Jamaican Bulldog

22 hours ago, Maxidyne said:

Most of these "chop shopped" road tractors converted to dumps were running on the roads of Florida. I've seen what started out as a highway tractor with 12k and 40k axles fitted with super singles on the front with no upgrade of the axle or brakes, maybe a fishplate or doubling up of the frame from around the cab back (perhaps to hide the spliced frame) and a pusher axle with duals. Thus a 52k GVW truck can legally (until Florida checks axles, brakes, etc.) run at 73,280 pounds!

Wow, I did not know the standards could be so lax in any state, especially where they can also be running 70 mph down the highway!

Ford's recent dealer meeting in Vegas....clarity....meh🙄. So now the company is going to show more commitment to customer loyalty than conquest. It does not take rocket science to figure out how to do BOTH. Ford always think it needs to compromise one over the other and that itself says again why the company is in trouble and have people running it who do not understand the business they are in and their real customers or market. Trying to spin the downturn on steel tariffs is just a distraction from their own inadequacies. They have failed to leverage valuable global assets to make it more profitable, blind to see obvious areas where they bleed money and customers like having a crappy double clutch transmission for years, assuming everyone will want CUVs the same way they thought a few years ago every pick up truck buyer only wanted a full size truck.

3 hours ago, Maxidyne said:

I see a lot of those chop shop built "dump trucks" in Florida too- The super single front tires on a model like the CX or T600 that never offered them as OEM is a dead giveaway. Wish Florida DOT and State Patrol would get these death traps off the road!

It could be too that these 'chop shop built' trucks have an export market in Florida. I remember seeing alot of American trucks in the Caribbean that were shipped out of FL ( closer to Caribbean and SA so cheaper shipping) as tractors converted to dumps. You guys would cringe if you saw some of the tractors that were actually stretched and converted in the Caribbean .

Tractors were cheaper to buy than trucks actually spec-ed to be built as dumps and also import duties on tractors were also cheaper.  Some were done right with creative upgrades but it was always obvious that for some of others the chassis, suspension, rears, gear ratios  etc were not made to have dump body put on them and so some operators would learn the hard way later. More so, there were little no regulations there for overweight etc so many were eventually overloaded because they looked 'heavy' and strong.

Back to the original 'Vision' I saw in NY though, the frame etc looked heavy spec. I am still wondering if someone put a Vision cab and hood on a CH or CL chassis. 

5 hours ago, Mackpro said:

I believe the first couple of years the CX Vision was introduced you couldn’t even get Mack rears in them. But I do know that where I worked, we took lots of used CX Vision trade ins and pulled the sleepers off and beefed up the front springs, and slid Camelbacks under the rear end and put dump beds on them . I think we even had a local steel company bend us some frame rails so we could double frame them. I’d say we did at least 10 of them. We had a large local trucking company that would trade in 10-15 CX’s at a time and we had to do something with them. 

Hmm, maybe this was one of them because it fits the look of the conversion you described. I did not get to take a pic, but even if I do I can't load pics on here for some reason. i might see it again because he driver seem to pick up lunch at a place where I go sometimes. The truck was silver and had  Hempstead NY Company name, but i have seen it in Mount Vernon NY a few times.

Here is a few for sale in Florida with camel back and mack rears. Probably converted but without 'Vision' name on side of cab. The one I saw looked similar but with bigger tires normally seen on a CL https://www.ertruck.com/trucks/?vid=2472#.W8zP2C2ZNPM

7 hours ago, james j neiweem said:

There are many vision and CH dump trucks in various parts of the country. Generally they are lighter speced and not as pricey as  RD's CL's DM's and granites. They were fairly popular in farm country and out west. Generally you might say they were the for runners of the MHD. Most were 12k fronts  38 rears and lighter frames. There may have been a 44k rear option on some. You don't see many of them out east. I never saw one with  planetary rears.

Yep like you referred they must be rare out her win the east. The Visions I used to see displayed at shows and around always seemed to  have non Mack rears like Meritor. The one I saw not only had Mack rears but also a heavy looking camel back suspension and big tires.

I was surprised to see a Mack Vision Dump around NY which looks like a spec-ed heavy tri axle with a 427 stamped on the side next the 'Vision' and with Mack planetary rears. I thought that maybe  someone did a cab swap onto a CL or CH but when I googled I saw more pics of them.

I was around at the Mack launch of the Vision in the early 2000s and even drove one around the lot at an event in Hagerstown for a $1. I only remembered seeing them spec-ed as over the road tractors and maybe a few straight axle trucks with Vision label but not as a heavy spec-ed tri- axle dump. I only remembered seeing CH axle forward and CL spec-ed as heavy chassis for dumps with the new style cabs along with the older R and DM models at the time. 

How where these heavy spec-ed Vision chassis compared to the heavy CH and CL ? Where they a short run? The Vision nose certainly looks good on a heavy chassis.

33 minutes ago, 41chevy said:

That half is only the federal tax still got State of N.Y. and NYC tax and what ever borough or county tax .  take the 2 million you'll end up with and buy an older MACK you like and have it made better than new.

Lmao! such a more practical approach. The 'little' left after taxes may just be enough to save some old Macks from scarp yards or that were left derelict and restore to take to shows. 

http://fordauthority.com/2018/10/ford-ranger-raptor-not-coming-to-america/

Ford Raptor NOT coming to North America. Not sure if I believe this, they could easily put the 2.7 ecoboost or the 400hp 3.0 liter that will most likely be in its chassis-mate Explorer. These specialty vehicles brings in a lot of profits for Ford and the truck is already developed.

I figured I would have some fun and ask this question here because it seriously crossed my mind. If I (or anyone else here) won the powerball $1 billion would it be enough to buy Mack and would it be worth it if the aim is to again make it a true American brand of top quality and innovative trucks to compete globally?

Of course there are many lucrative things one could invest a billion in or what ever  is left after tax, but could a stand alone Mack be profitable and viable in this day an age? I think even if it was weaned from Volvo it may still need joint venture partners. I am not sure how much Mack is worth but If I won and could buy it for a price while having millions left to invest in other profitable ventures I would do it and tap the passionate brain trust here to get it going. I am sure others here are probably thinking the same 😀

Very odd to see a re-badged GM truck as an International especially since the history with Ford was not long ago. I still think Ford should still have offered a cab over class 4/5 after their divorce. 

23 hours ago, kscarbel2 said:

It would have been more beneficial if Ford had kept Volvo car.

Not so sure about Volvo, at the time it seemed to make sense to sell it because the core Ford brand was being neglected while it spent alot on Volvo etc. Also selling off those brands helped Ford to be in a better position to not take bailout. However, there could also be an argument that since they spent so much they should have kept it and JLR. The Chinese  and Tata are now benefiting from those investment. The Volvo platform that still underpins the current Explorer and Taurus vehicles were expensive but Ford didn't benefit as much as synergies with Mazda. I think Ford made a better bang for the buck on the number of successful platforms and engines they produced with Mazda especially for low profit overseas market and small cars. The Ford Focus for example would have been even more successful if Ford had shared the skyactiv powertrain with Mazda rather than lose market share and tarnish the Focus's reputation with the troublesome double clutch transmission they had used to help compete for better mpg. Actually some of the current ecoboost 4cyl engines were derived from  engines originally developed or sourced from Mazda.

Regarding the VW-Ford possible tie up. We constantly get people trying to trade out of their VWs due to constant quality problems and the they are expensive to diagnose and fix. It would have been more beneficial to Ford to keep its joint venture with Mazda. Both brands benefited especially Ford who derived some of its most successful vehicles in the last 20+ yrs from Mazda platforms such as first gen Fusion, Escape, Edge and their Lincoln siblings plus 4cyl engines. Not to mention models sold outside of N/A.

On 10/11/2018 at 12:30 AM, m16ty said:

Ford must have changed his tune, or at least didn't mind reaping profits of Hitler's defeat. Ford was heavily involved in the war effort, being the major supplier of Jeeps, among other things.

 

I made the  same point a few years ago when I had a couple looking for a pre-owned SUV. Based on the description of their needs and price point I pointed a low mileage Lincoln MKX. They promptly scoffed " Ugh, that means it is made by Ford and Henry Ford supported Hitler". In the same breath they said "we prefer this MAZDA over here". I thought to myself about this couple, if a Lincoln today bothers you based on  'Hitler' context of yesterday why wouldn't a Japanese car? 😏 

20 hours ago, yarnall said:

Most of the trucks in the boneyard were not used in the business.  In the past I believe Roger Gerhart has bought trucks to sell, to save from the scrap dealer or just because he liked them.  I have not noticed any new acquisition recently.  He is a really nice guy.  If you see him you should ask him. Mike. 

Good idea, next time I will try to meet him. He must have some interesting stories.

32 minutes ago, yarnall said:

They boneyard is definitely a highlight for me. I have taken pictures of the same trucks year after year.  Things used to change more frequently but not much has changed since last year.  They do sell the old trucks, but only whole.  No parts.  A couple trucks have been listed for a decade and have not gotten any better.  Some kids got in there about two years ago and broke a lot of glass.  That is really sad to see.  Some emblems have disappeared too.  If you saw something back there that you liked, give them a call. Mike. 

Do you know if these trucks were all used by them or do they buy old trucks and to save or flip them?

One of  the fascinating things at Gerhart's truck show were the old unrestored trucks in the back which seemed like an old truck graveyard. I tried to upload pics here but it doesn't work. Some looked far gone but some looked like they could be restored. Sadly some looked vandalized. After browsing the Gerhart's website I was happy to see that some of these trucks are for sale. Not sure how often they update the website but I saw some while at the show. 

Do Gerharts routinely buy old neglected trucks for re-sale or are these all from the company's own operation? The Euclid that was moving around dirt is on sale and so is the massive Terex that was parked near the entrance. There was an interesting single yellow axle V8 U series tractor with dump trailer in the back and a steel nose DM 600 series tractor in a garage, but they do not show on the site as being for sale. There was also an old unrestored DM800 mixer that seemed like it has been sitting for a while by it self out to side of the property. Hopefully these trucks will end up restored and at shows.

 http://www.gerhartmachinery.com/equipment/road-trucks/              road trucks

http://www.gerhartmachinery.com/equipment/off-hwy-hauling-units/      off road trucks

21 minutes ago, Red Horse said:

Not sure I follow you here.  Now recognizing that some say the Ecoboost should more properly be called ...'Eco-or boost" I think when driven with a reasonable foot, they do provide good power and reasonable economy.  I think "reasonable' is key here-too many guys just have to have their foot in it all the time.  

I remember listening to drivers bitching that the 350's we bought just did not have enough power.  My comment was always.."yes and big power can be cost effective-as long as the guy driving it had a coin feed next to the gear shift to pay for the fuel as he continually had his foot in it across  the entire RPM band.

Yep that is true about how you drive the ecoboost. Even though I sell Ford's I always try to see what realistic  miles in real world driving you will get.  I drove a loaded F150 with the 2.7 ecoboost and 10 Spd to FL from NY for a relative who was moving. Every space that could fit something had something including power generators and tools. I got a combined 23mpg all they way to FL. It still had nice acceleration, torque and fuel economy and I was going 75 mph whenever I could.

I drive a Fusion Sport which has the 2.7 ecoboost and AWD but a 6sp. I get a combined 21 to 22  which is only 1mpg different from the 2.0 ecoboost in my previous Fusion Titanium. However on my 3hr each way trip to Gerhart last Saturday I got a combined 28 mpg for the whole trip. It was  actually giving me 31 to 32 on the highway when I was passing Allentown then dropped to combined 28 because of the secondary road driving. At 33k miles it does get better mileage now than the first months of being new.

Today I drove the refreshed 2019 Edge 2.0 with the new 8 sp. It was smooth and torquey and can see why the 3.5 normally aspirated is no longer necessary. I averaged 28mpg on highway on a short trip.

Some customers complain about the ecoboost mpg but more often than not most love it compared to previous bigger engines. How you drive them makes a big difference. You do not have to stomp on them to get torque rise especially the newer ones with dual scroll turbo and/or with multi speed transmissions. 

I wonder why they would sell this truck?

1 hour ago, Yoos Brothers Construction said:

I know who has the white magnum and it is a true documented magnum. I heard he wanted something like 85k.

 

I assume the beautiful Yoos Brothers blue R model dump was yours. Very nice

1 hour ago, Vladislav said:

Good thing i couldn't get to Gerhards show this year

Haven't you make a picture of that R700?

 I took loads of pics included the R700 but for some reason my pics can never get loaded on here even when smaller that the max size allowed

23 hours ago, AZB755V8 said:

That is a beautiful truck in and out!!! I did see the for sale sign in a Gerhart's photo. It is NOT a Magnum but done to an extreme level. I would really like to know the price on that white truck? I have admired it for years.

Oh, so true. I always admired it too. I only noticed the for sale sign when I  was leaving but the number was not very pronounced and I did not see anyone around to ask. Plus I don't have the money anyway to buy something like that and wouldn't want to waste too much of any ones time, but I was curious. Thanks for clarifying its not a Magnum. You are right they did an excellent job making it look like one.

On a different note I did see a western style R 700 for sale with a V8 there. It was on a flat bed and someone had it running. The price was $4100. it seems someone started some restoration work to the frame but it still needed some work.

There was white Mack Magnum for sale recently at the Gerhart show in P.A but not sure how much it was going for. In great shape and is a frequent visitor at Macungie too. It normally has a trailer with a small camper on it.

6 hours ago, Back In Black Pulling said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoNyd72Tz8U

Excellent! Just excellent! Is this truck set up for racing etc..different rears? Thank you for posting. Did not know you were on here. Glad to know.

I am hoping someone was closer and had a better video of the burn out than I did.

It was a great show. One big highlight was the Superliner magnum doing a burnout when it was leaving. I have to crop the video too large to upload.

Othewise it was cool to see the old loaders and Euclid working. I was also fascinated by the old unrestored trucks in and behind the barn. Some look far gone or just for parts.