Mack58B42

I'm always a little surprised when I see single axle B-81 dumps. Seems like overkill unless you're hauling gold or lead..... But they're still beautiful!

If I had inside storage, I'd be all over that.....

Nice! If you'd like to get it on the B-model registry, feel free to send me the truck info, or you can go to the site and find the data entry form: http://www.mackb-modelregistry.com/ The twin stick is tough at first, but it won't take you long to find your way around the gears, and to figure out the best way to maximize performance while minimizing the number of shifts. Running empty, you certainly won't need anywhere near all the gears.... I miss mine - I was just starting to get good at it when I sold it....

Rob - that's a nice looking truck! Glad to see that you're still actually working it. Maybe a 'slow moving' banner is something to consider if my next rig ends up being a slow-poke. Like you say, at least then there's no surprises, and would let people know that when they hit a passing zone, they should take full advantage! How does it do on hills when you've got it loaded up?

Oh, I personally don't mind going slow, but I live on a very busy road in a touristy area where people like to go fast, so it got frustrating having people blowing their horns and trying to pass in dangerous areas. My biggest issue with the B-42 wasn't power - that thing would pull a house down - but as soon as you'd hit a grade of any type, it would start losing speed, and on a 'real' hill, I'd be in 2nd gear doing about 20 before I got to the top. That was frustrating for both me AND the tourists! Maybe my 401 was just a bit tired, but for my next truck, I'm hoping for something that, if it only goes 42 or 43, will be able to hold that speed, at least on mild grades, like my B-85 does. And while I'd like a diesel for my next one, if I can find a nice classic like the A30 for the right price, I'll pull the trigger and just deal with the speed issues if that's the case again. Unfortunately the one I was looking at yesterday online seems to be gone today, but I'm glad that I have some more info on the A series now - I think I'd buy one if another came along, because they're a great looking truck....

I used to have a b-model single axle dump with the 401 and low gearing, and from the few comments I can find about the A30, it was just about as underpowered with the 331 as the B was with the 401. Hydraulic brakes always make me a bit nervous, but I guess if you're only able to go 40mph, it does sort of limit the amount of trouble you can get into even if the brakes aren't the best. And we're by the ocean, so it's pretty flat around here. I think that my neighbor is going to have more interest in this truck than I am, but if he ends up passing, I may take it, as I've been thinking that I want to get another single axle dump to putter around in. A local excavation contractor that has a 50s era White dump just passed away, and I'm also trying to find out what's going to happen to that. I tried to buy it a couple years ago, but he woudn't sell, so that's when I bought the B-42, which I then traded in toward my current B-85. I've been watching, but haven't been seeing any decent single axle Bs of any type for sale recently, never mind with a diesel and air brakes, which is what I'd really like.....

Yeah, wiring scares me. I try to avoid it.....

Hey - that looks like something even a non-mechanic like me could do.... If only all truck projects were that straightforward!!

Well, that doesn't sound too bad. Might have to investigate further..... Thought that was the motor, but I don't hear much mentioned about that one, so didn't know what parts availability might be. Thanks!

I've run across an A30H for sale that looks interesting, but I can't find much info on them. Anybody have any basics, such as gvw (it's a single axle dump), likely motor and running gear, can parts be found for them, etc.....?

I'd never heard of Frank Tewfell before I ran across these. Is he a fairly well known print-maker? Didn't find much about him on-line either. I've got about 2-dozen prints, all in pretty much mint condition. Here are a few of them, including the only two of Macks.....

I used to not like the B75s at all, but they've really been growing on me lately. These are two great examples, and I'd be happy to own either of them....

I also use Hagerty for my B85. Very easy to work with so far. Hope I never have to find out if that holds true if I have to file a claim!

Agreed - done up just right.....

We will also be acquiring it for next to nothing, but besides the body/trim deterioration, it also has mechanical issues at this point and may need a new set of injectors/pump. If that's the case, it'll probably not be worth keeping as a fire truck, and that would mean selling it to someone who can turn it into a dump trunk and make the mechanical repair costs back. On the bright side, my friend just bought a large industrial building, so at least it will be inside while we evaluate our options..... But we're going to try to keep it if we can. He is still a member of the department, but didn't drive it, so while he'd like to save it (he already has one of their retired trucks), he doesn't quite have the emotional attachment to it that I do, since I was pretty much its lone driver for its last 5 years of service. I like Hahns, too. I had a chance to buy a nice one just out of service a few years back, but same issue - it wouldn't fit in my garage. My door height is only 8'-6". My goal was a 10' door, but when digging the foundation we hit ledge, and I couldn't afford to blast out 2' of ledge at the time, so had to settle for a 9' door, which is actually only 8'-6" (which I found out the hard way!).

Hi Day, Nice truck - B-model wreckers are always good looking rigs. Would you like to have your truck listed on the B-Model Registry - a place to try to document all the B-models still showing signs of life? If so, you can send me your VIN via PM, or you can go to the registry website and fill in the data form, and I'll get you listed. If you're not comfortable listing your personal info, that's fine, but it would at least allow us to know that your truck is still out there.... Here's a link to the site if you'd like to check it out: http://www.mackb-modelregistry.com Thanks! Mike

I drove an '85 International pumper when I was active in my department, and it had a Detroit 671. Loved that thing! Sure, when you started it up it would put out a cloud of smoke that would kill anyone within 300 feet, and if I was home (2 miles away) and someone else took it out for a spin (which not many could do - it had a 10-speed Road Ranger that about only 3 of us in the department could drive) I could definitely hear it leaving the station with no doubt about what truck it was. But in the 7 years that I drove it before it went out of service, it was pretty much the most trouble-free engine we had, and very forgiving - you could lug that thing down to 5mph in 7th or 8th going around a corner, and it didn't much care - just punch it (there's that cloud of smoke again!) and it would pick up right where it left off.... I pumped it at quite a few fires, and I still miss driving it. I wanted to buy it when it went out of service, but it wouldn't fit in my garage. It's for sale now, but it's been sitting outside for about 8 years, and the seasons have taken their toll. If things go as planned, a friend and I will take ownership, but we'll have to evaluate the cost to restore it. I have a feeling the next stop on its journey might be a conversion to a dump truck, unfortunately.... On the opposite end of the "loudness" spectrum, we also had an '84 Pierce/Ford cabover with a CAT 3208 that I think is the quietest truck I've ever driven. I've been in cars that were louder than that thing was. It was slow as molasses on the road, but sure was smooth!

Great looking truck! And came off the line not too long after mine.... I've got 1216, but it's got an enclosed cab, and a pump panel that's not quite as busy as yours.

jdiesel25, If you have a VIN for it, I'd love to get it (or update it) on the B-Model Registry.... http://www.mackb-modelregistry.com Thanks! Mike

Wow - that's a unique piece!

I'm more of an antique guy, and don't drive or fix modern rigs, but I have certainly always appreciated that the Titan is a great looking heavy duty truck, sort of along the lines of what the Superliner was back in its day. Too bad to hear that it will be discontinued. If I WERE in the market for that type of truck, I'd certainly be hoping that Mack would offer enough affordable spec options to make it attractive to a wider audience, but it sounds like they sort of limited themselves on what was available. Too bad for the heavy duty truck market.....

I agree - whenever the weather will allow it, I plan to stay on my schedule of getting it out at least every two weeks. In my experience, letting a truck sit for long periods of time is one of the worst things for it. Got to keep everything moving so it stays lubed/greased/oiled as it should be.... Plus, it's just plain fun to drive around! Looks like for us the Nor'easter will just be a rain event down here on the southern coast of NE. Hope so, 'cause my gut's not ready to lift the plow onto the Jeep yet....

Hope everyone that celebrates Christmas had a good one.... It got fairly warm here (45 deg), so I pulled the rig out of the garage and took it to Christmas dinner. My cousin had his son with him, who's a newly minted diesel mechanic and truck fan, so he was glad to finally see it, and I let him drive it a bit on an out-of-the-way road in town. It put a bit of a strain on my gut to steer it, which may not have been the best idea at this point in my appendectomy recovery, but it was still fun to have it out.

Hi Tom, If you'd like to send me your data, I'd be glad to get your truck on the B-Model Registry so the world knows that it still lives! You can just post it here, PM me, e-mail me at jeeprider01@yahoo.com, or go to the website and fill in the form: http://www.mackb-modelregistry.com You can make as much or as little of that data public as you'd like... Thanks - Mike

Their website lists it as a 1986 unit.... Typo?