1950 Mack LJ Dump Truck

Posted on September 30, 2020 by Eric

Check out this great shot sent in my Jim. As he tells it..

I came across this picture of me and the dump truck “GRAMA” I drove in the summer of 1982. 1950 Mack LJ Dump Truck that belonged to Gene Gates / Gates Trucking Whitesboro, NY. Mr. Gates was a master technician/welder/fabricator who built and restored this “3 stick” truck from the frame up. The truck was equipped with a Cummins 250 engine, Mack Duplex transmission backed by a 4 speed auxiliary transmission, pintle hook and custom built dual exhausts. This thing was awesome! He also built a 1948 Kenworth “3 stick”  lowboy tractor from the frame up for Madden Concrete / Madden Construction in Oriskany, NY.

Boy what a site this truck must have been on the roads in ’82! Years later Jim happened across this truck for sale in western Mass. By that time the dump body was missing and the truck was in rough shape.

Posted in Lost and Found | Tagged | 4 Comments

The Western Star 49X

Posted on September 29, 2020 by Eric

In the midst of a global pandemic did you forget that we were waiting on a new Western Star model? I bet you did! Behold. The Western Star 49X.

My first impressions of the truck are favorable. I haven’t liked many of the new models that have rolled off the assembly lines in recent years but this one doesn’t immediately leave me shaking my head. While it does looked like a beefed up 4700 wearing a Freightliner cab it still is a handsome rig. Again, you have to look at this truck through the lens of modern styling. It will be interesting to see how these look in the real world.

Props to Western Star for actually having real trucks in the online sales materials and not crappy computer renderings.

So what’s the next truck to keep tabs on? The International HX has some new changes just around the corner…

Posted in Industry News | Tagged | Leave a comment

Autocar Mondays – Water is Life

Posted on August 24, 2020 by Eric

Wow! Look at this, an Autocar Mondays post! Don’t get used to it. LOL.

Andy sends in this shot of a very nice DC still working for Revoli Construction on a large water main replacement project.

Classic east coast Autocar muscle.

Posted in Autocar Trucks | Leave a comment

Duplex Tow Trucks

Posted on August 23, 2020 by Eric

Many years ago this truck was featured on this page and now it’s back. It’s a 1964 Duplex complete with a 230 Cummins, 5×4 OD trans, and Rockwell top drive axles. They don’t get more beastly than this! Former Onondaga County DOT truck # 22.

Posted in Still Working | 1 Comment

Tools of the Sod

Posted on August 22, 2020 by Eric

Their is a sod farm not too far from my home. They have many interesting pieces of vintage equipment hanging about including these two big guys.

The Caterpillar dozer has a large blade at the rear that looks like a tile blade. They are used to cut deep trenches in the earth for the laying of pipes or cables, similar to what the Deere is hauling.

This part of town has the nickname of the “muck lands”. The soil is dark, rich and deep, the results of a glacier and a former inland sea. In other other words, it slices like butter.

Posted in Heavy Equipment | Leave a comment

The 2020 National Brockway Truck Show

Posted on August 22, 2020 by Eric

It’s a sad fact that nearly no truck shows have taken place this year. After a valiant effort to host a Brockway Truck show the BTPA found it wiser to hold off until next year. That being said, I did help them put together a virtual show. While it is no substitute for the real thing it does give us a chance to see some trucks not seen before while also learning some of their back story.

Posted in Truck Show | Leave a comment

Cool Stuff in the Distance

Posted on August 22, 2020 by Eric

I was aimlessly searching on Google Maps when I noticed what appeared to be an old truck. Dropping down into street view it turned out to be an Autocar. I put it on my mental list of places to check on the next time I had time to kill. This mental list is notorious for going blank when the time comes to actually focus on a destination. Anyway, the view has changed a little from when the Google car drove by,  an old Mack is not part of the collection. 

Posted in Lost and Found | Leave a comment

Six Wheeler Macks

Posted on August 22, 2020 by Eric

Dave came across this old R-Model six wheeler the other day. It’s a fine example of the trucks that used to roll out of the factories of Mack on a daily basis for decade upon decade.

Who knows, maybe this truck I spotted just today rolled down the line at the same time with Dave’s.

Thanks for the share Dave!

Posted in Still Working | Tagged | 2 Comments

The International 4700

Posted on August 22, 2020 by Eric

Since we are pining over old Internationals lets take a look at these two well preserved 4700 models.

The first is two truck that seems to have been for sale on and off for a few months now. It looks like a good truck to bring home even old trucks.

The Madison County Highway Department is known for the exemplary good care of their fleet. If it wasn’t for road salt eating away at the very skeleton of NYS vehicles I am confident in saying that the department could still be running pristine examples of trucks from the 70’s and 80’s as if they were new trucks. Here we see their 4700 on a paving job in Cazenovia, NY.

Posted in International | Tagged | Leave a comment

Onondaga DOT – Goodbye International Paystars

Posted on August 22, 2020 by Eric

The sad day has finally arrived, the Onondaga County DOT has surplussed their remaining 6×6 Paystars and probably the last of the 2574’s they had in the fleet. Both of these models were the backbones of the county plow fleet for decades. I don’t think any other model of truck has been ordered in such quantity by the county following these workhorses. I’m just going to say it. Bring back the 2500 series!

The auction on Auctions International wrapped a few days ago. They Paystars all sold for at least 8,000 a piece while the 2574 sold for no more than 2800.

Posted in Free and Easy | Tagged , | Leave a comment