doubleclutchinweasel

Actually, I just found a brochure in my list showing an "R700S" tandem-axle truck that was not an "R700ST" tandem-axle tractor. So, they must have just decided not to use the "P" in some applications. That brochure was a 1972. But, I found other brochures as late as 1976 that still listed certain models as "P"s.

Yes, "T" would be a tractor. "P" would be a platform (straight truck). Not many "P" trucks around, from what I have seen. Mostly tractors. An "S" would definitely be a tandem. An "ST" would always be a tandem-axle tractor. An "S" could be attached to either "P" or "T", I suppose. But I don't know if I ever saw an "SP". "X" was heavy-duty. "SX" would be a heavy-duty tandem-axle. They used that same nomenclature through a lot of the models. B, F, R, U, DM, just to name a few. Another elegant system Mack used, that Volvo never gave a rat's rear about.

Can't go too far wrong that way!

Yes, the VIN should be on the outside of the RH frame rail, between the axle and the cab.

I never got to drive Herman's truck. Can't even remember if it was a B81 or a B83. First one I ever drove was a B61 belonging to Phillips & Jordan. My Dad had driven that particular truck from the time it was practically new. That's the one I learned to drive on. N/A Thermodyne (185HP?) and the 18-speed Quadruplex. First one I was ever paid to drive was the 1967 R611ST. 250HP Thermodyne and the same 18-speed Quad. Still, those B80's stick out in my mind. All the ones around there had the "oil field" fenders. Lots of them were triple-framed. Huge spring stacks. Some had the 22" wheels instead of the 20s. Noticeably taller than the B61's. Absolute beasts of trucks...with that same tiny little cab! Funny thing was that most of those operators painted the trailers to match the tractors. Herman's was red with a triple-axle Hyster lowboy painted to match. The B61 I learned on was yellow and black, with a yellow tandem-axle Hyster trailer. Almost like they had some pride in their rigs, ya' know? Of course, the white R611 just had the standard yellow Hyster tri-axle behind it. White tractor goes with anything, right? I can't wait to see hicrop can do with this one. I'll be riding down that memory lane every time he posts a picture on here. So, thanks for taking us along for the ride! Hurry up! More pictures!😄

Every time I see a red B80-series, I remember the one I rode in with my Dad when I was a little guy. It belong to Herman "Bull" West. That sucker would beat your brains out! Heavy, heavy built truck. Funny, they didn't seem all that old then. Of course, it WAS 50 years ago or so...

That made my head hurt...🤪

I traced the owners of that truck a while back. Found a few owners. But I never found where Carey Loftin ever owned it. But, records aren’t all that good from that time. Anything is possible. Carey Loftin was maybe the best stunt driver ever.

That reminds me of a time when I was still too young to drive. Was on a clearing job with my Dad. We were waiting on the fuel truck to show up. Seems like it was a C60 Chevy. Waited. Waited. Waited. He decided to back-track and see if the fuel jockey got lost or stuck somewhere. Found the fuel truck butt-down in a creek, having fallen through a covered bridge. Nose was just coming out of the bridge when the drive wheels found the weak point in the middle. Splash! Nose up on the edge of the bridge, tail in the water. Seem to recall it took a bit of doing to get it up out of there.

"If you've ever fished with a shotgun..."

Is the oil pressure relief valve boned and pumping stupid high pressure up there?

Dave Mueller sounds familiar. Not sure why.

Used to work for a guy who gave the worst directions! He’d tell you to look for some cattle and turn right past them. If they moved, you were hosed! Or look for the red car and then turn right. Hope they didn’t go to town. One time, I was driving his lowboy. He told me very specific things to look for. Little dirt road on the left. Cross a bridge over a little creek. Then a white house on the right. Then a red barn on the left with a silo next to it. Finally, “The road you want is about 1/4 mile before that.” Well, you couldn’t see the barn when you passed the road. At least 4-5 more curves before you could even see it. WTF?! 1/4 mile the other way? Turned out to be at least 3/4 mile! And absolutely nowhere to turn around. Backing that stupid thing back up a tiny, crooked 2-lane road. Trying not to back into anybody else that might have had the misfortune to be coming the other way. Wide load. Can’t see s#!t. Nobody to flag for me. Awesome! Good times!

If directions to your house begin with the phrase, "Go to the end of the paved road, and then..."

Yep. Sure enough.

Engine is straight. Truck, camera, and ground are tilted.

As John C. Fogerty once said, "Oh Lord, I'm stuck in Lodi again."

I’ll never forget those cracker box Jimmies screaming at the top of their lungs. The smell was awesome…especially when hooked to a cattle trailer! LOL!

There ya’ go!!!

Yeah. That's pretty weird!

No kidding!

If you've ever converted a Cadillac to a pickup truck...

Yes, Geoff. One was older. One of the ones where the red button stayed in was a ‘67. The last one I had, where the red button popped with the yellow button, was a ‘70. Not sure how that aligns with the new regulations. Not sure if those setups were factory on both or not. I only drove 1 truck that had all 3 buttons. It was a Peterbilt. I can't remember for sure if the blue, tractor brake button popped out when the yellow was applied. But, I don't THINIK it did. But I can't remember that for certain either way. Funny how the older the memory, the clearer.

Oh, on both of those, the yellow button still applied tractor and trailer brakes when pulled. The yellow “system” button was first in line. So, when it was pulled, it dumped air out of both systems and applied the brakes. The only difference was whether or not you had to push the red trailer brake valve in after you pushed the yellow button in.