Classic Heavy Duty Work Trucks

[RDrancher]

I don't know if this has been posted before, but check out this guy's fleet of classic work trucks Our Fleet | Litzenburger Landscape

 

[JESSE1]

The American Truck Historical Society's magazine, Wheels of Time, had an article about the Litzenburger trucks. Very unique fleet, definately good advertising.

 

[mjncad]

Oh man that is one heck of a cool fleet of old iron still earning its keep. I wonder if some of them have unseen modernization's done to them to make them easier to drive.

 

[mikehaugen]

I agree, I think it is excellent advertising. If they can keep their fleet of trucks looking that good, it would seem that they take pride in their work.

 

[sam5570]

that is for sure a good looking fleet. i would be fine till i had to change a tire on one of those 2 piece wheels i chringe every time i see one.

 

[SanDucerro]

Awesome - and a GREAT way to have a tax deductable hobby!

 

[Verticaltrx]

Very cool. This is the direction I'm headed with my construction business, I've become very jaded over what new trucks have become.

that is for sure a good looking fleet. i would be fine till i had to change a tire on one of those 2 piece wheels i chringe every time i see one.

My '75 C60 has three piece wheels and my '69 F-350 has two piece wheels. If you don't know what you are doing they are extremely dangerous. If you take a little caution they are a very handy setup and makes changing a tire in the field a breeze. Only downside is having to run tubes.

 

[capt_met]

I run a '79 C65 in my business. The old gas engine keeps running and getting the job done. At this point I see no reason to buy a newer truck for working local jobs. They can keep the new emission laws and with gas being cheaper it is a wash on the milage. Parts are definitly cheaper with the old truck.

 

[capt_met]

Verticaltrx, Where are you from in SW Va. I'm in the tri cities. And how about a pic of your C60.

 

[Verticaltrx]

Verticaltrx, Where are you from in SW Va. I'm in the tri cities. And how about a pic of your C60.

I'm over in Floyd county. Mine sure isn't as pretty as yours, but in the next year or two I hope to do a ground up rebuild.

Don't have any great pics, but it is in the background of this pic:



It's a '75 C60, 350/4spd/2-spd rear end, 14' grain box with a twin cylinder hoist. Been in the family since '77, all original (even have the build sheet) and still getting the job done. I hauled 200+ tons of gravel with it a couple months ago and 10 loads of wood chips last week.

 

[capt_met]

nice looking truck there. you guys have quite a big party up at Floyd fest. Very nice area.

 

[bulldogshotgun]

Oh man that is one heck of a cool fleet of old iron still earning its keep. I wonder if some of them have unseen modernization's done to them to make them easier to drive.

Several of them have at least axles, that are much newer. and my guess is that most have been repowered.

 

[Bob77064]

Those are some great looking tough trucks.

 

[ncnurseryman]

Got an 86 Chevy one ton with a dump bed. A retired farmer down the road was getting rid of it so I snapped it up. Worked on the motor a little a bit of paint touch up etc and I use it a lot for picking up and delivering plants, mulch, wood and landscaping.

 

[wmonroe]

Very cool fleet of trucks!

 

[QRTRHRS]

I have worked with both the three piece and the two piece. The way an "old timer" showed me was to inflate without the valve core while tapping the ring(s) with a ~2lb hammer. Light tapping would properly seat the rings. The worst is when someone slaps one together and throws it in a cage. Then when it blows they say all splits are bad.

I was at my buddy's garage repairing a 16" split off my 72' IH pickup one day when this well meaning but poorly informed phone company worker had a fit when he saw what I was doing. He raised such a fuss that my buddy asked me to take off and come back later.

But, getting back to the thread, old iron may look cool but driving something vintage may have you thanking your late model truck. Poor heat, loud in the cab, useless emergency brake, vacuum wipers. Some of my first jobs were driving 1950's era B Model Mack's, IH 190's, Whites, some 60's era GMC's including one with a v12 gasser in it.

 

[JESSE1]

"But, getting back to the thread, old iron may look cool but driving something vintage may have you thanking your late model truck. Poor heat, loud in the cab, useless emergency brake, vacuum wipers. Some of my first jobs were driving 1950's era B Model Mack's, IH 190's, Whites, some 60's era GMC's including one with a v12 gasser in it."

Exactly right. I have two running White trucks, a '56 WC22PLT and a '59 4400TD that my Dad drove for about six years and put over 900,000 miles on. They get a lot of looks when I take them on the road but I wouldn't be willing to actually do any revenue work with them. Too hard to get parts for and no contest with the new trucks when it comes to driving comfort and power.

 

[crazyal]

I've changed tires on several of the split ring wheels for my Loadstar. I could see tire shops not wanting to deal with them since they require a little more work. The ring and the wheel need to be cleaned of any dirt and rust but once you do the ring will snap back into place pretty easy (unless you bent it). They also should be painted if you stripped rust off of any part. The biggest problem I can see is if you don't respect them but that's true of any tire. You really have to inspect the parts for dents and cracks.

http://www.tireindustry.org/pdf/osha_Demount-Mount.pdf

Anyway I like seeing old iron. I can say that there's no way I could drive my 77 IHC 5 days a week 8 hours a day. But if I spent the money to put new running gear under the cab I could see using it in a commercial application.

 

[aczlan]

Several of them have at least axles, that are much newer. and my guess is that most have been repowered.

On the tree spade truck I would bet that they put the cab on a newer chassis, likely something like a M927 (Long wheelbase variant of the "5 ton" 900 series military truck).

Aaron Z

 

[D7E]

These two old girls do most of our work . 1979 ford L9000 with 350hp cummins 855 and 1982 GMC brigadier with 280hp detroit 6-71 silver turbo