Need help with MTH 20-91031 Premier caboose

Unless someone here knows the part numbers for what you need and you can figure out the MTH online order system, you need to call (phone) Midge in parts at MTH. She will be able to get you the correct part with the MTH product number. If you get her voice mail just leave a message with what you have and what you need. They will call you back. Sometimes it takes a while, but they will return your call. I think they only take calls from like noon to 4 pm or something, but leaving voice mail has worked well for me in the past.

That 89015 has 2 rail flanges... it is not a 3 rail truck although it does come with 3 rail couplers, which are removable.

Why don't you put the appropriate Atlas O caboose trucks on it? List them in the wanted to buy on the forum. Then again, someone is always selling them on ebay. 

I recently bought the Atlas caboose trucks from Trainz, but they are not a direct swap for the MTH caboose. I had to make major modifications to the frame. You can buy the 2R MTH trucks, remove the 3 rail coulpler and swap wheel sets.

Tony, I just entered your caboose product # (20-91031) in the Search bar on the MTH website and found your caboose.  I then clicked on the "Support" tab and was able to bring up a complete parts list and diagram.

Click here to save yourself some time.

I also agree that calling Midge at MTH would be a great way to figure out all the individual parts you will need to construct the full truck/coupler/pick-up assemblies.

Tony Wright posted:

I have a MTH Premier caboose 20-91031.  It came without trucks and couplers.  I knew that at the time of purchase, so no problems with that.  But after a couple of attempts to get a reply from MTH customer support online, I have no idea what part I need.

So I went to the good old "shipping dock on daBay", if you get my meaning.  (Yes, I would support a local hobby shop, but the closest is 70 miles away.  Oklahoma is lonely for 3 railers....like honest politicians, few and far between.)

I am trying to locate the right part and have found a little confusion in my endeavor.  Nope, I don't know my way around MTH website well enough to find what I wanted...so back to that dock on daBay.  (I liked Otis Redding.)

Am I correct that MTH 20-89015 will work for a 3 rail caboose?  It shows on the package that it is a Bettendorf 2-Rail Caboose Truck. 

As Otis Fa Fa Fa Fa Fa (Sad Song) goes, all the prepackaged MTH trucks seem to be 2Rail. They are correct, Midge is gonna be your parts source salvation.

CNJ #1601 (aka Joe):  Thanks for the information about Midge at MTH and thanks for the link to the MTH parts list.  If you get to the bottom of that list, there is an "exploded" sketch of the caboose.  Part number #47 points to a sketch of a complete truck with coupler.   I believe that is MTH part number DA-0200003.

I will try to call Midge on Thursday (assuming my work load permits). 

BobbyD:  Great pick on that Otis Redding tune.  He had several I like...there was a lot of great music that came out of those years of Otis, Sam&Dave, Solomon Burke, Temptations, Four Tops, and oh so many more....where is my leisure suit and platform shoes?

Laidoffsick:

I reread your second reply and I am confused, so let me start over:

I am using THREE RAIL track and locomotives and rolling stock.  I have a caboose without trucks and need 3 rail trucks...so why would I want to remove the 3 rail coupler from part number: MTH 20-89015 which is a 2 rail Bettendorf Caboose Truck complete with 3 rail coupler...?

Seems to me that if it worked at all, I could just change out the wheel sets...right?

I worded that wrong Tony. Yes, you are correct. You would just need to swap the wheel sets on those 2 rail trucks because they do come with 3 rail couplers installed. I think I have some MTH caboose trucks that you could use. They are NOT the Bettendorf style, but they are the same 3 rail trucks that come with all the new cabooses out of the box. 

I will take a photo for you in the morning, and if you want them, just pay the shipping and you can have them.

If you are looking for standard 3 rail MTH caboose trucks, I have them in stock. But Laidoff has a good deal for free.

You can have these if you want, that's what your caboose originally came with.  $5 for shipping...

I can probably scrounge up the washers and screws you need to mount them as well.

Chuck Sartor and Laidoffsick:  Thanks guys.  But I did get ahold of Midge and placed the order for my caboose trucks.  I would have replied yesterday, but I worked until after midnight...not used to 12 hour shifts anymore. 

No problem. Which ones did you order? Part #?

I believe it was DA-0200003.

Now that is a "part number" for a single caboose truck and coupler.  That is NOT a product number that is normally preceded by 20- or 30-

Midge double checked me and looked up the part herself.  She just did the same thing that CNJ 1601 did, she went to the 20-91031 product page and clicked on the same link that CNJ1601 suggested for me to click.  That takes you to the .pdf file for "all offset steel caboose components" for replacement parts.  I got two of the trucks and the mounting center screws and washers.  Paid by card. Done in 15 minutes.  Boss didn't even know I was on the phone.  (not that she would have said anything)