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Unbelievable the work that can do compared to what we used in the 70s , I’ve been to the Towing Museum in Chattanooga a couple times, it’s a good walk through the advancement of Wrecking. We used a couple 600 Holmes for years, running blocks around trees, anything that would hold but we worked a lot of big truck wrecks in these mountains. Here is a picture of a magazine ,1979. I sent in the picture of the LJ , Mr Jones is who I worked for when I got out of High School and started driving the LJ towing trucks, mostly for McLean Trucking. I later bought my B61 .

Yes , the new equipment is very expensive and takes less time to move a wreck, Back in the late 70s around here ( all of Western North Carolina, 100 mile radius of the I 40 /I 26 interchange) There were only 3 Big Wreckers , R Model Mack , 4070 International, and a 4200 International all with 750 Holmes . We still have the 4200 Setting in the shed. I wasn’t the owner of it back then, I had a B 61 with a W45 Holmes and my LJ with a 5th wheel boom for towing,, I was jealous of the guys with the 750s . One of the guys is still in business with some bigger Hydraulic wreckers , we still help him from time to time, When he retired the 4200 he gave it to us, I’ll try to get a picture of it .

Perfect example of towing........a tractor swap ?

Y’all did good,, can’t pass that up!

Joey You're Sooooo Handsome 😆 🤣 😂 😹 😆 🤣 😂 😹 😆 🤣

Jeff, I have some NOS 20 inch VIP steering wheels with the Mack base and Mack horn button medallion. They are Mack parts supplied by VIP. These are 20” though and not the smaller 18”. I have one in one of my ‘89 R688ST’s.

Correct.

Does the LJXWX have the roto chamber brake cans, i believe they used them because of not enough room. terry.

I like your thinking!!

Of course you had to save it...it deserves to be saved.Who in their right mind wouldnt save a classic Mack? Paul

Biggest wrecker I ever saw in my life, I'm almost certain was on it's way to Connecticut. A huge Peterbilt with what I believe was a 100 ton rotator.

Here is a Damned Brat.. Just sayin...

Excellent… bob

This truck started its life as a B- 61 T. At some point it has been retrofitted into a twin screw tractor. Me and my brother pretty much strictly collect trucks from the former Latrobe Construction Company so it had to saved.

The problem with Connecticut towing can't afford insurance and trying out do the next company with glitter and shine and using a Rotator for tractor swap's and over charging and ending in Court

Well I think you have to start with Bolt type chambers or clamp type? Then there is the issue of clearance. Both have to be looked at. The remote chambers were because there wasn't room on the heavier axles for "piggy-backs". There were piggy back conversions for the bolt together chambers, although I haven't seen one in decades.

With today's trucks, a rotator makes sense, but I agree with you. If you want to pull a modern rig off the side of the road with an old wrecker, it is going to take two trips, one for the trailer and one to hook the tractor from the rear. Working wrecks, a rotator can get in closer and take up less of the road to do the same job, that said just close it down for the few minutes it takes the old equipment to do the job. Those million dollar trucks have to be paid for by fees and prices have gone up with the cost of the equipment.

I wish I was closer to Maine.

don't know of a "conversion set up". looking to go period correct , the spring brake set up was the addition on two chambers with rods connected to through shafts from outside frame to inside which rods connected to vehicle brake chambers, for safety and simplicity ; install a basic two chamber system such as todays units. depending on the clearance factor of chamber mounting.

the right person behind the controls of old iron can most times do as much as one multi million dollar rotator. skill/ experience did quite well for yrs. not saying rotators aren't better. just watch jammie on the 409 with old iron . LOL

The Jo-Dog was the forerunner of the big LTL freight companies adapting the converter dolly for twin Pups to being a 3 axle tractor for 48-53 foot trailers.

I i used to see tons of them in LA

that is the max safe RPM of these! The RPM is key to the braking power! The lower the rpm the retarding power diminishes! speed is horse power its the same at both ends of the spectrum! You risk valve float above this!

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