redneckrigger

The above posters are correct, it's done with an assist from some lifting equipment or with a tractor that is equipped with a winch, and a tapered tail on the tractor to allow it to smoothly run up to the fifth wheel. The company I used to work for had a similar lowboy that they pulled with a tractor that had height adjustable rear suspension and they would lower the front of the trailer onto blocks, then pull away from it. Only problem was that if that tractor wasn't used the next time, they had to raise it or winch it.

Nice work, and a great use of the high top add on! Looks superb!

Finally brought this one to the finish line tonight. This is an old Jim Etter MTFA B81 resin cab with a lot of modifications, (built as a B83SX.....heavy spec with V8). I cut open the hood, chopped off the resin fenders and replaced them with modified front fenders from an MPC DM 800. I put it all on a DM 800 frame with the Mack single turbo V8 engine. I added an auxiliary transmission, a hydraulic powered winch from Moluminum, a set of old Mark Savage resin tires on Moluminum wheels, and put it all together with a bunch of modifications like a narrowed spread on the rears, a narrowed track on the front axle, and DM 800 chrome trim on the hood for the Mack and V8 emblems, along with a LOT of bits and pieces from the parts box. At the same time I was building this, I was also working on a scratch built removable gooseneck lowboy, also shown in the last pictures of this build. The two were built to be a matched set of hauling power for the various pieces of equipment owned by my fictional company, Readsboro Heavy Haulers. You can find the build threads for both of these in the "On The Workbench" forum. Am only awaiting arrival of the license plates............................the shop gopher has to get to the RMV to register the two newly restored pieces of the fleet!

This will be the last posting of the Mack here. The next stop will be in Under Glass. Got the rest of the chrome trim on, the lights, rear fenders, air intake and exhaust system, radiator hoses, winch cable and hook and vent windows. Still have to apply license plates, decals, light weathering, radiator support, underwood detail wiring, and go over it to make sure I didn't miss anything. It's about as good as it's going to get!

Nice build! The company I used to work for had a Mack R600 water wagon with a shop built water tank with a side mounted gas powered pump to spread the water out a bar at the rear. We also had an ex oil truck on a Ford LNT800 chassis that used the former PTO oil pump in the rear of the body to do the same. We had just obtained another Mack ex septic tank pumper with a vacuum powered pump to fill the truck, and were installing a gas powered pump to spread the water when I got injured and left the company. That build looks fantastic!

Thanks for the good words............I ALWAYS get carried away with the details! The avatar is a 1978 Yamaha XS-750 E, triple cylinder, shaft drive. I bought it new, and it still sits in my garage, right next to her replacement, a 2000 HD Electra Glide Ultra Classic, Geezer-Glide!

Well, typical for my projects, I had to go backwards a couple of steps. When I first mocked up this build, I used kit wheels and the stock DM800 front axle width was fine. Knowing that these axles are usually too wide, it seemed okay. However once I put the front tires in with the Moluminum wheels, which had a bit more offset, the tires stuck out way beyond the edge of the front fenders. So, back into the shop where the mechanics removed the front axle and shortened it by 3/8" and reinstalled it. Back to the finish shop, and she is back on schedule! Got the chrome hood trim all added, the horns, the mirrors, grille guard, wipers, and the headlights and marker lights. Have to install the vent windows yet , taillights and suzies. Still making up my mind about what kind of air cleaner to equip her with. Think shes looking pretty good!

Wow............I WISH! The loader is a Preiser G Scale railroad item, the shovel is by SpecCast, the Cat and the crusty Alice are First Gear. Have a bunch more too!

I've only got the shovel. I have seen the backhoe and the dragline and plan on getting them as well. I also saw a salvage crane with magnet, grapple etc. that should be added to my list. Did they make just a crane also?

Gregg, hope that stimulator works well for you. I have had two versions of that, the first one about 15 years ago, and then an updated one about 9 years ago. It is pretty much worn out now, the battery won't hold a charge. But, it worked GREAT, and I am just waiting for the insurance company to get off their duff to approve another update. Good luck sir! Pain sucks!

Only have the one Bantam, should get the crane and the backhoe one of these days! The orange dozer is a First Gear Allis Chalmers cable dozer. I also have a small IH dozer by Spec Cast, and a Cat D9 cable dozer by First Gear for ACMOC (Antique Caterpillar Machinery Owner's Club), and all of the farm tractors by ERTL as well as the JD310 backhoe. Never have enough!

Had what news channels would have us believe was the storm of the century this weekend..............was a flash in the pan, as we only got about 24" of snow. Where I live a blizzard is 40-50". Guess they must be sponsored by the super markets! BUT, the good part is that I decided to put some serious build time in on my B815 Mack. So, I finished up the interior, installed the glass, installed the wheels and tires, got all of the chrome trim coated with Molotow Chrome, painted the radiator shutters, fitted the rear fenders, finished all of the wiring and plumbing, installed the interior, and decided to answer all the questions about whether I had a load for my newly completed lowboy. Yup, we do. Readsboro Heavy Haulers is an old company that has been around for over 50 years, so we have lots of old iron sitting around. Here are photos of some of it................still have lots more! Still have to install all of the chrome trim and mirrors, the suzie lines for the air, the wet line hoses, front fender flares, paint the rear fenders and install them, install all of the lights, intake air filter and ducts, exhaust system, and various other fine details. But, got a lot done, and can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

I wish I could take all of the credit for this build. But, I found the started build on eBay years ago, and have no idea who started it. He or she did awesome work. I only hope to complete it with the same level of quality!

Having finished the lowboy shown elsewhere in "Under Glass", I had this one just sitting around waiting to be finished.......................so, here goes. I found this one on eBay several years ago, in semi finished condition. I dubbed around with it but seemed to focus on the other one instead. So this one is back underway. I have no idea who started this build, as it was for sale for a while online. I am now adding the operable pieces, such as the stinger, the hydraulics in the gooseneck and the trapdoor. This one will not be run from a wetline, but will have a self contained powerpack......(at THIS point, until I change my mind!). It has a very nice built in curvature to the deck. I added the twin cylinders in the neck tonite. Will keep photos coming!

I will be bringing it to NNL East, though I am not sure what will be hooked to the front of it! Trying to get a Mack B815 done. I may try to go to the Spring Thaw Show in Fulton as well if life does not interfere again! Hope to see you at NNL!

Did a little bit of edge weathering tonite, just a bit, and put a coat of dull cote on it. It doesn't look paint shop fresh any more, a huge departure from my normal build style. As far as a load for it, I have a Hough loader, a Cat D6T dozer, a Cat 320 excavator and a Galion roller. Gotta think of something more, outside my comfort zone! Thinking of a rough terrain hydraulic crane perhaps????

Yes it is, just like the real deal!

Got the lowboy this old girl is going to pull all done so it's back to work on this. (Check it out in "Under Glass"). Put the company decals on the cab and got the interior ready to install. The gauge decals from Slixx work, well, slick!

Thank you! Feels good to be done. Now, onward and upward!

I finally stuck the fork in this build tonight! This was originally a kit from KJ at Double Take Replicas. It ended up that all I used from the kit is the deck main beams, wheels, and the neck side beams. I used the suspension from Jamie at Moluminum as well as his tires, outriggers and mud flaps. I got the D-rings from Shapeways. Everything else is scratch built from Evergreen plastic stock. The name of my fictional company is Readsboro Heavy Haulers, hence the name on the gooseneck. The entire hydraulic neck mechanism works exactly like the real thing. All of the decals were from the parts box and Modeltruckin.com and Slixx Decals. (Still gotta get the yard gofer to get to the RMV to get the tags for it!) This was a challenging but very rewarding build! You can find the build thread in the "On the workbench" forum. I ALSO got TONS of inspiration from all of the awesome builders on this site. Thanks for checking it out!

Well, I finally am calling this one done.....got the decals on, the lights, conspicuity tape,mud flaps from Moluminum, and the next stop is Under Glass! My fictional company is Readsboro Heavy Haulers, hence the name on the gooseneck. Hope you all enjoyed the build! When I get the Mack B815 done I will do some light weathering on both.

Thanks.......wish I could do as well as I used to be able to!

I have a Cat 320 excavator, a Cat D6T dozer, an old Hough loader and a Galion roller that can use a ride. Also thinking up some other off the wall stuff to try to scratch together.

Done with the lowboy except for decals and lights. Pretty happy with it for a first effort. Now I just have to finish the B815 it's hooked to.