Universal adjustable wrecker body sub-frame and body panel assemblies

An adjustable body panel for mounting on one of a plurality of truck chassis each having different widths between chassis rails and between outer rear wheels, the adjustable body panel comprising:

• a plurality of mounting brackets fixed to the body panel in a direction extending laterally inward from an inner side of the body panel, and each mounting bracket having a series of holes at a predetermined spacing along its length;
• each mounting bracket aligning with a corresponding body support bracket fixed by a body frame subassembly to a predetermined truck chassis in a direction extending laterally outward from the truck chassis, and each body support bracket having a series of holes at a predetermined spacing along its length;
• and
• the body panel being mountable on the support brackets in a plurality of lateral positions, in each such position a subset of the series of holes in each mounting bracket align with a subset of the series of holes in the corresponding body support bracket at one of a plurality of predetermined standard positions relative to said widths of truck chassis rails and said outer rear wheels.

An adjustable body sub-frame assembly for mounting on one of a plurality of truck chassis each having different widths between chassis rails and between outer rear wheels and for accommodating a body panel assembly to be mounted thereon, the adjustable body sub-frame assembly comprising:

• left and right sub-frame rails that mount on left and right truck chassis rails between the outer rear wheels, respectively, each sub-frame rail having at least one sub-frame brace tube fixed thereto in a lateral direction extending inward from the respective chassis rail, and each sub-frame rail having at least one body support bracket fixed thereto in a lateral direction extending outward from the respective chassis rail;
• at least one sub-frame brace sleeve having two open ends, the sub-frame brace sleeve receiving the sub-frame brace tube of the left sub-frame rail in one open end, and receiving the sub-frame brace tube of the right sub-frame rail in the other open end;
• and
• the sub-frame brace tubes being inserted a predetermined distance into the sub-frame brace sleeve to a position such that each sub-frame rail aligns with the respective truck chassis rail, and the sub-frame brace tubes being rigidly secured in the sub-frame brace sleeve at that predetermined position.

An adjustable body sub-frame assembly for mounting on one of a plurality of truck chassis each having different widths between chassis rails and between outer rear wheels and for accommodating a body panel assembly to be mounted thereon, the adjustable body sub-frame assembly comprising:

• left and right sub-frame rails that mount on left and right truck chassis rails between the outer wheels, respectively, each sub-frame rail having a plurality of sub-frame brace tubes fixed thereto in a lateral direction extending inward from the respective chassis rail, and each sub-frame rail having a plurality of body support brackets fixed thereto in a lateral direction extending outward from the respective chassis rail;
• a plurality of sub-frame brace sleeves having two open ends, each sub-frame brace sleeve receiving a corresponding sub-frame brace tube of the left sub-frame rail in one open end, and receiving a corresponding sub-frame brace tube of the right sub-frame rail in the other open end;
• and
• the sub-frame brace tubes being inserted a predetermined distance into the sub-frame brace sleeves to a position such that each sub-frame rail aligns with the respective truck chassis rail, and the sub-frame brace tubes being rigidly secured in the sub-frame brace sleeves at that predetermined position.

An adjustable body sub-frame assembly for mounting on one of a plurality of truck chassis each having different widths between chassis rails and between outer rear wheels, and an adjustable body panel assembly for mounting on the body sub-frame assembly,

• the adjustable body sub-frame assembly comprising:
• left and right sub-frame rails that mount on left and right truck chassis rails between the outer wheels, respectively, each sub-frame rail having a plurality of sub-frame brace tubes fixed thereto in a lateral direction extending inward from the respective truck chassis rail, and each sub-frame rail having a plurality of body support brackets fixed thereto in a lateral direction extending outward from the respective truck chassis rail, each body support bracket having a series of holes at a predetermined spacing along its length;
• a plurality of sub-frame brace sleeves having two open ends, each sub-frame brace sleeve receiving a corresponding sub-frame brace tube of the left sub-frame rail in one open end, and receiving a corresponding sub-frame brace tube of the right sub-frame rail in the other open end;
• and
• the sub-frame brace tubes being inserted a predetermined distance into the sub-frame brace sleeves to a position such that each sub-frame rail aligns with the respective truck chassis rail, and the sub-frame brace tubes being welded in the sub-frame brace sleeves at that predetermined position;
• and
• the adjustable body panel assembly comprising:
• left and right body panels, each body panel having a plurality of mounting brackets fixed thereto in a direction extending laterally inward from an inner side of the body panel, and each mounting bracket having a series of holes at a predetermined spacing along its length;
• each mounting bracket of each body panel aligning with a corresponding body support bracket of the corresponding sub-frame rail;
• and
• each body panel being mountable on the support brackets of the corresponding sub-frame rail in a plurality of lateral positions, wherein, in each such position, a subset of the series of holes in each mounting bracket align with a subset of the series of holes in the corresponding body support bracket.

A wrecker for towing a disabled vehicle, the wrecker comprising a truck chassis with a lift assembly, an adjustable body panel assembly, and an adjustable body sub-frame assembly mounted thereon;

• the lift assembly comprising:
• a main boom mounted to the truck chassis at a first end of the main boom;
• an extension boom mounted to a second end of the main boom at a first end of the extension boom;
• and
• a wheel grid mounted at a second end of the extension boom, the wheel grid for engaging at least one wheel of the vehicle to be towed;
• the adjustable body sub-frame assembly comprising:
• left and right sub-frame rails that mount on left and right truck chassis rails, respectively, each sub-frame rail having a plurality of sub-frame brace tubes fixed thereto in a lateral direction extending inward from the respective truck chassis rail, and each sub-frame rail having a plurality of body support brackets fixed thereto in a lateral direction extending outward from the respective truck chassis rail, each body support bracket having a series of holes at a predetermined spacing along its length;
• a plurality of sub-frame brace sleeves having two open ends, each sub-frame brace sleeve receiving a corresponding sub-frame brace tube of the left sub-frame rail in one open end, and receiving a corresponding sub-frame brace tube of the right sub-frame rail in the other open end;
• and
• the sub-frame brace tubes being inserted a predetermined distance into the sub-frame brace sleeves to a position such that each sub-frame rail aligns with the respective chassis rail, and the sub-frame brace tubes being welded in the sub-frame brace sleeves at that position, the body sub-frame assembly thereby being adjustable to fit truck chassis of various widths;
• and
• the adjustable body panel assembly comprising:
• left and right body panels, each body panel having a plurality of mounting brackets fixed thereto in a direction extending laterally inward from an inner side of the body panel, and each mounting bracket having a series of holes at a predetermined spacing along its length;
• each mounting bracket of each body panel aligning with a corresponding body support bracket of the corresponding sub-frame rail;
• and
• each body panel being mountable on the support brackets of the corresponding sub-frame rail in a plurality of lateral positions, wherein, in each such position, a subset of the series of holes in each mounting bracket align with a subset of the series of holes in the corresponding body support bracket.

A wrecker for towing a disabled vehicle, the wrecker comprising a truck chassis with a lift assembly, an adjustable body panel for mounting on the truck chassis, the adjustable body panel comprising:

• at least one mounting bracket fixed to the body panel in a direction extending laterally inward from an inner side of the body panel, and the at least one mounting bracket having a series aligning elements at a predetermined spacing along its length;
• the at least one mounting bracket aligning with at least one corresponding body support bracket fixed to the truck chassis in a direction extending laterally outward from the truck chassis, and the at least one body support bracket having a series aligning elements at a predetermined spacing along its length;
• and
• the body panel being mountable on the at least one support bracket in a plurality of lateral positions, wherein, in each such position, a subset of the series of the aligning elements in the mounting bracket align with a subset of the series of aligning elements in the body support bracket.

A wrecker for towing a disabled vehicle, the wrecker comprising a truck chassis with a lift assembly, an adjustable body panel for mounting on the truck chassis, the adjustable body panel comprising:

• a plurality of mounting brackets fixed to the body panel in a direction extending laterally inward from an inner side of the body panel, and each mounting bracket having a series of aligning elements at a predetermined spacing along its length;
• each mounting bracket aligning with a corresponding body support bracket fixed to the truck chassis in a direction extending laterally outward from the truck chassis, and each body support bracket having a series of aligning elements at a predetermined spacing along its length;
• and
• the body panel being mountable on the support brackets in a plurality of lateral positions, wherein, in each such position, a subset of the aligning elements in each mounting bracket align with a subset of the aligning elements in the corresponding body support bracket.

A wrecker for towing a disabled vehicle, the wrecker comprising a truck chassis with a lift assembly, an adjustable body sub-frame assembly for mounting on the truck chassis, the adjustable body sub-frame assembly comprising:

• left and right sub-frame rails that mount on left and right truck chassis rails, respectively, each sub-frame rail having at least one sub-frame brace tube fixed thereto in a lateral direction extending inward from the respective chassis rail, and each sub-frame rail having at least one body support bracket fixed thereto in a lateral direction extending outward from the respective chassis rail;
• at least one sub-frame brace sleeve having two open ends, the sub-frame brace sleeve receiving the sub-frame brace tube of the left sub-frame rail in one open end, and receiving the sub-frame brace tube of the right sub-frame rail in the other open end;
• and
• the sub-frame brace tubes being inserted a predetermined distance into the sub-frame brace sleeve to a position such that each sub-frame rail aligns with the respective truck chassis rail, and the sub-frame brace tubes being fixed in the sub-frame brace sleeve at that position, the body sub-frame assembly thereby being adjustable to fit truck chassis of various widths.

A wrecker for towing a disabled vehicle, the wrecker comprising a truck chassis with a lift assembly, an adjustable body sub-frame assembly for mounting on the truck chassis, the adjustable body sub-frame assembly comprising:

• left and right sub-frame rails that mount proximate to left and right truck chassis rails, respectively, each sub-frame rail having a plurality of sub-frame brace tubes fixed thereto in a lateral direction extending inward from the respective chassis rail, and each sub-frame rail having a plurality of body support brackets fixed thereto in a lateral direction extending outward from the respective chassis rail;
• a plurality of sub-frame brace sleeves having two open ends, each sub-frame brace sleeve receiving a corresponding sub-frame brace tube of the left sub-frame rail in one open end, and receiving a corresponding sub-frame brace tube of the right sub-frame rail in the other open end;
• and
• the sub-frame brace tubes being inserted a predetermined distance into the sub-frame brace sleeves to a position such that each sub-frame rail aligns with the respective truck chassis rail, and the sub-frame brace tubes being fixed in the sub-frame brace sleeves at that position, the body sub-frame assembly thereby being adjustable to fit truck chassis of various widths.

A wrecker for towing a disabled vehicle, the wrecker comprising a truck chassis with a lift assembly, an adjustable body sub-frame assembly comprising:

• left and right sub-frame rails that mount proximate to left and right truck chassis rails, respectively, each sub-frame rail having a plurality of sub-frame brace tubes fixed thereto in a lateral direction extending inward from the respective truck chassis rail, and each sub-frame rail having a plurality of body support brackets fixed thereto in a lateral direction extending outward from the respective truck chassis rail, each body support bracket having a series of holes at a predetermined spacing along its length;
• a plurality of sub-frame brace sleeves having two open ends, each sub-frame brace sleeve receiving a corresponding sub-frame brace tube of the left sub-frame rail in one open end, and receiving a corresponding sub-frame brace tube of the right sub-frame rail in the other open end;
• and
• the sub-frame brace tubes being inserted a predetermined distance into the sub-frame brace sleeves to a position such that each sub-frame rail aligns with the respective truck chassis rail, and the sub-frame brace tubes being rigidly secured in the sub-frame brace sleeves at that position, the body sub-frame assembly thereby being adjustable to fit truck chassis of various widths;
• and
• an adjustable body panel assembly comprising:
• left and right body panels, each body panel having a plurality of mounting brackets fixed thereto in a direction extending laterally inward from an inner side of the body panel, and each mounting bracket having a series of holes at a predetermined spacing along its length;
• each mounting bracket of each body panel aligning with a corresponding body support bracket of the corresponding sub-frame rail;
• and
• each body panel being mountable on the support brackets of the corresponding sub-frame rail in a plurality of lateral positions, wherein, in each such position, a subset of the series of holes in each mounting bracket align with a subset of the series of holes in the corresponding body support bracket.

A process for making a wrecker for towing a disabled vehicle comprising providing a truck chassis with a lift assembly, providing an adjustable body sub-frame assembly comprising:

• left and right sub-frame rails that mount proximate to left and right truck chassis rails, respectively, each sub-frame rail having a plurality of sub-frame brace tubes fixed thereto in a lateral direction extending inward from the respective truck chassis rail, and each sub-frame rail having a plurality of body support brackets fixed thereto in a lateral direction extending outward from the respective truck chassis rail, each body support bracket having a series of holes at a predetermined spacing along its length;
• a plurality of sub-frame brace sleeves having two open ends, each sub-frame brace sleeve receiving a corresponding sub-frame brace tube of the left sub-frame rail in one open end, and receiving a corresponding sub-frame brace tube of the right sub-frame rail in the other open end;
• and
• the sub-frame brace tubes being inserted a predetermined distance into the sub-frame brace sleeves to a position such that each sub-frame rail aligns with the respective truck chassis rail, and the sub-frame brace tubes being rigidly secured in the sub-frame brace sleeves at that position,
• attaching the body sub-frame assembly to the truck chassis;
• and
• providing an adjustable body panel assembly comprising:
• left and right body panels, each body panel having a plurality of mounting brackets fixed thereto in a direction extending laterally inward from an inner side of the body panel, and each mounting bracket having a series of holes at a predetermined spacing along its length;
• each mounting bracket of each body panel aligning with a corresponding body support bracket of the corresponding sub-frame rail;
• and
• each body panel being mountable on the support brackets of the corresponding sub-frame rail in a plurality of lateral positions, wherein, in each such position, a subset of the series of holes in each mounting bracket align with a subset of the series of holes in the corresponding body support bracket, and attaching said body panel to said body sub-frame assembly.