Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

"Mama, I'm home" The Blue Turtle is ready for a well earned break. 11 days, 3900+ miles, 12 states, 9 nights camping, average gas mileage 10, so that figures out to 390 gallons of gas. Repair costs and maintenance costs on the road: zero, zip, zilch, never even lifted the engine cover off. Only mechanical thing I even touched was to swap out 1 wiper blade (old one worked better then the new). Now, improvements and new toys for the camper, well now that's another story. My wife just had to have garage sale items for the camper, and then there was the great condition used Honda generator which was big enough to power the AC unit in the camper, what was I to do? The idea is to build a stand for it under the hood so if I don't have shore power (a camping term) I can still run everything with out draining the battery. Think about the looks when people ask what I'm running for a power plant and I pop the hood. Honda powered. For running down the road it will need to be strapped in the back for air flow reasons. I have tons of pictures of odd ball things you see along the back roads of America. I will post a few in a bit.
Rob

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

66farmer, As far as I know no one sells replacement sheet metal for COE, that being said the basic cab is the same as the pick-up. I have see pick-up doors modified to work for the COE also. The grill bars are the same with a different mounting plate and the lower one has a cut out for the steering gear. Steps, fenders, hood latches, grab handles, modifications to the rear front fender area, and lower part of the fire wall are COE only.

Lower50's, defrost works,....good? not compared to anything built after 1990 but it does work, I do of course have a 12V motor in mine. Heater on the other hand works great.

flashed, yep it was a bit chilly, by noon all the snow had melted, inside the camper: toasty warm.

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Glad you had a good trip .looking foeward to pics .

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Some treats from the road: Kansas of all places was home to loads old sheet metal.
Rob
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC00407.jpg
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC00409.jpg
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC00408.jpg
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC00410.jpg
And less then 1/4 mile down the road this:
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC00404.jpg
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC00398.jpg

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Thanks for sharing, some interesting pic's.
Is the gas station just for looks or open.
Mudman.

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

My sister painted this on the rear of the camper:
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC00380.jpg
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC00383.jpg
This one was in Missouri, I think.
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC00391.jpg
Also in Kansas, who knew they had one also?
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC00394.jpg
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC00395.jpg

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Love the pics ,that last one especially .You need that little trailer ,it looks too much like your camper .

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Somewhere in Tennessee,
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC00413.jpg
Found some very nice camp areas.
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC00419.jpg
No lie, this is the name of a town and local bank.
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC00415.jpg
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/DSC00417.jpg

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

nice pics. My shipper guy just told me kansas has loads of trucks. Glad to see the cars and trucks outside the scrapyard that appears in the background. How many miles you loggin this time?

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Nice pictures. I always enjoy seeing the old iron when I visit my daughter in Wichita. It is so dry up there where the old iron lasts better, than down here in high humidity world .

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Where in KS where the pictures taken, central or Western? I know I've been past that station before.

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Very nice trip. That's awesome you had 0 issues with the truck. The camper is looking awesome in every pic! That new signage on the back looks sweet! I love seeing old iron, let a lone rust free stuff!! :lol:

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

If I remember correctly it was North Central Kansas. Mileage? for this trip I ran a bit over 3900 miles. Total on the conversion is a bit over 68K.
Rob

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

That is sweet! Looks like you had a great trip and glad you had no issues. When you are on the highway how fast are you cruising?

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

With no winds or any tail wind 75 to 80. With a head wind 65 to 73. It did not like head winds for sure and stayed in 3rd most of the time. a lower rear end gear would help but normally I don't have the camper on the back so I can't see it happening any time soon. Gas mileage ranged from 8 to 12 depending on wind, ha, so much for the aero plan on the camper. With all that being said I wouldn't change a thing. Had a great time.
Rob

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

I don't think you can do much other that an aero wing to help with the wind and hauling tall loads. You got way better than a BBC pulling any tall camper. I'd just leave your rear end as is and keep on trucking. :lol:

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Enjoying the thread and looking forward to more.

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Ya that's not bad at all! Wish I could cruise that fast.

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

I wouldn't touch the gears either. That's right where you would be with the pickup body, towing a trailer.

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Saw this and thought of your truck. Airfoil was the thing that caught my eye. https://www.flickr.com/photos/585950...th/5374700602/

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

That is a nice looking rig for sure.

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

And I'm back, and I think so are my pictures? Without the pictures working my thread was useless. So lets see the COE now has wood sides on it (removable). And I have been hauling loads of gravel to re-do my drive and parking area. Some minor issues have arisen with the cooling system. 1 failed water pump and some electric fan issues. Of course the water pump started leaking with 2 1/2 tons of gravel on the back so that was a 3 stop trip adding water just to get home. Also just this week I turned over 80,000 miles on the build. Not to shabby for a sub $18K build. I thinking when I hit the big 100,000 mile mark it may be time for a tear down and some paint. I did get the weight at the scale the other day. With the side boards and my 200#, OK maybe 210# she weighed in at 5560#. I'll get some pictures posted soon.
Rob

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Dang...nice

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

sweet, but what do you mean tear down and paint? please tell me you are keeping the patina!

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

No pics on my end but carry on .

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Wow 80,000 you have been haulin, and really with the minor issues, most peoples factory built vehicles have more problems. Good Job!

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Nice on the 80k mark! I don't see the pics either. The truck isn't very heavy too. That's a plus!

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

picture test

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

I see it on my end!

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Good for me...Jim

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

sweet

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Let's see some more pics with the Cobra on the back !

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

I see your picture.

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

I want to go back and re-read this entire build thread again. you have done so much work since you started the project that i have forgotten all that you have done. the problem is that it will not be as good without pictures. do you have to update each and every pic? or is there a way to just turn them on again in your photos album webpage?

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

It looks like I will need to reload every picture. Not fun and I'm not sure if I can edit and re-post the pictures or if I will need to just start a new thread. That being said I think I can just load strait from my laptop.
So a few updates: Still drive it every day. on my 3rd set of front tires and closing on 85000 miles since the build. Truck looks a little different now with the addition of stake sides. I did this to haul gravel for a few projects of mine and the kids driveway. I have put the rear bags to the test with 2.5 tons on the back many times now. I have also been running air tools off the air compressor. I did find an issue with using the plastic tube off the compressor, after a few cycles it would get hot and pop. I now have copper line from the compressor to the auto regulator (also newly added). Basically I now have a 10 CFM 275HP compressor. Progress is still being made on the camper: floor is down, most of the interior walls are complete' larger round tilt out windows where built and installed. I have been used it a few times now and it's working out great. And in other news: I have bought a new project: A 1951 Suburban, been looking for one for a while and jumped on a local one as soon as it was listed. It needs a ton of work but it was at a good price, had good paperwork and came with a usable modern chassis (2000 Ford Explorer). I will start a new build thread on this one around the first of the year. Lets see...lots of other truck stuff going on right now, My truck will be featured on the back of our clubs annual t-shirt after winning this years "Best Rust" at our annual show. We had 115 trucks enter this year and only do 5 awards so I was a happy camper.

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Looking for this? I'll get some more pictures in the daylight.
Rob

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Cool! Another Burb project...looking forward to that one.

80,000 miles is an impressive amount of use since the build. Do you have a long daily commute?

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Truck looks great, ready for the burb build...Jim

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

About 30 miles one way, so yea it adds up quick.
Rob

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Solid I would like to help you on the Cobra picks but I think I have it sold. Built it back in 2007/8, raced it for 3 years and have had a good time with the car but it was time to let it go. On the plus side a bit of cash will help with the burb build and the extra space is needed.
Rob