![Africa_Roads_em_(7)[1].jpg](http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/big-lorry-blog/Africa_Roads_em_%287%29%5B1%5D.jpg)
I'm delighted to see that Bruce Elston has returned to Biglorryblog with more 'Out of Africa' tales. And it's linked to the current blogstream on Kaywhoppas. Bruce says: "Please Sir, They crop up in Africa too! Running from Dar-es-Salaam to Luanshya, Zambia about 1976.Bruce." And for a pie what's the model...
![Africa_Roads_em_(5)[1].jpg](http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/big-lorry-blog/Africa_Roads_em_%285%29%5B1%5D.jpg)
Lookin' at the world through a windshield... And which band had a hit with that song? And I wonder if that road is in such good condition now...? Now click through here for some local fauna and flora... So did you take the picture Bruce (I'm assuming it was you driving?).
![Africa_Roads_em_(4)[1].jpg](http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/big-lorry-blog/Africa_Roads_em_%284%29%5B1%5D.jpg)
This bloke's off to make a trunk call... And bruce has just e-mailed me again to say: "I forgot to mention that KW had 8V-71 power in front of 5+4 Twin Stick cogwheels. Regards, Bruce.."
Looks like an early-to-mid 70's Autocar DC series. Someone painted the radiator for some reason. The reinforced headlight mounts are making me think 70s. I have not seen those on earlier trucks.
Great picture. The Kenworth looks like the Alaskan Hauler model AMT did in the 70's. The trucks were run by Hill and Hill out of Texas with same fenders and headlight style. I have also seen them on the sugar haul in Hawaii.
http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/pix/trucks/bruce_mellett/2005/aug28/vintage/file0012.jpg
Bruce
It's hard to get the scale of this unit sorted but it looks like it might be an 848 ex oilfield bed truck (fifth wheel right at the back of the body) and big 'floatation' front tres.
Definitely an oil field truck, so no fifth wheel on the back -- the (removable) pin is on the truck, and there's an inverted fifth wheel on each of the trailers.
This truck and the trailer you see came as backup vehicles with a Gardner Denver drill rig. Loaded on it is the derrick for the drill which we had to cart separately due to lowish bridges. Also check the front overhang ahead of the fifth wheel -- nasty in towns as when you watch your tail clearing kerbs etc, the front is stuck way over on the other side and taking out traffic lights and street poles etc.
Due to a typo, the shipping docs described it as an "Oil filled service truck" so naturally a sharp-eyed customs officer on the Tans-Zam border demanded to see the oil!!!! -- You need to talk fast in Africa sometimes!