ranchhopper

Its a fact the civil war was fought over states rights not slavery it just sounded better to add that to the list.

We run R and RD models hauling gravel to the yard everyday eight loads a day each 45 mile round trip per load. Our old trucks run the most miles all day while the CH and visions haul manholes and pipe less than half the mileage our old R do and we have less problems with the old trucks. Our oldest is an 87 and mine is the newest and its 17 years old if I were an owner operator give me an old superdog or R model any day over a vision. I'm not big on having to have the air ride and other niceties just a good reliable mechanical engine truck that most old school guys like me can work on and don't need an engineering degree. Most guys forgot what makes the money is plain simplicity these kids who cant run a truck unless its got 500 or better horses under the hood and cold AC are not real truck drivers most couldn't jury rig a truck to cripple it back in the shop now they have to be rescued with a wrecker. I can get down off my soap box now I have expressed how I feel about the new age "trucker"

2 hours ago, Lmackattack said:

Good eye John , that is odd ...It must be that this was a early design the grill mesh looks the same but if does not have the flat planes around it. it also sports the early RS/RL 700 Hood with no provision for the lower grill extending down into the bumper.

Has to be early 70 steel dash and tube type tires.

9 hours ago, david wild said:

Isn't it funny that this country was built with those little engines and others that were even smaller, yet somehow today the average nitwit needs a 550 cat in a 10 wheeler to get around town ??????

That's because they are in a big hurry to get to the next stop light. Brakes shoes and drums must be cheap the way they drive today.

9 hours ago, storkmack said:

When I first got my CDL I ran with the truck Ranchhopper is talking about.  It kept up, or didn't pull away from my 84' ex-Plote R model  300,6  sp, 4.17 rears. 

Was this truck an ex F Smith cartage truck their paint scheme is the same to this day.

I believe it does have a 300 it is a tip turbine set up has a hood scoop too I guess I'm going to have to take a ride and check it out.

I was having a conversation with someone today that said he has an old 1973 mack he wants to sell. He said it was painted gold at the factory and they made very few of them as advertising pieces and to do shows with. Its a 73 R model he said they only made somewhere around 200-250 of them problem is the frame has been cut off at the drives. He has only the front of the truck from the bumper to where the drive axles were. Question is did they really make such a truck and what are they worth.

https://northmiss.craigslist.org/atq/6119561376.html Saw this on CL not mine but interesting.

When a state contract comes up for bid and its total value is over 1 million you have to be a union contractor if not don't even bid if your non union it will be thrown out its state law. Hows that for our democrat politicians steering state money to their money laundering arm of the democrat party?

10 minutes ago, Lmackattack said:

I have told you this before.... I remember that truck when it was fairly new. You were running past my house in Buffalo Grove many of times along with the Orange,yellow and black RS700L.

Al must have been running with ole Rusty that day.

The motto for all those union slugs is always been less work for more money or maybe it the proverbial "not my job'. I watch those lazy slugs that work for the great state of Illinois sit along the road in their trucks all day. Most of us put in more work in a day then the four of them combined sitting in that truck. One day there were four small potholes on a bridge deck to fill there was 14 trucks there and five guys doing the work while the rest sat in the trucks reading the paper hows that for hard work and whos leaching off of who I pay for their salarys with my taxes. No wonder we are the highest taxed place in the US and what a surprise the state is broke maybe if they get paid for the time they put in actually working things would be a bit different just my observation.

Illinois has issued a expanded antique plate for trucks as there is no weight restriction like regular antique plates. The truck can be driven anywhere anytime even with a load on it between march and November. You cannot drive it legally except during those months which if fine because there is nothing going on around here then anyways.

Its been my experience the older style latches are better the doors rattle in the jambs with the new ones. All our RDs at work mine included the doors rattle in the jambs its really irritating I have tried everything short of replacing the hinges to fix the problem.

7 hours ago, fxfymn said:

If you decide to bid make sure they come with a title. They look like surplus and the locality may be selling something they don't really own since the feds require that you return any surplus item that the locality was given by the feds to the feds for them to sell or re-distribute. In some cases the locality gets clear title and they can sell it on though.

The GSA is pretty good they always include a SF-97 with their wheeled things unless stated in the description usually the paperwork hits the mailbox in two or three days.

13 hours ago, Superdog said:

I'd sell it I guess if offer was good enough,I really didn't want to sell any of my 700"s if I could keep from it.

 

That's fine but if you ever feel the need to sell it PM me or holler at me on facebook.

Mike what are you going to do with the yellow steel dash RL you picked up a summer or two ago the one without rear axles.

59 minutes ago, mackey58 said:

Making  plans for the weekend road trip bet I ll work worked last Saturday  in elgin think I was last Tuesday  I was at I 80 and rt 30 in new lenox  going east on 80 to c n homewood  I saw  one of ranchhopper s boom truck and tag loaded  on rt 30 at 6 30 in the morning  man they roll early too.I keep  looking for the elusive  ranchhopper  when I'm in elgin

You have to run route 20 to see me I did see petermack today at 47 and 72 though.

The only problem with this is you will feel compelled to fill the open space up with more toys.

I have a radiator from my western R sitting in the shed if you need parts.

I remember when Kottke landscaping bought one in the 70s brand new with a 430 Detroit I always thought it was a real nice truck even though being a cornbinder.

I would like to get a set of steel chrome plated tube type wheels for my RS there are tons of new tube type 1100X20 G177 tires for sale from the military I can get them for 100 dollars apiece.