Gary Richards, Biglorryblog marketing master of matters Mack and Volvo downunder has sent me this selection of shots of Michigan specials and says: "Hi Brian, further to our recent discussion on Achilles heals, another similar discussion with Martin P (that's 'the Keeper of the Flame' Martin Phippard) flushed out my other weakness - Michigan Specials/Trains." And here's one to ilustrate the point. I'm nto sure if the pictures are Gary's, Martin's (they look like Martin's) or anyone else's but let me know and I'll post up the proper credit
"Coming from 'lotsa rubber' land, I just love the axles and trailer combinations seen in this unique state." Now click through here fore more....
Gary adds: "I first visited Michigan in 1981 and snapped the attached...have been back a couple of times since but its not the same - far too civilised today...not an unbaffled 8V71 GM or 3408 Cat to be heard !!"
"I Thought/hope that there might be other BLB anoraks that have the same tendencies..."
"Martin provided a great interpretation of how they work" says gary, "though needless to say, hard and rough is the only way to truck steel and other bulk products back then (and maybe today?)" Abnd for a quick pie what's the truck pictured above?
"Martin - you might be able to give Brian some expert interpretation of the various combinations...Enjoy!"
Gary signs off by saying: "PS - loved Will Shier's Indian experience. I spent a few weeks in 2004 riding a Royal Enfield motorcycle from New Delhi up to Kashmir and across the Himalayas' - a very up close way to see Indian trucking. I will put a few pics and words together for you.. "
And that's the lot--great stuff Gary and Martin.
Hi Brian,
The pics are mine. I had seen some of Martin's and he gave me a great explanation of the terminology for the various trailer and axle combinations - about as weird as the combos themselves.
I have a few more later ones as well that I can share... see who else has such tendancies !!
That truck between the Jimmy and the Chevy is a 400-series Brockway
I think you might spend more time changing tyres than driving one of these things. It looks like Kenworth, Hendrickson, Unknown ?? , GMC, Brockway, Chev (from the badge)and a couple of Macks.
Hi Pete, I think your "unknown" is a GMC General.
Hey Pete that Uggknown isa GMC General thats an Astro cab with a hood on the front, but that F series Mack is something bigger..thats a twin steering box 24 k front axle RSX style and a Haywood grill. You would have to think it was made in PA so how did it end up with a Haywood grill May have a Cummins 41 Lt 400 hp as one smoke stack and thats how Mack got the power puppies bsck then Lots of Mack product was powered by Vender engines GM Cummins back east hense the term Bulldog Mack which was used for a Mack with a in house power train.
Now these monsters only run in a set time frame when its cold and the road is hard and park in in the summer so the owners can do other things..If I can recall it was 5.5 ton per axle up to 11 axles state law for the auto industry hauling steel rolls
RJ, you're nearly right. On the 11-axle trains and sleds the trailer axles were limited to 13,000-lbs (5.9-tonnes) the driving bogie could range between 34,000 and 40,000 depending on the axle spread (15.45 - 18.2-tonnes)and the front axle could max out at 20,000-lbs (9.2-tonnes) giving a theoretical maximum gross weight of 164,000-lbs or (74.5-tonnes). In practice few were actually licensed at this weight but most exceeded it anyway! And where did you get the Mack 24,000-lbs front axle from? At that time the biggst boots available were 18.00 x 22.5 and they were rated at 20,000-lbs max. I never knew a North American single steer with more capacity than that.
The mystery cab over looks like a Brockway looking at the grill,mind the 2 air intakes look like they could be fitted to a Coolpower,though a 8V92 or 8V71 detriot would also have 2 air intakes.I`d guess Brockway.
I am the son of a truck driver and a Michigan native. I was blown away to see that you guys have taken a liking to the "Michigan Gravel Trains" I have seen so many combinations of trailers and loads over the years that I have just gotten use to it. You nees some pics of a W900 with an 8 axle 53 foot dump trailer to add to your collection. I only have one that tipped over on its side