Re: farmall 350 weight

Posted by Hugh MacKay on September 29, 2005 at 17:53:46 from (64.228.11.165):

In Reply to: farmall 350 weight posted by Mikes d on September 28, 2005 at 16:47:35:

Nick: Well, a lot has been said on this matter since last evening. When it comes to power your quite adequate. If a 475 hp Cat can haul gross 140,000 lbs., surely your little 305 Chevy at about 140 hp can haul 12,000 lbs. gross.

An old friend of mine in the trucking business once said, " Make sure your brakes, steering, tires and suspension are right, everything else will look after itself." How true he was.

I once was about 1,200 miles from home with my 1975 single axle highway tractor and trailer picking up some farm equipment. Drove through a little town, (one set of traffic lights) I had the green light, sitting at red light was DOT safety inspection guy. We exchanged glances eye to eye. I knew right then he was going to pull me over for an inspection. You see my 12 year old truck looked a bit shabby. I had painted some rust spots with brush. As I left town countryside was flat, road very straight. About a mile back I could see his red and blue light flashing. Rathered puzzled me as he never got any closer and there were no other trucks on the road. Finally after 10 miles I saw a nice wide flat shoulder on road so I pulled over. As he came along he was behind two ladies driving a Buick, talking a blue streak and had never noticed him. There was enough oncoming traffic, he was never able to pass them either. By the time he got to me he was not very good natured. He said,"Did you see that !@#$%^&*^&^%$%#$@!@ old woman, wouldn't even pull over for the red and blue flashing lights."

He inspected my truck very thorough on brakes, tires, steering and springs. All he found wrong was couple of marker lights out. He said, " this old truck is much better than it looks, very good mechanically, don't worry about the marker lights until convenient, you have more than regulations call for." I told him had I been in home turf they would make me fix light on roadside. He said, "Around these parts folks find good brakes, tires and suspension, tend to keep trucks out of trouble." Then he really poured out to me why he was so upset, Postal Workers were on strike and the government had he and his co-workers delivering government mail. I said, " maybe the old lady in the Buick was a Postal Worker on picket duty." He agreed if that was case she was quite effective. It was Friday and he told me all the places he had to go before night fall, plus inspect any trucks not looking up to snuff. I bid him good day and went on my way. I'll bet someone caught it from him before days end.

I will add a bit to what I've allready said about your proposed tractor hauling. 3/4 or 1 ton trucks with full floating rear ends as in big trucks will carry the load much better. Coupled with heavy springs, this allows you to put more weight on the truck, will make the load handle much better. Make sure your tires are in good condition, good air presure and have a load rating for your proposed load. Make sure those trailer brakes are working effectively.

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