Truck Shite

[mat_the_cat]

A rare beast and usually a stretched tractor unit.

 

Forgive my ignorance, but is this a bad thing, and if so why? Weaker chassis?

[Vantman]

Oops!! Any backstory?

 

[mercrocker]

Its not easy to kill a TK.    Our last one at our place was still working in 2005.

[Asimo]

A neighbour has a Bedford TK for vintage tractors / ploughing competition and a bit of general farm use.

Bought from a dairy about 1982 at ten years old. It's had pistons and liners after a stone went through the radiator a few years after he got it. He reckons it is much cheaper and easier to run than a landrover + trailer. Took it to Denmark a few years ago for a ploughing match.

[jon.k]

Found this one today, apparently it’s been with the same owners since it was a year old.

[willswitchengage]

7 litre in that? And you all whinge about being given underpowered trucks!!!!!!!!!!

[scruff]

Here's some more pics of the 143.

 

I don't think being a stretched unit is bad if it's done right, this one is very nicely done.

 

It pulls like a train and once warm the box is lovely. The torque is phenomenal!!

 

It's going into the boys who look after my Volvo next week, few little jobs to do. They have a restored 113 unit so know the score.

[Guest Hooli]

Oh spanktastic!

[wuvvum]

That Scania really is a thing of beauty.

 

The gearbox would worry me slightly though - I'd be bricking it on the change from 3rd to 4th in case I overshot and accidentally banged it into the crawler gear.  Or is that locked out in high range?

[scruff]

There's quite a strong detent spring you would be doing well to catch it.

[Vin]

img338 by foundin_a_attic, on Flickr

 

[Fat_Pirate]

I've been working in the US for the past week, and spotted this truck of many wheels:

There was much more stuff I wanted to photograph but I was with 'normal people' so had to curb my enthusiasm for faded 80s American sedans, etc.

 

[CreepingJesus]

It pulls like a train and once warm the box is lovely.

And when cold? I think I know the answer to that.

The GRS900 box is like a bolt action rifle when it's warm, but it's an utter cunt when stone cold. And even leaving the engine idling up to temp doesn't get enough heat in it. Only using it does. I've embarrassed myself getting into fourth in the past, on a cold box. Which is how I can pretty much guarantee you won't accidentally get it into the crawler slot: the crawler's non-synch (as is reverse on the older ones) and it just won't go if you're rolling.

The range and splitter need a telegram with your intentions clearly stated too, when it's cold.

Still one of my favourite boxes, despite that. The narrow gate is a joy to use once it's warm and the left arm's tuned in.

Has that one got the wee plastic adjustment collar under the boot?

[CreepingJesus]

Just to add something...

A W reg EC11 still earning its keep, part timing on veg runs.

I thought I'd be smart and leave a reminder that the legs on this particular trailer are set up backwards. But evidently some people have got add something to it...!

[puddlethumper]

I'm not a trucker, but I do love a good wagon. 

Back in the sixties, when I was about 13 or so, I went around Scotshire in an Aec Mercury artic 

for a couple of weeks with a friend of the family. After that I wanted to be a trucker.

Instead I became a carpenter. 

In the early 2000's when living in Portugalshire I was offered a truck. Well, a small truck. 

One of them tiddler 7.5 ton things.

The difference was, it was a 1938 Ford Canada 4x4 jobby.

It was owned by the Fire Brigade and was surplus to requirement.

It had seen service during WW 2 and had then been bought by the Portuguese military,

who then passed it to the Fire Brigade. They were used a lot in N.Africa but ended up all over the world.

1000 eurii later I was the, hopefully, proud owner of a 3500 litre tanker.

 

Truckers back then had big arms and legs that's for sure. No power steering, clutch, brakes. I think I had the base model, where the doors didn't have windows and the a/c was opening the windscreen.

 

The winch on it worked off the gearbox so it pulled to the gear you were in, which I thought was kinda neat. Not like them w,olli's with something stuck on the front. Also you could winch backwards or forwards through rollers front and back.

 

It actually paid for itself, when there was a bit of a drought for a couple of years, delivering river water for irrigation to people who grew all their veg, cabbage and potatoes mostly, for the whole family, and filling the odd swimming pool for immigrants who preferred the term expats.

 

I did also have a 7.5 Iveco box thing for a marquee business I had for a while. Did its job,but boringly.

 

That's my (small) truck life and I apologise for not having pics.

[tooSavvy]

Idly scanning the 'mag shelf (not top!)' in our Tesco... I spy a 'special' about Commercial Bodywork Suppliers.

 

Bit obscure for mainstream retailers?

 

 

http://www.kelsey.co.uk/brand/commercial-vehicles/vintage-roadscene/

 

Was on the way out so no time to 'flick thru'.. Might be lots of photties but no depth, mebbies.

 

TS

[puddlethumper]

I was down my very friendly mechanics garage this morning

seeing if I could land a Cresta van on him.

Seemed agreeable if I had a look and took pics.

 

This was waiting in all its glorious Mogness for an Mot.

 

 

The owner has had it for about a year and went round Jockland last year.

This year he's taking it to Iceland. The chassis cab cost him £45,000 to buy and sort out, and the living box was brand new. Dunno how much that would have been, but it was all teched up.

 

 

 

 

[Guest Hooli]

That is cool as fook.

[puddlethumper]

^^ I would have given it a lick, but the owner might not have liked it.

[jon.k]

What about the white overland camper in the background? 

[PiperCub]

That Scania really is a thing of beauty.

 

The gearbox would worry me slightly though - I'd be bricking it on the change from 3rd to 4th in case I overshot and accidentally banged it into the crawler gear.  Or is that locked out in high range?

 

There's no chance of that, you'll often struggle to get it in bottom/crawler gear when at a standstill never mind when you're moving at over a few mph! (certainly that reflects my experience). 

[puddlethumper]

What about the white overland camper in the background? 

That's an overnight camper for Shitefest.

[Magpie215]

 

This is my uncles Morris commercial fv.

Ex potato merchants in Devon he restored it to its current dray configuration he's had some awards at different shows etc.

[CreepingJesus]

My uncle in Australia has a Mog camper not unlike that. Not the first one he's had, but the first one he's built from scratch. New chassis, new body, the lot. He resolutely refuses to admit how much it all cost, but he's fucking loaded anyhow. When the gearbox broke a couple of months in, Merc shipped it to Germany and back, at their expense, to fix it!

 

Speaking of Merc, with reference to my much earlier post, their bloody stupid USB socket defeats me no more! I should've stumped up the whole £2.something for this adaptor long ago.

Would a Modern Trucks Is Shite thread go in the modern section?

And...caption that. I thought "Eh, boss...about those 26 pallets of extra hot curry I picked up..."

[Vantman]

A nice old Karrier that used to deliver around Ashford a bit before (but not much) my time.

 

 

[tooSavvy]

^^ those trade plates hanging? Just back from paintshop?

 

TS

[Vantman]

^^ those trade plates hanging? Just back from paintshop?

 

TS

 

Probably delivery to customer.

[dozeydustman]

Some old shite gathering shite I drove at Gravesham Borough Council before I moved to Sussex in 2015.

 

 

I loved this old TK, though at my height it was a little cramped. Didn't mind the lack of power steering too much. Only sent to auction because the Hiab died. First heavy commercial I drove in 2000, we had it until around 2003.

 

 

First freighter I drove on my own round after passing my HGV in late '01. Retired shortly after. These old Dennis Deltas were absolute pigs to drive, though still better than a Mercedes Econic

 

 

This was a good old truck to drive, pretty quick as well (no limiter!). Nice accurate* cable change magic wand gearbox, clutch was heavier than the Delta for some unknown reason.

 

Still trying to track down the Shelvoke I learnt to drive HGV's in but I can't remember the sodding reg plate. Ahhh nostalgia

 

[Felly Magic]

Didn't Dennis end up switching to the Allison World Series auto box on bin wagons? I did remember some bloke having a flatbed Elite with that box, a one off special job

[yellowperil]

Didn't Dennis end up switching to the Allison World Series auto box on bin wagons? I did remember some bloke having a flatbed Elite with that box, a one off special job

Our Dennis' have a autobox fitted and it has Allison written on the button surround so yes.

 

dozeydustman, that Bedford is lovely, were you all sad to see it go?