Recently in Oilfield trucks Category

Lo... Where there be oilfield rigid trucks with unfeasibly long wheelbases, there shall ye find 'The Keeper of the Flame'. As is the case with this post. Martin P hails me to say: "Good even tide ye of the privileged 700hp brigade!" (I think he means that I've driven the FH16.700...anyroadup he continues...

"By sheer good fortune I was pointed in the direction of the Edmonton (Alberta, Canada) Kenworth site and found - to my great delight - these wondrous images of some seriously lengthy four and five-axle rigids destined for work in the Alberta oilfields. Some are based on the T-800 wide-hood chassis and others on the heavier C-550. All look great in my opinion, but then again you would have to be completely heartless or soul-less to think otherwise! So, thanks to Edmonton KW and of course, as always to BLB.Cheers me dears, Martin P." And how true that is... So click through here for more chilly Kenworth crane carriers...

"You live and you learn!" so says Martin Phippard who adds. "For example I had no idea that gas and/or oil exploration took place in the Eastern regions of the USA. Yet here we have Energy Contractors LLC serving 'the North Eastern USA and the Appalachian Basin' with their rather tasty KW, Peterbilts and Navistars. Apparently the company has depots in West Virginia, Tennessee and Pennsylvania and while the trucks aren't quite as big or as heavy-duty as their Western counterparts, they are pretty impressive nonetheless. So thanks to Matthew Burns and www.energycontractorsllc.com for the pictures. Regards, Martin."

Impressive indeed---but why do they always go for big bonneted rigids with enormous wheelbases? What's the history behind the 8x4 oil-field truck I wonder.? And while youre figuring that out click through here for more of Energy Contractors immaculate big rigs! 

"Good Morning Brian" says 'The Keeper of the Flame' Martin Phippard who has kindly sent this stuff to me (again) after I carelessly deleted it first time around..DOH! Anyroadup he adds: "It's been a while since we've seen any oilfield trucks so I thought that BLB readers might like to see these outfits operated by Yemen Truck Oil, a member of the Arabian Group of Companies. Apparently they include in their fleet vehicles from the stables of MAN, Merc, Kenworth and MOL. Have a nice day! Martin."

Certainly a funny looking one which I take to be the MOL. Now click through here for one more...

Trolling through the ether looking to see if there were any new stories on the media section of the Western Star website at http://www.westernstartrucks.com/ I noticed this picture further down on the google page---it's from the excellent (and surely by now for all Biglorryblog readers famous) http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/ which is dedicated to the memory of Hank's dad Henry Suderman senior. I trust Hank won't mind me putting his picture up on BLB of this super oilfield spec Western Star. And believe me, if it's truck pictures you want then there's nothing to touch Hank's site! 

Regular Biglorryblog visitors will know that last night Martin Phippard sent me a whole lorry load of shots of Speedy's Kenworth oilfield trucks. Well despite him being rude to me about not knowing the difference between a roadtrain and a Michigan B-train (or whatever they're called) as promised here are the rest of the pictures he sent in and you can find out more by visiting this website too www.speedyhh.com from whence cometh these evocative images.

Based in the Western State of Colorado Speedy Heavy Hauling specialises in oil rig moves throughout the Western USA and Canada. It's a land where the men are tough, the conditions tougher and the trucks, well the KWs anyway, are right on top of the job as usual. Unsurfaced roads, snow and ice and oversize loads are literally all in a day's work for the big old brutes.

Snow chains too...now click through here for more...

Last one for today and Martin Phippard comes calling with a cheery "Good evening Sir!" before adding, "Thanks for posting the perfectly-posed pictures of the prettily-prepared Peterbilts. They are, after all The Class of The Industry, or so Peterbilt publicity people would have us believe. Pretty certainly, but they have never turned my crank." Aha... And hark... Does Biglorryblog hear an axe being ground...?

Indeed MP goes on to say: "And as you know already when it comes right down to hard graft and tough conditions, somehow it's always the other Paccar product, namely the Kenworth, that can be found 'toting dat barge or lifting dat bale' or indeed whatever else may be required of it. And for evidence look no farther than www.speedyhh.com from whence cometh these evocative images."

And as if to prove it the 'Keeper of the Flame' has sent me a whole shed-load of Speedy pictures... So cllick through here for more..and I'll post the rest up tomorrow!

"Hallo again!" says Keeper of the Flame Martin Phippard. Faced with a bout of bad weather in the South West he tels me he's been searching the internet (some new fangled device I'll be bound). Anyroadup he adds: "There's always something interesting to be found like these images of a truck carrying a Nodwell and then again, a Nodwell carrying a truck. Brings a whole new meaning to the words dual-purpose innit? Martin..." And click through here for the Nodwell pulling the truck!

Last one for today guys. When you're up to your axles in muck and bullets, there's really only one thing going to pull you out of it... A big dozer! Thanks to YouTube and Dirtslinger I can bring you a tanker being hauled out of oilfield mud! Any idea what the truck is?

It's funny how you can discover all sorts of things you didn't know you didn't know..For example I've had the following comment recently posted on Biglorryblog "Hello, nice trucks please share your photos and hobby on my Oilfield trucks website which is at  http://yassineroy.webs.com  There are many photos, videos and specs from the world-wide members!" And lo Biglorryblog looked and it's an intereesting website worth checking out especially if you like Kenworth oilfield trucks...Meanwhile, in return here are a few oilfield trucks in return kicking off with a mighty Berliet oilfield truck that appeared in the Foundation Berliet newsletter. And I'm most grateful to the Berliet Foundation and Penny Randall for supplying the picture...now here's some more...

Now click through here for one from Vladimir Chekhuta

Here's something for 'The Keeper of the Flame' , knowing how much he likes oilfield trucks. And Biglorryblog Dennis Child and a good friend of his in France Jen-Luc Dossman for sending me a couple of wonderful Paccar oilfield truck brochures from which I have been able to take these pictures.True ships of the desert!

So let's start with this superb bonneted behemoth...the 6x6 963 'family of oilfield rigids.designed for extreme off-road work,Poweer comes from a Cummins 15-litre ISX or Cat C15with a Clark (Dana) powershift 7-speed box.

Obviously with air con too (and tyre inflation system to help you through and your sand tyres the dunes..)

It's not a mirage...it's a Kenworth!

Nice blue and white version---and you can see that massive wheelbase too... Now click through for a cabover oilfield truck..no really!

Biglorryblog's 'Good Man in Africa' is (I assume in Dubai) for he has undergone something of a road to Damascus conversion regarding the Faun Tadano story I recently posted on BLB from him. And here's another picture of it above. For those that have come into this half-way-through Jerry was interested in buying it at the Dubai auctions but didn't seem to enthusiastic about what he was bidding for....Now he says: "Well, an objective lesson in pre-judgement for JB, as we have a final Sunday pm amble through the auction listings - dont judge a truck by its photo!"

Jerry continues:"What was a grotty-looking tractor on bicycle tyres having a monkey-puke yellow, five-litre overhaul a few days ago has clearly been on the steroids and since morphed into a full-on oil field rig! So cap in hand I humbly withdraw my first low-end estimate of auction price - I meant that was for the spare wheel only, honest........ In fact, I also withdraw my upper one!"

And in a statement of the blindingly obvious our brave hero duly notes: "That said, this is a hugely specialised bit of kit that you don't just buy to put in the potting shed 'in case'. Be a bloody big shed just for a start! Looks like this is on 25" earthmover spec tyres so you can guestimate the height to the trailer bed - I would think at least 8 feet."

"This is most likely an ex-rig-up/rig-down oilfield winch truck. As a prospective buyer I would still be very careful while looking this thing over, as that V12 Deutz (?) [could it even be a CAT?--BLB]will be an expensive item to rebuild if you have to. God alone knows about the tranny etc. With even Chinese tyres at $2.5 grand a pop and what must be a thirst like an Irish navvie on payday, this will not be a purchase for the faint-hearted, if it's going to be put into regular use." Now click through here for more shots including a monster winch and the gearbox.....

OK oilfield fans (ooh there's a clue) what is it? What's under the hood, who makes it and where can I get one....and that's yer lot from Bigloryblog for today. I'm up to my oxters in all sorts of stuff so you'll just have to do with this last one for a pie quiz! (I spoil you, you know that don't you!?) Meanwhile back on-line tomorrow with a bit of luck. Safe out of trouble BLB.

Oh yes, the spammers are still at it so if it takes a while to post up your comments don't panic, they WILL go on once I've stripped out all the posted comments about teenage sex, viagra and all sorts of stuff that you frighten the horses...!

Biglorryblog's 'Good man in Africa' Jerry B, has sent me these pictures. They come to Biglorryblog via his 'chap' Steve Allard "...who's has just come back home to the big banana [that's Uganda BLB] from three days evaporating cash at the WWA Dubai plant and equipment auctions! Using his phone he snapped this one----could this be the world's only Bedford MK-based mobile auctioneer's dais? Only in Dubai!"

However, (and this is where the story really starts) Jerry has also passed on these shots taken by Steve and he says: " One of my chaps [I assume that's Steve again] bought this for virtually nothing (at US$7000, less than scrap in my view) at auction in Dubai yesterday. Fairly new Cat engine fitted and ten speed box - Steve thinks its a C500 Kenworth (it's a 6x4 tractor with 89mm master pin) but just didn't have time to crawl over it as was running between different auction lots. He reckons it's perfect for a steady nut-by-bolt rebuild as it all works (he started it and moved it around), it's complete and in generally good solid order. It will make a good story once we get it back and the rebuild gets underway---but do you think it is a C500?" Well, what do you think BLB anoraks? Martin? Is it a C500? It certainly looks of that 'ilk'!

Jerry goes on to say: "I think this confirms it (I have also seen the catalogue entry). It actually doesn't have a fifth wheel fitted at present (although clearly it once did as the 'scars" can be seen on the chassis) and the chassis was extended to carry a water tank - this is being cut off now to save on freight volume costs back to Uganda. There were seven of these on sale - the cheapest went for $2 grand...ours was the most expensive at $7K but was the only one fitted with a set of (as yet unidentified) quote 'massive' reduction hubs. Bargain - I don't know. The 2 grand units must have been!" Just remember Jerry that if something looks to good to be true...it may well be. But I reckon you've got the best one. Anyway click through here for a couple more shots of Jerry's new toy (And have you noticed it's suddenly all gone quiet about an Antar!

I was beginning to worry about Biglorryblog's man in Russia, Vladimir Chekhuta, as I haven't heard from him for quite a while. However, he's back with a real bang and these terrific shots of mighty MZKT oil field trucks and this message too "Hello Brian, this Belarus truck is the heavy chassis MZKT-790976 (8x8). It recently successfully finished tests in the desert in UAE.
The Arab drivers certainly liked the new heavy MZKT! Perhaps it will ''wrestle' with Kenworths and Oshkoshs and win in future? Best regards Vladimir."

Now a three-way desert tussle would certainly be great fun, especially as the MZKT looks a right big bruiser! Now click through here for a shot of the MZKT in slightly cooler climes and it's full specification.

Honestly, you're such a difficult bunch to keep happy on Biglorryblog. There's some that likes oldies, there's some that likes exotica, there's some that likes classics, some that likes bling...and then there's Martin Phippard (aka Keeper of the Flame) who has a thing about oilfield trucks...well just for you Martin here's one I found on the Marcedes media image gallery the other night. An Actros 8x4 oilfield tractor having fun in the sand...unless it's a tank transporter that can't find its tank.

Anyway that's BLB done for the morning, I'll be back later today. In the meantime I've got to go to the dentist---so not surprisngly I'm looking down in the mouth..oh well, please yerselves. My names Bigloryblog I'm on all next week, try the fish...