The bigger the toys get, the more involved to haul them. I come from the school of thought “If a person has to continue to borrow a tool, they need to own their own.” I out grew my original tilt top trailer pretty quickly years ago. The original intended use for the trailer was actually my lawn care business transport years ago. I still have it, to this day, but it definitely isn’t quite suitable to move a full size antique tractor. Even when the number of L&G needing transport increased, it became obvious my hauling capabilities were going to need a change
I am very thankful for my friends that let me “borrow” the use of trailers before I managed to acquire my own tools of transport.
At one time, I had an agreement with my friend Digger Dave to purchase a heavier bumper pull type trailer for my hauling needs. It is a great trailer, but it wasn’t quite suitable for me.
Dave is a fellow collector. He is also someone I frequently pair up with, working together, going to shows. He’s a self employed contractor with large dirt moving equipment. He also owns the transport equipment to move large earth movers. The added perk, the trucks come in quite handy moving antique tractors during a weekend.
Our shared attitude “why just take one or two tractors, when we can go with several!” Digger has several large show pieces, semi tractors become essential in travel logistics.
Last summer I acquired the trailer I needed. Instead of making my tractors think skinny because the hauling deck was low between the wheels. Dave’s trailer sale to me could only handle my Farmall H. My other tractors were to spread out to go between the trailer wheels. I purchased a deck over style. Problem solved! The added benefit, I could distribute the weight better on my truck, with a fifth wheel type.
The fifth wheel deck is a nice size, but I have more than one tractor. Surely two bigger can travel together just as easy as one. They can, of course, if the truck power is rated heavy enough. I didn’t have that luxury. My faithful half ton truck can handle one tractor. Two large size is asking to much of it.
My friend Kevin Periman, also knows the hazards and discomforts of trying to haul great big loads with little bitty trucks. He sees no problem of over kill, actually in our companion circle it’s more the rule and not a exception . To much power and size is much better than not quite enough. We phrase it different as in referring to the size of a derriere. ” Ya could be out class, if ya ain’t go enough …. “.
Kevin has set up a Freightliner single axle truck to easily do the work of a one ton pick up. His truck set up has brawn, the greater ability. I like that train of thought.
I had a dream! I also have the right friends to make it reality. I wanted to follow along with Kevin’s idea only I wanted it just a little different. I like antique and decided to seek an old grain truck to create my toy hauler. The truck would be rated more than adequate to handle my growing transporting need, I hope, but one never knows. If I found a suitable truck that was unique, it could be a toy to show off just like my tractors it hauled.
I found just the right appeal! A 1971 Dodge C-500 was for sale near by. The grain truck was ready for retirement and had just the look I sought. Doug Edwards was already on board since I was considering a Chrysler. The Edwards empire is in firm support of Mopar. The purchase of the truck was an adventure in itself, but like any other “toy deal” I came away with yet another friend.
Doug and I could vision diamonds. When we looked at the truck we were seeing something entirely different than a worn grain truck. We sat discussing and planning over adult beverages one evening. At one point Doug looks up, from pictures on his phone, and shows me a truck. “Ya should just go buy this” he confides “Its already to go!”.
Doug had found another Dodge series C. this one was the next model bigger, the C-700, and had spent life as a shuttle tractor. I liked it! This truck wasn’t going to take the work entailed to become a toy wagon. It was ready to go, in fact it could pull a semi trailer. It had the experience. Never occurring to me it was available, I just referred to a picture model of what could be accomplished. It had a price tag I found a little above my intended budget, at first. We hadn’t actually determined a cost factor yet for the C-500.
I found out, through the grapevine, that Digger had found a truck and was intent on purchasing. The truck catching his eye was a C-700. In fact, it was the same truck Doug had found on line. I wouldn’t step on Digger making his deal, and had hopes of his purchase. It would be pretty cool to arrive at a show, in convoy, with similar Dodge trucks. Digger gave me the green light to pursue the C-700 a few days later. He had decided to seek out something else.
It was go! I made some calls and arranged for ownership. It seems my standard operating procedure, I not only made another successful “toy” purchase, I’ve come away with yet another friend.
Doug and I made a road trip to Wisconsin.
From this point, I’m leaving the story on the cliff. The spoiler alert, well the truck is in process of becoming my coolest toy of all. “Big Red” deserves a story tell all of her own
Antique Iron Media 