Vladislav

Paul, to me it seems like a good approach to relate description with a map. If you haven't lost interest in that look where Moscow first. Than Rostov-na-Donu, than Vladikaukaz (still in Russia). Than stretch from Vladikaukaz to Tbilisi (the capital of Georgia) is that portion of the road with the mountain pass and snow aside of the road. Than further I passed Georgian city of Borjomi (that's a place Georgians produce well known mineral water branded by the same name as the city). And from there I went to Turkish Ardohan crossing GE/TR border on my way. Than further east to Dogubayazid and today I came to the city of Van near the salt lake of Van.

Nice "little" truck indeed. And it's definitely a R not RM or RD. Would be cool if someone will keep it and restore.

Brocky, you are welcome! It's always fun when you share your fun😀 The long time waiting is for trucks. Mostly due to cargo. Plenty if paperwork must be arranged. Also X-ray inspection. Sure that's a matter of amount of stuff involved. But it's government business so drivers and cargo owners have to pay by the time spent. Cars are much easier deal if not too many in the line. Usually it takes from one to a few hours to pass a border with a car. Motorbike is even more easier deal since you overpass the line of cars (and sure the trucks) and has less lugguge to be inspected. I crossed Geragian border in 1,5 hours and about the same time from Georgia to Turkey. There were no cars at the latter pass at all but I needed Turkish insurance which I didn't buy at home. There was an office at the border cross (they usually are there) but it took them nearly 40 minutes to get the deal done.

The snow was seen at the mountain pass, about its highest point of 2500m above the sea level. Overall it's quite warm in the region, nearly +20C. And the road was clean and dry including the pass.

Thanks for the comment, Bob. That snow happened to be more of a scenary thing than an issue. The air was nearly 15 Celsias which with help of sun made the ride quite comfortable.

That's Iranian built cab. You can see difference in the shape of windscreens, doors and even the cowl. They seem ordering chassis and mechanical components from Mack and made cabs and hoods locally. R-model was either produced in short and sleeper versions.

Eastern Turkey. Kurdish land. Big mountain you can see at the background on the 3rd pic is Ararat. 5137 meter high. Armenian national symbol but geographically located in Turkey. BTW no more Mack trucks on my way so far.

Thanks for the comment. The bike is quite powerful and fast. But it's cool to drive roads where nobody can check your speed. Currently I'm in the right area😀

The guy looked younger. And the truck either did 😀

But the Mack 😀was met on my way. Otherwise all this blah-blah-blah would'n worth being posted at all. The truck was Iranian. I saw it parked on a side of a road. Also in Georgia but close to Turkish border (don't ask me what I was doing there 😀) I sure stopped by (there were two trucks with similar trailers but the 1st one was Volvo or MAN), knocked to the cab door and said Salam, adding a few Persian words I happened to learn in the distant past (of having nothing to do definitely). The guys got exited seeing my interest and represented the threasure. I was told it was Iran Kaveh assembled R600 of 1970 with 250hp. It had two sticks originally but was swapped with Eaton due to wear. The truck looked well cared and restored in the past. Fresh paint on the cab and chassis, the engine seemed owerhauled. I honestly have no idea how it's possible to cruise mountain passes of 2500m high having 250 hp and a tank trailer hooked. Just seems I'm way far from knowing everything in this world. So here you go

Ok, I mentioned Gulf fuel station. That's true. I saw many stations branded that way in Georgia. Nothing extraordinar but presence of that American thing took my attention. I must be honest I forgot to make an actual pic when fuelled so the one below is from the net. And the most interesting point - the Mack truck. For the first I should say those three conwoys each three kilometer long didn't contein any Macks. Just a few Freightliners, 1 Kenworth (at the pic) and 1 IH I was not able to make a pic of.

So the title turned out as quite common chain of events for a general American trucker. At the same time the things I got involved into we of almost different kind. Ok, more correctly at a different place. Feeling lust to travel I sat on my motorbike and rode direction Georgia. Which is not the state of the US but the country in Kaukazus mountain region. It's a former part of Soviet Union so plenty of connections with Russia and the most people speak Russian language. There's only road from my place to there and that's a long roamy mountain pass. I never drove there before and got surprized of how beautiful the scenaries were and how difficult was the way. I was really lucky riding (with no rain though) but found out plenty of trucks went that way either and at some places it seemed about impossible to do. But the main trouble for the trucks was crossing the border. Drivers I lalked with said they usually spend from 1 to 10 days in the waiting line. In the mountains, just on a side of the road! On my way I met at least 3 "parked conwoys" of nearly 2-3 kilometer long. Police car was placed at the beginning and they managed to allow a certain amount of trucks to go depending on what was happening at the customs. Definitely not a place you'd like to spend one or two weeks of your working time. One of the pics represents such the line of trucks. I stopped at the shoulder to make a pic but exactly at the time police flagged the trucks to go so the pic looks like the conwoy's going. But if you look further there's endless tail of stopped trucks.

Happy B-lated B-day! I have an excuse though, had been off the 'puter for some days.

It looks good as it is now but remove of the mixer unit seems as a shame. Would be cool looking tractor or a flat bed but mixer was its especiality on my mind.

That's one well recognized B-model. Do you know how she's doing at the moment? BTW never knew about BMT calendars.

Nobody wants to pull the engine off the chassis? Also if you advertize a motor you're taking at least some responsibility for its condition. At the same time old trucks usually sell as is. That funky red seems oversprayed to bring some "fresh look" judging by the spots on the bumper and front wheel. "Graffity" was done to hide scripts which could lead to former ownership or the kind of service.

I might grab a coulple locally. Would swap for the Superliner cab mounts

I also noted there's butcher tendency about rear ends. Seems like the most scrap yarders don't bother themself turning wrenches and just light up a torch. On the other hand I see plenty of folks easily weld or bolt on cutoffs to their chassis and don't have anything scratching their heads with. Honestly I saw relatively many parted trucks (MH's) with full length rails and rear suspension separated. Don't know if the owners would sell a portion though. On the other hand it might be easier to buy a complete truck. Wonder what this particular guy is asking for the whole thing?

It doesn't look really ugly with those fresh polished alu wheels and clean interior. The chassis rails look freshly oversprayed and the hood too which means the cab got its portion of green as a company.

Even the hood doesn't look bad and the thing is still complete. If it is. Happily I've got luck purchasing a hood a year back (with plenty efforts and headaches) and now looking for the cab mounts and a 5 or 6 feet long section of 600 series frame rails to add them to a MH chassis I have. Would be cool to use a solid RW frame and I even lean toward pulling a sock of pennies for the deal but such the thingy seems troubleful to ship to NJ guys who forward parts my way. If they still do...

I'm honestly about to but always keep hopes for any chance. Maybe warmer times will give you more possibilities to work on the truck.

Judging by the pic it's RS700 definitely made in Hayward not Eastern R700. Has straight frame rails front to end, fuel tanks with "stepped" shape of the bottoms and front end appearance as the Duck truck had. Actually it would look almost like Duck if put a sleeper and paint black. Interesting example definitely. Good luck on the project and we all waiting to see more pics. Vlad

Yup, shame on us! Happy B-day Mack Pro!

I would even consider purchasing a chassis with no rear bogie and engine/tranny. Depending on the rails condition. Seems easier than stretching out MH I bought for the project. It's doubtly an easy deal for me at the moment though having no possibility to show up in person.

I'm in strong interest on the front cab mounting brackets (off the chassis) and the central "two legged" bracket the hood brace attaches to (at the very 1st chassis crossmember). Maybe a few other things depending on complicity of remove and shipping to NJ. Unfortunately I'm no longer Facebook achievable so checking out the parts and getting contact info of the seller are very appreciated. Thanks for the post.