The Goat Coach

[Deleted]

Up to this point, I've dragged it home, cut off the old tub, started cleaning the frame, tore apart both hubs (cleaned, primed, reassembled, repacked the bearings and popped in new seals). Here is a pictorial recap...



























I'm not exactly sure what I am going to do with the tongue area...somebody cut the end off of the original frame and then added a lot of extra steel AND welded the lunette holder thingy (technical term...Detard confirmed it) onto the frame. Hmmmmmmmmm.....

I think I will cut some steel off and see how it goes.

[Ryan_M]

It's about time we got some pics. With a name like "Goat Coach" the suspense was killing me. Best name ever.

So what's the plan with this thing? And what happened to it? A tree fall on it? Is that other tub yours too?

[Deleted]

I honestly don't know the history of it, but it certainly looks like something BIG fell on it. The frame is a bit out of whack, too, but I can't quite identify the exact spot where its goofy, yet.

Yes, the other tub came with it...thank goodness! It is practically perfect. I need to salvage a few of the handles from the dysfunctional tub and place them on the replacement tub since it is missing one or two. It also has two small 1.5" x 1.5" holes that need to be replaced. That should be easy enough to do.

Yesterday, I cut the excess steel off the tongue. It is officially the point of no return: the ball receiver is gone. Its a lunette or bust deal now. I guess the price of all of those closet lunettes just went up. I'll post a picture later of yesterday's progress. I'm stuck at work for the next 12 right now.

[Haines Garage]

I could fix that tub....
Just Sayin !!
I have this Awesome welder some pin head loanded to me a while back like to total sucker.
I have tons of Bondo and mesh.
I just had Lowes match me an OD green in exterior house paint.
Hey !!! Does any oil go in that axle?
If so ...what kind?
You can buy a trailer hook for that shit at Lowes as well.
Just make sure you get grade 5 bolts to fasten it on.
Brass won't work, even if you polish it.
The metal is too soft, and GL5 gear lube will eat the brass anyways!

[Deleted]

Moderator, please delete the post that is above this and ban that corksucker.

Thank you.

[Deleted]

The victim's remains after yesterday's massacre.



The frame that the lunette holder is welded to is not the original. The original was cut approximately 8" from the tip and replaced.

Interesting enough, the second to last rear crossmember (the one that the V brace is attached to) in a MB, CJ2A and M38 frame has the exact measurements as the trailer's frame. F that old CJ frame I have that is holding up my wood pile. If I can remove the lunette holder without F-ing it up (since its welded!) I have the materials on hand to fix this thing.

Detard, I'll be coming over to get some measurements...and to possibly swipe your lunette.

[jeffwho]

Funny thing is that it would take me at least two weeks to notice..!

[Moose]

Hahaha...it took me awhile, too. As a matter of fact, I put 2 and 2 together that afternoon you and I were looking at it. I couldn't figure out why I could feel the holes for the chains, and then I discovered the subtle scar where the original frame was cut. They did a good job. I haven't completely decided to fix it or leave it.

[Deleted]

Feb 21, 2015 15:20:52 GMT -5 @themoose74 said:

Moderator, please delete the post that is above this and ban that corksucker.

Thank you.

Sorry Moooooooooose, the forum admin cannot be banned , trust me, I have tried!

[Deleted]

Here is the look Mooosey is looking for, perhaps Taliban re enactments.



The Summerville Rocket!

[Deleted]

[Deleted]

Oh, my......both of those are viable options at the moment! Sorry, Professor, but I'm leaning slightly more towards the Cap'n's photo. However, there is a great chance I can botch the frame job...especially since I do not have a welder...and it's "Back on the Bike" for me!

The one giddy up in Lee's rendition is that I will need to devise a severely covert operation that will lead to the successful re-abduction of my prize SC State Fair Pink Ribbon 17th Runner-Up (half horn, bobbed tail division). I'm not sure where HG is hiding it.

[Deleted]

I was able to cut the drawbar casting off of the frame yesterday. Whomever did the frame repairs way back when welded the casting onto the frame. I was able to get most of the welds cut and then the BFH pounding on the frame took care of the rest. Remarkably, I did not damage ANYTHING in that delicate process!

So now I am at the crossroads...if I should cut off the last 8-9 inches of the frame and redo it. They used gauge steel and then welded in an additional piece of steel to reinforce it. There is a cross member on our beloved jeeps that appears to be the same gauge AND has the perfect bends to fit into place. I've got a junked out CJ2A frame that could certainly donate to the cause, but being in the lead portions of the trailer frame, this area has to be perfect.

If I (or me and THE doofus from Mt.P) attempt the surgery, is there a better type of cut to use to join the two pieces together: a straight vertical cut, a "V" cut or something else?

Or am I best off just leaving as is and drill the holes for the chains to mount?

[Deleted]

Got some more work done today. In the end, the whole front end has been reassembled! Now...if I had that lunette that HG once promised me, I'd be all set.

[Haines Garage]

That's looking good. nice job so far. When your done, you wont want to sell it..

[Deleted]

Alright.i am perplexed about the second tub I have to put on the Goat Coach's frame.

It is in really good shape.there is a little bit of rust along the exterior bottom edges of the sides. There are a few pinholes in the front panel. I can see the data plate outlines and all of the correct rivet holes in the front panel, too. However, the 3 data plates are awol. It has all of the other characteristics of being an M100 tub...except...

...the 2 drain holes in in the incorrect, opposite corners!

The floor is in great shape and it seems like it could be the original floor. It certainly is in similar condition to the rest of the tub. The paint layers that I removed looked like all of the others from the rest of the tub, too.

So what is this bizarro floor with reversed drain plugs?

I only noticed it because the rear plug certainly does not line up with the crescent shaped spot that is removed from the rear crossmember...its on the wrong corner!

Any ideas?

[Deleted]

Turn the tub 180? Or the floor installed backwards at one time?

[Deleted]

It's crazy, Oily. I'm as geometrically challenged as they come. I tested that theory already by walking to the front of the trailer and then pretending it was the rear....and the damn drain hole was still beside my left knee. The only way for it to work correctly would be to flip the floor upside down. But, by doing that, the indentations that run the length of the floor would be like baby tiny canals for water instead of little hills. The drain plugs show no signs of purist bubba Haines craftwork or that of any of his many inbred cousins.

It's as if it is a mirror image.

I've been burning up the Internet trying to find any reference to a foriegn made tub or a poor reproduction floor...coming up with nothing!

Unfortunately, I think my only option is to cut the crescent shape out of the rear cross member and continue moving forward. Any other suggestions short of buying a new floor? (I thought about cutting and pasting the four corners into the right locations, but that seems silly. The floor would not look as good.)

[Haines Garage]

Why don't you just weld a patch into the wrong holes, and re drill correct ones ?

[Deleted]

The holes are fancy and pressed into the floor.

[Haines Garage]

Mar 9, 2015 7:51:23 GMT -5 @themoose74 said:

The holes are fancy and pressed into the floor.

Cut them out and move them to the correct local.

[Deleted]

I've thought about it, but the floor is quite thin and I think it will be noticeable in the end. I Think I'm going to modify the rear crossmember to make it fit.

I've posted over on the G about the tub. I'm wanting to know wtf I have at this point.

[jeffwho]

WHOA NOW WAIT JUST A F-IN MOMENT!
ALL THAT HOOEY AND VITRIOL Y'ALL WERE SPEWING AT ME ABOUT PLUGGING A HOLE AND YET IT'S OK TO GO MAKING NEW ONES FOR THE GOAT COACH AT MOOSEY'S WHIM!?
WHERE'S THE TRAILER POLIZEI NOW WHEN YOU NEED EM!?

Bobo, I say just embrace the spaz - the incorrect position of the drainholes matches the Goat Coach's personality. It's not like it still has handles! LOL.
Who'd notice? Or are you an evil closet purist?!

(((cue Schiller and that crazy picture of the dude with the cat-head stick)))



King D

[Deleted]

Now, I can certainly be a closet poop on the important things, like GPWs. And maybe Dodge 3/4 tons. But everything else is chicken poo and not worth the debate...IMHO.

As for the Goat Coach...I said EFF it. I cut out the crescent in the rear crossmember and I'm welding that bitch in and leaving the pretty drains where they are. You're right about the Goat's personality.

I do want to know the history of the floor, tho...you know, for garage conversation.

[jeffwho]

Indeed - most important to note is you'll be cruisin in the Goat Coach well before I will be on the road losing the mileage contest.