Auzzys Hotshot setup and build up

[_Auzzy_]

So started up my own hotshot gig. Bought a 2021 ram 5500, a 40ft trailer from a friend, and dove in to the industry and Holy crap, blew my mind and had stressed me out like nothing else has but thankfully I have amazing friends and my lady and family that's helped me get this going! Unfortunately my SD card on my phone took a crap and I lost some pics but here's what I got and what I've done.

Anyways here's the beast of Black Flag Transport



Here's him in his bare form! Only had 12 miles on it when cory and I purchased it,



First thing was hitches! Thankfully one of my friends had a b&w turn over ball kicking around. Cory n I dreamed up this contraption that after seeing what's out there is extremely legit and solid compared to alot! The rear hitch is also amazing! Cory really knocked this one out and then I made a rear cover/light panel and then we had them powder coated















(Out of pic room. Next post)

 

[_Auzzy_]

Next we made fenders

Some nice thin metal then re-enforced with 3/8 rebar. Cross over tube are 1.75 sleeved with 1.5 and bolted to the hitch with half inch grade 8s

 

[_Auzzy_]

Also been loving on the trailer, added a second box, a truck tool chest to the front of the tongue for chains and such.



Also replaced 75% of the deck, reused the still good pieces and made it into 10 foot sections instead of 20ft cause it's a pain finding 20fts on the road and switching them etc. Added straps across to hold ends etc. Then sealed with a blend of beautiful earth juices







Next I added some rear drop down legs for loading equipment after a mishap

 

[_Auzzy_]

Also added a 50 gallon aux tank/toolbox box/chain rack/cooler deck. The aux tank was a fun little project on the fact that it can't be a gravity feed system legally so Cory whipped up a siphon tube system and got that all plumbed and wired and safety valved etc.



My fuel pump here is actually my tbi fuel pump off my buggy lol this has been updated to an aluminum housing fuel filter housing and the shut off valve is now up on the tank for easier access



Deck/ cooler


And chain rack



Aaaannnd all in use one beautiful day in Wyoming

 

[_Auzzy_]

I also built a bed in the rear, pretty cookie cutter ish one I topped with a Costco memory gel foam mattress

 

[_Auzzy_]

And here's the latest update, added an upper decker to the tongue

8' wide, 8'6" long, built stout and topped with a nice cherry red, definitely not atf and red diesel, deck stain




















And all lit up



P.s. this trailer weights a rough 9k, minty hated moving it

 

[rholbrook]

Truck and trailer looks great. My white collar neighbor lost his job on the pandemic onset and was in Cal Ranch or one of those types of stores with his brother looking for some corral fencing and was told that the supplier couldn't get any product to the stores so my neighbor found out who the manufacturer was and called them direct, negotiated a deal to be the transport for their products and now run all over the western states for them. He has since bought a second truck and long gooseneck and is busier than he wants to be. He has really got a neat trailer setup specifically to haul those corral fences, water troughs and a bunch of other stuff. He knew nothing of uShippers until I told him about it and now gets back hauls when he was empty before.

A friend of mine tried to get a trailer out of Missoula, MT a few weeks ago and finally sent someone up to get after waiting for 2 weeks without success to have the manufacturer deliver it.

I hope you get so busy that multiple rigs is in your future.

 

[shortstraw8]

How is hotshot? Is it as big of a PITA getting loads as I tell myself it will be?

 

[The_Lobbster]

Dang, you’re living my dream! I was wanting to start a biz a few years ago, but never had the motivation. Looks like you got a good setup, hope it all works out well for you!

 

[Spork]

What exactly is hotshot?

From what I know it's usually smaller loads, Something either a one-off or time sensitive.

 

[Kiel]

We use hotshots to ship most of our pipeline tools. Timelines can be rough, but money is good

 

[_Auzzy_]

Truck and trailer looks great. My white collar neighbor lost his job on the pandemic onset and was in Cal Ranch or one of those types of stores with his brother looking for some corral fencing and was told that the supplier couldn't get any product to the stores so my neighbor found out who the manufacturer was and called them direct, negotiated a deal to be the transport for their products and now run all over the western states for them. He has since bought a second truck and long gooseneck and is busier than he wants to be. He has really got a neat trailer setup specifically to haul those corral fences, water troughs and a bunch of other stuff. He knew nothing of uShippers until I told him about it and now gets back hauls when he was empty before.

A friend of mine tried to get a trailer out of Missoula, MT a few weeks ago and finally sent someone up to get after waiting for 2 weeks without success to have the manufacturer deliver it.

I hope you get so busy that multiple rigs is in your future.

That's awesome!!! Direct customers are the best thing ever, I have a few in the works

 

[_Auzzy_]

What exactly is hotshot?

It originally started out in oilfields, someone would hop in a truck and haul ass to wherever to get whatever and bring it back faster so they could continue work.

Basically now a days it's someone who plays the semi truck game but with a pickup. Easier and quicker to move loads that don't require a semi weight rating and pay

 

[_Auzzy_]

How is hotshot? Is it as big of a PITA getting loads as I tell myself it will be?

It's easy but also a pain, there's alot of loads out there, but not alot pay the big moneys. Tons of small cheap loads and if you can stack multiple on a trailer in the direction you're traveling then you can rack up the rates together for a higher pay out

 

[_Auzzy_]

Got bored today, saw a car hauler setup in Cali I liked minus his underglow, figured that would be a cops eye catcher more than anything but still took this idea off him and every bull hauler setup out there

 

[_Auzzy_]

We use hotshots to ship most of our pipeline tools. Timelines can be rough, but money is good

Well if yall need another I'm a phone call away

 

[_Auzzy_]

Decided to lower the tongue a bit. Trailer has been raked up in the front with the dodge since I bought it which has been nice for loading equipment and breaking over a hump into an area etc. But with the upper deck added I needed to make it low as possible for loads. Cut a total of 5.25inches out of the neck and coupler and Cory burned it back together and we re did the lock latch 👌 added new safety chains and cable for the break away box, these are easy hits for d.o.t to mark ya up for if they're not in the right spot or have worn spots like my chains/hooks did. Also put hooks on both ends of the old safety chains with a master link to connect them, figured I can use them as a small connector or lift chain being they're usa made and only the end links that I cut off were worn. Every penny counts and no need to throw away decent pieces that have tons of use left right




Also got the bumper light issue fixed, tapped them into the driver side marker and cut the wires separating the sides

 

[_Auzzy_]

First load on with all the new toys n such.

70k half ton 🤯😬

 

[_Auzzy_]

Made a few runs, all was good until I had an extreme inconvenience happen in the form of the spare fuel tank splitting a weld seam again and leaking out around 35 gallons of fuel. Anyone who's dealt with d.o.t or any type of inspection know what a serious case this is even though it's just an auxiliary tank. So on my way home to get it fixed, taking bypass routes around Port of entry's and such, I picked up a 120gallong peterbilt tank with the straps. Brought it home, cleaned it out, fabed up the mounts and such with cory and got it all on!

First off, out with the old tank! Cut the tool box off and Cory is gonna take this tank for his old dodge so stay tuned for that yall




Straps and cradles





All painted up 🖤🏴



Cory's badassery tig skills, that's 5/8 o.d. tube welded into a 1/2npt plug with a -6jic welded on





Getting it all mounted up, thankfully I 2as able to use old tank frame for the box and such



AND FINISHED!!

 

[_Auzzy_]

Curious, how come a gooseneck instead of a 5th wheel?

Got the turn over ball for free and the trailer at the time of purchase had an air ride hitch on it. Looking at converting it to a 5th wheel though. I have a friend with an air ride trailer saver 36k hitch he'd sell me for a steal.