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Speaking of fast trucks

Ultradog MN

Ultradog MN

Well-known Member
Location
Twin Cities
Back in the mid 80s I drove OTR for a couple of years.
Once I was driving through Nebraska, doing about 65, minding my own business.
Along behind me comes a big black Peterbilt with a cattle trailer and whoosh, passes me like I was standing still.
I got about 20 miles down the road and pulled into our regular fuel stop. There sitting idling was that same big Peterbilt.
So I got my fuel and went inside to pay and there was an older gent sitting at the counter having a cup of coffee. No one else around.
So I asked him if he was driving the bull hauler.
He said "Yep."
So I told him he had passed me about a half hour back and must have been really flying.
He just said "Yep."
So I asked him how fast his truck would do anyway.
He just said "Son, I don't really know."
So I mentioned he must gave some idea.
He acted like I was bothering him a little.
But finally he said, "Son, I can't say how fast it will go. All I know is when I get it into
top gear and really get to rolling I have to put goggles on the first two rows of bulls to keep the wind from blowing their eyeballs out."
 
yep, how many here remember when the old diesels really did flame out the stacks at night? before turbocharging many trucks would have a mirror mounted on the top of the radiator shroud and focused on the top of the stack, at night those old engines when under a hard pull would shoot flame out the top of the stack all the way up to 12 to 15 inches, the turbo's killed that, but added a tremendous boost in power
 
Turbo's don't kill it. My old 2470 case i used to have would stand 8 inches of fire out the pipe at night when she was working hard. i had the fuel screw turned so it ran good and healthy.
 
Well yep been doing the fast track years ago and got my door blown off one time. I was driving I-70 heading towards Kansas City with a mobile home behind doing around 75 or so and had a race for a little bit with some one in I do not remember but he left me and the Binder I was driving behind.
So now who knows what I was driving old term for one brand of truck is the only clue I will give right now
 
Yep i do , I lived in a small town called Canfield Ohio and it sat on US224 the old Mid wet emery trucks with the old 220 Cummins would stand fire pulling the hill out east of the village at night and some of the old Macks would also if they were turned up Road way and Copper Jarrett were running the old 238 Detroits And the old 534 and 549 gas burners the mufflers would glow . Ah the old road . And yes i still like them and use them over the interstate.
 
you all know the difference detween a big truck an a large car?
a big truck will go as fast as you want to go an a large car will go as fast as anyone would want to go.
an yes i do remember the flame out of the stacks. remember setting the pump for how many feet of smoke you wanted.
how many remember having the pryrometer in the dash as big as the speedometer so you could keep track of exhaust temp. so you wouldnt burn the seals out of the turbos.
 
Yea , along with and air pressure gauge to keep and eye on the boost because the turbo boost gauges did not go high enough and a liquid fill hyd gauge to keep track of fuel pressure .
 
I'm just a youngin and even I know a binder is a International.. Any self-respecting truck guy should know that too.

Most likely named as such because the binder put IH on the map, so to speak.

If you wanna confuse us, or at least make us think for a minute, call it "A THIRTEEN LETTER MANURE SPREADER".. Of course, the person that taught me that lingo don't say manure.. He says the 4-letter S word.

I've also heard many references to a "Dragonfly".. Not to any particular brand.. but describes a truck that "Drags a** goin up the hill, an' flies goin down"

The things I learned as a kid by shutting up and listening.. LOL

Brad
 
I LIKE that Jon!,My middle son used to drive OTR, but has been driving local for Quickcrete, the last 6 yr's. He told me that he stopped to fill his 2 qt thermos, at a truck stop, got it filled, and went to use the restroom before leaving. As he was going into the rest room, he met a trucker leaving, who looked at his large thermos, and remarked, Going to be in there for awhile? I enjoy his stories.
 
Yeah, and now everything's this electronic crud & idiot lights. Give me back the good old reliable gauges.
 
The Feds brought out equipment that they set up on a highway or street that would weigh whatever vehicle drove by and also record the speed. A computer in a truck parked nearby would record all traffic when the computer truck wasn't manned.

One night, a trucker drove through AZ on I40 after the scales were closed for the night. He went through the Weigh-in-Motion at 100 MPH with a gross weight of 100,000 lbs. He had to hurry to exit the other side of the state before the scales opened the next morning. The Feds were all excited when they checked the computer the next morning.

Wonder how much the fine would have been if they had caught the guy?

We were wondering how much HP was in that rig.
 
I don't think it is actually a flame on the old diesels, it is actually super heated carbon particles (soot) in the exhaust.
 
very first truck i drove was an old mack H model with a 262, and a 5 + 3 that old girl would run a flame out the stack for sure,it was a rare site on the road by the time i got it and the site of that old truck would get the old school drivers to telling stories, one i remember was a guy had an old corbitt,i think it has a 220 byt i might be wrong its been 30 years since the story was told lol, he had a small hole cut in the floor of the cab over the exhaust pipe, it served to keep an eye on the temperature,he told me as long as the exhaust pipe was glowing cherry red, all was well, when that cherry color turned to a whitish color, it was time to back off the throttle and drop a gear and cool it out , man you cant live stories like that today in these nice rigs we have now , lol can you imagine telling a modern dot cop what that hole in the floor was for?
 
The owner of the trucking co. I use at work was an O/O for the previous owner. He got in serious trouble with his former boss when they caught him leaving SW Mo. at 10:00 AM Sunday morning and delivering the load in LA at 8:00 AM Monday morning. I'd say his truck would move along. The fastest one I drove was a cab-over Pete that my wifes uncle owned. I was crossing west TX one night 30 plus years ago, looked down and was running 85 or so with about 500 RPM left on the tach. Kind of scared me considering that there isn't anything in front of you if you hit something.
 
I am not a trucker, I am a farmer but in my near 70 years I have been around Truckers and fishermen and farmers, it seems to me the stories they tell are based on the truth. A trucker/fisherman/farmer once told me "never let the truth get in the way of a good story".
 
I was coming back from daughter's place in CA one Sunday morning. I figured this trucker had a radar detector so I stayed right behind him as I was in a hurry to get back home. I checked the speedometer; I was doing 85 and he was running away from me!

Decided about then that I wasn't in that much of a hurry afterall, so I backed off. It only took a few minutes and he was out of sight.
 
Back in the 70's, I was driving to work about 4 am, on I94 east, near Ypsi. I was late, I was doing 90, when a steelhauler passed me like I was sitting still. He was going so fast, I could feel my car being pushed over by the wind he created.
 
Old,
The first semi we had at our farm machinery dealership was a cabover binder with a 855NA and ranger, pulling single drop 38' Swartz machinery trailerwith hyd. beaver tail and winch. The injectors were lasor cut, and pump was reworked. It wouldn't brake many speed limits, but it sure would pull our hills with a flame coming out the stack.
It seams funny to me that back then the old Cummins 220 was a real horse, but now 375 and up seams to be the norm.
Loren, the Acg.
 
Heres some pictures of my old "Binders".
My first truck was a 69 CO4070A,actually ran very good,and was set up well for its time.Had a 335 Cummins,13 spd. direct,with 4.10 gears,tall tubeless rubber and 230 gallon fuel capacity.Picture is from 1974,I believe,was leased to Daily Express back then,heavy haul outfit out of Carlisle,Pa.They are still in business.Fuel was less tha 50 cents back then,could fill that truck for less than $100.
The tan truck was a 1977 Eagle 4300,bought it new,was one of the first Eagles built.Had a 350 Cummins,13 spd. od.Really,liked that truck,back when the big truck manufacturers spent time and put multicolor paint jobs on trucks,instead of all the one color trucks you see now adays,eventually stretched the frame and increased the wb. from 200"to 235" and got rid of the tubed rubber.
The black 4300 Eagle was a glider kit I bought new in 84,and built it in 85.A glider was a poor mans way to get a new truck.You bought just the cab,hood,sleeper frame and radiator and front axle form the dealer.You would install your own engine,trans,rears and suspension,and then trim it out,exhaust,tires,options,etc.Built it with the guts from the tan 4300.Lots of work drilling those frame holes,was young and ambitious back then.If you look by the drive tires,you'll see one of my young sons.He's 31 now,has a 379 long hooded,high sleeper Pete,among other toys.Apple doesn't fall far from the tree,lol.
The last pic is me moving a the 120,000lb engine house,from a river dredge.That steel box has several big Diesels in it,plus all the hydraulics for the dredge.When we would move these,it was about a dozen truckloads of stuff that went with it,pontoons,spuds,booms,etc.Hauled one down to Mexico once for gold digging,also hauled one to Washington to dredge volcanic ash out of the Toutle River when Mt.St. Helens blew up in the 80's.
My current truck is a 95 Eagle 9300,525 N-14 Cummins,15 spd.Truck only has 610k original miles,I'm semi-retired,do less than 10k miles a year anymore.Trucking sure is different now adays

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CCF11052011_00001.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket
</a>
 
Ultradog MN, That is typical for Bull Haulers!
In the Truck Driving World there are Only 2 kinds of Drivers,,, Bull Haulers and all Others!
Sounds like you had and encounter with one of Hofferber's Hands Out of Guymon, Okla.
Had a neighbor who would pull some unreal times out of TN. He has been Clocked and Stopped @ 120 MPH with a full Load of cattle! Drove this old ragged COE Pete with a punched put 435 Cummings & a turned around 10 speed. This truck would hit 35mph in Reverse!
Hofferber was known to get cattle most anywhere on time. One time somewhere up north in the Mid west area. A County Mountie stopped one of their trucks for speeding, (back in 55mph days). Full load of Cattle! The hand was making in the neighborhood of 90/95 mph. They arrested the driver and went to the Station. The driver calls Hofferber Dispatch in Guymon, Dispatch ask to speak with the officer in charge! The Officer goes to tell dispatch about the charges and such and as an after though ask what to do with the their Cattle.
Dispatch said write the man a ticket and send him on his way!
The officer restates what he had previously stated again.
Dispatch said Write the man a ticket and send him on his way, If you hold him up longer than this phone call has lasted after I hang up YOU Own the cattle. The Driver was heading back down the road in 20 min.
Nation Carriers Out of abundant Ks were known to have A Fleet of surenough fast trucks. Back in the 80s I was making 75 and got passed by 3 of their drivers, went by me like I was setting on Blocks.
Later,
John A.
 
(quoted from post at 23:01:00 01/23/13) Back in the mid 80s I drove OTR for a couple of years.
Once I was driving through Nebraska, doing about 65, minding my own business.
Along behind me comes a big black Peterbilt with a cattle trailer and whoosh, passes me like I was standing still.
I got about 20 miles down the road and pulled into our regular fuel stop. There sitting idling was that same big Peterbilt.
So I got my fuel and went inside to pay and there was an older gent sitting at the counter having a cup of coffee. No one else around.
So I asked him if he was driving the bull hauler.
He said "Yep."
So I told him he had passed me about a half hour back and must have been really flying.
He just said "Yep."
So I asked him how fast his truck would do anyway.
He just said "Son, I don't really know."
So I mentioned he must gave some idea.
He acted like I was bothering him a little.
But finally he said, "Son, I can't say how fast it will go. All I know is when I get it into
top gear and really get to rolling I have to put goggles on the first two rows of bulls to keep the wind from blowing their eyeballs out."
Click to expand...

Not BS at all, back in the 80's we had a Cabover Pete with a Cummin's Bulldozer engine in it. The engine was so big the cab had to be extended so that a Queen size mattress would fit instead of the normal full size. Well over 500 horse, turned down. Would pull Jellico or Saluda loaded and have to slow down for the cars.

There was a small batch made for a trucking company, as a special order. Originally they where all White with some Blue and Red stripes. I've personally seen 110mph loaded. Truck is long gone, but the smiles are forever everytime I think about it.
 
(quoted from post at 09:41:31 01/24/13) Ultradog MN, That is typical for Bull Haulers!
In the Truck Driving World there are Only 2 kinds of Drivers,,, Bull Haulers and all Others!
Sounds like you had and encounter with one of Hofferber's Hands Out of Guymon, Okla.
Had a neighbor who would pull some unreal times out of TN. He has been Clocked and Stopped @ 120 MPH with a full Load of cattle! Drove this old ragged COE Pete with a punched put 435 Cummings &amp; a turned around 10 speed. This truck would hit 35mph in Reverse!
Hofferber was known to get cattle most anywhere on time. One time somewhere up north in the Mid west area. A County Mountie stopped one of their trucks for speeding, (back in 55mph days). Full load of Cattle! The hand was making in the neighborhood of 90/95 mph. They arrested the driver and went to the Station. The driver calls Hofferber Dispatch in Guymon, Dispatch ask to speak with the officer in charge! The Officer goes to tell dispatch about the charges and such and as an after though ask what to do with the their Cattle.
Dispatch said write the man a ticket and send him on his way!
The officer restates what he had previously stated again.
Dispatch said Write the man a ticket and send him on his way, If you hold him up longer than this phone call has lasted after I hang up YOU Own the cattle. The Driver was heading back down the road in 20 min.
Nation Carriers Out of abundant Ks were known to have A Fleet of surenough fast trucks. Back in the 80s I was making 75 and got passed by 3 of their drivers, went by me like I was setting on Blocks.
Later,
John A.
Click to expand...

Don't forget "Monfort" out of Colarado I believe. Gold and Black trucks if memory serves. I remember when the hammer lane was called the Monfort lane, cause their trucks where always flying past you in it.
 
(quoted from post at 05:30:22 01/24/13) Truck drivers do have the best stories. Some of them are true too.
Click to expand...

Same with cops, although most of them you can't repeat in polite company!
 
Ya my 1963 Diamond-T has a 220 in it and sure wish I could find the parts to fix to old girl but seems then parts now days are few and far between. Tacked out that Diamond would do all of 55mph
 
A Friend Had 2 Freightliners/1999 Cummins set for 600 HP& 2000 Detroit 12.7 all so Set at 600 HP They had 13 Speeds With Dubble Over Drive/Dont know Axal Ratio/They Would Do 103-105 Miles Per Hour.
 
Come to England. Trucks are fitted with governors to hold them at 55mph. Most supermarkets set them to 50mph to save fuel.On our narrow roads, can be a nuisance.
 
My sons 379 Pete has a mechanical 3406,15 speed double overdrive,3.36 gears with 11.24-5 rubber.I've never gotten the truck in high,except bobtailing,have no idea how fast it would go,but I'm sure 3 digits.My 9300 Binder has a N-14 525 15 speed direct,3.73 with tall rubber,will do 80 loaded pretty easy,too fast for me anymore!
 

My 5900i with 475 c-15 was set at 90. I let it run up to 80 one time going up a good hill but I didn't want to chance any faster. When I picked up retired Werner Petes for a friend I took them into Cat before heading back to get them reset. Werner had them set at 65 so I had them raise them up to 75 so that my friend's drivers could get home to mama faster.
 
old, i had the same thing happen to me in texas. i was hauling them lil park models down to mcallister, n bobtail back to northern indiana. had a 93 IH cabover, single axle. 10 speed with a 2speed rear. bout 1 am, i leave truck stop, got up to bout 70mph, n got passed by a 16x80. no lites, no escort, 1am. i laughed all the way home, cause next trip, i took my 79 gmc astro totor down there. it would tach up 3600, 10 speed n 2 speed like the IH. that ol jimmy would haul 16x80s 75-100mph. hehe. i made good time in the gmc on the way home. that ol 290 big cam singin n left lane all the way back to the hoosier state. i bet you remember first big house you hooked onto dont ya? lol.
 
another good truck i got to operate was a 95 W900. wasnt a speedster, a powerhouse. 100k lbs hauling shingles out of IKO in ohio back to nappanee in. no trouble runnin 85 with that load. if it revved up more, woulda gone as fast as it wanted to i guess. put 400,000mi on that truck.
 
Well when I started I started from just getting in and driving to pulling mobile homes nothing between so yep the first pull or 2 was a white knuckle type thing. Then after a bit was easy. Still remember pulling with my boss and going down a mountain in CO and the boss kept having to stop because he was using to high a gear and smoking his brakes. Me I had not problems but I was running lower gears them him and just hit the brakes till I slowed down then let it tack up before slowing again. Bad one was when I had the axles come out from under one going up Hwy 63 here in MO had that road closed off to a single lane for 8 hours due to that
 
Many years ago, I was working in a fleet truck shop. I was in the drivers room before my start time on the first day of a new driver. He was one of those "If you can do it, I have done it better" kind of guys. Problem was we already had one of those kind in the room. They kept topping each other on how many miles they drove in a year. When I left for the shop, I picked up my calculator and figured out that the highest one would have had to average excess of 95 mph 24/7 365. We all knew it was a load, just didn't know how big.
Tim in OR
 
I know a bull hauler who carries around a framed ticket for 123 mph he got in his Petercar... cost him his license for 5 years.
 
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