The water wagon:

[Rob]

A few photos I snapped prior to getting on the road Tuesday morning. The truck fired right off with fresh batteries and I was able to drive it off the trailer. Ray, (Mack MHE9 here) hauled it from the former owner's residence in NV with the help of KidNV assisting in prepping the truck for loading. A special thank you goes to Bruce Thomas for his part in getting the truck to start, and then loading onto the trailer.

Still have a few little odds and ends to figure out as I've not had any time to work with it. Everything seems minor in the grand scheme and I really like this truck a lot.

I hope to do the former owner's family proud.

Right front at daylight:

Front shot at daylight:

Left front at daylight:

Interior:

Interior seats:

Sleeper gap:

Lift axle:

Water tank:

Cab floor:

Sleeper storage:

ENDT 866 engine photos:

Left door dog:

Rt. door dog:

Rt. tank and suction hoses:

Rear of tanker:

Suction pump:

Rear plumbing:

Rt. rear w/hood open:

V8 badge:

RL700L badge:

Of special interest is the total lack of any rust in this cab, or chassis. The truck does not exhibit any prior collision damage and appears completely original with the exception of the repaint. Even the emblems appear to very close to new with absolutely zero tarnish, or pitting to them.

I called the lady that does my signage and ordered magnetic placards large enough with my name to cover the original business letteing/paintwork to preserve it. I plan to make the rounds for a couple of years on the "show" circuit with this "as is" to preserve the memory of both the truck, and the man that built it.

I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for the family to have the funeral for Roy on one day, and ship his truck off the very next. A strange twist of events for certain but planned in advance.

I will call this truck "Roy", in his honor.

Rob

[tkobes43]

WOW gorgeous truck! Glad you got your hands on it! May Roy R.I.P... Hope you make some new memories in it as well. Take you take some side shots i really want to see the door lettering!

Tom

[Rob]

WOW gorgeous truck! Glad you got your hands on it! May Roy R.I.P... Hope you make some new memories in it as well. Take you take some side shots i really want to see the door lettering!

Tom

I want to ensure the family is alright with me leaving the lettering in place before I go any kind of public with it. It is nice artwork and hand painted.

Thanks for your support.

Rob

[mack mhe9]

so tuesday morn did run out side to see if it was still there. and yes its a sweet ride

[other dog]

You done good- that is a fine looking unit.

[Olivetroad]

Gooooood looking truck!

you also get extra points for your photog "skillzs" - pro-fesss-in-al use of sunlight!

[umodelnut]

Very nice.

[other dog]

Your spelling, grammer, and punkshuation was good too.

[Freightrain]

Good, clean sheetmetal............a bodymans DREAM!!!!! Congrats on getting it home.

[mackniac]

Hi !

the truck look so good as is !!! the previous owner was very meticulous about his things !

lucky to have that truck !!! nice old wertern style Mack , love it !!!

[Mike]

I hope to see it at Thunderhill Raceway in Lawrencburg, Tn on a saturday night so we can pack the track real good. It should do the job when you test it out first to see if everything works ok.

mike

[tkobes43]

I want to ensure the family is alright with me leaving the lettering in place before I go any kind of public with it. It is nice artwork and hand painted.

Thanks for your support.

Rob

Sounds good Rob!

Tom

[41chevy]

Very, very nice, More like a 1 or 2 year old unit! What type chassis? Looks like aluminum in the shot around the V8. I had an Autocar with an aluminum chassis. Paul

[Vladislav]

Have looked photos with an interest.

It's good that you posted many of them cause I haven't a lot of chances to look good water piping, pump e t.c.

I noted also the front frame end of a straight kind as you have spoken about Western R's.

V8 requires no comments.

I think you probably need to apply some amount of polish wax to make up a shine of paint.

Or is it painted matt?

And you haven't post the door art work you described

Congrats with a new toy!

Vlad

[fxfymn]

Very nice. Is that a KW mud flap I see?

[Rob]

Very nice. Is that a KW mud flap I see?

Hi Carl, yes they are KW mudflaps. I have vintage Mack flaps to replace these so if anybody can use them speak up. These are not in real good shape and I don't know if they are reusable or not. The flap hangers will be replaced with new also.

Rob

[Rob]

Have looked photos with an interest.

It's good that you posted many of them cause I haven't a lot of chances to look good water piping, pump e t.c.

I noted also the front frame end of a straight kind as you have spoken about Western R's.

V8 requires no comments.

I think you probably need to apply some amount of polish wax to make up a shine of paint.

Or is it painted matt?

And you haven't post the door art work you described

Congrats with a new toy!

Vlad

Hi Vlad, the paint is fading from sun exposure. It was new in 2004 but the truck has not been operated since that time and has just set. I do plan to buff a shine, and then wax to preserve. It will be kept inside the building however. The piping under the truck is mostly semi rigid hoses with the exception of the weldments you can see in the photos. I'll grab more photos if there is interest.

The door art will become visible after I receive authorization to allow it to remain. Most will think it nothing special but it's well done and hand painted.

Rob

[Rob]

Very, very nice, More like a 1 or 2 year old unit! What type chassis? Looks like aluminum in the shot around the V8. I had an Autocar with an aluminum chassis. Paul

The "RL" series of trucks used aluminum frames. This one is not cut, stretched, or altered from as built and must have been long originally. From my understanding the truck used log bunks for a number of years before being converted to the tanker role which it only served in for a few short months. It has been setting since 2004.

Rob

[vision386]

First thing i checked when i got home just now,congrats on the "new" truck Rob! you know my feelings on the western R's (yet another one thats NOT in my driveway!) sure looks to be in nice sound shape,its getting hard to find the RL-700L emblems in any shape these days. I like the idea of preserving its history,personally the only thing i would do is maybe put an Able-Body or Rest-Rite on it........other than that, i like i just the way it is and glad its gone to a good home!...........Mark

[Whiskymack]

The "RL" series of trucks used aluminum frames. This one is not cut, stretched, or altered from as built and must have been long originally. From my understanding the truck used log bunks for a number of years before being converted to the tanker role which it only served in for a few short months. It has been setting since 2004.

Rob

Rob

That is a terrific looking 'Western' and looks to be in beautiful condition. You took some great pictures of it too.

I love the RL/RS700 Macks and would argue that they are the best looking trucks Mack ever made. I doubt I'll ever own one myself but I made a scale model of one (the Rubber Duck ) and I'm working on another one on and off now.

I like to get things accurate and I got a lot of assistance from Lmackattack in the way of photo's. I don't think any Western R's in have found their way over to the UK so these photo's were pretty much my primary reference.

I've noticed that some of the higher horsepower models like the 797 had a taller radiator and I can't work out how it mounts into the frame. In a couple of your shots it looks as though there may be a crossmember directly behind it so I wonder if that's what holds it in?

The 6 cylinder models had a shorter radiator that sat on top of a crossmember that spanned the front spring hangers which is what I replicated in my duck model. I'd appreciate if you could explain how the taller radiator is mounted.

Congratulations on a great aquisition and I think it's a nice idea to keep it as it is in memory of it's previous owner.

Alastair

[Rob]

Rob

That is a terrific looking 'Western' and looks to be in beautiful condition. You took some great pictures of it too.

I love the RL/RS700 Macks and would argue that they are the best looking trucks Mack ever made. I doubt I'll ever own one myself but I made a scale model of one (the Rubber Duck ) and I'm working on another one on and off now.

I like to get things accurate and I got a lot of assistance from Lmackattack in the way of photo's. I don't think any Western R's in have found their way over to the UK so these photo's were pretty much my primary reference.

I've noticed that some of the higher horsepower models like the 797 had a taller radiator and I can't work out how it mounts into the frame. In a couple of your shots it looks as though there may be a crossmember directly behind it so I wonder if that's what holds it in?

The 6 cylinder models had a shorter radiator that sat on top of a crossmember that spanned the front spring hangers which is what I replicated in my duck model. I'd appreciate if you could explain how the taller radiator is mounted.

Congratulations on a great aquisition and I think it's a nice idea to keep it as it is in memory of it's previous owner.

Alastair

Alastair: I'll be glad to shoot you a few photos of the radiator mounting arrangement. They have "wings" that either bolt, or weld to the sides of the radiator frame and then these "wings" bolt to the truck frame. The bolts are a little difficult to get to but I'll get a couple of photos from underneath also. All three of my "Western 700's" use this same mounting arrangement and the crossbars up on the top tanks.

Thanks,

Rob

[Rob]

First thing i checked when i got home just now,congrats on the "new" truck Rob! you know my feelings on the western R's (yet another one thats NOT in my driveway!) sure looks to be in nice sound shape,its getting hard to find the RL-700L emblems in any shape these days. I like the idea of preserving its history,personally the only thing i would do is maybe put an Able-Body or Rest-Rite on it........other than that, i like i just the way it is and glad its gone to a good home!...........Mark

Mark, thanks and you know how I feel about these 700 "Western" trucks. I guess I can't have enough? I have a 42" "Rest-Rite" here that I've slated for one of these RL's and Mike Harbison has an Abel Body sitting here that I may acquire if he's decided he doesn't need it. Both are in pretty good condition on the outside and the interiors need rebuilt.

I can't believe the condition of this truck and I really mean that. I want to drive it to the shows next summer, and at least one west coast large show as to allow the former owner's family a chance to view it again in it's new role. I do plan to put this one to work however. It may be just filling swimming pools or such, but I'm certain it will earn it's keep if only beauty in the eye of the beholder. The KW sleeper really does fit the lines of the truck acceptable but who knows?

Rob

[other dog]

The door art will become visible after I receive authorization to allow it to remain. Most will think it nothing special but it's well done and hand painted.

Rob

H.H.Moore used to have all the trucks hand lettered, and the man that did it was good. Probably a lost art now, they print out and cut a decal on a computer and stick 'em on now

[Green Dash]

Beautiful truck. It couldn't have gone to a better home.

[41chevy]

Never see a Western where I am, never. I'd almost be tempted to leave the sleeper be. It does look "right" on it. Paul