Popular Post kscarbel Posted July 17, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted July 17, 2013 Yes America, we have built Chinese Sixes. A term coined in the UK during the 1960s, a Chinese Six is a twin-steer 6x2 tractor configuration. Cole's Express of Bangor, Maine thought to create a tank/van, combining a tanker with a conventional 45-foot box trailer that was still within maximum length restrictions. The result resembled the dromedaries operated by Pacific Intermountain Express (PIE).This 1964 GMC “Crackerbox” began life as a model DFX7009 spec’d with a 230 horsepower Detroit Diesel 6V-71 (naturally) and a 10-speed Fuller Roadranger transmission. Introduced in 1959 and produced thru 1968, the DF series "Crackerbox" replaced the GMC "Cannonball" line. Cole's new GMC was shipped to Hendrickson in Chicago (then known as the Hendrickson Motor Truck Company) which had patented the tandem-axle truck suspension in 1929. Hendrickson had developed a 22,000 pound twin-steer tandem steer axle design and begun sales in 1958 to International Harvester for their 8x4 VCO model COEs, and also to Diamond T.After the first truck had been successfully modified, Cole's Express ordered three more. The four trucks were shipped to Techweld of Burlington, Massachusetts for the installation of an 11-foot long, 3,300-gallon aluminum fuel tank. Initially a square tank was planned, but a rounded tank was finally chosen for greater strength. The idea for the 3,300 gallon fuel tank was aimed at solving Cole’s northbound deadheading problem in Maine. With the tanks, Coles could deliver fuel oil and gasoline to customers on their way to northern Maine where the trucks would pick up potatoes for delivery in the south.Although the Cole family also owned the Diamond T and Freightliner dealerships in Maine, they chose the GMC “Crackerbox” because its V-6 engine block was short, allowing for the longest possible fuel tank. Typically, the trucks ran a 300 mile route from Portland through Bangor to Caribou.Unfortunately, Maine revised the length regulation, stating that a dromedary-type tank had to be factored into the truck's overall length. This made the truck-trailer combination over length and illegal.One of these innovative GMC 6x2s remains in existence and is on display at the Cole Museum of Land Transportation in Bangor (www.colemuseum.com). The museum also has a 1955 Mack D-42, formerly operated by St. Johnsbury Trucking in Vermont. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kscarbel Posted July 17, 2013 Author Share Posted July 17, 2013 While the Brits called them a Chinese Six because there was a time in the UK when anything the opposite of normal was termed Chinese, I call them a Chinese six because China is the most popular market for them today (tractors and straight trucks). Pulling a clutch is no issue today, with tilt cabs and typically twin-steer axle spacing of 1900mm to 2100mm (6.23 to 6.89 feet). In on-road operation, a 6x2 twin-steer tractor provides you with 90 percent of the abiity of a 6x4, with lower purchase and operating costs, and reduced curb weight for greater payloads. True, you can't lift that second steer (auxiliary) axle, but most people run loaded all the time anyway (the exception being the petroleum haulers who might lift a conventional 6x2 tractor's tag axle when running empty back to the oil terminal, but the 6x2 twin-steer would still save them money). 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Chuck P Posted July 17, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted July 17, 2013 Here's a twin-steer Crackerbox from the Raceway Park Diesel Drags truck show. Dual stacks would indicate a 6V71 setup that fits neatly under the day cab. 3 Quote "If it's all the sime to you... I'll droyve that tankah" Max Rockatansky (The Road Warrior) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifth wheel Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 Great information, thanks for sharing.FW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glenlunberg Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 Great information and pictures of trucks. Thanks for sharing this to us. Quote Heavy Hauling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTFormula Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 3300 gallon tank would be nice to have just to run on the truck. It would be a months before you have to refill again. That would be a killer long hauler. Quote ~ JT Burkard ~ AKA Sweaty Mackwww.jtresto.com www.wickedreputation.netwww.jonathanthomasmotorcars.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackniac Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 very interesting set-up , Quote Makniac , collector and customizer of die-cast model in 1/50th scale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mack mhe9 Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 Nice history. We've always had drom decks and yes you have to watch where you were loaded so you didn't get whacked for being a truck trailer. But never twin steer we just slid the 5th wheel negative to take weight off the steer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RFCDrum Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 I like the color of the Bedford. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomastractorsvc Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 Being from Maine and growing up there I remember Coles Express, St Johnsbury also M&M. There is also a Coles express truck at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI Quote Robert"I reject your reality and substitute my own." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vision386 Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 Heres a neat video from youtube about these trucks,if you go to youtube there are also a couple neat videos about the history of Coles Express.............................................Markhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWEu-1DIaKo Quote Mack Truck literate. Computer illiterate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vision386 Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 Here's a twin-steer Crackerbox from the Raceway Park Diesel Drags truck show. Dual stacks would indicate a 6V71 setup that fits neatly under the day cab.Thanks for posting this one Chuck! never saw it before,or even knew it existed! never heard of the garage either,do you know anything about them? they still around?..................................................Mark Quote Mack Truck literate. Computer illiterate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kscarbel Posted August 20, 2013 Author Share Posted August 20, 2013 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Dash Posted August 20, 2013 Share Posted August 20, 2013 Thanks for posting this. I've seen the pictures of the Cole's truck but you added some details I was unaware of. Quote Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck P Posted August 20, 2013 Share Posted August 20, 2013 Thanks for posting this one Chuck! never saw it before,or even knew it existed! never heard of the garage either,do you know anything about them? they still around?..................................................MarkMark, yes Grones is still very much in business. The shop is located at the Lakewood/Toms River border on RT9. As for the 5-axle GMC, it is displayed every year at the Englishtown Diesel Drags and it doesn't appear road-worthy. I believe they bring it in on a Landoll and drive it to the display area and set it up. The funny part is they don't bring any of their other working tow trucks......it just sits by itself. 1 Quote "If it's all the sime to you... I'll droyve that tankah" Max Rockatansky (The Road Warrior) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freightrain Posted August 20, 2013 Share Posted August 20, 2013 Where's the pic of the fellow with the twin steer H model wrecker?? Was in WOT this year. Quote Larry 1959 B61 Liv'n Large...................... Charter member of the "MACK PACK" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RFCDrum Posted August 21, 2013 Share Posted August 21, 2013 Mark, yes Grones is still very much in business. The shop is located at the Lakewood/Toms River border on RT9. As for the 5-axle GMC, it is displayed every year at the Englishtown Diesel Drags and it doesn't appear road-worthy. I believe they bring it in on a Landoll and drive it to the display area and set it up. The funny part is they don't bring any of their other working tow trucks......it just sits by itself.I always wondered about that GMC and why they never clean it up a bit. Very unusual rig. Somebody's project I would guess. Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RFCDrum Posted August 22, 2013 Share Posted August 22, 2013 I like the farm tractors they bring there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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