After about a month of problems and set backs trying to get my 1950 Chevy fire truck back to OZ (Kansas) from Iowa it's finally happened . Up at 5am - started out from home with the rented trailer around 5:45am. Drove east to a friends house who had a larger truck that we were going to use to drag the big trailer . Left at 7:30 am to Mo. and hopped on the north bound interstate to Iowa. Grabbed I-80 east and then Hwy.71 north and by 1:30pm saw my fire truck for the first time up close . Not to bad looking -yes the paint is ugly - one small fender dent and the usual amounts of surface rust . Only one lower cab corner was bad so I was happy
with the bodys overall condition . I was told the truck was running and there was a SLIGHT rear brake drag issue . Well It would not start but did try to - not that big a deal But the rear brakes were Locked up ! The brake pedal went to the floor / no pressure . No clutch pressure . Hummm not to happy :mad: with those surprises but kept my Irish /German temper in check
. That stuff can be fixed besides I Loved the truck . Got the paperwork and had him use his forklift to push/lift the truck onto the trailer . Chained her down and off we went and
Whooah Nelly ! When you got over 55 mph that was one nasty whip on the back of the truck . Over we pulled at the first safe location . Checked all the trucks/trailers tire pressure -OK . Checked the chains to make sure that the fire truck was not moving around on the trailer / OK . The truck was lined up on the trailer as best it could be done / OK . So there really nothing
to do but take her nice and slow . So we took a nice tour of the Iowa two lane highway system . It was now around 7pm - dark - a cold front was coming threw with high winds and we were also dodging Bambi and family . Welcome the northern Missouri two lane highway system NOT fun . After a rather close Bambi call we saw the exit for the interstate and jumped on it like / well you know what . As long as you keep it at 50-55 mph there was no problems . So for the nexxt few hours the interstate was home . Got to OZ (Kansas) caught a good two lane west and rolled into home around 11:30 pm . Parked the truck and hit the sack - one long day done. Up early grab a bite and now to off load . Hummm How to get a truck with locked up rear brakes off the trailer
TOTO to the rescue
. Backed Toto up to the trailer - raised the tailgate ramp level with the bed - tilt bed so that the ramp almost touches the trailer - hook up the winch and let it pull Toto back to the trailer the rest of the way while I worked the bed controls . When the ramp touched the trailers bed right where the rear duals were I slowly pulled onto Toto's back the old fire truck . Lowered the bed to level - pull the trailer out of the way . Backed Toto up to where I wanted the fire truck at and laise the bed - slack off the winch and lickity split one safely uploaded fire truck where you wanted it .
Now the bad news
I broke my camera the day before the trip so there are No
- of this adventure - Sorry . When I get another one I will post some .
I'm now the proud owner of a classic '50's Fire Truck - OH YA !!!!ED H
