1970-71 R685t steel nose

[Hans Remmers]

So this has been nosed into the trees for over 10 years anyways at Gerhart's back lot/ junk yard. I've seen it many times before but never really gave it much of a good look. It sits there with no motor and the cab generally rotted away but it's really a neat little truck. I decided to knock the brush down off the front of it Saturday and the nose is incredibly solid. Other than the cab the whole thing looks worth salvaging.

[mowerman]

Wow thanks for that 

[mowerman]

I think that’s an RM it must’ve been doing something heavy, although unusual to see single axle… Bob

[Hans Remmers]

It's definitely an R model factory single axle tractor reading right off the vin plate. That's what I found so unusual about it. I asked Roger about it and he couldn't remember how he came to owning it. He thought it was a purchase with other trucks. All the tags suggest it was last registered out of Jersey in '92.

[Bullheaded]

That would be a cool truck. But now I'm even more depressed remembering how you could once have a choice of hoods on your Mack, center or offset cab, driven front axles, etc.

[Brocky]

8 hours ago, Bullheaded said:

That would be a cool truck. But now I'm even more depressed remembering how you could once have a choice of hoods on your Mack, center or offset cab, driven front axles, etc.

There were a lot of the RM(???) single axle dump trucks configured as 4X4 with snow plows in the northeast, especially in the "Lake Effect" snow areas of upstate NY..

[doubleclutchinweasel]

I have only seen a handful of steel-nosed R model over here.  I think they are more common down under.  The only ones I remember were from the oil field industry.  Suppose that's why some folks called them "oil field fenders"?  NEVER saw a single-axle set up that way.  I gotta say, I like it!  Would love to see it after somebody like Matt Pfahl or Mickey Delia got their hands on it.

[terry]

Unusual to see a hard nosed one that isn't a RD model, or it could have been a fiberglass hood converted to a hard nose.    terry

[Hans Remmers]

1 hour ago, terry said:

Unusual to see a hard nosed one that isn't a RD model, or it could have been a fiberglass hood converted to a hard nose.    terry

I'm curious about that too. It has galvanized fenders on it which would seem post 71. Wills trucking of Richfield Ohio looks to have been a trash hauler which would explain the Nj dep numbers on it.

[Vladislav]

Nice "little" truck indeed. And it's definitely a R not RM or RD. Would be cool if someone will keep it and restore. 

[Bullheaded]

I have some old Canadian Bulldog magazines and have seen a few steel nose R Models in them. Plus the RD, DM600/800 and RM's.

[doubleclutchinweasel]

Here is another one on Mickey Delia's website.

https://mackmacktruck.com/mack-pictures.html

[DavCut]

I think I might have talked to you @Hans Remmers when you were climbing on the truck Saturday afternoon - either that or someone else was admiring it after you. 😎

I always enjoy walking around the yard and watching the antique equipment being operated at Gerhart Machinery. Just imagine the stories if those old dogs could talk!

 

[Hans Remmers]

Yeah @DavCut that was me exploring the backyard as I've done many times before. It's a bit less occupied than the first time I was back there but there are still new things to discover every time.  Roger believes he bought this truck as a package deal along with the Rosenkraus B model he used to have back there. I'd love to own half the trucks he's forgotten to have owned currently or at one time.  I just talked to him yesterday about some Mack and Euclid haul trucks he might be interested in purchasing near me.

[Hans Remmers]

I'd love to have an M series haul truck for myself, they're just a little too big.  I wish Roger's little Dart haul truck was in better shape.

[DavCut]

I’m always impressed at how much seems to move around between visits @Hans Remmers  - the U model with the bathtub at least was in a completely different spot - and the line of truck cranes out front was impressive. 

[mowerman]

That thing definitely deserves a second shot at life… I think a longer frame might attract a few more of us…  Bob 

[mowerman]

Of course, a little closer to Reno might help lol bob