Fdv991 Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 (edited) Hello all, I am looking for an R model and could use some advice. I am going to look at a 1988 tractor, to be used on a farm or to take antique tractors to shows. My grandfather has R model dump trucks when he had his grading business, and it would be nice to surprise him with this. The one I’m looking at soon has very low miles, under 200k that the owner says is original. I have my doubts but can you recommend things for me to check/look for to give an idea if that is true? Anything else I should watch out for before buying? This truck has the 350 and a 15 speed. Best I can tell, Mack didn’t make a 15 speed so it’s likely an Eaton, but that’s something I need to confirm. I am looking forward to getting one of these to restore and use. If anyone knows of any for sale near South Carolina I’m interested in that as well. Edited January 5 by Fdv991 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74946-looking-to-purchase-a-r-model/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
1961H67 Posted January 6 Share Posted January 6 I’ve seen several on Facebook marketplace, I usually keep my search set on a 250 mile radius from Western NC . I have been looking for a mid 90s CH ( non setback axle ) so I have searched a lot in the area, I’ll send you the info if I see something you might be interested in. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74946-looking-to-purchase-a-r-model/#findComment-565525 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted January 6 Share Posted January 6 Lot of them around hard to find low miles look at the speedometer when it’s been turned passed 1000000 the numbers don’t line up straight good luck… bob Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74946-looking-to-purchase-a-r-model/#findComment-565557 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fdv991 Posted January 6 Author Share Posted January 6 I’m not necessarily looking for low miles, but want to look for signs that it is over a million. I’ll watch for the numbers lining up. Thank you. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74946-looking-to-purchase-a-r-model/#findComment-565566 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post seyser Posted January 7 Popular Post Share Posted January 7 I don't think there is anything in particular that you should look for with these trucks. They are simple reliable old machines the will last many years with even a little care. Now with that being said here are some things I would look for. Frame cracks/welds and rust jacking if double framed. Trunion condition. Make sure this is in good shape. Cab floor rust under mat and upper sill on roof. Interior dash condition as they crack with age. Headliner, Original plastic ones crack around screws. Check wiring for cobble jobs and splices. If you see wire nuts used just walk away! Drain air tank and make sure its not full of oil indicating a bad compressor. Engine for oil or fuel leaks, check oil pressure and blow by. Check date on engine serial tag and confirm it matches year of truck helping to indicate original motor or not. Driveshaft U joints, Check for tightness. Radiator condition, Look for excessive corrosion or damaged fins. This will get you started, Good luck! 2 2 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74946-looking-to-purchase-a-r-model/#findComment-565698 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fdv991 Posted January 19 Author Share Posted January 19 Thank you, that is a good list of things to watch for! Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74946-looking-to-purchase-a-r-model/#findComment-566946 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 There’s one for sale right now with a Cummings in it trucks for sale ad check it out. He’s got some crazy low price on it. It’s probably sold by now. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74946-looking-to-purchase-a-r-model/#findComment-566956 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fdv991 Posted January 21 Author Share Posted January 21 I just came across a truck that has a VIN Tag that Says Mack Canada Inc., Oakville, Canada. Does that just mean it was originally sold in Canada? Would it have still been built in Allentown? I believe its an 81. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74946-looking-to-purchase-a-r-model/#findComment-567173 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fdv991 Posted January 21 Author Share Posted January 21 On 1/19/2025 at 6:26 PM, mowerman said: There’s one for sale right now with a Cummings in it trucks for sale ad check it out. He’s got some crazy low price on it. It’s probably sold by now. That one looks good and I might message him to see. I'd love to find one closer to SC if I can. Have a couple leads but I'm waiting to here back from them. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74946-looking-to-purchase-a-r-model/#findComment-567175 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechohaulic Posted January 21 Share Posted January 21 F Y I ;nothing wrong (yrs back ) for a Canadian Mack truck. I went to Canada for a customer and found a well built R-600 / 4 axle 350/ 12 speed Mack tractor for his low-bed hauler. 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74946-looking-to-purchase-a-r-model/#findComment-567177 Share on other sites More sharing options...
67RModel Posted January 21 Share Posted January 21 1 hour ago, Fdv991 said: I just came across a truck that has a VIN Tag that Says Mack Canada Inc., Oakville, Canada. Does that just mean it was originally sold in Canada? Would it have still been built in Allentown? I believe its an 81. Macks that have that tag were manufactured in Oakville Ontario. Someone will have the dates but Mack Canada had its own manufacturing for a number of years. Subtle differences. The speedometer will be in km/hr. Things like that. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74946-looking-to-purchase-a-r-model/#findComment-567187 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fdv991 Posted January 22 Author Share Posted January 22 Good to know. I’m relatively new to Mack trucks and did not know some were made in Canada. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74946-looking-to-purchase-a-r-model/#findComment-567252 Share on other sites More sharing options...
hicrop10 Posted January 24 Share Posted January 24 There’s a 1972 R model for sale on the Philadelphia FB.I have no interest in it,it’s listed for $10,000.Will try and get you the phone number. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74946-looking-to-purchase-a-r-model/#findComment-567488 Share on other sites More sharing options...
hicrop10 Posted January 24 Share Posted January 24 There’s actually 2 of them.Do a search for R model Mack’s. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74946-looking-to-purchase-a-r-model/#findComment-567491 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fdv991 Posted January 24 Author Share Posted January 24 19 hours ago, hicrop10 said: There’s actually 2 of them.Do a search for R model Mack’s. I am not seeing those but FB Marketplace is terrible. I'll keep looking, thank you. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74946-looking-to-purchase-a-r-model/#findComment-567599 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted January 24 Share Posted January 24 I guess it’s a good place to find all kinds of stuff. I don’t use them. My wife does. She’s always on it. Good luck. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74946-looking-to-purchase-a-r-model/#findComment-567601 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullheaded Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 On 1/21/2025 at 9:24 PM, Fdv991 said: Good to know. I’m relatively new to Mack trucks and did not know some were made in Canada. Yep, the RD800 was developed and built in Canada. So was the CL350ST. And the big M Model off road trucks were built in Oakville. Was quite the sight to see some big M Models sitting in the lot at the factory back in the day. 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74946-looking-to-purchase-a-r-model/#findComment-568644 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullheaded Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 There's a company I used to drive for in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario that has a grave yard of all the old Mack's we ran. Everything from R Models, to E9 powered Superliners and Ultraliners and CL's. All heavy spec. But they never ever wanted to part with anything. They're still all sitting there rotting away, as they hauled salt their whole life. 1 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74946-looking-to-purchase-a-r-model/#findComment-568645 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fdv991 Posted February 5 Author Share Posted February 5 Is there any reason to stay away from a walking beam rear suspension? Most I have looked at were camelback, but I found one with 38K rears on a walking beam that looks decent. 500K miles on the truck. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74946-looking-to-purchase-a-r-model/#findComment-568648 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Cummings Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 (edited) 1 hour ago, Fdv991 said: Is there any reason to stay away from a walking beam rear suspension? Most I have looked at were camelback, but I found one with 38K rears on a walking beam that looks decent. 500K miles on the truck. I've owned both. And both worked good. To redo the bushings in a Camelback, you need a torque multiplier to tighten the U Bolts. To re-bush a Hendrickson Walking Beam you need about a 50 ton press. I can't say which one is better or easier to work on, and they both perform about the same Edited February 5 by Joseph Cummings 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74946-looking-to-purchase-a-r-model/#findComment-568653 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 i worked with a lotta guys in the 80s,that had them,,,never heard anything bad about them,,,,except they were rough riding 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74946-looking-to-purchase-a-r-model/#findComment-568654 Share on other sites More sharing options...
terry Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 3 hours ago, Fdv991 said: Is there any reason to stay away from a walking beam rear suspension? Most I have looked at were camelback, but I found one with 38K rears on a walking beam that looks decent. 500K miles on the truck. Was this a hendrickson walking beam or a mack beam, and yes mack a solid walking beam years ago. Terry 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74946-looking-to-purchase-a-r-model/#findComment-568657 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fdv991 Posted February 5 Author Share Posted February 5 1 hour ago, terry said: Was this a hendrickson walking beam or a mack beam, and yes mack a solid walking beam years ago. Terry I'm not sure the difference. I was going to go look at it in the morning but he said there is one guy ahead of me and he thinks he will buy it. The search continues... https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1624174508192822/?ref=browse_tab&referral_code=marketplace_top_picks&referral_story_type=top_picks Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74946-looking-to-purchase-a-r-model/#findComment-568667 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Cummings Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 5 hours ago, Fdv991 said: Is there any reason to stay away from a walking beam rear suspension? That's not a walking beam. It's a Mack Camelback. I forget what that version was called. They came in a lot of flavors over the years. There was a reverse camelback with pins instead of elephant pads. There was a Camelback that used 4 elephant pads and 4 spacer pins. Then there was the typical one that used 8 elephant pads. Lots more variations too, Some longer and shorter trunnions, different arches in the springs etc.. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74946-looking-to-purchase-a-r-model/#findComment-568675 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark T Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 I believe that's what's Mack called "taper leaf" . Then depending where you live, some guys called them underslung. That looks like a pretty nice R Model. That suspension might not be the most desireable , but I'm not sure I'd pass on it because of it. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74946-looking-to-purchase-a-r-model/#findComment-568680 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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