Big Bertha Build thread x2

[notsolo]

Very Cool...Going to be tough to top Bertha 1... but your closing in fast...Did you have photo's of Bertha 1 with bed painted. I would like to see them. ..Merry Christmas

[cAlvis165]

Thanks for going through the trouble to put this thread back together. Look forward to seeing the bed finished. You truly have amazing skills.

[fourspeedwagon]

Nice work here. Glad I spotted it in the Coe section at the HAMB.
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[98layinframe]

Wow this thread seriously just made my day! I remember reading thru an old build thread long time ago, and then one day my girl and I were driving up the PA turnpike and I almost broke my neck cause this truck and trailer were sitting at a rest stop we passed. Ofcourse the ole lady thought I was crazy, told her to pull over and back down the exit ramp of the plaza so I could check this thing out in person.... needless to say, I didnt get my way.

I was so disappointed when I couldnt remember where the build thread was and never found the pics again. Definitely wanna see it this time thru!
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[buggy5872]

Originally Posted by 98layinframe

Wow this thread seriously just made my day! I remember reading thru an old build thread long time ago, and then one day my girl and I were driving up the PA turnpike and I almost broke my neck cause this truck and trailer were sitting at a rest stop we passed. Ofcourse the ole lady thought I was crazy, told her to pull over and back down the exit ramp of the plaza so I could check this thing out in person.... needless to say, I didnt get my way.

I was so disappointed when I couldnt remember where the build thread was and never found the pics again. Definitely wanna see it this time thru!
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It will be at the world of wheels show in Pittsburgh in about a month....just in case you wanted to come check it out.

[buggy5872]

Now I finished blocking out the rest of the cab and got it in final primer and cut in for assembly.



Then the fun of wiring, interior and dash items to put in.



Here is a word of caution. Do not buy a windshield made in mexico. I fought it for 3 hours and it just would not fit. It ended up shattered on the floor of the garage. I went and dug through my stash of original windshields and found the best one. 20 minutes later it was in with no issues.

[buggy5872]

Here it is assembled and ready to make the trip to my brother's body shop for paint. He thought I was crazy painting it before I even test fitted it on the chassis.

[buggy5872]

After wet sanding until my finger prints were gone, She went into the spray booth for some color. I forgot my camara so I have not pics of it in the booth. While it was drying I headed back to my house to get the chassis. Here it is as it arrived at my brother's place.


could probably use a slightly bigger trailer but it works. Now came the great union. Would it fit????? Thank God my brother has lifts in his garage or it would of been a nightmare to put together


I did not get any pics of the uion but it went pretty smoothly. Had to raise and lower it several times. Frame mounts went right on where they should and a few bolt later and it was a perfect match. The front clip did not line up so I had to take it off the tilt mechanism for the ride home. Here it is safe and sound back at my house.

[Wheelie]

I showed my wife this and she gave the thumbs up to allow me to build one similar only AFTER I finish the one in the garage first Your truck is just freakin awesome.

[duallyjams]

Now this is a truck build WOW

[buggy5872]

Originally Posted by Wheelie

I showed my wife this and she gave the thumbs up to allow me to build one similar only AFTER I finish the one in the garage first Your truck is just freakin awesome.

If yiou need any pointer I'll be glad to help you out. This was not an easy build.......

[98layinframe]

Wheres the rest of the build pics!?!? Suspense is killing me! Haha
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[buggy5872]

Been working on getting the bed painted to be ready for World of wheels show.......No time to play on the computer....

[OrrieG]

Did you loose all the bed mod pics? Man, I hope not, that was a good how to series.

[buggy5872]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Did you loose all the bed mod pics? Man, I hope not, that was a good how to series.

I still have all the pictures on my computer so they will make it back in the thread

[buggy5872]

By now it is mid April and I spent the next 2 weeks hooking up wiring, brakes, and steering. The moment of truth was here...turn the key and....it fired right up. I was relieved it was running and moving under its own power. Seeing as I was not going to make it to be able to pick up the camper in time, I borrowed a friends dually and got it home. Now that the camper was at my house, I could figure out the fifth wheel hitch. They do not exactly make a standard bolt on hitch for something like this. I figured it out and test fit it to the trailer.




I had reserved several camping spots through the end of summer and our first one was Memorial Day weekend. Three weeks to go and I was starting to get nervous.

[buggy5872]

Three weeks left...not front clip, no bed, not lights, and most of the dash was not in. I worked on the front clip tilt mecanism for a while. I have a hydralic cylinder that is suposed to tilt for me but it did not work out the way I wanted it so I abandoned it until a later date. I got the front clip mouted and tilting correctly.


Good thing for my handy shop crane or I would not of been able to get it on and off the 20 or so times while I cut and welded on things to make it work. Making a one piece tilt front end out of a regular front end is not as easy as I first thought. Now on to the body work. I knew there was some bondo above the driver headlight and assumed it was from some rust out. Silly me to assume. I pulled a 5" thick piece of bondo off and the fender had been hit and pushed back that far. It was a mess but there are not many around so I had to cut it off and hand form a new top of the fender. This summer I did score a nice fender and front grill panel. If i would of had them earlier it would of save me a ton of time.

[buggy5872]

It's now the weekend before Memorial Day. Front clip mounted and a make shift bed until I get the other done.


4 days left still need, bumper mounted, grille, lights working, insurance, tags, exhaust, and inspection....... Tuesday night of that week was the first time on the road. I drove it to work Wednesday so I could run out to my brothers shop to bend up some exhaust and throw an inspection sticker on it.
Thursday night I wired up the brake controller nad took the camper for a test spin.

[buggy5872]

As we pulled out of the driveway with the camper my wife asks me if I think it will make it. I told her there's nothing like a road test pulling 11K pounds. It was either going to go or stop......We made it with out any major issues. Nine months from start to "funtional" enough to use. I was just worn out at this point. Our first trip we had no functioal gauges, power windows we put up and down with a motorcycle battery, no ac, and no running boards to assist in climbing in. It was a huge hit at the camp ground and the questions and pictures have not stopped since. I thought it would get some attention but not this much. Yogi and Booboo bear even came and checked it out.

[duallyjams]

Looks good.

[northern 85]

That thig is bada$$ great work

[Russell Ashley]

There's plenty of great builds on this forum but I think this is the most impressive one. I love this truck.

[spinned]

All I can say is... Wow!

[R.A.D]

awsome!!! something that makes you want to see more

[paulspickupparts]

You can ignore my pm as I found your build. Well Done!