| Author | Message | ||
     Rocketman |
Got any pic's? Interesting stories? Please post 'em up. I'm looking to buy a rather special one but it's a long shot. The bloke that owns it has done so for 40 odd years. He reckons he won't part with it. I'm trying to twist his arm.  Those tyres are 4ft tall! Rocket | ||
| Woody1911a1 |
offer his wife a tenner  | ||
| Doerman |
Rocket... .. Heading in this direction career wise?  | ||
| Mikej |
Don't know if it's still there, but in Seattle there used to be a Toe Truck, a tow truck with the body built in the shape of a huge foot. Probably not what you were looking for, but one of the Seattle people will hopefully post a pic of it. | ||
| Mikej |
Found one:  | ||
| Rocketman |
Thanks for the humour, lol. Maybe I can prick up some interest in this thread with another pic. The wrecker in the background is parked next to the one I'm interested in - and you can't see it in this pic!  Now I'm sure you guys will recognise the wrecker you can see. Rocket | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
 Sorry Sean, I couldn't resist. LOL! | ||
| Rocketman |
Resist what, lol????? Rocket | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
Oops. The owner of the bike is named Sean too. He hated that I took this pic with his bike up on the sled like that. | ||
| Doerman |
looks like a big GMC surplus military truck | ||
| Rotzaruck |
I don't recognize it, but I'm curious. We have a Tow Truck museum here in Chattanooga. Still haven't been there, but I used to look in the window of their old location and always have meant to go. http://www.internationaltowingmuseum.org/index.htm only pic I've got  | ||
| Rocketman |
You guys suck  GET SERIOUS Watch this. It's a little bit more on topic!!!  Rocket | ||
| Rocketman |
If it's not obvious, lol, you need to click on 'film clips' in the sidebar in the above link. I like the tilt and slide trucks the Yanks do. Here's one I saw for sale on eBay recently, and it was only 40 miles away.  Rocket | ||
| Mikej |
I think we're missing some info as to what exactly you're looking for. The first pic shows an ancient military looking rig that doesn't look entirely road-worthy and looks more like something I'd see in a commercial logging operation. Your second pic shows some big rigs which leads me to think you're looking for a bigger tow truck to tow big commercial tractor/trailer rigs on the roadways. Your third pic tells me you are planning on an Armaggeddon situation or else you're looking to go super-size off-roading, or perhaps you're going to attack Scotland. Your fourth pic implies that you're looking to tow small cars, sportscars, and motorcycles. So, what exactly are you looking for?????  | ||
| Mikej |
  Saw something like this on the freeway last week:  Maybe I need to do some reading on the subject:  How about something like this then?:  | ||
| Thumper74 |
Is that WWI air-air refueling?! | ||
| Mikej |
It came up as a "tow" search, so I think it's an air tow. | ||
| Swordsman |
Whoah... guess the "haulee" is just SOL if the cable snaps, huh?  ~SM | ||
| New12r |
Saw something like this on the freeway last week: My buddy Larry used to build those. | ||
| Rocketman |
The first pic shows an ancient military looking rig that doesn't look entirely road-worthy and looks more like something I'd see in a commercial logging operation. It's not entirely road worthy, but it is the front right corner of a Scammell Explorer 6x6 wrecker truck that I want to own for no good reason at all, other than I really like it. Your second pic shows some big rigs which leads me to think you're looking for a bigger tow truck to tow big commercial tractor/trailer rigs on the roadways. The American wrecker in the background is parked next to the hidden Scammell. I was hoping someone would have piped up screaming "that's an Antar" as I'm not entirely sure it is. All I know is whatever it is, it's American and weighs 20 tons. The Scammell is bigger! Your third pic tells me you are planning on an Armaggeddon situation or else you're looking to go super-size off-roading, or perhaps you're going to attack Scotland. You are indeed correct on all counts Mike Here's a better pic of what I've been looking at.  I thought there might be some BadWeBers who have hands on or first hand experience with wrecker trucks. If there are, I'd love to see what you've got. Rocket | ||
| Xl1200r |
Only experience I got is driving our shop's Ford F-350 Powerstroke wrecker. Sure had some good times in that. I remember once we tied it to one end of a left-for-dead Isuzu pickup, and an old GMC dump truck to the other end and pulled it in half. I remember snapping the winch cable trying to pull a bulldozer out of a swamp, half under water. I remember pulling a tree out of the ground and lifting the rear wheels 2 feet off teh ground trying to pull my mom's GMC Jimmy out of a ditch I put it in on Thanksgiving. Ah, the good 'ole days. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Sean, that's not an Antar, it's a "Mighty Antar", flat out about 25-30mph & about 3-4mpg. The Scammell's a bit better but not much, you'll still get bits for both through the military vehicle clubs. Just done a little digging back through some of my old books, & now I don't think it's an Antar but probably a Diamond T, A lot of them came over from the US as tank transporter prime movers, & when they got sold off were converted into wreckers, if I remember rightly it would have had a straight 8 petrol engine. Like the Scammell, not quick but will pull anything you care to hang on the back! here's a clean one http://www.electric-image.co.uk/mv/Trucks/DiamondT/dt980.html (Message edited by Mr_grumpy on November 02, 2007) (Message edited by Mr_grumpy on November 02, 2007) | ||
| Cowboy |
Many of those old motors were built by continental motors they were industrial motors used on stationary work.(pumps-sawmils- ect.) | ||
| Rocketman |
Innes, that sounds more like it. I wasn't convinced it was Antar, but American trucks are pretty much lost on me. The Scammell has a Rolls Royce motor. About 3 to the gallon. I've researched a little and understand many had Cummins diesels fitted. This 'Teales' one has spent many years working the M62. It was last out about 2 years ago. They tried getting the Scania down a twisty track to the bottom of a quarry but it was too long to get around the tight twists. The Scammell went down no problem, and pulled out a swamped cement mixer or some such truck. Effortlessly apparently. Mr Teale reckons its winch will pull anything out of anywhere, and the Scammell will go anywhere. Did you watch the video link above? The axle articulation is unreal. Those rear wheels are linked by a chain drive, making it possible to climb over vertical obstructions given the articulation. What's the score regarding driving it legally in the UK Innes? As a wrecker it needs no tax or MOT right? Would a wrecker exclude me from needing HGV so I can drive with my car license? That would be cool. Rocket | ||
| Doerman |
Sean, I think you truly have lost it! (In a very good sort of way!)  I think you would get along FINE in America, if you should so desire... Asbjorn | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
I'm not sure Sean you'll have to check with Swansea, the rules changed a few years back I think, in the old days you could have driven it on a car licence, with trade plates, but I don't know now. Gotta go off to sunny Spain with a fridge, hope I won't need one of those things at all. | ||
| Rocketman |
You know Innes, I should imagine the life of a truck driver in France must be a nice way to earn a living. Maybe I should take my HGV and emigrate, lol Rocket | ||
| Rocketman |
Asbjorn, I've always had a bit of a thing for wrecker trucks. I remember as an 8 or 9 year old kid, a friend had a Corgi Homes wrecker. I think that's my earliest memory of liking wreckers. Not far from me in a small village where an old petrol station use to be, they had a circa 1950's American pick-up truck wrecker sat for years just rusting away. I don't know what became of it, or what exactly it was. Lots of people I know in the trade can recall it, but no one knows what happened to it either. Whenever I see an interesting wrecker, I find it hard not to stop and look. I need to see a doctor. I've become a wreck I don't get out to the cinema as much as I should these days. To be honest there's not really that much I want to see on the big screen, until I've seen it on DVD later, then of course it's too late for the big screen showing. I did manage to catch Michael Mann's 'Heat' on the big screen some years ago. The opening scene where the wrecker truck T bones the security van was superb. That scene is kinda lost on a TV. I think the wrecker they used was a White. Here's a closer look at the Scammell.  Rocket | ||
| Rocketman |
Here's a closer look at the American wrecker.  Rocket | ||
| Stingaroo |
Great find! The truck on the left is very rare indeed! I have been big into WW2 vehicles for about 10 years, Dad and I have a couple. The American truck looks like a World War Two Diamond T, 12-Ton, 6X4, M20, Model numbers vary; 980-981. It would have been originally equiped with a Hercules Model DFXE, 4cycle, 6cylinder diesel, displacing about 893 cu in. They only get about 2 miles per gallon, and have a top speed of about 25mph! Heres a link to one restored; http://www.armycarsusa.com/diamond_t981.htm The the wrecker model of that truck was also made by Diamond T would be 6x6, 4ton, adn run a Herculies RXC 521 cu in. gas engine. The truck beside it looks awesome,are there any data plates on the dash/glove box of either truck? (Message edited by stingaroo on November 06, 2007) | ||
| Rocketman |
I'm hoping to get across there tomoz and drop the owner a little gift I bought him. I'll ask questions and post back. Have you been here? If not, you will find it interesting!!! http://www.milweb.net/index2.html Thanks for the info. Stand by. Rocket | ||
| Badlionsfan |
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| Interex2050 |
Rocket, It looks like there is hope of driving one with a car license... And the prospect of MOT exemption... Take a look at the third line in the description: http://www.milweb.net/webverts/30839/ Speaking of which I would not mind having one of those... | ||
| Rocketman |
Now I'm in trouble, lol. Ta for that keen bit of observation dude! Rocket |
