Any body Else use strange things to tow

[gordyy]

Here is my rig
a 1973 GMC C-60 with a 427 a 5 speed and a two speed axle, a place to sleep to eat to take a nap!
I travel about 260 miles mow about 50 acres or so per week at about 20 stops, and have a really bad knee. This was my answer to workforce safety vocationally rehabilitating me. I was an HVAC service tech for 28 yrs before my knee was crushed operated on 3 times, replaced then the knee was broken doing a test for the good folks at work comp (they thought I was still faking things) Dr said I could work 15 to 20 hrs a week. they thought I should be trained as a telemarketer!! I bought this stuff and make 3 times the hourly wage they wanted to train me for LOL.
Here it is with my 24 ft trailer my CC_yanmar and my Kubota just in from a 3 day trip (with lots of rain so its dirty like a working mans rig should be)

 

[Diamondpilot]

What kind of MPG do you get with that thing? I drive a 78 C60 dump truck from time to time and it gets about 6 mpg best and beats you to death doing so. You drive that rig that many miles it would seem to me you are working just to pay the fuel bill and will soon be paying for a back surgery.

Chris

 

[Dmace]

I saw this a while ago, wonder if it's under CDL? ;-)

 

[Dan Hunter]

they thought I should be trained as a telemarketer!!

Perhaps they should have been retrained as telemarketers. Congratulations to you for maintaining your identity and independence.

 

[tcartwri]

I saw this a while ago, wonder if it's under CDL? ;-)

View attachment 268277

we used to move furniture with one of those and a 53ft trailer. No power steering, screamin detroit, and a shifter that didn't seem to be connected to anything.. How the old man found the gears in that thing was always a mistery. sounded good though!

 

[Diamondpilot]

I saw this a while ago, wonder if it's under CDL? ;-)

View attachment 268277

The marina uses a old Ford Tractor like that to put in House Boats at the lake. Some are as heavy as 30 tons plus the trailer. I have seen him put in as large as 110' long by 22' wide with the aid of my F-350 chained to her. Its gas and blue and has a "Old 69" on the door. I think it has a 491 Truck Motor. My buddy Danny has been driving it for years.

Chris

 

[Gem99ultra]

Good for you! I see a man with True Grit. Workman's Comp - HA! They just don't care. They're working for the employer, not the injured worker.

And - I like your rig. Ideal setup IMHO.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I don't have anything that cool to tow with. I just have my boring Silverado. There is a guy on here that posted a few years ago about some antique OTR trucks that he restored to haul his tractors. I think that would be cool.

There's also a guy in town here that has an old early 50's pickup truck converted with a car hauler bed. I'm guessing he converted the truck to be front wheel drive because I can't see how he could fit a differential under the bed. I'll have to see if I can get a picture of it next time I see it.

 

[gordyy]

its suprisingly smooth has power steering power windows brakes etc,
the seats are nice custom interior put in when the toterhome was built in 75
and it will get about 7.5 mpg which unless I buy an older ford 7.3 turbo or invest thousands in the newer ones they will not pull that trailer and the two tractors and get much better I have tried several of the different Diesels haven;t found one yet that gets the much claimed consistant 20 mpg
and I have $4800. total in this drive it 6000 miles a year it would have to do better than 2o and cost less than $15,000 to make it up in mileage in 10 yrs and that I doubt will happen besides its comfy to when your hot and sweaty to turn on the generator the Air and slip in a movie for a siesta oh and the real bed in it is comfy lol

 

[handirifle]

Gordyy
I say good on you. Boy I think you missed the boat not being a telemarketer. I mean after all, who wouldn't want a job that no one wants to hear from you, or always hangs up on you cause you won't shut up even when they, several times, say no politely, I mean that was the career of a lifetime you let slip away!!!!

Good choice!

I am retired (Air Traffic Controller, forced to retire at mandatory age 56) 59 now, but am lately giving thought of doing similar work here, just not sure of the economics of it, as well as health issues.

How do you handle the constant barrage of weeds and dust thrown up? I wear a face mask of one sort or another but it seems to always find a way in. Also, I have been lately actually considering a ski mask type of goggles for the eyes. Like one nurse put it, I have the magnetic eyes....you know, the ones that EVERYTHING seems to find a way into. Anyway, those a re big concerns for me in that line of work. Just wondering how ya deal with it? I see regular landscapers going through neighborhoods with no mask or eye protection, and wonder how often they pay for that in other ways?

I like your towing setup.

 

[gordyy]

I wear or have worn for years large glasses (I do have really bad eyes) my brother-in-law happens to be an optomitrist and he hooked me up with a pair of side wings that fit on the bows of the glasses and attach to the side of the len.s kind of clip on keeps at least 99% of the crap out of my eyes.
The economics of it is I really don't care if I make any real money I just have to show on paper that I worked lol I figure I will never really pay taxes on what I make as it is so little because even at 20 hrs a week I still only work 22 weeks at that then its just garden tilling and snow as it comes although the winter of 2011 here that was about 16 hr a week for 15 weeks either way it comes out better than 50 weeks at 15 to 20 hrs a week at $7.85 an hr lol

 

[handirifle]

I thought I answered this once, not sure where the post went??? Oh well.

I was surprised at the seemingly low hourly wage. Not to sound insulting, not meant that way at all, but out here (CA) you're lucky if you get someone under $40 an hr.

Is that due to the workmans comp thing?

I looked at craigslist (seems to be dozens of guys advertising for this area. Do you have that kind of competition?

 

[gordyy]

The $20 per hour is what I figure I personally make after all expenses I charge a lot more than that
I figure the actual mowing and working wage at $45 - $60 depending on what I am doing. The main Utility I contract to I bill at the lower rate and add the mileage estimate to come out making the drive, then I have picked up several other jobs along or close to the driven route that get billed out at a higher rate.
The actual figures I use were figured out by studying estimated operating costs ( I have a nephew involved in the equipment rental industry) the local labor market, and what I figured the local competition would be as per the bid. And I live in ND until the oil activity picked up in the last couple of years we have consistently been at the bottom of all wage scales (some 3rd world countries payed better than some ND buisnesses) lol
I believe here the average hourly wage is still in the $17 per hour catagory but don't take that as gospel as the oil boom in the western part of the state is kicking the wage up daily.
I saw an add in Williston paper for burger flippers at $15 to start!!!

 

[ToolBoxTavern]

I admire the way you found you didnt let anyone tell you what to do and went into business for yourself and didnt let the knee stop you! Congrats!

Oh and nice rig set up!