Old Mack Trucks

[joemd11]

Every now and again I'll see a COE going down the road, but not as many as there use to be. I think my all time favorite was the old GMC's. I think they called them "crackerbox". The Detroit diesel engines had a great sound!

 

[RobertN]

Having been around fire engines for a while now, it is a lot easier to do daily, weekly, and monthly checks/maintenance on a conventional. Lifting the hood is much easier than tilting the cab... On the cabover, you have to lift the cab, but also get all the loose stuff so it does not fall all over the place.

Since I'm the one who first asked the question about COE's "disappearance"...I knew some truckers hated them because of the "being the first one on the scene" aspect. I'd also heard there were more hassles with maintenance. I'm not a trucker, so no first hand knowledge...

 

[Bob Rooks]

Is the second engine located in the trailer with four axles?
That would be my guess too since it is a "B" unit.

I hope their haul roads are wide! I've read that the Australian road trains whip around quite a bit.
That's why they have "B" trains, it eliminates the dollies.

I can't imagine what it's like when two of the K-monsters meet and pass one another. How long are they?
I think I read where the longest was over 1,200 feet. (apparently there are contests, wouldn't ya know.)

I think a helper-engine arrangement was tried in Oregon a few years ago. Do you know anything about it?
Nope, been out of trucking too long, but remember when Trans Western Express started using triple 27's and 40' doubles.

Also - are the Australian offroad haulers the same giant trucks like were used for British Columbia log hauling on private roads? I saw those in BC long ago, and once saw one like those at a Chevron-Venezuela oilfield. No matter how long I stared at it I couldn't get my head around how big the thing really was. It looked at least half again wider than a road-legal truck.
Those were probably KW-Darts, FWD's, Oshkosh, International 210's. Lots of companies made large off-highway trucks, 6x8's and 8x8's.

Here is the Wiki on the road trains.
Road train - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Bob Rooks]

I'd also heard there were more hassles with maintenance.

Replacing windshields was one of the biggest maintenance items. Why you ask? Because drivers would forget about loose gear, flashlights, logbooks, and fire extinguishers in the sleeper - so when the cab tilted forward (you guessed it) it acted like a dump truck. Don't ask me how I know this.

 

[Bob Rooks]

Every now and again I'll see a COE going down the road, but not as many as there use to be. I think my all time favorite was the old GMC's. I think they called them "crackerbox". The Detroit diesel engines had a great sound!

You must be referring to the GMC Astro 95's (Chevrolet Titan) with the "Screamin' Jimmy's". Although the 51 Series Detroit probably had the loudest "bark" because it had no valves - it was port scavenged. I loved the sound too, it also gave me tinnitus...

 

[RobertN]

A couple of the water-tenders in our fire district have 8V92's; GMC Topkicks. Those motors have power, but they are LOUD! Especially after a couple hours at the pump panel...

You must be referring to the GMC Astro 95's (Chevrolet Titan) with the "Screamin' Jimmy's". Although the 51 Series Detroit probably had the loudest "bark" because it had no valves - it was port scavenged. I loved the sound too, it also gave me tinnitus...

 

[joemd11]

You must be referring to the GMC Astro 95's (Chevrolet Titan) with the "Screamin' Jimmy's". Although the 51 Series Detroit probably had the loudest "bark" because it had no valves - it was port scavenged. I loved the sound too, it also gave me tinnitus...

No, my brother had an Astro. What I'm thinking of was probably made in the late 50's or early 60's and had a small, angular cab. I think they had sleeper and non-sleeper models. I'll search the net and see if I can find one.

 

[joemd11]

GMC Crackerbox diesels lined up - ATHS show 2009 - YouTube

Check out the above youtube link. These are what I'm talking about. :thumbsup:

 

[Bob Rooks]

No, my brother had an Astro. What I'm thinking of was probably made in the late 50's or early 60's and had a small, angular cab. I think they had sleeper and non-sleeper models. I'll search the net and see if I can find one.

Check here too: Stovebolt Gallery -- Another great antique Chevy / GMC Truck Restoration

 

[Bob Rooks]

GMC Crackerbox diesels lined up - ATHS show 2009 - YouTube

Check out the above youtube link. These are what I'm talking about. :thumbsup:

Oh THOSE! :thumbsup:
Ya, Back when everybody was jumping in on the class 8 tilt-cab COE bandwagon. :laughing: