vision386 Posted May 15, 2010 Share Posted May 15, 2010 Thia is a picture of a 1974 RL-700 wrecker that was once owned by my late 2nd cousin,who owned and operated helmrich towing in pennsauken,NJ. I don't have much info on it,other than whats written on the back of the photo,seems it was ordered as a glider kit,built in their shop.It was kitted with a 1960's 9500 series GMC,318 detroit,13 spd.roadranger,holmes 750 body. It was sold to someone in new england,not sure where specifically,was just wondering if any of the members here up in that area may have seen the truck,or know where/how the truck ended up, maybe provide some more info........thanks,mark Quote Mack Truck literate. Computer illiterate. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/13917-rl-700-wrecker/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxidyne237 Posted May 15, 2010 Share Posted May 15, 2010 Neat looking truck. Keep digging up those "old school" pictures. Hope someone could tell you some new info on it. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/13917-rl-700-wrecker/#findComment-55188 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted May 15, 2010 Share Posted May 15, 2010 Nice truck and the first "RL700" series I've seen on spokes.Rob Quote Plodding along with no job nor practical application for my existence, but still trying to fix what's broke. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/13917-rl-700-wrecker/#findComment-55196 Share on other sites More sharing options...
vision386 Posted May 15, 2010 Author Share Posted May 15, 2010 Nice truck and the first "RL700" series I've seen on spokes.RobYes this was a nice truck, i rode on a job in it when i was a kid,my cousin was fanatical about the appearance of his equipment.At the time ,all of his trucks were mack red and black, they had quite the cross section of trucks,B-models,some "R" series internationals,fords,and one huge ex-military oshkosh (wish i had gotten pictures of that) they were once one of the largest towing/recovery companies in NJ,when he passed away his son took over,and when i last had contact with the family they were down to 3 trucks.........mark Quote Mack Truck literate. Computer illiterate. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/13917-rl-700-wrecker/#findComment-55203 Share on other sites More sharing options...
vision386 Posted May 16, 2010 Author Share Posted May 16, 2010 Neat looking truck. Keep digging up those "old school" pictures. Hope someone could tell you some new info on it.I'll sure keep em' coming as long as anybody wants to look at them, i have three generations of truck pictures. my familys been in the trucking business almost as long as there have been trucks!....mark Quote Mack Truck literate. Computer illiterate. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/13917-rl-700-wrecker/#findComment-55248 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superdog Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 Nice truck and the first "RL700" series I've seen on spokes.Robboth of my RL700's are on spokes Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/13917-rl-700-wrecker/#findComment-55267 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 both of my RL700's are on spokesMy 78 RL has spokes on the drives. I suppose I should have been a littler clearer meaning the steer axle. Rob Quote Plodding along with no job nor practical application for my existence, but still trying to fix what's broke. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/13917-rl-700-wrecker/#findComment-55279 Share on other sites More sharing options...
vision386 Posted January 8, 2011 Author Share Posted January 8, 2011 I have for years been researching some of the trucks owned by my late cousin,H.A king sr.who owned and operated Helmrich towing in Pennsauken,NJ i have found a few more pictures of some of his equipment. I am still trying to find out the whereabouts of the RL-700 in the original post,but managed to dig up a couple more trucks.......the 1960 oshkosh (ex-navy heavy recovery) Q-40 truck mounted crane is still in existance up in connecticut,the peterbilt has just been restored by its current owner,all of these trucks were Mack red/black and just FANATICALLY maintained! at one time,Helmrich was one of the largest towing/recovery companies in NJ. I spent many summers riding with him,and some of his drivers on "jobs" all his guys took a great deal of pride in their trucks,and they were always parked inside!......Mark Quote Mack Truck literate. Computer illiterate. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/13917-rl-700-wrecker/#findComment-69994 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenGiant2 Posted January 8, 2011 Share Posted January 8, 2011 I have for years been researching some of the trucks owned by my late cousin,H.A king sr.who owned and operated Helmrich towing in Pennsauken,NJ i have found a few more pictures of some of his equipment. I am still trying to find out the whereabouts of the RL-700 in the original post,but managed to dig up a couple more trucks.......the 1960 oshkosh (ex-navy heavy recovery) Q-40 truck mounted crane is still in existance up in connecticut,the peterbilt has just been restored by its current owner,all of these trucks were Mack red/black and just FANATICALLY maintained! at one time,Helmrich was one of the largest towing/recovery companies in NJ. I spent many summers riding with him,and some of his drivers on "jobs" all his guys took a great deal of pride in their trucks,and they were always parked inside!......MarkLOVE THAT OSHKOSH AWESOME LOOKINGGG2 Quote We the unwilling, Lead by the unqualified, are doing the impossible, for the ungrateful. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/13917-rl-700-wrecker/#findComment-70002 Share on other sites More sharing options...
vision386 Posted January 8, 2011 Author Share Posted January 8, 2011 LOVE THAT OSHKOSH AWESOME LOOKINGGG2That was a HELL of a truck! i cant remember all the details,but i believe it was cummins powered,had more levers,switches,buttons etc. then the cockpit of a 747! i'm trying to get in touch with the company that has it now,to see if they can get me some more info on it...........Mark Quote Mack Truck literate. Computer illiterate. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/13917-rl-700-wrecker/#findComment-70015 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted January 8, 2011 Share Posted January 8, 2011 Since we are talking wreckers in this post my daughter and I found a mid 70's Autocar wrecker with an 850 Holmes I used to work part time when it was pretty new. I had her take a bunch of photos with her cell phone but they've not been forwarded to me yet. I'll get them posted up soon.Was really surprised to see the old girl again, although she is quite rough, but original now.Rob Quote Plodding along with no job nor practical application for my existence, but still trying to fix what's broke. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/13917-rl-700-wrecker/#findComment-70016 Share on other sites More sharing options...
vision386 Posted January 8, 2011 Author Share Posted January 8, 2011 Here's another "big en" this Sterling was a WWII surplus navy heavy-duty wrecker,owned by one of my cousins competitors,this one is no longer active,but it is still in existance,i have seen it sitting in a "junkyard" off of I-295 in burlington,NJ......Mark Quote Mack Truck literate. Computer illiterate. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/13917-rl-700-wrecker/#findComment-70018 Share on other sites More sharing options...
other dog Posted January 8, 2011 Share Posted January 8, 2011 That was a HELL of a truck! i cant remember all the details,but i believe it was cummins powered,had more levers,switches,buttons etc. then the cockpit of a 747! i'm trying to get in touch with the company that has it now,to see if they can get me some more info on it...........MarkI just happened to take a picture of the interior last time I was by there. Quote Producer of poorly photo-chopped pictures since 1999. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/13917-rl-700-wrecker/#findComment-70020 Share on other sites More sharing options...
vision386 Posted January 8, 2011 Author Share Posted January 8, 2011 I just happened to take a picture of the interior last time I was by there.You got it! LOL!.....Mark Quote Mack Truck literate. Computer illiterate. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/13917-rl-700-wrecker/#findComment-70022 Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhasler Posted January 8, 2011 Share Posted January 8, 2011 There was a tow company around here that had an all wheel drive Oshkosh wrecker that they used for their off road and heavy duty calls. I dropped a trailer off of a truck at work one day, not knowing that it was loaded with 4" rock. I think that was the first and only time I had a customer supply a loaded trailer when complaining about low power, too bad I didn't know it was loaded. When I disconnected the trailer and started to roll out from under it the trailer sank lower than the truck would go, so we had to call the Oshkosh in to pick it up. Damned thing left puddles of oil everywhere. Quote "Mebbe I'm too ugly and stupid to give up!" Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/13917-rl-700-wrecker/#findComment-70023 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted January 8, 2011 Share Posted January 8, 2011 I just happened to take a picture of the interior last time I was by there.Musta been on autopilot to not have a driver and reading that kind of roadspeed!!Rob Quote Plodding along with no job nor practical application for my existence, but still trying to fix what's broke. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/13917-rl-700-wrecker/#findComment-70026 Share on other sites More sharing options...
other dog Posted January 8, 2011 Share Posted January 8, 2011 Musta been on autopilot to not have a driver and reading that kind of roadspeed!!RobI started to change that,Rowdy Rebel's speedometer reading, and thought "nobody will ever notice that anyway"...hmph!...or maybe he took the picture instead of me... Quote Producer of poorly photo-chopped pictures since 1999. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/13917-rl-700-wrecker/#findComment-70028 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 Since we are talking wreckers in this post my daughter and I found a mid 70's Autocar wrecker with an 850 Holmes I used to work part time when it was pretty new. I had her take a bunch of photos with her cell phone but they've not been forwarded to me yet. I'll get them posted up soon.Was really surprised to see the old girl again, although she is quite rough, but original now.RobFinally got Nikki to send me the photos. The text is copied from my post on the ATHS board:Can't believe I seen this again:Back in 1977 and 1978 myself, and three others put this truck together using a bed from from an older REO truck. I can't remember the year of this one but I ran it quite a bit after it was built. The photos are in a little town 20 some miles away and I don't know who owns it now but the closed gas station it sets behind looks out of operation many years.I was really surprised to it still wearing my original paint.Rob Quote Plodding along with no job nor practical application for my existence, but still trying to fix what's broke. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/13917-rl-700-wrecker/#findComment-70112 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 More......Rob Quote Plodding along with no job nor practical application for my existence, but still trying to fix what's broke. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/13917-rl-700-wrecker/#findComment-70113 Share on other sites More sharing options...
other dog Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 yep,still looks much the same. Quote Producer of poorly photo-chopped pictures since 1999. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/13917-rl-700-wrecker/#findComment-70119 Share on other sites More sharing options...
vision386 Posted January 9, 2011 Author Share Posted January 9, 2011 Man o man! thats a helluva bumper on that thing! thats a tough looking truck!...............Mark Quote Mack Truck literate. Computer illiterate. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/13917-rl-700-wrecker/#findComment-70122 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 Man o man! thats a helluva bumper on that thing! thats a tough looking truck!...............MarkIt was an oilfield low boy tractor on Hendickson originally. That is why the front bumper. It would right an 18 wheeler rollover easily by itself when you dug the scotch blocks in. Rob Quote Plodding along with no job nor practical application for my existence, but still trying to fix what's broke. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/13917-rl-700-wrecker/#findComment-70126 Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 It was an oilfield low boy tractor on Hendickson originally. That is why the front bumper. It would right an 18 wheeler rollover easily by itself when you dug the scotch blocks in. RobWhy does it look like such a "Low Rider"? Usually there's room enough to put a basketball on top of the front tire of those old Autocars. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/13917-rl-700-wrecker/#findComment-70144 Share on other sites More sharing options...
vision386 Posted January 10, 2011 Author Share Posted January 10, 2011 Why does it look like such a "Low Rider"? Usually there's room enough to put a basketball on top of the front tire of those old Autocars.I remember seeing an article on specialized autocars back in the 70's,and some of them were built with a low-ride suspension,low ride height,to accomodate "drag loading" of oilfield equipment ie: winch/tail roller/ A-car was a BIG player in the special order /custom market...built some really unique trucks over the years,maybe the case here?................Mark Quote Mack Truck literate. Computer illiterate. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/13917-rl-700-wrecker/#findComment-70147 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 Why does it look like such a "Low Rider"? Usually there's room enough to put a basketball on top of the front tire of those old Autocars.That truck when fully dressed weighed just over 35,000#. Notice the front tires as they are 12.00X20 if memory serves. It has, (or had) full locker rears too. Most of the frame was triple and forward of the fuel tanks, double. When it showed up at the shop I worked at there was a full rigging bed installed with two huge winches and gin poles for oil field work. It's always been heavy. It probably needs a set of springs after all these years.Rob Quote Plodding along with no job nor practical application for my existence, but still trying to fix what's broke. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/13917-rl-700-wrecker/#findComment-70148 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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