American Loggers Trucks

[mwilson]

Promised pictures yesterday and here they are.

First is Randy Bourgoin's new Yellow SD. A little fuzzy because it was scanned to me but will give the general idea of the looks.

Next 2 are a new Western Star with DD16 power going out today to get headboard and bumper installed. They really do shine for a short while... .

 

[mwilson]

And 2 more... .

 

[JFought]

Cool!! i liked that show!!!!

 

[NIsaacs]

Nice, but Dayton wheels on the rear of the Western Star?



Nick

 

[mwilson]

They are still a popular option up here.



Hub piloted wheels are gaining favor with the loggers but can be an issue as the aluminum will react with the metal of the hub and freeze the wheels on. We have a special puller in the tire dept. to pull the inner wheels when they are stuck on. In extreme cases we have had to use a porta-power to shove them off.



Hub piloted wheels are also an issue if you have to do a tire change with no air tools back in the woods. Much rather deal with 6 nuts tourqed to 250 ft lbs and a spacer than try to start off 10 nuts tourqed to 450 ft lbs. Not to mention if you don't get the hub piloted ones tight you risk ruining both wheels, the hub, all your studs and a brake drum. Seen several municipalities do that very thing if they have a flat during snowstorms while plowing as they figured that they could just do a fast tire change and tourqe the wheels later after the storm. Doesn't work out... ... ... ... good for my parts sales but not so good for them. :{



Also a lot of trailers still have Dayton wheels so your spare will fit everything but the steers if you have them on the drives.



If you blow a steering tire on a loaded truck grossing 100,000lbs + the spare is the least of your problems because you are going to leave the road and wreck the truck anyways. :{

 

[jhenderson]

I would like to see the drive lines on those trucks. I saw one of their tractors at the logging show in Bangor 2 years ago, and the rears and frame were huge.

 

[mwilson]

The one that you saw on display was most likely "Bigfoot". That has 10' wide drives with planetary gearsets at the wheels. Can't remember the driveline size, will look the next time it comes down. The 600 Cat in it blows a head gasket everytime you look at it funny so it is around the shop quite a bit. They have to lowbed it down as it is nowheres near street legal.



"Bigfoot" was geared to top out at 45 mph which was too slow for those boys so they stuck a Spicer 4 speed air shift auxiliary transmission behind the 18 speed Fuller. Will go 60 or so now... ..... :-laf



The rest of the trucks including the Tri-Drive have common 1810 Spicer main drivelines, 1710 between the rears. Rear end themselves are 46-160 Meritor axles with 4 way locking. Some such as the tri-drive are air ride, but most have Hendrickson spring ride.



I didn't realize that some of you would be interested in these trucks so now that I know I will get pictures of the interesting stuff such as the tri-drive, Bigfoot etc. as they show up at the shop.

 

[PToombs]

I didn't realize that some of you would be interested in these trucks so now that I know I will get pictures of the interesting stuff such as the tri-drive, Bigfoot etc. as they show up at the shop.

Shoot, we're interested in anything with tires, tracks and most things mechanical!

 

[dlmartin]

Too bad you spec'd the wrong engine!

 

[BurlesonR]

Awesome mwilson! Thanks for posting!

 

[BullyDogJason]

thanks for the pics,

I like that show

 

[n7gxz]

I thought they were going back to Mack's the way they talked on the show when they picked up the two new Mack's (Titan's I think) on last year's show.



Kevin

 

[BILLUA]

That's sure what they said last year. . Maybe the heavy duty off road MACKS didn't hold up.

 

[mwilson]

This is an unconfirmed rumor but I have heard that the Mack frames are not holding up. Will get more facts as I can.

 

[Walcott]

when does the next season start?

 

[n7gxz]

Looks like it is coming up. Discovery channel is start to run repeats on the 21st.



Kevin

 

[Walcott]

sure do enjoy the show,thxs. for the pics.