one of my more stupider thgngs

[martinf]

So,
I've got a 1944 WWII pusher tug boat called a sea mule. I am restoring it, but the first problem is getting it home as my driveway is a mile long with 5 switchbacks. Luckily, the boat comes aprt into four sections. The front two sections are smaller and I got them up okay, but the back sections are 22 ft long and 21,000 lbs. I lifted them with my old NW 25 crane, and put them in the back of my 1965 Mack dump truck.

Seemed like a okay idea at the time....

Chained it down and it stayed in okay. I started up the hill, got up a ways, and then the boat slid backwards tow ft in thebed, causing me to be back heavy. Have you ever popped a wheelie in a Mack dump truck? My front wheels were 3 ft off the ground.

I have since got the boat slid out of the truck. The truck is home and the boat is sitting on cribbing half way up my road.

Sigh.
~martin

Here it is after we got the boat hull pushed back up in the bed so that my wheels would actually touch the ground.
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh283/martinfleming/tired%20iron/100-0045_IMG.jpg

and the back view. Scary, huh?
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh283/martinfleming/tired%20iron/100-0049_IMG.jpg

[SprueOne]

That looks gnarly.

[MikeA]

Sounds too familiar! I had a similar experience loading a smaller style Cal-Rex cement truck body onto the back of my 1949 2-ton Studebaker flatbed dump truck. Fortunately the front wheels came up while loading instead of driving. It must have been an interesting ride for you!

I notice the chains going around the frame too. I was leaving with my new prize over a very rough dirt road when I started hearing this strange rhythmic thumping noise. When I stopped the thumping actually accelerated briefly before stopping. It seems that the load was so top heavy that it was twisting my dump bed frame and rocking back and forth. I then wrapped the chain all the way around the bed and frame, like you did, in order to keep the dancing to a minimum. It was only about 20 miles to my house but it seemed like it took hours as I crawled home on winding roads, teeth clenched the whole way. A smarter man probably would have stopped, but I did make it home ok.

Collecting this old crap is always an adventure!

MikeA

[dozerbill57]

Sounds too familiar! I had a similar experience loading a smaller style Cal-Rex cement truck body onto the back of my 1949 2-ton Studebaker flatbed dump truck. Fortunately the front wheels came up while loading instead of driving. It must have been an interesting ride for you!

I notice the chains going around the frame too. I was leaving with my new prize over a very rough dirt road when I started hearing this strange rhythmic thumping noise. When I stopped the thumping actually accelerated briefly before stopping. It seems that the load was so top heavy that it was twisting my dump bed frame and rocking back and forth. I then wrapped the chain all the way around the bed and frame, like you did, in order to keep the dancing to a minimum. It was only about 20 miles to my house but it seemed like it took hours as I crawled home on winding roads, teeth clenched the whole way. A smarter man probably would have stopped, but I did make it home ok.

Collecting this old crap is always an adventure!

MikeA Hey Martin just two short stories , back in 1975 the contractor i worked for bought a new Mack dump truck and i was hauling sand from a Hospital basement from downtown Louisville to a suburban highrise that we needed back fill material for that basement. The overhang behind the tandam was to long and at 55 mph at one bridge approach the front wheels would leave the pavement 3' in the air . The owner asked me how i liked the new truck and i told him about the front raising 3' off the road and he did not believe me . He went with me and i drove 55 mph and the front end came off the pavement just as the last 6 times and he said slow it down after that i drove accross that interstate bridge at 40 mph and the following week he had the bogie moved back 1 1/2 to the rear . I will tell you another story at another time . Bill

[Dandy Dave]

How comes you didn't turn around and backs your l'il ol self up the hill? ;) Dandy Dave!

[dozerbill57]

After seeing the photos , i must say Martin , you the man !