The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts An Odyssey with two Bolts

Well it looks like we're going to be moving this summer..... As it looks like the wife will be going to work for American airlines in Tulsa (she does flight and maintainence training).

So the odyssey begins..... That's right.. MOVING..
We plan to start with having an auction of all the surplus "stuff".... and then the movers come........ After.... i will have to move the big stuff..as well as the cars/trucks and sundry extra parts...........

That of course includes driving the Big Bolts from Spokane, Wa... all the way down to Tulsa. Ok.

Since the '49 is a 2-ton flat bed, it'll be hauling my '50 Farmall "H" tractor as well as any other parts and pieces I can load.

So I'll be driving it half way across the country loaded to full GVW.... A trip that'll include at least 4 or 5 mountain passes (including the continental divide). After I complete that trip, I'll hop on a flight back, and get the '48 boom truck (with 25ft fixed boom) ready and repeat the trip....... So... between the two trips, I'm looking at over 3000 miles.. all at 45-50 mph.... just to get the two trucks from here... to there.

Of course that doesn't include trailoring the other cars down as well........ So it looks like a long summer for me....wheeeeeeee

ok any thoughts? and/or ideas for all this???
or anyone wanna come help drive??? lol

Michael

A couple years ago I helped a friend move from here (near Seattle) to south of Denver, taking his collection of '55-'57 Chevy stuff along.

I towed a '57 Chevy 2-door wagon down on a dolly and a '56 Nomad on a trailer. Most the stuff went that way, trailered or dollied. A '57 Chevy wagon was driven down. His machine tools and spare parts went in a big trailer pulled by a semi he was given for the move.

We spent months checking fluids and brakes, replacing tires, greasing bearings, and that kind of thing to be ready. The actual trips were almost completely uneventful as a result.

My advice? Make sure your tires and brakes are good. And start driving the trucks regularly now if you don't already. Make them tell you what doesn't work or is near failure, so you don't have to find parts to fix it on the road.

Tell me more about the schedule. I'm tempted to offer to help drive...

Graflexmaster,

Shuttling one rig to Tulsa might be an adventure...doing two rigs might be one step beyond an adventure. Would it be in the cards to find a commercial rig deadheading to that area and stick your trucks on his empty trailer.

Stuart

What would be the chances of getting a 40' cargo container dropped off and loading it to the hilt and having it hauled? Im sure the trucks would fit the width of a container but maybe not the height???

I don't think the container would work....as the '49 has a 8X16ft bed.... and those containers are only 8ft wide on the outside demention.... and the '48? lol....not gonna fit.. especially with a 25ft fixed lattice boom on it....lol As even with the boom stowed in the horizontal position... it would still be too tall.....

I just played with this trip in my map program.

It looks like nearly 2,000 miles if you avoid the Interstates and at least 40 hours driving time assuming you'll be running slower than most the traffic. And it estimates $600 for fuel each truck...

Add regular eating and nights in hotels and this is an expensive move.

As much as this seems like fun to me, I wonder if you should look for some other way to get it done.

Loading both trucks on a 50' semi flat trailer sounds a lot safer and maybe cheaper than two trips. When you add in the cost for return air fare, fuel and lodging it might even be cheaper...I'd look into it!

Mike B

Did some measuring.... and the boom truck alone is 22ft PLUS 20ft of boom beyond the tail of the truck.... and the flatbed is 25ft total....

As to the airfare back??? lol with the wife working for American airlines... heheheh that won't be an issue...lol

But yes... I am considering alternitives.. as I do have my own private BNSF siding here... so I might look into rail shipment... Although I still think it would be a blast to at least drive one of them all the way.....chuckle


Michael

I've wondered before if rail transportation might be a practical answer and been told its not easy to make work. Since you have a siding available do you have inside knowledge that help others use rail?

I suspected airfare wouldn't be a problem in this case.

And I have to agree it would be a blast to make this drive in one of the old trucks.

Michael, I would probably be able to drive one of your trucks for you if you could get me from my home in central Calif. to your place and home from Tulsa. E-mail address is [email protected] if you're interested. I would like the adventure of a long trip in a big 'bolt. I'm retired so I have plenty of time. What is the time frame?

Just Drive!

The trip is worth every penny of fuel and oil, lodging, meals, etc.

I drove my '46 from California to Texas in 2000 in three and a half days in May--yes it was hot!

I enjoyed every minute and stopped often, about every 50 to 75 miles to take a break, check the oil, tires, etc., just to increase my comfort level.

If you are familiar with the roads (I was) choose your own route. If not, put your proposed routing up here and we will get you some NOTAMS (whoops, wrong transportation mode), but you get the idea.

If you don't drive 'em, you will be sorry forever, and we won't talk to you anymore!

Uhhh... hate tell ya Glenn..... but atound here we know exactly what NOTAMS are...... (Wife is a Flight-Engineer)....... and we both hold a few other airmans certificates.....

Omni Omni VOR.....ATC is about to speak... :hammering:

Michael