I know Daily Diesel Dose has a few visitors that are just as nuts over planes as they are trucks. This one is for you!
Joining the collection of Autocar truck scans is this 50’s era DC model with integral sleeper. Owned by the Lockheed-Georgia Company this Autocar was setup as a fire truck. Probably a foam unit. I wonder where it is today?
Click to Enlarge
Any ideas on the model of the jet in the background?
Andy sent me this photo a few days ago. It’s a GMC COE commonly referred to as a crackerbox or sometimes a slab cab. Looking at the photos it’s clear where this name came from. The more I thought about it the more I realized I had no idea what the real GM model name was for this truck. Nearly every resource online refers to them by their crowd sourced nickname. Google GMC Crackerbox and then google GMC DLR. You tell me which one produces more viable results.
Either way, as of three years ago this GMC was working in a boatyard on Cayuga Lake. Check out that hoist. Huge. I have no confirmation but I would guess this truck is Detroit powered. Past life as a Yellow Freight Lines rig?
Click to Enlarge
The cab still wears the truck number from a previous life.
Click to Enlarge
*READER UPDATE*
Jim Writes
The GMC designation for this truck was the DF-Series. The one shown is probably a DF7000. A DLR is a diesel (D), set-back-front-axle COE (L) with an air-ride suspension (R). The DLR7000 had a 6-71 engine in it while the DFR7000 (diesel (D), set-forward-front-axle COE (F) with an air-ride suspension (R)) had a 6V71 in it. Eventually the “R” was dropped and the single axle became the DF7000 and the tandem axle was the DFW7000. These both had spring suspnesions. If the truck had an 8V71, then the designations were DF7100 & DFW7100.
Do you know of an old truck that is still earning it’s keep? Email Me!
I didn’t expect to catch the dismantling and hauling of the SANY crane from the other day but apparently it was destined to be. Stopping by the job site on Thursday afternoon I found the boom of the crane spooled down and already disconnected from the chassis. Returning bright and early Friday morning it became apparent that the SANY was going to be back home by the end of the day. Two new cranes were on hand to assist with the dismantling. A Link-Belt 8690 was removing the 6-ton counterweights two at a time. A few feet down the street a Terex-Demag was loading the boom pieces onto waiting flatbeds. Sadly I had to get to work before the crew started the removal of the massive track pieces. As soon as the clock struck Noon I raced back to Armory Square to catch more of the action. I arrived just into time to catch one of the crawlers leaving on a lengthy four axle lowboy. A nearby parking garage provided a nice vantage point of the crowded street action.
By this time the SANY looked a car that had been jacked for its rims and left on blocks.
Click to Enlarge
The next step in the moving process involved backing another very long Rogers lowboy underneath the crane. The driver did an excellent job of lining up the trailer but balance is key with a load like this. The crew wanted to move the trailer over just a few inches to get it perfect. At first a telehander was employed but didn’t have the necessary power. The Link-Belt was called off the bench and easily shifted the trailer in moments. At this point riggers buzzed around with straps and chains to secure the load. The remaining parts of the boom slowly moved 180 degrees backwards essentially folding in on itself. A special mounting brackets were attached to the back of the crane which secured it directly the trailer. Finally the operator cab was turned 90 degrees toward the machine. A final inspection of the chains and straps and all was ready for the road.
Click to Enlarge
I can only imagine what this whole operation cost. Three cranes, multiple hauling rigs, support trucks, and manpower. Pricey. At the end of the week a 60 car parking garage had seemingly risen from the earth. Most people will be none the wiser regarding the men and the machines that it took to make such a basic and unassuming structure but now you do. The more you know…
Crane lovers rejoice. Today is your day.
With the weather finally starting to break I can once again stop by the many construction sites on the west side of the city. One such project is the new Marriot Courtyard in Armory Square. The hotel itself is nearing completion with the majority of the work now occurring on the inside of the building. Just recently construction began on an attached concrete parking garage. That is where I caught this massive SANY crane for Auburn Crane and Rigging.
Click to Enlarge
The back of this crane has twelve six ton counter weights and one 5.8 ton weight. The crawler chassis also had addition weights attached but it was hard to see their rating without crawling under the machine. All told it has at least 78 tons of weight out back.
I originally stopped by this site early in the morning. At that point the crane was still located within the footprint of the new garage. I had just missed the raising of a wall support but hung around hoping for more action. Eventually I ran out of time and started back to the office. On my way out I noticed work crews setting up detour signs which raised my interest. Returning during my lunch break I found the crane now occupying the street which helped to reveal its true size. I was able to take photos from all angles and grabbed some great video of a 25 ton parking deck soaring in the sky.
I was impressed by the quite engine of the crane. Very little noise even when the operator was spooling out cable for the riggers. It was by far the quietest machine on the jobsite. The concrete forms arrived by truck from a location in Chambersburg, PA which is nearly five hours south of Syracuse. The trucking firm responsible for the hauling is an outfit by the name of Charles W. Karper Inc. I had the pleasure to speak with one of their drivers as he waited to be unloaded. He told me the drivers try to make the round trip between NY and PA but the facts of construction life often change the best laid plans.
It was great to see this crane in action but I’m left with one question. How do they get this beast out of there? I would love to see the tear down and hauling of this machine. Stay tuned…
The Video. Apologies in advance for the wind noise.
Might this be the last plow truck shot of the season? According to the calendar spring arrived one week ago so there can’t be many more plowing days left. Oh who am I kidding! This is Central New York. Snow will be falling for at least another month.
Keeping with my 2013 New Years resolution (to shoot more on the job plows) I bring you this Syracuse DPW International WorkStar. I think I may have discovered the secret to keeping a new years resolution. First, pick something you like or want to do. Second, the resolution should not take more than four months to complete. Guaranteed success!
Click to Enlarge
By the way. The salt spreader on this truck is a Highlander. Everytime I see one the same thought runs through my mind. THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE!
2013 Snow Plow Action
Onondaga County North Area Maintenance Facility
City of Oswego International PayStar
Truck 57 – Onondaga County DOT
So now that the Mid American Trucking Show has come and gone I figure it’s about time for me to condense the new product information for you reading pleasure. Better late than never right?
Peterbilt
Peterbilt pulled back the wraps on their new Model 567. A truck aimed at the heart of the vocational buyer. Think dump trucks and day cab heavy hauling. The new 567 features a slopped hood, one piece windshield, and an aluminium cab. I’m up in the air on the looks. The long hood looks weird in the computer renditions but a little better in the video below.
Kenworth
Kenworth sent waves through the faithful when the new T-880 hit the stage at MATS. Some love it. Some hate it. Personally I find this design more appealing than the 567.
Kenworth T-880
Volvo
Remember Volvo? Yeah, they had a new truck at MATS. The VNX, A heavy haul model for those that need to pull around 225,000 lbs or more. Trucking info has a great article on the new model as well as some other Volvo centric information this link. If your prefer, you can watch a video of the new VNX below.
Freightliner
Freightliner rolled out the 122SD, the truck destined to replaced the Coronado SD. Similar to the VXN this new offering from Freightliner is aimed at the long distance heavy hauler. More info can be found by visiting the Freightliner page located here.
Image from Freightliner Facebook page.
International
International brought a funky looking ProStar by the name of “Project Horizon”. Jammed full of new technology and some interesting body work this rig represents a look at the future that is closer than you think.
Clearly truck builders see an opportunity for growth in the serve service\heavy haul categories. The rebounding home construction market and the always vibrant energy sector probably have much to do with the current onslaught of heavy duty models.
Another Monday. Another classic Autocar truck photo. The mixer below belonged to Saunders Concrete of Nedrow, NY. As it happens this a local company for me and one that is still in business to this very day!
Click to Enlarge
Some of you may recall posts relating to the modern trucks of Saunders Fleet. Here they are…
National Grid Freightliners are fairly ubiquitous looking trucks. Thirty years from now people may not care about what they looked like or what they did but if they do I will have the photos. Plus I have a growing archive of their heavy trucks and equipment so I can’t stop now.
This group was assisting in replacing telephone polls and utilities two weeks ago.
Click to Enlarge
I’m still waiting to see how the old poll is removed from the ground.
Click to Enlarge
If you’re a fan of the National Grid Freightliner M2 Business Class look check out the links below.
National Grid Freightliner M2 112 6×6 Buck Truck
National Grid Freightliner M2 112 CNG Dump Truck
I was coming home from work the other night when I passed a disable garbage truck on the exit ramp. The company service truck was on scene but there was not much activity to spy. A few hours later I was back in area when I noticed that the cavalry had been called in.
Click to Enlarge
What more can I say? This truck is a beast. Here is a quick drive-by video with the garbage truck in tow.
It’s been awhile since I’ve had a Brockway on this site that wasn’t at a truck show. Thankfully Andy has stepped up with not one truck but two! Below we have a ’74 Brockway powered by a Detroit 238. I’m not sure on the exact model so I’m hoping the more devoted Brockway fans can help out. I’m guessing it’s a 361.
Click to Enlarge
The next Brockway is a definitely a 361. Andy believes it may have been a NYS DOT truck from back in the day. The large faded circle on the door certainly speaks to a government shield that was peeled off years ago.
Click to Enlarge
A large winch resides behind the cab and I believe I can see steel fenders over the rear wheels.
Click to Enlarge
I can’t tell if there is a fifth wheel out back or not. Andy found this truck near Clyde, NY but the exact location has been forgotten. Sounds like a good reason to search the streets of Clyde!
Know of any old trucks or heavy equipment in hiding? Email Me!
