Mounting an MEP 802A on a Dodge Ram 2500

[PatriotMissle]

Looking for opinions and insights on mounting a MEP 802A on a Dodge ram 2500.

My truck is a 1996 4x4 12 valve Cummins Dodge Ram 2500.
The idea is to flatbed my truck and mount the generator to: run hydraulic knuckle boom crane (electric over hydraulic pump), welder and associated power tools, and have the gen for emergency power.

I like the power of the MEP 802A , but wondering if the weight of it (almost 900 lbs) along with the weight of the crane 1000 lbs. will just be too much for the truck.

any insights or experience with similar setup appreciated.

thanks.

 

[Light in the Dark]

I think it depends on where you mount both. Would the genset be right up against the cab, cross ways in the bed? Where would the boom be mounted, rear corner?

 

[PatriotMissle]

Thanks for your response. I attached a picture of what I was thinking…and having the generator be just aft of the crane. The truck in the picture is just for illustration.
Also I saw you are selling an MEP 802A. I’m in Hawaii so probably super expensive to ship.

 

[Light in the Dark]

An MEP will eat up a big chunk of real estate there. Does your flatbed have boxes underneath at the corners? If not, maybe it'd be a better setup to build a box and slide a portable Generac diesel in there. Lighter weight for certain, smaller footprint, but same approx KW.

Electric Start Portable Generator | 5000 watt | Generac

Find the best portable Generators from Generac. Find the best Generator for you today

www.generac.com

 

[2Pbfeet]

Looking for opinions and insights on mounting a MEP 802A on a Dodge ram 2500.

My truck is a 1996 4x4 12 valve Cummins Dodge Ram 2500.
The idea is to flatbed my truck and mount the generator to: run hydraulic knuckle boom crane (electric over hydraulic pump), welder and associated power tools, and have the gen for emergency power.

I like the power of the MEP 802A , but wondering if the weight of it (almost 900 lbs) along with the weight of the crane 1000 lbs. will just be too much for the truck.

any insights or experience with similar setup appreciated.

thanks.

That is a creative idea, but I'm not sure that you would be happy with it, give the GVWR on your truck. I think that the payload on your truck is/was around 2,890lbs, before adding/subtracting anything like swapping the beds. Pulling 1,900lbs off would leave you with less than 900lbs of payload. I would not do it if it were me.

If it were me, I would start with an extra battery or two (lithium perhaps?), and run the crane off of the new batteries.

What kinds of welding are you thinking of doing, and how much welding do you want to do? If it is fairly small stick welding, I would look at a 12V welder, and power it off of the batteries. Otherwise, if you want to do a lot of welding, I would get a small open frame genset, or welder genset. If it were me, I might consider upgrading the alternator to handle the extra loads, and trying to get by with that, rather than the genset. I don't know what might be possible in your truck/engine.

All the best,

2Pbfeet

 

[fb40dash5]

I'd agree that's probably too much for the truck... not so much the generator & crane themselves, more like by the time you add those, what are you really going to use the crane for? (Both spacewise & weightwise)

It'd be one thing on a 5500 with an 11' bed, but you're burning up like 4' of an 8-9' bed & probably over a ton of 1.5ish tons of payload.

 

[PatriotMissle]

An MEP will eat up a big chunk of real estate there. Does your flatbed have boxes underneath at the corners? If not, maybe it'd be a better setup to build a box and slide a portable Generac diesel in there. Lighter weight for certain, smaller footprint, but same approx KW.

Electric Start Portable Generator | 5000 watt | Generac

Find the best portable Generators from Generac. Find the best Generator for you today

www.generac.com

Thanks for the link and the suggestion.

 

[PatriotMissle]

I'd agree that's probably too much for the truck... not so much the generator & crane themselves, more like by the time you add those, what are you really going to use the crane for? (Both spacewise & weightwise)

It'd be one thing on a 5500 with an 11' bed, but you're burning up like 4' of an 8-9' bed & probably over a ton of 1.5ish tons of payload.

Thanks yeah that’s what had me questioning how I want to configure it. 6x8 bed with the gen on the deck doesn’t leave a lot of room for what I’m lifting. I’ve got small welder and plasma cuttter and want the gen for those for projects and for power outages from storms. so I’m liking the tucked away open frame gen set idea. Appreciate your insights. Thanks

 

[DieselAddict]

I'd seriously look at an inverter and some LiPO batteries.

You can charge the batteries from the engine or a modest sized generator, or even at home in the downtime. Overall I expect the cost might be a little more than a MEP802 BUT in the long run, it will be a much more livable solution. The real estate required will be less for sure!

 

[Light in the Dark]

Thanks for the link and the suggestion.

Could also omit the battery, and run battery cables up to the posts on tour truck, one less battery to maintain.

 

[Guyfang]

Off subject. You a Patriot guy? If so, where and when?

 

[PatriotMissle]

I'd seriously look at an inverter and some LiPO batteries.

You can charge the batteries from the engine or a modest sized generator, or even at home in the downtime. Overall I expect the cost might be a little more than a MEP802 BUT in the long run, it will be a much more livable solution. The real estate required will be less for sure!

I’ll look into it. Thanks. I use diesel gens at work and I’m familiar with them… battery tech has come a long way and I’m not up to speed on them. I should educate myself on the capabilities they have for emergency situations.

 

[Digger556]

Is your truck a manual? If so, you should have the NV4500 transmission which has a pair of PTO ports. With the PTO you could drive pumps and generators from your existing powerrain. This is very common with accessories like knuckle cranes.

 

[PatriotMissle]

Is your truck a manual? If so, you should have the NV4500 transmission which has a pair of PTO ports. With the PTO you could drive pumps and generators from your existing powerrain. This is very common with accessories like knuckle cranes.

Hi and thanks for your response. Yes I have the NV4500 (and NP241 transfer case.) My first choice for the setup was utilizing the 6BT in the truck with a PTO. I looked into PTOs for both the NV4500 and the NP241 and none are in production anymore and I’m in Hawaii so I’ve got limited access to pick n pulls. and from what I’ve seen online it’s hit or miss with EBay.
so I figured I’d look into a gen set.
I should look again at what PTOs are available for the NV4500. Parker Chelsea and Muncie don’t support PTOs for the NV4500 anymore.
Thanks I appreciate your response and I should look harder for what’s out there.

 

[2Pbfeet]

Hi and thanks for your response. Yes I have the NV4500 (and NP241 transfer case.) My first choice for the setup was utilizing the 6BT in the truck with a PTO. I looked into PTOs for both the NV4500 and the NP241 and none are in production anymore and I’m in Hawaii so I’ve got limited access to pick n pulls. and from what I’ve seen online it’s hit or miss with EBay.
so I figured I’d look into a gen set.
I should look again at what PTOs are available for the NV4500. Parker Chelsea and Muncie don’t support PTOs for the NV4500 anymore.
Thanks I appreciate your response and I should look harder for what’s out there.

If it were me, I might want to think about how much time I expected to be using the PTO for hydraulics compared to the cost and hassle of getting parts, installing a hydraulic tank, and plumbing it. For a few uses a day of crane, I'm not sure that for me a PTO pencils out compared to a bigger alternator, and a larger battery setup. A basic generator and a matching inverter welder is both light and, not that expensive. You could even use the generator to run the crane. Have you considered kits for high output or dual alternators?

Bear in mind that the '92-94 versions of the NV4500 have slightly different gearing that means the PTOs scavenged from early transmissions can't be used in your '96. For whatever reasons, used parts for these transmissions have never been cheap, and PTOs aren't a common part to begin with.

All the best,

2Pbfeet

 

[PatriotMissle]

Real good points. Really appreciate it. Thanks