How Would You Do It? Question from the Dummy

Here's one for ya.

Let's just say that you bought a two and a half ton farm truck over the phone and the thing is located 250 miles away.

Everything seems to be okay with it, but ya just don't know, right?

How would you go about moving the thing? In the old days, I'd grab a neighbor, we'd leave at 3 in the morning and go drive it home with the neighbor in the follow car. This time, that ain't a gonna work; it's just me on this one and I don't have a lot of time.

Would you take a small car or something, pull the endgates, load the little car in the back of the truck, cross yer fingers and hope to high heaven that the truck runs okay for the 250 miles home?

Could you load the old devil up on a 25 foot gooseneck trailer?

Help me think. Haven't got it bought it yet, but we think we've found a goodie and for a fair price. :>)

Allan

You'll know what you bought by the time you get home and you'll have a way to get to the next town if it breaks down.

Of course, the big truck needs to have a hitch for that plan to work.

It would be kinda hard to hook a gooseneck to a farm truck unless a feller worked it over like the Cowman did his. :>)

Oh, I think this old truck will be just fine. I just like to fret and worry a lot. :>(

Allan

Now the irritating thing about this was that I paid the dealer an extra $200 to service the the truck, and although others can find me intense in regards to details sometimes, I sent him a detailed grocery list of items to either service or check and or lube. What I got for the extra cost was, they flushed the rear, and transmission, re-filled with 90 wt., then changed the motor oil, greased, and flushed and changed the coolant, seems to be all. Knowing it came off a farm in Illinois, and not sure how long it sat prior to, I thought it good practice to flush the rear and the transmission, 800 miles or even the 250 miles you need to run is a lot of abuse without fresh lube, especially if you look at an expanded view of a rear, a few bearings in there etc. and I'd hate to have to work on one, have something fail or get noisy in there. You may find a substantial amount of water to drain off, from condensation.

This dealer must have been tight on $$, as I left the place with the above electrical problem, one tire with a substantial leak, 24 hours and it's flat, and a leaking seal on the rear, with 800 miles to go. That's the difference between some people, if I was the seller, these items would have been taken care of, maybe adjust the price to cover some of it, but making sure it was right would be important to me as a seller, this guy struck me as a do the bare minimum type. Funny thing was I was loaded with tools and especially electrical repair, had my meter and supplies, wish I took a reading and busted his chops a little, it was a clean $100 in parts/labor to fix, which I just did with some help from people here. Had this been a private seller, I think it'd be different, more on the as is / buyer beware, side. I expect a dealer to do the right thing, that's his business to do so, the guy has a nice shop on the premises, on site mechanics, really no excuse, oh well, when I'm done, I'll have a nice running truck that did not cost much and will pay for itself before the year is out. I've also got another suprise, when they changed the oil, they replaced the drain plug and covered the plug with silicone, now I wonder what that is all about ? I'll let him off on the cracked manifold port, it got louder the closer I got towards home.

Allen, I'd make sure that the fluids are fresh if this one sat, check the brakes out, really give it a once over, might save you some headaches or unecessary wear that you might see the effects of right away. I came loaded for bear when I go this one, and was fortunate to make it home without incident, 34 hours non-stop, well I did get one nap in, right before the sun came up with about 6 hours left on the home stretch !

The fun part was, I had not been in anything this old since I was a kid, felt like the good old days of trucking, old truck aroma, manual steering, sure ran great and held the road, no front end problems, drove great, and that old seat ( I added a chair cushion was all ) was comfortable, I thought I was in for a hell ride at first, it was interesting.

The dealer took the front off a burned up flatbed trailer, took the axles off, made some steel framework and put that side up high for a ramp, I drove my car up to it and asked the guy who was helping what he thought, "60 m.p.h. and I should clear the headboard right?", got him laughing at least, if you can find a way to get a small vehicle up onto it, you can make an earthen ramp at home or some stout ramps braced up or something, I had an area carved out at home that will be a loading dock soon, so I heaped up some fill there, raised the bed up, ( being a dump body helps big time ) put some blocking under my car ramps and I got it off the truck no problem, not a fan of little cars but this overweight roller skate sure did the trick.

There are only 120 acres in pasture. The rest is all rotated in oats, wheat and alfalfa. Can't imagine tryin' to do it without a truck.

Allan

Allan

Tim

Boy, I dunno. I think if I measured right, the old gal would "just" fit on the trailer, but I'd have to tie up the ramps 'cause the overhang of the truck would be clear back at the end of the bed. Plus like some of the other guys said, it would be setting way, way up high.

I think I'd be fightin' both the DOT boys and the wind all the way home, not to mention that it would just work the everlovin' snot out of that old pickup. Think I either got to drive it home, or..... ...

Plan B: I'll forget this whole silly idea and would you be interested in buying a slightly used desert farm with a very modest line up of old, tired, junk machinery?

P.S. You'll need a truck to haul seed to your planter in about three months. :>)

Allan

Tim

I'd do it that way too if I were planting corn, but this is oats and wheat. I'm a long way out from the elevator and seed is field run.

Also need a truck to haul away from the combine at harvest time too.

I'm still stuck in the 70s. :>)

Allan

http://www.easternsurplus.net/engle.jpg

Anyway, as far as Allen's problem, pay the guy gas money & return bus fare to deliver it. That way, its his problem if it doesn't make it to your place in one piece.

Keith

Tried to email ya, but can"t "member your addy.

Just hope and pray ya never get old and decrepit like me. It"s no fun! :>(

Allan

The old purple pickup would plop right down in the middle of that old truck and a guy wouldn't even know it was there. :>)

'Spose I'll just grab a toolbox and a couple of fuel filters and plan on roadin' the old sister home.

Allan

Last week I was in the same spot you are in now. I had purchased an old implement truck that was about 200 miles away. Drove my little truck up there and loaded it on the big truck. The drive home was uneventful, but every little noise, smell, etc. got the pucker factor on high alert. My little truck was about like a flea on a dog as far as weight goes, and after 200 miles of bouncing and bumping I was glad to be home. Gave me a renewed respect for those who drove a truck for a living before air ride cabs, seats, etc. The most important piece of equipment you could bring along with you is your cell phone. That way you could call and get help if there is trouble. Good luck. Your are coming close to getting a full operation going!

I know, the darned things will slap ya around and beat ya to death when empty. And, like you say, the unknown factor. Is it gonna keep a haulin' to get me home? :>)

Also, I'm concerned about the time of year and the desolate region out here. No rental cars within a 100 miles and you can easily drive for 50 miles without ever seeing another human being.

I dunno, guess the first order of business is to try and get 'er bought first, then worry 'bout the small potatoes later.

Thanks,

Allan