burnstransport

10th digit of vin code is year, g = 86. I have been towing junk cars almost every day for 10 years so by now i've memorized most model year vin codes, but some of the older stuff I have to write out long hand . . . . . A is 80, B is 81, C is 82, etc. etc. 2001 and up are easy it's just the last digit of year i.e. 4 = 2004. Back on topic . . . . it's an 86

Nice pics just curious what does one of those machines weigh? Just the shape and the cab of those 4WD tractors makes them look like a real behemoth but I'm guessing that if the one-ton towed it OK that it's prob a lot lighter than it really looks. Never seen a Versatile up close so was just wondering.

I really got to wonder after paying the replacement cost on all the bashed up under trailer fairings, rear door fairings, etc, and lost revenue from the truck being at the repair shop, are these companies really "saving money" or simply saving fuel just for the sake of building "carbon credits" with their local senators and ringing that silly "going green" cowbell????? seems easier to just drill oil here in America but thats another topic for another thread I guess. . . . .

True that, if it doesn't blow a lot of coal through that chimney on the upshift it probably needs attention somewhere. I've discovered that the hard way, for 5 years I was driving this truck thinking it was gutless but figured it was OK since it didn't smoke a lot, turns out that was the indicator of a problem . . . . . fixed a bad control line to the puffer bimbo now we got both SMOKE and POWER, wish I found that five years ago

Wow that is dedication right there! That "OVERSIZE" banner seems a little unnecessary haha

As for resisting the urge to downshift too soon, I'd recommend waiting for that engine to really start complaining before downshifting, trust me you'll know it when it happens

Yeah that wide rpm split took me lots of time to get used to in the 300 maxidyne / maxitorque combination especially the timing part since the tach doesn't always work in the truck I drive. Many days I'd get out of the Chevy Kodiak Cat / 6spd Fuller and jump in the Mack for a quick trip and would feel like I had to learn to shift all over again, it just seems so agonizingly long waiting for the rpms to drop down enough before grabbing the next gear compared to a Fuller 6 spd or even an 8LL. If I started the day in the Mack I would be alright it was only when driving something else all day then getting into it in the afternoon that I would feel like a greenhorn grinding my way down the road I must admit it's a powerful combination when properly tuned up!

I couldn't have said it any better!

Was the Dr. in the next room? LOL reminds me of the scene from Porky's

What if it was 250'? Think I can justify it then?????? Just asking After all it's only an hour away!

They've got it all backwards, they've [politicians] forgotten that they are elected to SERVE the country, not to take all the credit, glory, and oh yeah tax funded salaries, pensions and health insurance for their HONOR of holding elected office!

Securing our borders has got to be a #1 priority!!! Without that everything else we do is gonna be a moot issue! Glad to see Americans speaking out on the truth of what our land really has become, let's hope we can save it before its too late!

Congrats on the photo op! Beautiful truck, well deserved to be on the calendar!

I had one of these trucks, it was a '75 and it had the fire engine version 549 ci V8 (higher compression) what a powerful truck! Mine was a ramp truck and boy was it bullet proof! Wish I had the roof A/C like this one

Two very unique trucks! Not too many Macks out there as tow trucks it seems, always a refreshing change when I stumble across one!

Yep. How did you guess?

Unfortunately I think he may be afraid of losing the "moderate" vote by attacking Barack. Seems to me he may be underestimating the power of the "conservative" vote with this thinking . . . . .

years ago I remembered hearing an old adage about the DRIPtroits, "If they ain't leakin' they ain't runnin'". Certainly seems to hold true in this photo

Those rear wheel spokes are flat, indicating they are cut down steel wheels with rubber tires added on by the local blacksmith. Original rubber wheels were round spoke, as are the ones up front. During 30s and 40s tractors commonly had rubber tires up front for easier steering, this helped cut down on cost as rubber rears were super expensive. The ones with the spoke flywheels were VERY rare as they were only made for the first year or two, hence their value. If it is old enough to have the brass s/n plate that adds to the value, as I recall they were done away with by about 1935. Most electric start models were made after 1938 or 1939 (I believe, don't hold me to it) so it will most likely have the galvi s/n plate. The sheet metal, fenders, intake and exhaust stacks, all appear to be correct for the period and in good shape, those are usually the biggest factors determining the tractor's value after the condition of the engine or transmission. As for what it's worth, I stopped following the two cylinder John Deere market almost 18 years ago (ironically the same time I discovered trucks and girls. . . . . . . hmmmmmm funny how that worked out ) so what it's worth is anyone's guess, but I'd go out on a limb and say $5000 is probably the high end of the spectrum, D models like this one were so incredibly common since their production spanned over 20 years with only a couple major changes and this one is a common example. As I recall the electric start diesel two cylinders and the unstyled G's always commanded the highest dollar amounts right up there with spoke flywheel D's, also certain GP models were big $$, all the other models were pretty commonplace. This is all from memory in the back of my cobweb filled brain box so if I missed anything please point it out

Almost forgot, gotta love the (.)(.) shots thrown in sporadically for good measure

I gotta admit I've been a big follower of another web forum for the towing industry, and I must admit I LOVE this site because unlike the other site I follow nobody is uptight here and nobody tries to judge everyone else or throw anyone under the bus. The other forum I follow is so full of "I can do it better because your picture doesn't show x - y or z" and keyboard gangsters who pound on their chests telling everybody who posts a photo how dangerous and unprofessional they are that it's gotten to the point I hate to even post anything on there, and I've got 10 years experience in the industry! Everyone is so busy telling everyone else what laws they broke instead of giving them credit for solving real life situations. But I digress . . . . . . my point was this site is such a refreshing change because everyone here is easy going and they have my kind of dry sarcastic humor! So keep up the good work, it's a great site and one that everyone who participates in should be proud of! OH yeah, I also had the opportunity to learn a few tricks to help fix my truck. . . . .

Uhhhhh, ok now I'm really confused. . . . . .

You're not giving darkness adequate credit my friend

Looks like somebody slapped a ramp truck bed onto a road tractor without stretching the frame appropriately, looking at the side shot the center of the bed is AFT of the rear axle centerline, this truck will not have enough steer axle weight anytime you load the bed. Maybe it's a photo illusion but I don't think so. Just my $0.02, take it for what they're worth