vision386

I've see this one at least 3 times myself, its a shame the trucks in this condition, but it would take a small fortune to bring it back thats for sure!...mark

I agree, i would not buy a new truck in this economy either, i am a firm believer in taking care of what you have.I was fortunate things worked out for me as they did,i was single then,ran my ass off! looking to slow down a bit now,but you're right, its damn hard to make a decent living with a truck anymore,not impossible, but hard! I have about 10 years to go,if nothing changes i dont want another truck that i have to make money with,just an old R or B-model that i can play with....ya' know? mark

Oh ok, there are still quite i few B-81's working the NJ/NY metro area,so could have been some other one.I am from salem county in south jersey,little town named elmer,lived there all my life up until about 2 years ago, we just had to get away from the taxes,corrzine, and the cost of living! but we still miss jersey, its a different world down here!.........mark

Thanks i appreaciate the comment! i'm south jersey myself, down near the delaware memorial bridge, between 295 and the turnpike......superior carriers was a tank outfit corrrect? mark

When did it become a crime to show pride in being an american? i saw this story too, and it really made me mad! the united states is still the greatest country in the world,and we ALL came from somewhere else at one time, but if you are living here,you are an AMERICAN FIRST ! not a "mexican american" or "english american" etc. i am an american of german ancestry, proud to be! i want to know when it became wrong to want to be a part of this counrty legally and by the books ie: citizenship,learning english etc. my ancestors are indeed proud of our heritage, but we are above all americans first!I am so tired of hearing stories like this its not funny! there is no other country on gods green earth that enjoys the freedoms and priveleges that we as americans do, and its about damn time people should stand up for what we have earned in this country! god bless america! mark

Thats one of the things i like about it too,this looks like something mack could have actually built! it looks a lot better in person, it was dusty from sitting outside, it was really windy/dusty when i took the pictures. mark

Found this at a mack dealer in western colorado,it is obviously a E-model , but year, designation, specs. etc. i was unable to find out, as they were getting ready to close for the day. I did learn it was a "sparetime" project for the shop, and that the pickup body was off an "L' series international. The guy i talked to said it was about 99% complete,just needed some fit/finish work. I wish i was able to find out more about it, as i thought it was nicely done for a "phantom" not like some of the trucks turned into pickups, i personally like the "stock" appearance. mark

Rob, just curious as to the specs on your RL post, this is my alltime favorite mack, and i plan to restore one at some point, i have been amassing parts and info for a good number of years. once we get settled in our new home, my first priority is getting a shop built.Then to search for a good candidate for restoration, i am able to do about 80% of the work myself, wiring and electrical problems have always been my nemissis, as my background is primarily paint/bodywork. I can understand your frustration with the title issues, been there done that! i know that laws vary state to state, but i was wondering if you had any advise,tips etc. on getting a tractor registered that will not be used commercially. mark

Thanks! thats a good looking B-81 you have as well. are you from up around carlstadt,NJ ? could swear i've seen that truck working up around the meadowlands (or one just like it) reason i ask is i'm from jersey born and raised, we moved to virginia about 2 years ago.....mark

Man i miss my 40'x60' morton building thats for sure! lost it when we moved to virginia, now i have WAY more crap than i do building!...mark

I was going through some old pictures today, came across one of the first brand new truck i owned, It was ordered in may 1988,was delivered in oct.1988 when it came in i was suprized to see it was delivered blue with white stripes! it had been ordered the other way-around at the time, i was leased to atlas van lines and their policy was that the tractor had to be primarily white, so after a few choice words and a frantic phone call to evansville, i was able to get it worked out and stay leased on as-is (was) This was a damn good truck! it was an E-6 350,backed by a 13 speed roadranger,3:90 rears on 4 bag air-ride. I put almost 496,000 miles on it, and it was nearly problem free.I have always been a bit of a pain in the ass when it comes to my trucks appearance,kept them clean ,polished and well maintained, even back then people had a hard time believing it was an 88'.The man i sold it to 16 years ago was still running it up until this year pulling containers with it,and the last i saw it, still looked damn-near new! How many other make trucks that are 20 plus years old do you see on the road today? something to be said for mack longevity!....mark

Yeah i sure know about the fleet over littleguy mentality, seems like if you don't have 50 or a 100 trucks they have no time for you.Before i moved from NJ to VA i had bought my last 4 new trucks from the same dealer that my family had used for probably 50 years or more, the dealership sold out, became a service dealer for a waste management inc. terminal, became garbage truck central,i was told a few times it would be a "few weeks" before they could get me in for somthing as simple as a PM, which i thought was bullshit! but its all about money now. I'm always going to use macks, but the dealer network leaves a lot to be desired these days. There are only a handfull of dealers in the entire country i would trust with my truck, there are a lot more bad than good ones left and thats bad for us owner-operators, im like you, do most of my work myself, my grandfather was a master mechanic, we did most everything in-house, now that i look back, i'm really glad i paid attention....mark

I know thats right!....mark

Just wondered if anyone has a favorite mack service/sales dealer (or independant shop) I have several, but my best experiences have been with utica mack (marcy,NY) they have always gone above and beyond to accomodate my needs, they have always treated me fairly, cost effective, and actually listen to what you have to say. Once, when i was in for a warrnty issue after hours, one of their mechanics let me use his personal vehicle to go get something to eat, and register at motel (which they paid for) because they were etremely busy and were'nt able to get me in right away....you here so many stories about bad shops, i thought for once i'd give an "attaboy" to one of the good ones still left. mark

GEEEZZ did,nt mean to stir up a whole shit storm! you guys primarirly do vocational work, me on the other hand am on pavement 99.9% of the time,spend upwards of 3 weeks at a time in my truck, cover 26-3000+ miles per week, mountains,snow, desert etc.i have been in a truck longer than some of the people i know have been alive, and after 30 years you come to appreacieate a good riding truck when your back, knees, and everything else is sore and does'nt work so good anymore! no truck rides like a cadillac,my point was my CX rides better than a similarly equipped volvo thats all.....mark

I agree with this statement as well,i am always saddened to learn of the loss of a veteran, america is the greatest country in the world due to the sacrifices of our men and women in the armed forces......if you can read,thank a teacher, if you can read in english, thank a veteran!.....i for one am thankful to have people willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to defend our nation. i too am very sorry for your loss........mark

This is an LT

Nah you're not the only holdout! i don't do any of that social networking crap either! "myspace" is behind the wheel of my CX, bout' the only place i get any peace and quiet!...mark

Nah you're not the only holdout! i don't do any of that social networking crap either! "myspace" is behind the wheel of my CX, bout' the only place i get any peace and quiet!...mark

The headlight swap can be accomplished fairly easily,but will reqiure some modification/bodywork to the fenders,as the round headlight assembly will not cover the square set-up. as far as the E-9 swap, my question would be why? with a fresh ovehaul the 350 should last a long,long time! btw,that RL-700 in the photo you posted has some "moviestar" history, pretty famous truck in its day, always liked the RL/RS series...just my 2 cents!..mark

Anyone that knows me will tell you my loyalty has always been with mack, but i once drove a friends volvo 770 and was really impressed with the turning radius of the tractor, but little else. i have always heard "nothing rides better than a volvo", i personally did'nt like the "feel" of the air-ride steer axle, and with no bias,my CX rides much better,has a more solid feel, and coolant tank notwithstanding, has been one of the most dependable trucks i have owned.....just my 2 cents!......mark

Da vinci with a nailgun? who'da thunk it!...mark

My wife found this during an internet search,e-mailed it to me, thought somebody on here would get a kick out of it! - mark

Welcome to the site! thats a great looking outfit,always been a big fan of the RS/RL series trucks,sure looks to be in great shape, always been kind of a dream of mine to build something similar and travel the counrty, see the things a was never able to visit while driving a truck for a living. you have come to the right place for info and ideas concerning macks,there is a vast array of knowledge available to you on here for the asking!...best wishes, mark

Always been a big fan of "stormin' norman" being that i was born and raised in jersey,great leader and stratagist, always put me in mind of george s. patton (without the inflated ego)...not many people know his father was commandant of the new jersey state police, and oversaw the investigation of the lindberg babies kidnapping back in the 1930's....mark