Memories for us old truckers

[old-iron-habit]

When I went grain hauling in the early 80's I had the choice of a Pete like this one or a GMC 9500 with an 8V-71... The GMC was $3,000 bucks less with a few thou less miles.
"James" the GMC was very good to me for 290,000 fairly trouble free miles. I wish I could find some pics. It wasn't bad looking for an old Jimmy.

Did the 9500 have a sleeper on it. There was not many that did.

 

[RZucker]

Did the 9500 have a sleeper on it. There was not many that did.

Nope, no sleeper, It was pretty plain, It did have dual chrome stacks and horns. Plus a chrome grill and bumper.

 

[td25c]

Nothin real exciting. JLG boomlift that needed a couple tires pulled off. Rather than try to jack in soft ground we took the wrecker for a spin.

View attachment 177707

Weldbuilt wrecker body ?

 

[Junkyard]

Weldbuilt wrecker body ?

Yes sir. Simple but effective!

 

[td25c]

That's a really nice unit !

From a distance those Weldbuilt beds resemble the Holmes pretty close .

I want to say they used Tulsa worm drive winches in the mast ?

 

[RZucker]

Weldbuilt wrecker body ?

That's probably it. I knew it wasn't a 750, but couldn't put my finger on it. The drum drive just did not look Holmes to me.

That's a really nice unit !

From a distance those Weldbuilt beds resemble the Holmes pretty close .

I want to say they used Tulsa worm drive winches in the mast ?

That's what had me confused. I have a bit (just enough to be dangerous) of experience with Holmes 650's and 750's to see the hoist works weren't the same. Plus the boom hoists aren't in the right place for a Holmes.

 

[old-iron-habit]

Nope, no sleeper, It was pretty plain, It did have dual chrome stacks and horns. Plus a chrome grill and bumper.

Damn, your tough. Drive a 9500 and have to nap in the seat to. Or did you have a short run.

 

[RZucker]

Damn, your tough. Drive a 9500 and have to nap in the seat to. Or did you have a short run.

Two round trips per day that totaled about 400 miles, home in bed most nights. But I did have to sleep across the seats a few times, if you had your feet out the passenger window just far enough it wasn't bad. In cold weather... Motel 6.

 

[crane operator]

Homemade wrecker bed with only one winch, but its got green under the hood......

https://fayar.craigslist.org/hvd/d/1974-peterbilt-359-twin-screw/6504661462.html

1974 Peterbilt 359 twin screw wrecker towtruck, Detroit 671, 13 speed Eaton Fuller, Hendrickson suspension, all 10 new 11R 22.5 Goodyear tires, hydraulic 25 ton Tulsa winch, one owner actual low miles, MUST SEE condition, $13,900 cash, sorry no financing, possible trade up or down for land or towing equipment.

 

[crane operator]

 

[RZucker]

I could use a rig like this to drag in dead farm trucks. A good selection of slip in tow hooks and most of the old beaters would be easy to grab on to.
The boom rigging does puzzle me, the geometry is a little odd, I would expect at least a hand cranked multi part line to raise or lower the boom. The attachment points on the boom look like a bent boom waiting to happen to me.

 

[td25c]

The boom rigging does puzzle me, the geometry is a little odd, I would expect at least a hand cranked multi part line to raise or lower the boom. The attachment points on the boom look like a bent boom waiting to happen to me.

Same thoughts RZ . Nice looking rig but no where close to a Holmes 750 bed .....

 

[crane operator]

I can hear the conversation:

"Hey elmer, we need us one of them thar wrecker tow trucks to drag back them chicken trucks when they break down, lets get us one ofun them hol-mesess recker beds."

Elmer: " hey we don't ned to spent that kinds of money fur un no high doller bed. We kun drag usn some scrap outun the pile and bilt us sumthin.........

I've seen one un them beds, we kun bilt sumthin just liken it."

 

[crane operator]

Anybody bringing this home? Sold this week in orlando, 1946 peterbilt, brought over $57,000. Not in my budget....

Big cam, 13 speed, 3 speed aux, jakes. All the bells and whistles.








1946 PETERBILT 354 Day Cab Truck Tractor (T/A)

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Sold for USD on Feb 23, 2018 (Day 5 of 6) in Orlando, FL, USA
Lot # 5401< Previous LotNext Lot >
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[crane operator]

 

[crane operator]

 

[crane operator]

Might be a bit of a stretch to reach the trailer brake valve? Its clear over by the passenger window, not real well situated for a quick pull if the trailer was trying to come around on a slick road, with the jakes on?

Maybe with the narrow cab its not really that far over there.

And in the picture of the drivers side of the motor- what's the dog chain and lever for that goes to the front of the engine just behind the serpentine belt set up. I don't think I've ever seen that.

 

[td25c]

This was my first wrecker . 1967 Chevy C-30 with home built hydro bed .
Small block 350 with 4 speed & 5.33 rears .

Boom has an I beam inside it for manual extension .
Hydro under lift hitch in the rear .
20,000 # Garwood winch & 1/2 inch rope .

 

[Bluox]

Might be a bit of a stretch to reach the trailer brake valve? Its clear over by the passenger window, not real well situated for a quick pull if the trailer was trying to come around on a slick road, with the jakes on?

Maybe with the narrow cab its not really that far over there.

And in the picture of the drivers side of the motor- what's the dog chain and lever for that goes to the front of the engine just behind the serpentine belt set up. I don't think I've ever seen that.

View attachment 178162

Compression release .
Bob

 

[RZucker]

Compression release .
Bob

Yup, no Big Cam engine there. Looks like an early NTC350. I think the compression release died out around '74-75 when Cummins went to lower compression pistons and more turbo boost.
I had a -74 Pete with an FFC 335 that still had a compression release when I bought it. After an extensive inframe it was no longer needed.