Dirt71
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Here's a picture I scanned from one of my manuals that shows the modification in place.
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It looks good enough to drive... I drove my HEMTT from LA to CA, over 1,700 miles. After all expenses - food and motels for myself and friends, fuel, chase vehicle, the total cost was less than 1/5 the lowest shipping quote I got.I've also spoke with Ray Patton about a quote to move it....man I sure don't miss that part of buying a truck and paying to have it shipped....
But a HEMTT is a) not over-width, b) not running tires probably from the 60s, c) not built in the 50s, and d) has a top speed of more than about 43mph...It looks good enough to drive... I drove my HEMTT from LA to CA, over 1,700 miles. After all expenses - food and motels for myself and friends, fuel, chase vehicle, the total cost was less than 1/5 the lowest shipping quote I got.Jon
Yeah, it would be a challenging trip, but why buy it if not to drive and enjoy it? The tires, speed, and sheer age are clearly the biggest hurdles... The over-width is solved by removing the outside rear tires (and now you've got 4 more spares). I know I'd go for it, but I'm obsessive with preparation and I always have a chase vehicle and backup plan - usually in the form of a credit card with a high limit.But a HEMTT is a) not over-width, b) not running tires probably from the 60s, c) not built in the 50s, and d) has a top speed of more than about 43mph...
It would be a LONG trip from PA to FL...
...not to mention 3 mpg... the tire's on the truck came off the 2nd M125 I bought that were original to the truck all Firestone dated 1958....But a HEMTT is a) not over-width, b) not running tires probably from the 60s, c) not built in the 50s, and d) has a top speed of more than about 43mph...
It would be a LONG trip from PA to FL...
You could get new tires, like Michelin XGC 14.00r24 (same tires the M911 uses).... The HEMTT only gets 3 mpg as well. In my case the overwhelming cost savings of driving it was simply too enormous to ignore. The lowest shipping quote I got to truck my HEMTT from LA to CA was almost $9000 and the highest was almost $12,000. At those prices, you could drive it home with new tires and probably save $4000. Of course I don't know the mechanical reliability of the truck in question, let alone 10-tons in general... Or perhaps the scarcity and expense of repair parts is enough to not risk driving it? I'm just saying that when confronted with a huge transport bill I'd at least give driving it a thought.Those tires must be obsolete today - sort of hard to replace them today. So is working on one of those along side the road.
I had actually planned on driving it home if I had bought it, but my 2 day bout of insanity passed before the bidding ended.It looks good enough to drive... I drove my HEMTT from LA to CA, over 1,700 miles. After all expenses - food and motels for myself and friends, fuel, chase vehicle, the total cost was less than 1/5 the lowest shipping quote I got.
Jon
I had actually planned on driving it home if I had bought it, but my 2 day bout of insanity passed before the bidding ended.
I was going to but it, having recently entered into an agreement to sell my M62A1 wrecker, but after pricing tires, finding another complete M172A1 lowboy, plus having it moved to NC, then the cost of permits, insurance, fuel, ETC. I pretty much gave up that idea.
After selling my last 3 M123 tractors, I made a vow to myself, I will not buy another 10 ton unless the following criteria are met,
It must be fully restored, with 11 brand new tires.
It must have a clear title.
It must have 2 full fuel tanks upon pickup.
It must be $5000 or less in price.
So, the odds of me ever having another 10 ton are slim to non-existent!
I'm pretty sure those criteria apply to almost EVERYONE in the hobby! I know I'd own at least one if that were the case!I had actually planned on driving it home if I had bought it, but my 2 day bout of insanity passed before the bidding ended.
I was going to but it, having recently entered into an agreement to sell my M62A1 wrecker, but after pricing tires, finding another complete M172A1 lowboy, plus having it moved to NC, then the cost of permits, insurance, fuel, ETC. I pretty much gave up that idea.
After selling my last 3 M123 tractors, I made a vow to myself, I will not buy another 10 ton unless the following criteria are met,
It must be fully restored, with 11 brand new tires.
It must have a clear title.
It must have 2 full fuel tanks upon pickup.
It must be $5000 or less in price.
So, the odds of me ever having another 10 ton are slim to non-existent!