truck itself is of the classic configuration with a front engine, however it differs in that it has a front wheel drive rather than a rear wheel drive, however it still does have all wheel drive. The Mitsubishi Raider also comes with either a normal, cab or an extended cab and has two engines to choose from to supply the power. The transmissions it supports are a four speed auto, a five speed auto and a six speed manual. This truck is the predecessor to the Mitsubishi Mighty Max and the Mitsubishi Montero.

The engines provide this vehicle with adequate power, being a 3.7L V6 with 210 horses, and also notable is the 4.7L V8 that supplies 230 horses. This is Mitsubishi’s first V8 engines available in the U.S. market and thus spells a future trend that could see more vehicles other than the Mitsubishi Raider coming with the option for V8’s and other more powerful engines.
Currently the vehicle has had a run of just 10,000 and is still selling off their initial run - which has become back logged in many dealerships due to low selling numbers. It is unknown whether or not Mitsubishi will continue to manufacture the truck in the near or in the distant future due to the low selling rates, and equally unknown is whether they plan a redesign to somehow catch some more share in the market.

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