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TDF, one of the newest Noobs.

T

TDF

Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2019
Messages
21
Location
Seward, Nebraska
Hi all. Found this forum after buying a 20 ton ex military crane last month. Still working on getting the old girl to the farm but getting closer. Been around big equipment most of my life. Dad was a custom harvester when I was a little squirt as was Grandpa and Grandpa also ran a salvage yard. After college, Civil Engineering degree, and getting a job with the Nebraska DOT, I ended up renting a farm house. The extra space to stretch my legs meant i soon had a tractor around, then another, then might as well pick up that old 1951 D4 Cat to play back in the old dry pond. Then needed a big goose neck trailer to move it on so Dad and I built one. Once that was available to move stuff around the toys started coming in. Got a Ford 4000 with a backhoe, then a dump truck to compliment it. As stuff was getting bigger decided maybe we (Dad and I) should get a Semi and a trailer just in case we came up with something big we couldn't resist. So snagged an old ex military M818 with a 250 cummins in it and an ex airforce drop deck trailer. Wont go anywhere fast but will haul a fair load. A couple years ago I picked up a small farm of my own with a house on it. Got 35 acres near Seward Nebraska with some low ground on it and thought maybe a crane would be fun to poke around in the swamp ground etc. Went to an auction to watch a crane sell and accidentally bought an Allis Chalmers Model D motor grader. You all know how it is right? OK maybe I have a problem but it's a fun problem. Sold it for a profit so worked out OK. A month ago though I finally connected with a crane. Ex military M320T2. P&H. 549 IH V8 gasser in the carrier and a 450 straight six IH gasser in the crane. At 30 tons it's a little too heavy for our Semi, so I started stripping weight off it and have it down under 25 tons. Gonna try driving it the 50 miles home, once I get the air brakes sorted. Should be a fun, slow trip.

I'll try and get a few pics up over in the crane forum soon.

TDF
 
T

TDF

Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2019
Messages
21
Location
Seward, Nebraska
The above is at the auction. The extra boom section on the ground was for another crane so I didn't buy that. I did get a 3/4 yd clamshell to go with her. Missed out on the dragline bucket, so I'll be looking for one of those.

TDF
 
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