dave41855

Here's a couple of photos of my old Mack. The photos of it with a bunk are just after I bought it. I kept it on after buying it for a couple of months until one day the mounts holding it broke. It was a home-built unit that, while it worked, it wasn't all that big. Photo 4 shows that it doesn't have a bunk and is the "in-between" version. It was still white but I had at the time been investing money in it. I had finished the cab interior, added heated mirrors and a few other little things to it. I also had the two 125 gallon aluminum fuels tanks but had yet to install them. It was a really good running truck, had good power and it would cover the road well. I knew the original owner who bought it new and he told me he set it up for a road tractor. It had a 300+ in it with a Fuller 13 over trans and Hendrickson rear suspension. He had intended to put an Able Body 36" sleeper on it but never did. I have more photos of it and I'll keep searching for them. I have them somewhere around here! Dave

It sure does look like a tarp doesn't it.......

Not sure where or how I ended up with this photo but I thought I'd share it with everyone. It's an old (date unknown) photo of a B-Model from "down under" pulling a road train. I have not a clue as to what would have been hauled in those trailers, however, willing to bet that once loaded, the gross weight of this train would have been quite heavy indeed!! Anyone have an idea as to what those trailers would be hauling?? Dave in VT

Can anyone tell me if it is a federal and/or state DOT rule that every truck today must have those round convex mirrors out front either attached to the fender or stuck out on the side of the hood?? Are convex mirrors mounted on the door mirror frames not allowed or "politically correct" anymore? Dave

To my knowledge, the U700's indeed were built to accommodate vendor engines. I do believe that St. J did have some, yes, but Lord knows how many. The hoods were bigger (taller) to do this. See attached photos. The extra hood is visible in both the fenders and the narrow part of the hood top. I've been told that the Cummins 903 could not fit in a U700 because it was too wide. A Cat 3208 was the biggest V8 (other than a Mack V8) that could fit in there. Dave

Hi Mike. I have no idea if the owner wants to sell it but I'd lay odds that he wouldn't sell. He is a true "Mackaholic" like the rest of the family here. Stay tuned..... next week I'm scheduled to go look at what is said to be a BCR Mack. If all goes well, I just might become a Mack owner one more time!!

Yup they did James. Also there were quite a few (here at least) that had air starters. I recall standing by one on main street one day when the driver started one up. Almost filled my britches right then and there!!! You can still see one or two of their old trailers around the country if you look hard enough. Dave

It will start and run (sorta kinda) but needs a LOT of work. After it starts, the LARGE cloud of blue smoke that exits the pipe will choke ya, and we wonder how much is diesel exhaust and how much is oil smoke! To really get it fixed up and running in top shape again and usable it wouldn't take a lot of money to do it. All in all their first rebuild right after they bought it was done right and with a lot of tlc and love. And by them doing it like that, it shows today in it's overall condition. Wished I had the time, money and physical stamina to put it back on the road.... Dave in VT

Thanks J!!

Found these photos of Gary's old 1957 B-61 he and his brother rebuilt in the late 80's. The truck came from NJ originally and was a heavy dump truck. It became a "stable mate" to the small fleet we had. They removed the body, lengthened the frame, added the Neway tag axle and put an old Prentiss loader on it. They used it quite a lot up until the motor got tired and they had too many problems ongoing to rebuild the motor, so they parked it. Little by little the removed parts in prep for the rebuild which never came about. She sits today just as you see it here. That old Thermodyne just BEGS to be rebuilt and run again! Dave in VT

I take it Maccar has nothing to do with Mack, correct?

Here's a couple of photos I have of some St. J Trucking Macks. Not sure what model the old one is, but the others are a little U600 six wheeler and U600 ten wheeler. The main terminal and head office was right here in St. Johnsbury. St. J Trucking died tragically, sudden and for no real reason. Had upper management not had "sticky fingers" the company probably would still be going strong! Dave in VT

Ya dun read my mind!!!!!!!! I just MAY have found another one right cheer in VT no less than 10 miles from me!! Heard about an ole boy here who is supposed to have one stored in his barn under a tarp. IF that is true, and IF he would sell it, I just might have one of my own! This ole boy had several throughout his trucking years with oil tanks on their backs as he delivered home heating oil around this area. It would NOT surprise me at all if he indeed DID have his last truck. I mean what the heck, The Zibarski Brothers who started St. Johnsbury Trucking stored their first truck for YEARS until family found it and restored it back to original. Pretty sure it's an old L-series Mack with a box body on it. Used only for parades here now. I'll find a photo I have and post it. Dave

Very impressive work!!! Almost tempted to buy my old one back and have you fellas rebuild it!!! She sure is gonna look nice out on the road guys!! Be proud of the work you've done!!!! Dave in VT

Underdog, do you know what the model of it is?

Found out some new info on the net about Mack supplied kits to rebuilt B models into "R" models! Never knew they existed!!! How many of you ever heard of a Mack BCR Tractor?? Ya, me either! Mack supplied kits to people so they could update their old B model and make it look like a "new" R model. I have no idea how many were ever built or converted but I'd LOVE to see a real one! Dave in Vermont

There used to be a couple of fellas over in New Hampshire who had a dump truck business for years. Bob Peckett and his son Grady. They had a small fleet of old B61's and a couple of B81's, all green with heavy steel Gallion dump bodies on them. What I didn't know is that they were fairly new R models backdated with the B61 cabs and hoods!!!! All but one that is. Grady still had his first B81SX all whole and as built which I think he still has, the sole survivor of the fleet, and "soul" survivor too!! She sure is pretty!!! Dave

Just when you think you have seen it all, some photos come along that defy explanation..... witness these Guess they were all built for the Dutch market, guess only three were ever built, and guess they all had 12V71 Detroit diesels in them. I couldn't even tell you what model designation they were given. Does anyone know?? Also attached is a 4 axle R model Mack with 2 steer axles I've never seen before. Anyone know the model designation of this one?? Dave in Vermont

I agree Teamstergrrrl!! Over in Lancaster NH was a Mack dealer (still is I guess). One of the "ole boys" who worked there (an absolute wizard when it came to Macks) always claimed the HP was always rated at the rear wheels. I still agree. I could gross 89,000 to 90,000 with helmock for Glens Falls NY. Those of us who hauled there had several different brands of trucks. Macks, two KW's and 2 Autocars. My Mack had a 300+ with a Fuller 13 over. It had been custom ordered by another logger for heavy duty work. Steel double frame, 44 camelback rears and a 20 front. I pulled an old HEAVY BWS 9 tier solid floor trailer with it. Tare weight was close to 39,000!! Climbing Mendon Mountain loaded side by each with either of the KW's, they both had 350 Cummins with Fullers also. I could outpull both going up the hill but they sure could outdo me going down the other side. They had Jakes and I had a Dynatard. Ya I know, with Dynatards you could do more dragging your feet on the road than the Dynatard did, except make noise. I've driven several other trucks in my days but the R686ST always held a special spot in my heart. I miss my truck a lot and wished I still had it, but the GOOD thing is, it's still going strong almost daily and I get to see it usually once a week if not more. It also now has a companion. He kept saying my old "Log Dog" was lonely so he bought a "Dirt Dog" to keep it company! It's a "well broken in" Superliner dump! Photos of my old one and his new one are attached! Dave

My name is Dave and I live in Vermont. Owned my own R686ST and hauled logs, pulp, woodchips and some lumber mostly in New England. For the most part my adventures in trucking were all good, that is, until the last 2 or 3 years after the DOT began to clamp down on us!! 19 years behind the wheel and, thankfully, never had any type of fender-bender at all. Not long ago, a couple of us "ole boys" were sitting on the porch and as usual, the topic turned to trucks. And this brings me to my question. How did Mack TRUELY measure a trucks horsepower?? I had been told years ago they rated it at the rear wheels and not at the flywheel. Always figured that's why my little 300+ could outpull a 350 Cummins up Mendon Mountain grossing 90,000 with hemlock for Glens Falls NY. Any idea there fellas??? Dave in Vermont The attached is my old truck as she looks today with a dump body on it. Still going strong and working just about every day!