The Gallery
 

1958 630 Water Tender


[an error occurred while processing this directive]

[an error occurred while processing this directive]


[an error occurred while processing this directive]
 

 
Owned by Jeff Horwedel
"630guy"
Bolter # 17644
Parkfield, California
 
28 April 2008
# 2310

From Jeff :

          Here is my 1958 630 Water Tender. It was originally a Navy vehicle. It was purchased by the US Forest Service and used in the Angeles National Forest for many years of fire suppression. I work for the LA County Fire Department and used this rig on many projects after it was retired from service. I also know a few guys that were assigned to it when it was on the front line during fire season.

           The truck sat for many years after I last used it and it finally ended up in a government auction. It was listed at the end with all the other miscellaneous junk. [ pix ]

           After a long day, it was just me and one other guy who didn’t know the truck (it was not physically at the auction), that were hanging around to bid. I ended up getting it for $350.00.

           When I went to where it was stored, I had it running in less than an hour. I loaded it onto a lowboy and took it to my ranch where I used it for about five years.

           I finally decided to fix it up a little since all the plumbing was going and not user-friendly. One thing led to another and we ended up taking it down pretty far and restoring it more extensively than planned.

           After the sandblasting [ pix ] , body work, wiring, plumbing, fabricating new parts, new rubber, weather strip, glass, air valves with rear and side spray, hose reel, racks, etc., I have a pretty tight, well oiled machine. Prior to the auction, it was re-powered with a CAT, but when doing so they discarded the bottom portion of the folding hoods.

           I would be deeply in the debt of anyone with leads on where I could find replacements as this is the only part left to complete the project. Anyone with leads on where I can get some, please contact me.

           Thanks for looking!

Jeff Horwedel
"630guy"

           What a great truck (we have a thing for trucks that "water" ... the before and after pictures are amazing. What a truck!! Great job. ~~ Editor

-30-


[an error occurred while processing this directive]
[an error occurred while processing this directive]