WildwoodJack

Still here and still towing at age 64.

I have a Century and a Vulcan. They are both good units, but I like the Vulcan a little better. The tilt function on the Century is done by pivoting what I call the down tower. when tilting up it pushes the down tower out so you do have to adjust your under lift in or out to make the lift. When tilting up, with the down tower being pushed out, it puts your load a little farther back from your tailboard. The control handles on the Century are attached to cables that go to the valve body making it a little harder to feather a control sometimes. On the Vulcan the tilt is what I call positive tilt because it goes straight up and down without having to adjust the in out on the under lift. The control handles on the Vulcan are attached to the valve body making it easier to feather a control if you need to. As far as tilting under a load I do not have a problem with either of mine doing it under a load. They will strain if you are trying to tilt at full extension if it is a heavy load. It seems Miller really has not changed much of the design of the heavy duty Vulcans from their original when the Alms owned Vulcan and it was originally made in Canada and Olive Branch, Miss.

Does anyone know where this truck is now, and if who ever bought it restored it?

It seems today these people think they are entitled to do what ever they want and do not have to follow a lawful order. It drives me nuts with some of these people and I have to really control my German temper. I think when they go to court, let the judge view that video, and they should receive the maximum sentence allowed by law. No plea deals or 1 for 1 for good behavior. They have to serve the full sentence and when they get out they should have to do community service by going to schools and public places and show and speak about what they did wrong and why they got the sentence they did. Maybe, and it is a long shot but maybe people would start to think about could happen before they get themselves in that spot.

That is a Goodyear tire service vehicle. It does not belong to any tow company. The location of that accident is about 50 miles south of me. This boils down to one word, training. In Illinois all towers are required to go through traffic incident management training, but roadside service companies are not. Just another double standard our state has that drives me nuts. This could have been prevented if training was in place. I hope everyone involved recovers fully. I have lived here all my life, and I think our state is becoming more screwed up every day. Our state is suppose to raise the fuel tax again on big trucks. So everyone with IFTA, be prepared to pay more again for Illinois if you come here.

Well said Geri!

From this father / grandfather, Happy Fathers Day to all fathers out there! I hope all the fathers out there have a great and uneventful day!

Globrite went out of business a few years ago. Zips has some nice polished stainless steel panels with 3 oval cut outs for the oval tail lights and a round hole in the side for a marker light. I put them in one of our trucks and it worked out well. If I knew how to post pictures on here I would. I guess this old dog needs to learn some new tricks LOL.

That is a cool truck! I have a 1948 REO Speedwagon 1-1/2 ton pickup truck that has been a long time project that was started by my brother and myself about 2004 or 2005. We are duplicating one of our grandfather's tow trucks. We have the original boom and winch. It is an Ashton boom. We did have the original truck, but it was to far gone to restore. We were able to take the original box off and take to a local metal shop and they were able to make a new box with new fenders using the old box as a template. After my brother passed away in 2007, it got pushed back on the build. My goal is to get it done this summer. The truck has been inside the whole time. It is painted, the brakes have been gone through, gas tank flushed and got it running again. It will be neat when done. My grandfather was a REO truck dealer in the 40s and 50s in Gurnee, Illinois.

If that is the truck I think it is, it was at towing company near me several years ago. It is a Holmes 600 winches and gear box with a homemade boom and add on Holmes or Century wheel lift. When I looked at it, it did not have a counter balance valve for the boom lift cylinders and the boom could be lowered without the PTO engaged. It was just gravity down. It also had 2 PTOs, 1 for the boom and wheel and 1 for the winches.

That is impressive! Hats off to the women of TRAO!

Yes to all questions! The accident on August 26th in Milwaukee, Wis. involving a flatbed from Rays Towing is the perfect example is why everyone should participate. There is going to be benefit car truck show on Sept. 22nd. 2019 at Herman's Auto clinic 6100 S. Howell Ave. Milwaukee, Wis. to help out Rays driver that was injured in that crash. Everyone stay safe out there. Jack

Good planning and team work! Slow and easy is always best.

I agree with Moore's. I stopped the video, and looked and it does appear that it could have been winched to the end of the guard rail. I am sure the wrecker itself is rated to lift that car, but what I could see happening, is if that car starts to swing around with the boom up and fully extended, leverage could take over and possibly bend something or worse cause the truck to turn over. That is just me probably being over cautious. By no means I am not bashing this job. It appears they got it done without any problems. I know where I am at, the police do not like to shut any lanes down unless you have no other options. The distance to the end of the guard rail is probably shorter then it appears in the picture, but maybe not. That is just my opinion.

First, our thoughts and prayers go out to Joe for a full recovery and to everyone at Ray's that this terrible accident may have caused a lot of mental anguish to. Thankfully it was not fatal. It is really frustrating when Hamid said the down pour caused their wheels to slip. How about slowing to a safe speed for the road conditions and slowing down for the flashing lights and move over if you can. I believe Wisconsin has a slow down move over law. If they do the driver of that semi should be charged and convicted to the full extent of the law. In my opinion when a serious accident such as this one, that caused injury, the driver that caused the accident, should have their drivers license permanently revoked. Everyone be safe out there and always watch your back. Jack Herman, Wildwood Service, Gages Lake, Illinois

Find the transmitter and see what brand it is and call that manufacturer and they should be able to help you.

Is anyone doing work for Nation Safe Drivers, and do they pay their bills in a timely manner? They called me today asking if we would be interested in doing work for them. They said we were referred to them by a dealer that we already do the non warranty tows for. I was wondering how any ones experience has been with them. Thanks a lot. Jack

I know that Pete was built new as a tow truck. It started life in Rockford, Illinois. It belonged to a company called Ed's towing if remember right. He had a Phillips 66 station as I recall. If I remember right, he passed away and his wife sold the big trucks to Zips. He had a twin to that one that I believe Ed's Towing, Team Ed's, that is a member on here owns or use to own. He also had an International 4300 single axle with a 750 on it also. I do not know where that went to. They were a two tone blue or blue and white as I recall.