Calling Mr. Cranetruck...Courteous Phone for Mr. Cranetruck

[cranetruck]

I believe bjorn's was a cargo version. Sure he will chime in soon.

That is what I thought too, but at closer examination it turns out that the bed was homemade. Here are a few images of the recovery back in '06.

The cab top and bed were removed at the site to lighten it for the flat tow home ( the deuce and 8x8 still weighed in at over 36,000 lb for the 1,000 mile trip to VA). Thanks to the cab top and bed, the truck was kept in remarkably good condition. There are way too many torn soft tops on vintage vehicles that leave the interior in a bad shape.
The only radial type tire on the truck blew out no more than 50 miles from home. I have the remains of the tire here under cover in the yard, since it represents a rare version of a rare tire. It was made by Uniroyal and marked 16R20.

 

[Capt Pat]

Bjorn, tell me you didn't do that to that truck (that closed cab commercial conversion?) Looks a bit unstable at best. By the way, I've still not found that info you wanted on our units fuel system. Most of ours looks original but there is some that looks like a 'field modification' with military stock. And its all about the same size.

 

[cranetruck]

Bjorn, tell me you didn't do that to that truck (that closed cab commercial conversion?) Looks a bit unstable at best. By the way, I've still not found that info you wanted on our units fuel system. Most of ours looks original but there is some that looks like a 'field modification' with military stock. And its all about the same size.

Had to check may old mail to remind myself of the question regarding the fuel line markings. Not important, but was wondering about the left and right side fuel line labeling, #14 or 14L and 14R, since the tractor version didn't have two tanks from the beginning based on some photographs from the mid sixties.

My truck had no tanks when found and the fuel lines were ripped off.

Image below of cab area this morning with heater running. The DMV/thermocouple is used to measure defrost air temp (about 225°F)...

 

[Robo McDuff]

How does the WardLaFrance M746 relate to the Ford MX757 truck apart from both being 8x8? One an upgrade of the other or completely different beasts? Were they used for Pershings as well or just heavy heavy hauling?

Saw a couple of those on my last trip.

 

[The PIG Smith]

How does the WardLaFrance M746 relate to the Ford MX757 truck apart from both being 8x8? One an upgrade of the other or completely different beasts? Were they used for Pershings as well or just heavy heavy hauling?

Saw a couple of those on my last trip.

OH WOW!
Where were those four trucks located?

 

[Robo McDuff]

Actually, there are a few more than four. They have the five in bad condition standing there, than the restored one standing separate in the pictures above.

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And off course the two restored with trailers attached. Not sure what is standing on top of the one trailer, and not sure what trailers those are.

They are located in the Netherlands, so shipping might come a bit expensive. Maybe a soldier returning from a long stay in Europe could take one back as "personal car"

 

[Robo McDuff]

Bjorn, your pic 7 top of page, the XM757 has its rear wheels up in a strange way. Do these machines have the option to raise rear wheels to save fuel?

 

[cranetruck]

Bjorn, your pic 7 top of page, the XM757 has its rear wheels up in a strange way. Do these machines have the option to raise rear wheels to save fuel?

No, we tied the rear axle to make the long haul home easier (see my avatar)...along with removing the drive shafts.

To my knowledge, the LaFrance trucks were not used in the Pershing program, only the Fords (xm757 etc), the MAN and lastly the Oshkosh HEMTT road tractor w/crane.

 

[Ol-Paint]

I realize this thread's a bit old, but I just ran across this ad on TruckPaper: 1979 WARD LAFRANCE M746 Heavy Duty Trucks - Other Trucks For Sale At TruckPaper.com M746 for sale at Chicago O'Hare and this looked like the most appropriate thread. Only asking $75k...way out of my price range!

(Yes, there are pictures at the link.)

Douglas