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Challenger logging trucks
- Thread starter Hayesno1
- Start date
Hayesno1
Senior Member
Some information re. Challenger truck.
Challenger trucks were built by a guy named John Casanave from Port Alberni on Vancouver Island, during the late 1980s and early 1990s. John was a log truck driver working together with Coulsson. John thought he could build something better (in terms of maintenance at least) than the Hayes and Pacifics that had dominated the heavy-duty off-highway logging scene in Western Canada. As an example for easy maintenance John designed a ”rail” system so you could slide out the engine. I visited him in 2007 - great guy - he gave me a Challenger brochure where you can see examples of Johns ”easy maintenance features”. Unfortunately for John the Challenger was introduced at the wrong time as heavy-duty off-highway logging was all most gone as more and more trees were hauled by on-highway trucks and I think environmentalists were an issue as well.
I have tried to make a complete breakdown of all the Challengers ever made. Sorry my list might not be 100% correct but I have tried to do my best - please correct or ad further information.
At least 14 units have been built. The units are described in random order, except for unit 1, but the order should be pretty close to real production order. They are as follows:
1) Unit 1; 1986 Challenger owner John Casanave, PA, It was painted blue with a white stripe. He sold it after a few months to Bendickson Contractors Ltd. Where it got unit no.#8. In 2005 it was auctioned (RB) and went to South America / maybe Guatemala. Present status unknown but most likely still in operation! This summer I found it’s water tank on Vancouver Island, so truck must have had a new tank before leaving Canada or worse - truck is scrapped.
2) Unit 2 went to Bendickson Contractors Ltd. as well where it got unit no.#9. In 2005 it was auctioned (RB) and went to South America / maybe Guatemala. Present status unknown but most likely still in operation! This summer I found it’s water tank on Vancouver Island, so truck must have had a new tank before leaving Canada or worse - truck is scrapped.
Challenger trucks were built by a guy named John Casanave from Port Alberni on Vancouver Island, during the late 1980s and early 1990s. John was a log truck driver working together with Coulsson. John thought he could build something better (in terms of maintenance at least) than the Hayes and Pacifics that had dominated the heavy-duty off-highway logging scene in Western Canada. As an example for easy maintenance John designed a ”rail” system so you could slide out the engine. I visited him in 2007 - great guy - he gave me a Challenger brochure where you can see examples of Johns ”easy maintenance features”. Unfortunately for John the Challenger was introduced at the wrong time as heavy-duty off-highway logging was all most gone as more and more trees were hauled by on-highway trucks and I think environmentalists were an issue as well.
I have tried to make a complete breakdown of all the Challengers ever made. Sorry my list might not be 100% correct but I have tried to do my best - please correct or ad further information.
At least 14 units have been built. The units are described in random order, except for unit 1, but the order should be pretty close to real production order. They are as follows:
1) Unit 1; 1986 Challenger owner John Casanave, PA, It was painted blue with a white stripe. He sold it after a few months to Bendickson Contractors Ltd. Where it got unit no.#8. In 2005 it was auctioned (RB) and went to South America / maybe Guatemala. Present status unknown but most likely still in operation! This summer I found it’s water tank on Vancouver Island, so truck must have had a new tank before leaving Canada or worse - truck is scrapped.
2) Unit 2 went to Bendickson Contractors Ltd. as well where it got unit no.#9. In 2005 it was auctioned (RB) and went to South America / maybe Guatemala. Present status unknown but most likely still in operation! This summer I found it’s water tank on Vancouver Island, so truck must have had a new tank before leaving Canada or worse - truck is scrapped.
Hayesno1
Senior Member
3) Unit 3 went to Millstream where it got unit no.#H49. Later it was sold to Aliford and in 2005/2006 it was sold to Dane Developments where it got unit no. # D151. In 2009 it was auctioned (RB). Present status: Unknown.
4) Unit 4 went to Millstream where it got unit no.#H50. Later it was sold to Aliford and in 2005/2006 it was sold to Dane Developments where it got unit no. # D150. In 2009 it was auctioned (RB). Present status: Unknown.
5) Unit 5 from 1989 went to MacMillan & Bloedel, Sproat Lake Div. where it got unit no.#H159. It was sold to Mars Industries ca. 2002/03, where it got unit no. #A89. "89" indicates it was built in 1989. Present status unknown, but I don't think it has been scrapped.
6) Unit 6 went to MacMillan & Bloedel where it got unit no.#H160. It was a preloader. Unfortunately the driver was unlucky as it was wrecked twice before they scrapped it.
7) 1994 went to MacMillan & Bloedel, Sproat Lake Div. where it got unit no.#H165. It was sold to Mars Industries ca. 2002/03, where it got unit no. #A94. "94" indicates it was built in 1994. Around 2007/2008 it was sold to Dane Development. Present status: operational at DD in Port Alberni.
8) Unit went to Pacific Forest Products, where it got unit no.#H99. It was a preloader. PFP was bought by WFP and unit got no: #2172. Present status: operational at WFP.
9) Unit went to Pacific Forest Products, where it got unit no.#H98. It was a preloader. PFP was bought by WFP and unit got no: #2173. Present status: operational at WFP.
10) Unit went to Pacific Forest Products, where it got unit no.#H16. It was a preloader. PFP was bought by WFP and unit got no: #2185. Present status: operational at WFP.
11) Unit went to Millstream. Later it was sold to unknown contractor before it was sold to Dane Developments where it got unit no. # D154. Present status: operational at DD in PA.
12) Unit went to Line Creek. It was a huge mining truck. Wider and bigger than earlier Challenger trucks. Present status: Parked at mine and is in pretty poor condition.
13) Twin sister to unit 12 and it went to Line Creek as well. It was a huge mining truck. Wider and bigger than earlier Challenger trucks. Present status: Parked at mine and is in pretty poor condition.
14) Unit was built in Canada but sold to a contractor in Australia. Type of truck I am not sure but some kind of tractor pulling several dump trailers. Present status unknown."
The company was sold to a Aussie guy but in 2007 John Casanave got ownership of company back. John told me that they might have been built one Challenger in Australia, so a unit 15 could exist?
4) Unit 4 went to Millstream where it got unit no.#H50. Later it was sold to Aliford and in 2005/2006 it was sold to Dane Developments where it got unit no. # D150. In 2009 it was auctioned (RB). Present status: Unknown.
5) Unit 5 from 1989 went to MacMillan & Bloedel, Sproat Lake Div. where it got unit no.#H159. It was sold to Mars Industries ca. 2002/03, where it got unit no. #A89. "89" indicates it was built in 1989. Present status unknown, but I don't think it has been scrapped.
6) Unit 6 went to MacMillan & Bloedel where it got unit no.#H160. It was a preloader. Unfortunately the driver was unlucky as it was wrecked twice before they scrapped it.
7) 1994 went to MacMillan & Bloedel, Sproat Lake Div. where it got unit no.#H165. It was sold to Mars Industries ca. 2002/03, where it got unit no. #A94. "94" indicates it was built in 1994. Around 2007/2008 it was sold to Dane Development. Present status: operational at DD in Port Alberni.
8) Unit went to Pacific Forest Products, where it got unit no.#H99. It was a preloader. PFP was bought by WFP and unit got no: #2172. Present status: operational at WFP.
9) Unit went to Pacific Forest Products, where it got unit no.#H98. It was a preloader. PFP was bought by WFP and unit got no: #2173. Present status: operational at WFP.
10) Unit went to Pacific Forest Products, where it got unit no.#H16. It was a preloader. PFP was bought by WFP and unit got no: #2185. Present status: operational at WFP.
11) Unit went to Millstream. Later it was sold to unknown contractor before it was sold to Dane Developments where it got unit no. # D154. Present status: operational at DD in PA.
12) Unit went to Line Creek. It was a huge mining truck. Wider and bigger than earlier Challenger trucks. Present status: Parked at mine and is in pretty poor condition.
13) Twin sister to unit 12 and it went to Line Creek as well. It was a huge mining truck. Wider and bigger than earlier Challenger trucks. Present status: Parked at mine and is in pretty poor condition.
14) Unit was built in Canada but sold to a contractor in Australia. Type of truck I am not sure but some kind of tractor pulling several dump trailers. Present status unknown."
The company was sold to a Aussie guy but in 2007 John Casanave got ownership of company back. John told me that they might have been built one Challenger in Australia, so a unit 15 could exist?
Attachments
PacificEd
Active Member
That truck had fresh paint when I took those pictures. It had a Mack V8 for power with a manual transmission (No Allison like most of the big trucks seem to have).
hayeslogtruck
Member
H159
Hi pacificed H159 went to Franklin River div.new after it did its show tour, driver was Donnie Watt. was then sold to Mars. have some great pictures of this truck with some hugh fir loads once i can figure out how to post them?
Hi pacificed H159 went to Franklin River div.new after it did its show tour, driver was Donnie Watt. was then sold to Mars. have some great pictures of this truck with some hugh fir loads once i can figure out how to post them?
Hayesno1
Senior Member
CM1995
Administrator
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You have to have 3 posts in order to post pics and send/receive PM's (it's to keep the spammers at bay
). BTW- I also look forward to seeing your pics and welcome to HEF hayeslogtruck !:drinkuphayeslogtruck
Member
Thanks for info
hi hayesno1 you can tell challengers yr. by all 1980's trucks had bolt on sunvisors after 1990 sunvisor was built into roof just a continuation of roof skin. in first brochure John had was a picture of H159 at dryland sort with Donnie standing beside it. my dad drove h89 for Mars for 2 yrs till they shut down logging end of business. He drove H320 for M&B for27 yrs at Franklin div.
hi hayesno1 you can tell challengers yr. by all 1980's trucks had bolt on sunvisors after 1990 sunvisor was built into roof just a continuation of roof skin. in first brochure John had was a picture of H159 at dryland sort with Donnie standing beside it. my dad drove h89 for Mars for 2 yrs till they shut down logging end of business. He drove H320 for M&B for27 yrs at Franklin div.
Hayesno1
Senior Member
Hi hayeslogtruck; Welcome to HE and thanks for info re sunvisor roof. Your dad and I exchanged pictures some years ago. He told me that Mars unit numbers #A89 and #A94 indicated year of Challenger truck. As #A89 was built in 1989 and #A94 was built in 1994. I will have to scan brochure again (and better) and post it
Hayesno1
Senior Member
Pics of Pacific Forest Products ex. unit #H98 with lowbed now operated by WFP as unit #2173.
Attachments
Hayesno1
Senior Member
Pacific Forest Product ex. unit no.#H16. It's a preloader. All 3 PFP Challengers were preloaders. Now WFP and unit has no: #2185. Pics were shot at WFP Gold River Div.
Attachments
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Challenger WFP #2185 ex. PFP #H16 Gold River - 07252007-1s.jpg -
Challenger WFP #2185 ex. PFP #H16 Gold River - 07252007-11s.jpg -
Challenger WFP #2185 ex. PFP #H16 Gold River - 07252007-15s.jpg -
Challenger WFP #2185 ex. PFP #H16 Gold River - 07252007-26s.jpg -
Challenger WFP #2185 ex. PFP #H16 Gold River - 07252007-24s.jpg
hayeslogtruck
Member
Hayesno1
Senior Member
Hayesno1
Senior Member
Pics of 3rd Challenger that went to Pacific Forest Products, where it got unit no.#H99. Present status: operational at WFP Gold River Div where it got WFP no: #2172.
Attachments
Great pictures Hayes
Can you do a brief rundown of the pre loader vs standard arrangement for us who aren't as familiar with the logging business as you guys are? I am sure there are others wondering as well.
I have figured out part of it, I think, but I would like to defer to the experts
Can you do a brief rundown of the pre loader vs standard arrangement for us who aren't as familiar with the logging business as you guys are? I am sure there are others wondering as well.
I have figured out part of it, I think, but I would like to defer to the experts
hayeslogtruck
Member
preloads
they were first started so each truck had 2 trailers they will leave 1 in the landing to be loaded well the truck was taking a loaded trailer to the log dump. the truck can load the trailer without any assistance from a shovel or trailer lift which made for great diversification in manpower. the challengers lift system was almost exact design of the Hayes series they have a big ram on a half moon shaped piece down between the frame just in front of the main trunnion crossmember which lifts the trailer loaded or empty up about 6 to7 inch's then the side rams take over to life the 5th wheel assy. up which lock's into saddles on the rear of the water tank then the trailer is ready for transport. the rear wheels of the trailer ride up on the ramps on the rear of the truck. the front axle was moved forward on the Hayes's and the only other differance was the extra web on the outside of frame I beam which was extended forward under the water tank. in a nutshell.lol
they were first started so each truck had 2 trailers they will leave 1 in the landing to be loaded well the truck was taking a loaded trailer to the log dump. the truck can load the trailer without any assistance from a shovel or trailer lift which made for great diversification in manpower. the challengers lift system was almost exact design of the Hayes series they have a big ram on a half moon shaped piece down between the frame just in front of the main trunnion crossmember which lifts the trailer loaded or empty up about 6 to7 inch's then the side rams take over to life the 5th wheel assy. up which lock's into saddles on the rear of the water tank then the trailer is ready for transport. the rear wheels of the trailer ride up on the ramps on the rear of the truck. the front axle was moved forward on the Hayes's and the only other differance was the extra web on the outside of frame I beam which was extended forward under the water tank. in a nutshell.lol
Contract Logger
Senior Member
The truck has an 'elevating 5th wheel' of sorts. Truck bunk and trailer pintle-hitch are a unit with landing legs that can free-stand away from the truck.
Designed so a pre-load set-up can be loaded on the landing without the hassle of having a truck and driver around.
Here's a shot of a pre-loader with the king-pin visible under the truck-bunk.
Designed so a pre-load set-up can be loaded on the landing without the hassle of having a truck and driver around.
Here's a shot of a pre-loader with the king-pin visible under the truck-bunk.
