Autocar Mondays – It’s a Wrecker

Posted on December 30, 2013 by Eric

Welcome to another edition of Autocar Mondays! Based on the quality of the photo below you would be forgiven if you thought this photo came from a simpler time of cameras that used a thing called film. It certainly couldn’t have come from the godfather of all cell phones the iPhone! Back in 2010 I didn’t carry a camera around with me at all time so my wife’s iPhone 3G stepped in to save the day we caught this truck on the street. Looking at the photo today it reminds me of the fuzzy, grainy, red tinted truck photos I used to stare at for endless hours in the pages of Truck Trader. Unlike the cell phone that is long gone I’m sure this Autocar is still with us. I have no proof to back up that statement but just a gut feeling. After all, an Autocar is more valuable than a whole pallet of iPhones. 😉

Autocar Tow Truck

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Tis the Season for TV

Posted on December 28, 2013 by Eric

The weather outside is crappy so stay inside and watch TV instead. Even better, watch truck related shows for free on YouTube. I’ve done the hard work for you and created two playlists for two entirely different shows.

To begin I have collected all the various segments of project “Heavy Metal” into one concise location. No more wondering which part of the project came first or if you missed a segment. It’s all here and ready to play one after the other. Just sit back and relax. You can tell me later what you think about the beer keg gas tanks. Yikes. Total run time 1 hour 30 minutes.

Now that we are in the off season of Ice Road Truckers you may be feeling the itch for more reality TV based trucking shows. Enter MegaTruckers, a series revolving around the Australian heavy haul industry. I’ll say this, Australians know how to spec out a good looking big rig. The right amount of chrome, tanks and other accessories. Trucks still look tough in the land down under. Total run time 2 hours 58 minutes.

Special thanks to Mike for tipping me off to this great show.

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On the Job – Oshkosh Mixer

Posted on December 27, 2013 by Eric

I always get excited when my wife tells me she took a picture of an interesting truck. I like to think that she has fresh eyes. By that I mean she is not jaded or snobbish when it comes to taking a photo for this site. I probably would have passed up the photo she took under the belief that it was just another cement truck. Who cares right? Wrong!

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What I like about this photo the most is the guy working the truck. I would have passed simply because of that one fact but my wife will go right up to anyone and ask if she snag a photo. She still receives the same puzzled look I do but people usually smile and agree. It must have something do with her being an attractive woman?

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As for the specifics its a Oshkosh for Northern Companies, no stranger to Daily Diesel Dose.

More Northern Companies stuff.

Terex FDB4000

Mack Truck Hibernation

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Payloader H-120

Posted on December 24, 2013 by Eric

Last month I went to an auction at Solvay Iron Works where this Hough H-120 Payloader was lurking around the back of the property. It wasn’t included in the auction but that didn’t stop a steady flow of people from checking it out. As I inspected this vintage piece of heavy iron I was asked more than once if it was for sale. People wanted this machine. Can you blame them?

Hough H-120 Payloader

This H-120 is powered by a Cummins NRT 6CI. If I read the engine tag information correctly it was assembled in April of 1962. This date seems to mesh with the H-Series line of loaders that ran from 1958 through the 1970’s.

If the green and yellow paint job seems familar congratulations are in order because you have a fantastic memory. A little over a year ago I shared a few photos (click here) of a smaller Hough loader that were once brothers in the same company, Joe Mento Inc.

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Autocar Mondays – Construcktor VAC Truck

Posted on December 23, 2013 by Eric

Below is a Autocar Construcktor VAC truck that once belonged to the Town of Clay, NY. According to the date stamp on the photos I spotted this truck at Tracey Road Equipment back in May of 2010. At that time I believe the truck was still in active service with the town. Over the next three years the truck would show up on Tracey’s lot eventually earning a spot in the used truck row. I don’t remember the exact specifics but it was listed a 1979 model with an asking price of nearly 30,000 dollars. I guess vac trucks hold their value. Back in the early fall I spotted this truck working on a trenching job at a local shopping center. I figured the Construcktor finally found a good home and it warmed my heart. It was nice start to the holiday season. A short time later it returned to the lot a Tracey but is no longer listed for sale. One can only speculate at its future.

Autocar Construcktor

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The Western Report – The Sierras

Posted on December 20, 2013 by Eric

Finally, the latest edition of the Western Report is here! The long delay has nothing to due with lack of contributions from Ryan as he has supplied plenty of great photos over the months. Below is a batch from October. I guess I need to get a handle on my inbox!

I like this Pete that appears to be in the middle of a paint job. I can’t tell if the yellow paint is coming or going.

I’ll never miss a chance to post a photo of a International 9900i. Much like the Freightliner Classic of yesterday the folks at Navistar follow a similar marketing tactic by invoking the feelings of the open road and freedom.

Make a bold statement about your independent spirit with the International® 9900i. Built with all your needs in mind, this truck delivers on both style and performance.

Let freedom ring!

Another stellar job by Ryan!

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Freightliner Classic

Posted on December 18, 2013 by Eric

The Freightliner Classic, let us go straight to the horse’s mouth (freightlinertrucks.com) to get the details.

The Classic and Classic XL traditional styling, impressive performance and focus on driver comfort embody the freedom of the open road and the satisfaction that comes from a hard day’s work

In other words, this is a big truck with a big hood that hides a big engine.

A perfect blend of past and present, the Classic and Classic XL are modern business machines with an enduring spirit and timeless look.

I don’t know about you but I am feeling the urge to drive this truck now. The marketing is working! This truck is another of the Ruston Paving fleet. I first mentioned it when showing of one of their PayStar dump trucks last month. As fate would have it we crossed paths a few weeks later.

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Plows From All Over

Posted on December 16, 2013 by Eric

An embarrassment of plow riches today! We’ll start with the oldest plow in the group.

Mike sends in a photo a Brockway 361 that was operated by his father for Chemung County until 1986 when it was traded in for a Ford L9000. The Brockway was one of the first 10 wheel trucks for the county back at that time. Powered by a Super 250 Cummins mated to a Spicer five speed with an air operated 4 speed auxiliary the Brockway and Mike’s father moved plenty of snow over the years. It’s a great looking piece of equipment.

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Moving south we have some plows from a state not well known for snow, Texas. Bryan shares with us some rigs moving three inches of sleet from the Dallas Forth Worth area. A good time was had by all.

Heading back east John sends in a shot of a Mass DOT Sterling slowly disappearing under a film of road spray and slush.

Finally we return back to my home territory with some trucks from the City of Syracuse, NYS DOT and the NYS Thruway. It’s good to see a few old Macks still chugging along with the NYSTA. Considering the new tandem axle truck of the Thruway will be the Western Star 4800 we can only assume these bulldogs may be soon heading to the auction block. Also in the gallery is a video still of the red Onondaga County Kenworth, the only one in the fleet that I know of.

Big thanks for all the contributions! Keep em coming!

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DFW Snow Plow
Mass Highway DOT
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Still Working – International S2200

Posted on December 14, 2013 by Eric

Ah, the good old working mule that was the International S-Series. It was with us for so many years and in so many forms it can be hard to determine the exact age of one. Looking at the 2200 below one thing jumps out at me, the man on the tractor. Yup, the IH logo is all over this rig including the door handles and lower grill indicating this truck is from the early years of the S-Series, quite possibly dating back to 1979. Not a bad looking yard dog with rust seeming to be a non factor. Plus, that green hood visor is so old and ugly that it’s cool.

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Something Went Wrong

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Eric

If you see a convoy liked this parked along the side of the road in your neighborhood you know something has gone wrong. This Kenworth army belongs to Winters Rigging, a company that specializes in train derailments. According to their website they can have their fleet of cranes, dozers and trucks on the way to an accident scene one hour from the time a call is received. You know what that means, big bucks. In the grand scheme of things it’s much cheaper than having a busy rail line closed for days or weeks. Dan shot this group of photos back in 2007 when a CSX train containing more than a few propane laden cars derailed outside of Wampsville, NY. The derailment caused a 23 mile stretch of the NY Thruway to close as precaution until the fire was quelled.

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