N.O.S.

Well I spoke with him this week, he said it wasn't him, so I know who it was now! Geoff said he's had several in over the years without gates, and they work very well without the gate - a case of experience and an intimate knowledge of "where to shove the lever"? I wouldn't want to do without the gate:sweat:

Each to his own - I prefer mobile laundry tents myself :whistle: Problem is, tarp sections are quite small. Wouldn't be surprised if it is same material.

Talking of timber trucks, here is a pretty looking example snapped at Geoff Rhodes' yard in early 2000's. It got a quick bit of first aid and a change of boots there before moving on. Any ideas on history and current home?

Says something for the strength of the truck when you realise it rolled twice before coming to rest as in the pic - as it went around it literally bounced on the spare tyre which sits at rear left of cab a little proud, but sadly not enough. I think it was driven home too! Damage generally limited to cab and other tinwork. A good advert for fitting a spring brake chamber in case air is lost as in this case? Easier to do on Constructors than WLFs, but working on that one......

That looks very clean and nice, abn, just like mine should one day (I hope). The cables - the only reason I can think of is they are safety straps - to limit travel of axle in order to prevent breakage of suspension etc when trailer becomes "airborne". Common practice on off-highway vehicles. Quite possibly a modification as a result of a nasty accident? Don't think I would have done it that way though :confused:

Hahaha ask Jack why don't you, just mention posters. Your fault.

Don't talk about it - last week I left a Cummins diesel to drain overnight. Next morning the first 15 litres of new oil went straight out of the plug-less sump, filling the pail before spreading across the workshop floor. Filling (very slow and tedious) through the rocker cover my mind wandered and I found I'd put way too much in, so undid sump plug (side fitting) and watched a whole load of oil shoot over an empty pail onto floor again before I could get plug back in. Oh well :sweat:

Look out, the old toad is back.......

And here is a dumptruck version - I wasn't old enough to drive it, but I did whip the AEC badge off with a screwdriver and nick a rad tube in the process - still got the badge.

Thanks guys, I had not realised that vehicles had been distributed prior to Marshall Plan, nor had I heard of UNRRA. I had heard of MDAP but never thought of trying that line of search. That gives me a good start. Tony

Didn't you mean "boats" ?

Without the Marshall Plan I doubt many of us would be fortunate enough to have our American WW2 vehicles. That includes quite a few which have made their way back to the USA in recent years. I came across a nice plate on the WLF waiting to be restored - THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECONDITIONED BOWEN MCLAUGHLIN - YORK - INC YORK PENNA 12.52 It got me thinking that the truck, used by the Belgian forces, was probably suppiled as part of the European Recovery Program (Marshall Plan). My gmc ex French GMC was fitted with a repro steel cargo body of German manufacture in 1951, so would also be a Marshall Plan vehicle. And some of the spares crates carry the famous Uncle Sam aid stickers. But despite a lot of searching I cannot find any information on how these vehicles and spares were distributed. Especially what quantities were involved, and where they went. The Marshall Plan ran from 1948 to 1951, and was intended to help rebuild the European economies after the war. With the outbreak of the Korean War, increasing amounts of the aid were used on rebuilding the militaries of Europe, although ironically it seems to have been the increasing cost of this war to USA which brought the ERP to a close. Wikipedia carries a very good summary of the Marshall Plan and is worth a read, as are the discussion pages which accompany it. But no info on vehicles. Can anyone throw any more light on this topic? There are odd references (rumours?) to surplus trucks lined up bumper to bumper being sold by the kilometre, but not much more that I can find. The information must be out there somewhere. (Martylee, sorry I lost the information you supplied when emptying my Inbox)

If you click on the thumnail it blows up into a very good pic - but I can't work out how to post like the others either :confused:

A couple of slightly better views in the book "Hills of Botley" by Jack Hill/Bob Tuck, they show a home-made A frame for the jib - if I remember I'll put it in my truck for you to look at. Some great ex-military truck pics in this book, well worth a view, especially for the Antar pics. Tony

?? :idea: I think it was Geoff Rhodes who told of one which came his way because the recovery operator had cut off the gate in frustration, hoping to be able to skip a gear or two more than normal, but in so doing he made the gearbox totally unusable.

Are you sure? CW and the ASSFART have both been missing for some while now, and an incident (see pic) has just been reported in rough seas off Lymington - hopefully they'll find a lifeboat soon :sweat:

:banana::banana::banana::banana::banana:Yes, I'd given up too! Thanks Rosemary:yay::thanx:

If you were hiring a triaxle stepframe (24t cap) for business work (moving diggers etc) you would expect to have to pay £38 - £45 /hour. For loads of 30 - 45t, (4 axle trailer, Sherman size??) the rates hit £60 / hr. (you pay for empty run back to depot too). Some help by finding return loads and sharing revenue, but not often possible. With fuel and driver costs and wear and tear (tyres and truck) people cannot afford to do favours too cheaply, so if you get a really good rate hopefully this knowledge will help you appreciate the deal you are getting. Hope this helps put it into perspective? Tony

Oh, Nick, that's priceless!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Could anyone sew some stripes back on for me, please?

I'm posting these pictures in the hope that it might encourage Antarmike to post a few more pictures - the poor guy must be gutted after all that work, and through no one's fault on here. Come on Mike, you must be aware there were a lot of us hovering by the computer screen at around that "Matador of the Day" time of the evening. I for one am getting the shakes - withdrawal symptoms - please help.........

Dakman, you need to get cracking on this pretty sharpish, you've been in the air since mid-January and there can't be much fuel left to get safely back on the ground!!!!!

Well said, Ashley.

Catweazle......... He'll be here soon - he's just havng a soak in a bath of red diesel