Connecticut Construction Trucks

[Red Horse]

20 hours ago, blackdog2 said:

Plunske's .......ex Hallamore ......                    https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1A8MsTfEUN/

Nice-Still in collection?  220?

[blackdog2]

3 hours ago, Red Horse said:

Nice-Still in collection?  220?

Still use daily 

[mowerman]

wow that thing is hot,,,bob

[blackdog2]

13 hours ago, Red Horse said:

Nice-Still in collection?  220?

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1APaigp3f6/                             another video 

[Red Horse]

10 hours ago, blackdog2 said:

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1APaigp3f6/                             another video 

Wow!  In this day and age do they have a rotator?  How many of the "old" trucks are still active?  To you guys who might follow this, as a kid, growing up in that part of Conn, my like minded pals and I would frequently drive to Wallingford to check out the Plunske fleet which was always parked in front of the building-always immaculate..this was like in the early 60's!  Yes I am an old fart!

Nice to see a business survive and keep their standards!

[blackdog2]

Over 40-Registured truck's ready to go .........Counting the Rainy Day Fleet ............Was just with them all day at Matt Phall's .......You should stop in anytime .......tell them you know Me.........Get the Fu..... out of here ?.............Only the 2 -silent heist on a Mack / Osh-kosh  

[blackdog2]

[blackdog2]

Watertown 1931 future diner's at Bantom Lake in Bantom Conn. 20-mile's north of Watertown 

[blackdog2]

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17T4QED2nr/

[mowerman]

I

1 hour ago, blackdog2 said:

i used to see tons of them in LA 

[Brocky]

2 hours ago, blackdog2 said:

The Jo-Dog was the forerunner of the big LTL freight companies adapting the converter dolly for twin Pups to being a 3 axle tractor for 48-53 foot trailers.

[mechohaulic]

On 11/19/2025 at 11:00 AM, Red Horse said:

Wow!  In this day and age do they have a rotator?  How many of the "old" trucks are still active?  To you guys who might follow this, as a kid, growing up in that part of Conn, my like minded pals and I would frequently drive to Wallingford to check out the Plunske fleet which was always parked in front of the building-always immaculate..this was like in the early 60's!  Yes I am an old fart!

Nice to see a business survive and keep their standards!

the right person behind the controls of old iron   can most times do as much as one multi million dollar rotator. skill/ experience did quite well for yrs. not saying rotators aren't better. just watch jammie on the 409  with old iron . LOL

[Geoff Weeks]

1 hour ago, mechohaulic said:

the right person behind the controls of old iron   can most times do as much as one multi million dollar rotator. skill/ experience did quite well for yrs. not saying rotators aren't better. just watch jammie on the 409  with old iron . LOL

With today's trucks, a rotator makes sense, but I agree with you. If you want to pull a modern rig off the side of the road with an old wrecker, it is going to take two trips, one for the trailer and one to hook the tractor from the rear.  

Working wrecks, a rotator can get in closer and take up less of the road to do the same job, that said just close it down for the few minutes it takes the old equipment to do the job.

Those million dollar trucks have to be paid for by fees and prices have gone up with the cost of the equipment. 

[blackdog2]

3 hours ago, Geoff Weeks said:

With today's trucks, a rotator makes sense, but I agree with you. If you want to pull a modern rig off the side of the road with an old wrecker, it is going to take two trips, one for the trailer and one to hook the tractor from the rear.  

Working wrecks, a rotator can get in closer and take up less of the road to do the same job, that said just close it down for the few minutes it takes the old equipment to do the job.

Those million dollar trucks have to be paid for by fees and prices have gone up with the cost of the equipment. 

The problem with Connecticut  towing can't afford insurance and trying out do the next company with glitter  and shine  and using a Rotator for tractor swap's and over charging  and ending in Court 

[Mark T]

Biggest wrecker I ever saw in my life, I'm almost certain was on it's way to Connecticut. A huge Peterbilt with what I believe was a 100 ton rotator.

[blackdog2]

Perfect example of towing........a tractor swap  ?

[1961H67]

Yes , the new equipment is very expensive and takes less time to move a wreck, Back in the late 70s around here ( all of Western North Carolina, 100 mile radius of the I 40 /I 26 interchange) There were only 3 Big Wreckers , R Model Mack , 4070 International, and a 4200 International all with 750 Holmes . We still have the 4200 Setting in the shed. I wasn’t the owner of it back then, I had a B 61 with a W45 Holmes and my LJ with a 5th wheel boom for towing,, I was jealous of the guys with the 750s . One of the guys is still in business with some bigger Hydraulic wreckers , we still help him from time to time, When he retired the 4200 he gave it to us, I’ll try to get a picture of it . 

[blackdog2]

10 hours ago, Mark T said:

Biggest wrecker I ever saw in my life, I'm almost certain was on it's way to Connecticut. A huge Peterbilt with what I believe was a 100 ton rotator........

[1961H67]

Unbelievable the work that can do compared to what we used in the 70s , I’ve been to the Towing Museum in Chattanooga a couple times, it’s a good walk through the advancement of Wrecking. We used a couple 600 Holmes for years, running blocks around trees, anything that would hold but we worked a lot of big truck wrecks in these mountains. Here is a picture of a magazine ,1979. I sent in the picture of the LJ , Mr Jones is who I worked for when I got out of High School and started driving the LJ towing trucks, mostly for McLean Trucking. I later bought my B61 . 

[Mark T]

1 hour ago, blackdog2 said:

That's the company, but the Peterbilt I saw makes that look like a C30 with a 440 Holmes.  This thing looked more like it belonged on RR tracks.  3 sters 3 drives.

[Mark T]

Google three steer Peterbilt wrecker. I just happened to see it gettin off the North East Extention. Must have been when they were taking it home from Miller.  It was huge being right next to it. 

[blackdog2]

11 minutes ago, Mark T said:

That's the company, but the Peterbilt I saw makes that look like a C30 with a 440 Holmes.  This thing looked more like it belonged on RR tracks.  3 sters 3 drives.

They're in somebody pocket because they are getting a lot call's from State Police to do work...... not in there area and Law suit's are pending ? 

[70mackMB]

Do these big rotator operators need lifting licenses, cable, and hydraulic? There are a few around here doing crane work along with recovery and towing. We had a 35T inside the warehouse assembling new high lift forklifts for Hyster company.    .....Hippy  

[Geoff Weeks]

1 hour ago, blackdog2 said:

They're in somebody pocket because they are getting a lot call's from State Police to do work...... not in there area and Law suit's are pending ? 

It would seam so, you don't see wrecker like those running the roads of Michigan where trains can run up to 160K and permit loads above that.

What is the justification for a rig like that in Conn?

[blackdog2]

32 minutes ago, Geoff Weeks said:

It would seam so, you don't see wrecker like those running the roads of Michigan where trains can run up to 160K and permit loads above that.

What is the justification for a rig like that in Conn?

None .........1200.00-1500.00 a Hour port hole to port hole  minny -4-hour's  plus assit vehicle's with light's ......State has a list to be on rotation .....dump truck , refer box , Rotator , 3-25 ton wrecker's , loader  etc ....