anvil
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Post by anvil on Aug 6, 2020 12:32:30 GMT -6
Tell me what you think.   My uncle needs a cell/communications tower, and I need a service truck. Figgured we can pull the ladder off mount it on a concrete pad (can run hyd with a tractor) easy to service components on top of a tower when you can bring it down easily. And I will shorten the section out of the frame where the ladder turntable was and outfit with a tidy tank or two, used oil storage/recovery, air compressor etc. It is a early 70's with a whopping 4000 miles showing on the clock. Oh and a 534 Ford gas V8 (that is pretty exciting to me) will be used around the farm, so not to concerned with fuel economy) Thoughts and opinions welcome! Attachments:
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Post by kevlar on Aug 6, 2020 15:28:33 GMT -6
Tell me what you think. My uncle needs a cell/communications tower, and I need a service truck. Figgured we can pull the ladder off mount it on a concrete pad (can run hyd with a tractor) easy to service components on top of a tower when you can bring it down easily. And I will shorten the section out of the frame where the ladder turntable was and outfit with a tidy tank or two, used oil storage/recovery, air compressor etc. It is a early 70's with a whopping 4000 miles showing on the clock. Oh and a 534 Ford gas V8 (that is pretty exciting to me) will be used around the farm, so not to concerned with fuel economy) Thoughts and opinions welcome! I don't know about removing the ladder. That would come in pretty handy for a lot of things. I would leave the ladder on and rig it up for all the other uses you had in mind, but then your uncle would be SOL! Nice find! |
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anvil
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Post by anvil on Aug 6, 2020 16:05:44 GMT -6
Yea... nope, that ladder is coming off! We have a 60' man lift... makes ladders of any kind obsolete on our farm.  Plus it will be nice to shorten the wheelbase of that beast a little bit, she's pretty long as is. |
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Post by cptusa on Aug 6, 2020 16:25:52 GMT -6
At first glance I think you're freaking nuts but looking more I can see where you are going with it and think you may be less nuts and only a bit crazy.
Old fire trucks have low miles but those miles come hard. Guessing that old girl has a fair amount of engine hours on it in relation to miles from stationary work/pumping, and her best days are behind her and she looks like its been a bit neglected.
All that said I can see what you're trying to do and think it may be feasible. Also assuming the ladder needs some help, those aerials are high maintenance outfits and if its been sitting outside in the elements you may have your work cut out for you.
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anvil
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Post by anvil on Aug 6, 2020 20:11:57 GMT -6
I have high Hope's for this unit... it's a couple hr drive from me, I think I better have a closer look at it before the auction ends... but usually fire trucks have top notch maintenance, and it appears that there is no pump on this unit, so there cant be a ton of hours on it.. the rear just has slide in horizontal compartments for what looks like smaller ladders/ extension ladders. I see its faded but the pics of the cab and seat tell me it's pretty nice and original. Like not a tear on the seats...
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I gotta go have a closer look...
I wasnt at all excited when I first saw it but the more I looked and though about it the more I want it..
I had a service truck idea in my head for years that involved my grandpa's old chev maple leaf grain truck, a 3 ton service body with crane I already have, a Cummins 24valve also already in my posession..
But, I built my rat rod from the ground up.. I know how much work would be involved in building the maple leaf into a service truck aswell...
This fire truck is much much closer to my goal... and will be (hopefully) much cheaper.
I will keep you folks posted on this sillyness.
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Post by SWMan on Aug 6, 2020 21:26:18 GMT -6
This thought had crossed my mind too. I was kind of looking for a manlift to work on the grain handling equipment and the dryer seems to need washing every year, then I saw this: Fire truckNow my main concern was if it breaks what's it gonna cost to fix it, but has a generator/ladder and can even wash things off with the nozzle on top of the ladder! Not sure what you are gonna pay for that old girl, but something newer might be not much more. Not much use for these ladder trucks unless it is re-purposed for something. FWIW we used to have an old cabover like the one you are looking at, was a 1964 with a 18' box. It saw a lot of miles and the shift linkages were plenty wore out along with most everything else. It got the job done but I wasn't sad the day we sold it for $1000... |
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Post by Beerwiser on Aug 6, 2020 21:55:17 GMT -6
I can see it now, lights flashing-get out of my way. Im broke down! Personally I think you are nuts not to grab it if the price is right. I was looking at a early 80s gm pumper truck. The back was all cabinets with heat. Top and center were fire hose storage. Still kicking myself for not getting it, but it went a bit more than I could afford.
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anvil
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Post by anvil on Aug 6, 2020 22:38:49 GMT -6
SWman, you speak of a generator on a ladder truck....??
This one I'm looking at has a reel (all I got is pics, haven't looked at it in person yet) something was funny bout the reel, at first thought it was water hose but it just didnt make sense... I was really thinking that looks like its electrical.... but wtf would you need electrical up a ladder for?? And it's a BIG cable, if that's what it is....
For lights?? Or....??
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anvil
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Post by anvil on Aug 20, 2020 22:33:15 GMT -6
Well we won the auction.
I inspected the truck b4 auction closing and from what I could see it truly has just over 4000 miles.
A few hyd leaks but most of those systems are coming off with the ladder.
Looked inside the valve cover and its spotless.
It fired right up, runs beautifully. Common areas where these cabs rust out (like the foot wells) are essentially rust free.. a small amount of surface rust from where the paint was wore of from boots going in and out of the cab.
The only real rust to be found is a bit on the roof above the drip rails.
So next on the list is to go get the thing and drive it the 2.5 hrs to get it home.. of which adventure I'm actually quite excited to experience! [Call me crazy]
I'll let you know how it goes... the previous owner installed a 5 gallon fuel tank... original HUGE fuel tank must have had crud in it, so it was bypassed... will either plumb in a bigger temp tank or bring a tidy tank on the chase truck...
Any bets on how much fuel a 534ci big block will drink on a 2.5 hr trip... 🤔😁
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Post by kevlar on Aug 20, 2020 22:45:46 GMT -6
Congratulations! If the lights and sirens are working, the trip could be a little less than 2 hours! lol You might have to stop to fill up every 25 miles!
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Post by Beerwiser on Aug 20, 2020 23:08:41 GMT -6
I am guessing on about 45 minutes of highway driving on the 5 gal tank, depending on if you have lights and sirens going. Love to see some close up pictures.
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Post by meskie on Aug 20, 2020 23:09:48 GMT -6
If the lights and sirens are on I bet he stops more often then 25 miles. Haha
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Post by hillbillyreefer on Aug 21, 2020 8:39:46 GMT -6
Looking forward to the story about getting her home and the build.
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Post by victory on Aug 21, 2020 19:23:21 GMT -6
20 gallons should get you home .
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Mags
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Post by Mags on Aug 21, 2020 20:33:18 GMT -6
I’ll guess 30 gallons. Interesting project. Keep us updated on build.
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