The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Old Truck Roadside Service Benefit

So I have been taking my 49 half ton out on a few shake-down runs and with the starting issues, I've had varied success. Two of the last 4 trips have left me stranded out on the road (unable to re-start), and have had to call the wife to bring me some gas to pour down the carb to get it started again. (The first time was bound up 3spd linkage - had to turn it off since it was in gear, and today I heard a sucking sound under the dash and it stalled out - wouldn't run)

I have found that one of the best things about having one of these trucks is that they seem to come with built-in roadside assistance... Each time I have been stuck, not more than one minute goes by before 2 -3 people show up willing to push me into a parking lot or driveway. All they ask for is a picture of the truck or of them in the truck because "so-and-so won't believe this". The first time I was stranded, two guys offered to push, and an old lady came running up saying "I'll steer it in the parking lot for ya!" Pretty cool. She made me take pics of her behind the wheel with her phone so she could show her friends. Today one of the guys who helped push told me a story about his dad's 52 that he had to sell and whished he hadn't.

Anyone else experience the benefit of road side assistance? I REALLY don't want to not use this benefit each time I go out, but popping the hood seems to work =)

i have not been the beneficiary of this type of assistance (yet), but have provided it in several instances... if I see a classic car or truck in distress I always stop to see if I can help unless I absolutely can't spare the time.

Ii remember stopping when Charlie quit at the last homecoming...

On the few times that I have come to halt for one reason or another, I have had people stop, offer tools, get gas and a few occasions some elderly women have given me bottles of water and offered cookies.

Back when I was driving my 47 Mercury convertible, it didn't have to quit running- - - -people would flag me down to get a better look. A cop pulled me over once, just to get a look under the hood. That flathead V8 with the finned aluminum Offenhauser heads really got his attention. He had seen the dual exhausts and since I was doing the speed limit (or a little more) he figured I was running a small block Chevy!
Jerry

I'm quite looking forward to getting my 1 ton on the road and this is one of the reasons why. I enjoy chatting to people about old vehicles. I haven't yet driven any of mine but have experienced a few instances of time passed with friendly "truck strangers" as I hauled parts trucks and project trucks home. The old iron sure draws in the curious and nostalgic. I love it.

I have to agree with all of the above. I get the same thing with both my '62 C10 and my '62 Harley.

I always have to allow a little extra time for any trip because of this. It's one of many reasons that I enjoy Old Iron.

I've also had the benefit of this service, and if not for the frustration of having stalled out it would've been entirely enjoyable. Not every day you get enough people coming to help push over 12000lbs of old metal. And of course as noted above there were more than few pictures taken to repay the favour.