Converting M931A2 to Gin Pole Truck?

[brasco]

I've been thinking about ways to make my M931A2 more useful. I originally bought the truck to part out but have since decided to keep intact since it is in such great condition. One idea I have is installing a Gin Pole bed on the truck. See pictures below as an example of what I'm thinking of.

From time to time, I have a need to lift heavy items onto a truck. I think a 10' or 11' bed could be mounted on the M931A2 frame. Has anyone else here attempted such a conversion? Also, does anyone have dimensions / plans for an actual issue military gin pole?

I'm just kicking around the idea and thought I would pose this idea to this the SS community for discussion. If anyone has pics or data on a M931 flatbed conversion or gin poles let me know.

I like the idea of a gin pole truck because it give me some of the utility of a wrecker and I can still use the truck to pull trailers if needed.

 

[Evil Dr. Porkchop]

If you're interested I can get you some basic dimensions of the bed and poles on an m756a2 pipeline truck.
The bed itself is between 10 and 11 feet long if I remember right. You'll probably never find the gin poles themselves but you could make your own design with similar dimensions.

 

[NDT]

What makes this difficult is getting a reversable shaft to the rear winch. Transfer PTOs are hard to come by, and transmission PTOs generally require a wet kit, again a costly item.

 

[brasco]

If you're interested I can get you some basic dimensions of the bed and poles on an m756a2 pipeline truck.
The bed itself is between 10 and 11 feet long if I remember right. You'll probably never find the gin poles themselves but you could make your own design with similar dimensions.
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Wow... this is exactly what I have envisioned. I didn't realize there was and military pipeline truck.. I've been looking at all kinds of oil field trucks to get ideas. Please go ahead and take some basic dimension down and maybe post some details of the gin poles like diameter, length, etc. I need to do more research on the M756A2... sounds like what I'm looking for.

Don

 

[Recovry4x4]

Oilfield beds are just cool. Don't sell short the ability of an electric winch if it's just the occasional lift. I have many more plans than time and money but I am building a simplistic gin pole bed for one of my CUCVs utilizing an 18,000# MRAP winch.

 

[Fredo Corleone]

I think a hydraulic winch would work better than a PTO driven unit.

 

[74M35A2]

On the cheap and dual function, you can use a medium tow bar as an A frame crane. Tie it back somehow along each side of the cab toward the front bumper or something even stronger. Then use an elecfric winch mounted just hehind the rear of your cab, and you should be styling. I made extension poles for my medium duty tow bar of the same simension as the inner tubes already were, but much lonher.

 

[Csm Davis]

Use wrecker boom poles they are made to hold the load, and I have several for sale, hint hint.

sent from my decrepit fingers

 

[wreckerman893]

Use wrecker boom poles they are made to hold the load, and I have several for sale, hint hint.

Running dog Capitalist.

 

[m16ty]

I've thought about a set of gin poles for my deuce. I've already added a rolling tailboard and a 10K HMMWV hyd winch mounted in the front of the bed.

On a 5-ton, I'd think you'd want a bigger winch than the 10K. Probably something in the 20K range minimum. A hyd front winch from a M939 truck would work well. You could use the standard M939 wet kit to run it.

 

[Tinstar]

I would love to have the set that mounts on the front bumper of a M925A2.

Now that would be useful.