Back in February I told you about this Mack Granite MHD of Northland Communications. I promised that I was working on grabbing more photos of it and last week I was finally able to come through on that promise. I saw this truck more than a few times in the months since February but since many frown upon taking pictures from the drivers seat of a moving vehicle while passing through a work zone the visual evidence remained scant.
So there it is in all of its glory. Fancy. For those wondering, the MHD is the lighter version of the Mack Granite.
You probably saw these trucks lurking around in the Walter AWUS video from last week. I know some of you have been waiting to see more of the military wrecker and busted Oshkosk trucks so without further ado here they are. I’ll start by saying that I didn’t do my homework on these rigs like I did with the Walter so the walk around videos are less than educational but hopefully still entertaining. Information on the tow truck was sparse. For the year we were told it was a 1970’s with no make or manufacturer provided. I’m not sure if this is a typo or the result of broken gauges but mileage is listed as 81. Yes, 81 miles with a whopping 46 hours on the clock. Could this be correct?
My knowledge of military trucks is very low but I assume that numbers painted on the bumper and other various parts can tell us something about where this truck served or where it came it from?
Despite the non starting, non running, and very rotted cab this truck sold for $3,625 dollars. All things considered I don’t think it was that far gone and there is a lot of steel here for that price. If you know more details about this machine please be kind and share.
Also available for sale were two Oshkosh plow rigs. A 1986 C Series and a 1989 P series. Both sold for over 5,000 grand and came with front blades and wing. Sanding bodies had already been removed.
Overall condition of these trucks was meh to poor. Rust was starting to set in heavy on the frames and cabs. Auctions notes mention both were able to move under the own power.
Now somewhere in all this activity I missed the chance to check out a 1964 Austin Western grader. I never even saw it! I guess it was somewhere behind a compost pile or something. Oh well, I think we saw enough cool stuff from the Town of Camillus for awhile. 😉
It’s time to spend a few moments talking about new Western Stars. Nothing new around these parts! It seems like every time I turn around another new Star car is hitting the streets. Here we have gypsum Express working their new 4900 for drywall and other building material delivery.
And here is the Village of Minoa, NY rocking their new 4700.
Local fuel hauler Terpening is getting into the Western Star club with a new 4900 daycab tractor. Usually a Petey/Kenny kind of fleet it’s nice to see them stretch their buying legs to another builder. John spied one on the thruway a few months back while I saw it at the dealer yesterday.
In the gallery below we have some other shots including a truck from Saratoga County, Town of Manlius, Gutchess Lumber, another shot of the Minoa rig, a 4700 dump for (name coming soon), another shot of the Terpening rig, and a 4700 for the Town of Lysander.
Look, it’s another super trucker cruising down the highway doing everything else but actually driving. Don’t worry! This truck drives itself. Actually, if you’re somewhat rational or have watched any movies regarding autonomous technology you should probably worry just a tiny bit. Today Frieghtliner announced the latest incarnation of it Super Truck, the Freightliner Inspiration, the first street legal self driving semi in the United States.
I was asleep at switch on this announcement so I’m going to hand it off to the professionals at Jalopnik, specifically their Truck Yeah! team to explain all the intricate details of what ultimately will become the reality of trucking around the world. Self driving semis. Or, at the very least, a self driving truck containing a very bored human until something goes horribly wrong. Then we can blame the guy and not the machine. I kid. I kid.
I’ve aggregated the relevant news outlets (hey, it works for the Drudge Report) below.
Clarence stopped by Trius Inc not long ago and came across yet another new fleet of Mack trucks. Unlike before when there was some question regarding the future owner the trucks seen, I can safely tell you that all are destined for service on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Here is a Granite in the early stages of upfitting.
The end result for most of these trucks will resemble the finished product seen below with solution tanks near the front of the cab along with side spreaders (I guess?)
Ladies and Gentlemen, your tolls at work! It takes an Army of humans and machines to keep the highways in the pristine conditions the modern public now demands regardless of weather. While we’re on the topic of the turnpike check out the official Wikipedia entry. It’s rather well done and very informative.
One of these things is not like the other. Thanks to Clarence for sharing!
Here is a great addition to Autocar Mondays in the form of this 1964 model powered by a Caterpillar 1673B diesel engine. Mike shares this photo and tells me, based on previous owner information, that this is Autocar is possibly one of the first to have a Cat engine under the hood. Past history on this rig most likely involved work hauling a folding gooseneck trailer for Southworth Caterpillar. A massive winch and 5+4 transmission help support this version of history. Unfortunately before this Autocar found its current owner it was left to sit in the elements for 20 years with a seized engine. Current status = lawn decoration but safe from that junk man.
As promised, continuing coverage of the St. Jude Truck Show that took place in Sutter, California a few weeks back. Peterbilt! Peterbilt! Peterbilt! Say the name three times and one may appear in your backyard. It works to summon Beetlejuice so why not a Pete?
Plenty of nice large cars here of both the vintage and modern variety. Do you remember those heavy haul trucks? How could you forget? But if you did, click here.
Big rig racing is officially back in the United States! Rejoice! This past weekend saw the inaugural race of the Meritor Champ Truck World Series at the New Jersey Motorsports Park. Ten honest to goodness big rigs torn around the road style course sometimes bumping, sometimes spining, sometimes crashing but always entertaining the crowd. I really wish I had put more than zero effort into attending this race that happened to be not that far from home. OH WELL! Check out the video below for a small taste of the action.
https://youtu.be/FCq8dD68eTQ
Awesome! I really hope this series takes hold and gains a dedicated following. Check out the Champ Truck YouTube Channel for more videos like the one seen above. The first pole position of the season was claimed by Mike Morgan and truck #88, Mackvadar, a 99 Mack CH running a Mack MP7 engine. Stop by the Powershift Performance website to see this truck go from a bone stock rig to a monster of the race track. You can also learn more about Mike, his racing team and the upcoming season.
Good luck to all the drivers and teams involved. Much money, time, and sweat have been poured into these trucks all in an effort to bring back semi truck racing to America. So far so good! It looks like the sport is off to a solid start.
All Roads lead to Rome. In the case, Rome, NY. If you enter this city along the canal from the South James St approach you’ll think you are entering some medieval fortress. First you pass through a small hole in the earthen defense works that ring the metropolis. Next you traverse a rusting bridge that allows for passage over a deep moat that completely blocks the southern half of the city. It’s almost as if they don’t want you to visit! I’m just kidding off course. The earth wall is just a raised railroad bed and the moat was simply part of the Erie Canal. It’s fun to pretend. Anyway, this road leading into the city has some interesting relics worthy of sharing. First, the large Michigan loader sitting near an onion field.
Nearby a former command center of the Syracuse Police Department provides little if any deterrent to criminal activity. At the very least it probably makes a nice home for a raccoon family.
This old Mack dump truck was right next door. Appears to be a farm truck now. The paint is extremely faded but the rig appears to be all there. The mirrors look nice.
That brings us to the highlight of my little journey to Rome. This Ford LTL9000 of L.P. Trucking & Excavating. I first saw one their trucks on the way into the city but was unable to grab a photo. Later in the day when I stopped to look at the Michigan loader I saw this truck coming down the road. Right place. Right time.
While this isn’t the one I spotted earlier in the day it was just as nice. Check out the L.P. Trucking website linked above for a shot of the other truck.
