you guys look completely professional with the ties your truck and trailer or totally awesome you're probably hands down the most professional group that I have ever seen in trucking it reminds me of the days when my grandfather used to drive a truck he wore a tie to so it's kind of cool to see that keep up and videos thanks
That's awesome that your grandfather used to do that. There was a time where this profession was treated as such...professionally. Those old school, through and through professional truck drivers are hard to come by. We're doing our best to raise the bar again, and hopefully bring back some sense of respect to the industry. Thanks for watching!
Awesome setup dude. Love the high level of organization. The custom trailer is hella dope with some great features. The custom headache rack is legit. Great example to set for future truckers. Do you prefer the 13spd transmission over a 18spd for heavy hauling?
Thank you! Organization is seriously the key to success. 18spd is probably ideal for heavier stuff, but for the weight we haul, our 13spd is perfectly adequate.
I’m really enjoying your videos but I have a question. At 16:10 you mentioned those rubber pieces to run between your chains so you don’t decrease the WLL. I’m curious if that’s a state by state or a federal law. I have been told the chains can never touch so I really don’t know. In the business I’m in, I never let my chains touch. However, it would make my life a little easier at times if I knew I could simply place a quarter inch piece of flat rubber between them. Thanks
good video Nick I would have liked to see engine maybe u have it in another video ! Peace from Long Island New York and safe motoring !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PS ur vids are never boring Its boring being in NY in the winter Love the southern hospitality and of course those sweet southern ladies !!!!! Peace
+tiger rule You can get chains/binders at any truck stop, dealership, trailer maintenance shop or anything along those lines. Just make sure they are G70 Transport chains.
What's wrong with a 13 speed? I'll throw 110k on the deck and the 13 speed handles it just fine. 18 speeds are novelties for wheel holding reefer drivers who wanna say they're "real truckers", or people who actually do work over heavy grades, pulling insanely heavy loads, or just all around working in crap conditions. There's very few people out there who need an 18 speed. As far as the axle: We have a massively long wheelbase. It's physically impossible for us to transfer weight to the front axle. With 109k on the deck our front axle scales at like 12,7. There's no more weight to put up there, so why add an axle that offers A) a heavier weight, thus reducing our overall capacity, and B) an axle that has a weight rating that we could never possibly utilize.
What year is your tractor as they are still produced new? Also how much of it is retrofitted/custom built? Did it come with the 3rd axle and polished alum. fuel tanks and that nice paint job? I know the headache rack is custom fabricated. Truck and trailer looks so expensive compared to Show Room spec truck and trailers.
We bought the truck the way it is minus a new clutch and the added axle. So yes, the paint job, polished tanks and side boxes, they're all factory. They are very pricey when you start having them customized the way we did (extra axle on the truck, and the entire trailer), but it is a price you sometimes have to pay to be able to up your game.
OPPS, revisited your video, 2013 is the year, but the tractor looks like new both inside and out and you have yet to install the 3rd sxle on the tractor so I understand that. What will be the most weight you can put on the trailer once the 3rd axle is installed? That truck would be good hauling steel and coils. Is that your only truck?
Thank you, yes it is our only truck for now. It looks new, because we pride ourselves in taking extremely good care of it. We can do around 115,000lbs on the deck, give or take depending upon which states we're running through.
Wow, that is a lot of weight. I surmise that should cover most heavy hauling jobs and still under 20,000 per axle. I did notice how neat everything was, and realized from the first video I watched how well kept you kept your equipment, I'm certainly impressed. When I got my 93 CH612 Mack, I got it used but in decent shape, drove it a year until I saw what I needed, then had it retrofitted and refurbished where needed including things you don't see like bearings and joints, and things you do see like cab and frame paint and some new interior. Now in 2016, like you, I diligently keep it clean and maintained. Since 97, it still looks new.
Holy Crap! 4 axles on that trailer!! What you should have done is figured out a way to make the landing gear motorized! I'm surprised trailers don't have this feature. How do you work out to stay in shape to be lifting those tarps and chains on top large loads? That is what keeps ME OUT of flatbed. I'd rather have a Conestoga Trailer.
You have a vid where you show the toggle switch on the rear of your trailer for the heavy haul flashing lights. You mention about flash patterns and whats easier to see. Can you give me that info or where to find out about flash patterns. Thnx.
Nick love what you are doing keep up the good work and don't let them want to bes tell you it's not heavy haul it is what there talking about is specialized
+KenTrea Raby Awesome man, thank's for checking out my channel and subscribing! Also, thanks for your service, brother. We very well could have been in Iraq at the same time, if you deployed. Pretty sure 1st CAV was there while we were. FOB Falcon, Baghdad, 06-07.
I'm 80 y.o. retired driver. Different industries. Drifted from job to job so I drove/operated many types of vehicles. 40 years. Considerable heavy haul RGN's, oilfield winch trucks (old school 3 trannie, 3 winches, 12 ton rig up tandems, very heavy empty without trailer} moving drilling rigs, vacuum trucks, dumps, reefers, tankers, flatbeds, bin trucks, etc. too much to mention here. The equipment & tools available now are impressive, as is your attention to detail. I like to compare how things are to what they used to be. Good job, Nick. Will look for your videos. Very professional. Thank you.
Thank you! I always appreciate how you old timer's had to do things back then. Some seriously rigorous work back in the day to do this stuff. Thanks for watching!
I plan on getting in to oversized stuff, everyone said I was crazy for ordering a 300" wheelbase and double frame and the x15 565/600 , but like I said I am studying on it to do flatbed or rgn , I can invest laster on the tag axle for the truck , I like that headache rack, I was think maybe a wider one with a chain carousal like wreckers have for chains and binders, but thanks Nick , you and your dad besafe out there
I have a friend who made stand up boxes on his truck out of trailer toolboxes that he inverted and set on a rack he had custom built. Worked out really well. Also know a driver who did tow truck boxes on his catwalk. Seems to work for them, and they can get their equipment from the ground.
Um, I don't remember. I bought it at a Law Enforcement supply store just down the road from my house. You can probably order one online at like www.lapolicegear.com or something.
Hello! Great Videos! I have heard that set back front axle is best for heavy haul---you dont seemed trouble by the forward axle at all:) also using a 13 spd instead of 18 ...i have been told a 10 speed would suffice with heavy haul--if you have the 600hp/2050 torque setup. Are you settled on the 13spd as best? Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience:)
Yea ya got that right..I listened to your Dad & he started about the same time I did,,,I learned to drive in 1970.....got my trainin from the school of hard knocks,lol....but its the best kind,,,I was always a night person, so I drove all night & hubby had it all day....but gotta tell ya, I really miss it....guess I just got it in my blood,,,,thanks for the come back & take care of your Dad...lost mine when I was 35 years old...
Mornin Nick! I'm new to the channel and love the videos so far, your a fine driver. First thing I noticed in the MHC KW mud flaps, nice touch. I am a technician for MHC and love seeing trucks and what they do and how guys like you put them to work. Great looking truck, love the color scheme and design it has. My question for you is when you purchased the truck were you expecting to go into heavy haul or was it something that was decided after the truck was purchased? I was just curious as to why the truck wasn't spec'd out from the get go with a third drive. Another question is, the last video of yours I watched was one of you haulin a 100k lb rotor and noticed the check engine light on, and with the choice of an emission equipped Cummins it could be a hand full of things. I was just curious why not a glider such as your mentor with the c16? Sorry for all the questions just curious with the equipment. Stay safe out there driver, Alex
Thanks for stopping by, and welcome to the channel! We kind of fell into what we did. I had intended this truck to remain pulling a standard flatbed, and then purchase another heavy haul specific truck. However, we found that this truck was an incredible machine, and just decided to modify it. As far as that CEL that's showing, it's a faulty NOX sensor. No performance deration or side effects, it's just not functioning properly. A sensor that we will replace, we just have not gotten around to.
Nick..nice Tee shirt...and hope You and Your Dad are doing well..i have been awaiting for more videos...busy Holiday season for all..hope to see videos soon..peace and good health and safety...Rich
Just curious, No height stick? The car hauler made me think of extendible height sticks that are light weight. compact and very accurate and convenient for measuring while standing on the ground. Cheers! Great tour!
+rooshooter No, since we're on a flatbed the laws are a little finiky when it comes to permitting over height. We shoot for loads around our max legal of 8'6" tall. For those, we just use a normal tape measure and a ladder. I have no desire to spend the $250 that those height poles cost. Thanks for watching!!
Mercy, love your truck & the trailer,,, only pulled a flatbed for about a year years ago, but didn;t like it when I got to where we were going,,loved pullin it but hated the tarpin,so we went to the reefers & stayed wirh it until I got ready for retirement...but love your truck....you just don't see that many of the big long nose trucks today,,,,,stay safe driver,,,,,
+ladytrucker67 Yeah the flatbed life isn't for everybody. Tarping is a sincere pain in the ass, but it's become so frequent to us, that it's just second nature now. We didn't tarp when we first started, and were missing out on too many loads...bought some tarps and haven't looked back since. Thank's for checking out the channel :)
these are very nice videos about a very special equipment und job. thank you for that. i´m sure you already have been doing this, but can you tell me/us more about the whole engine unit? or can you give me a link where i can find the informations? is the power unit upgraded or more or less stock? you mentioned the upgraded heavy duty clutch. thank you and best regards from Germany
Thanks for watching and your comment. As soon as we have decent weather and I can clean the truck up, I am going to do an updated, indepth video on the truck / trailer.
You and your dad got it set up with a load plan and everything huh? Just like in the Army. I retired in 2014 and am tossing the idea around of driving. How is it being alone all the time on the road?
Lol yeah, I guess some habits die hard :-P Well, I'm not technically alone. I got pops there, so it's not bad. The road isn't for everyone, that's for sure; but if you can make it for you, it's not the worst life you could have.
At the time of that video we only had a 3 axle tractor, and I honestly can't quite remember the empty weight. After we had the 4th axle added to the truck, full of fuel and with the same trailer fully loaded with securement and tarps, we were 42,000 lbs empty.
G'day what a beautiful truck and trailer it's a real credit to both of you and it's great to see son and dad team, thanks for showing her first time viewer kind regards John Tasmania Australia
+John Kinnane Thank you! We take a lot of pride in our equipment, and our working relationship together. Thank's for taking the time to stop by and check out our videos. BTW, Australia is #1 on my travel list. I'll get there someday.
+Nick Mordaunt G'day Nick you will love Oz and Tasmania is a beautiful place unspoiled wilderness, I am not a trucker could never do it due to medical reasons but I like trucks and good videos on them I have subscribed and look forward to your travels. P S I recon your Dad would be my age 59? Keep safe regards John
+John Kinnane Yeah, I'm sure if my channel grows enough, I'll end up documenting them! I love to travel and I love the wilderness...Also, my dad is 64.
No sirry! Un-needed. People spec out these massive beasts of trucks, and never really need them. We regularly load over 100,000lbs on the deck, and have yet to need a set up different than ours. And our rear ends are actually only 3.70's (I know I miss stated that in the video).
I know this is a really old video and that third axle has already been put on the tractor, but is it a drive or just a normal tag? Really love the old school paint on the tractor, overall a really clean setup.
I've tried finding a name or branding on them, but there is nothing...I genuinely have no clue. Ravens put them on when the trailer was built, so they could very well be an in house product.
when u were custom building that trailer was built in rubber mats an option because that is what we use for our 20' cattle trailer and it helps with your traction
I mean, when you're having something custom built, anything is an option lol. There are times however, where having perminate rubber matting might prove to be an inconvienence. Our ability to grab what we need out of the toolbox, place it when and where we need it, is what really works for us.
Well as far as the axles go, they lift/lower pretty slowly so it's not really beneficial for us to be able to actuate them from inside the truck. As far as the lights go, there's no need for us to be able to turn those off/on either since we are always required to have them on when under OS/OW loads.
Hey bro, great truck! Just curious, I don't know alot about trucks. What made you choose Kenworth? And I noticed when I'm driving in rugged parts of the country like the Midwest and Canada. Kenworth and Peterbilt seem to be more common than others. Is that because KW and Pete's are built more durable and reliable?
They are a more quality built truck. Freightliner designs their trucks to be cookie cutter, throw away company trucks that companies can pick up for cheap, in bulk, and throw away every 7-10 years or so. That's just the way it is. KWs and Petes are more aimed to please the owner operators who are going for a more comfortable and practical truck.
I love the Interior, except for the shiftier LOL I think kennys and peterbuilts have the best laid out easy to read gauges. I always loved the straight hood over the engine vs the aerodynamic sloping look. That is the nicest headache rack I've seen with the emergency lights built in on top. A beautiful truck. Now all you need is some cross country runs so you spend a few weeks on the road without going home.. Thumbs up,
Thanks! I've had my share of cross country runs. Was running 7,400 miles a week when we were team driving for Werner; out 7-10 weeks at a time. I'm making more money, while being home more...I think I'll stay the course ;)
I can understand that. I was just referring to the fact the tractor is so nice, i'd never want to get out of it. I had already surmised this was not your first job, and especially Tom's. You don't spend that kind of money when your a "green horn" at trucking and being in business, however being in business is always a learning curve. I watched Sergei out of Cambridge Canada, (owner / operator), he heavy hauls with a 2016 Mack (3) axles and a low boy trailer (3) axles, and he said the same thing, spend more time at home, and make the same or more money as if he was driving OTR. He hauls primarily construction equipment. Is a shame how regulated it is, he often spends a day or so just waiting for permits. Thanks again for your reply. I'll be watching any new videos you make and going back and looking at past videos too.
Great ambition, man! Step by step though. Get in as a company driver first, and see how you like it before buying a truck and taking that leap. Good luck!
This is heavy haul? Hhmmm. Perhaps I misunderstood the classic definition, this guy has a nice looking standard road tractor and a flatbed with a tag and pusher axle. At best I'd call this medium hauling. You need some more axles under that sled and a heavier spec tractor.
Now that I'm on my computer and have a real keyboard, please allow me a more involved response to your typical criticisim. Seems there is always some jackass who has a stereotypical definition in their mind that they feel the need to share with me about what "heavy haul" is and isn't. It's as if you feel I needed to be educated, but now that I can flip the script, let me learn you a thing or two... 1) With the set up that you saw in that video, we were able to haul 92,440lbs on the deck. If that's not enough to be considered "heavy haul" then I would LOVE to see what your definition is. 2) Most "heavy haul" trucks that you see tugging around RGN's are exactly what you're saying ISN'T heavy haul. They are standard road tractors, with a lift axle. What is it that makes THOSE trucks heavy haul, yet not mine? Because I don't an 18spd? Because I don't have a 4spd auxillary transmission with 2 spd rear ends? Lol. That is because I'm smart. I know what works, I know what I need, and I'm not going to purchase more than that, simply to appease someone behind a keyboard who has more than likely never driven a truck, much less done what we're out here doing. 3) We've since added a 4th axle to the truck, and have had 107,000lbs on the deck of that trailer. Our 13spd with 3.70 rear ends have held up to the task, every single day. If you still feel that we are a "Medium Hauling" truck, then so be it. I really have worked hard to not be effected by the opinions of others, and this situation is no different. I suppose I should also take this time to thank you for the compliment of saying it was "nice looking", but I promise you...our custom designed and built trailer, is no where near standard. Have a good day, sir.
Slow down a bit big guy, take a minute, maybe comb your hair or clean those side boxes again. I'm happy that you are making money and found a truck and trailer that works for you. Your descriptions of the equipment work well for the laymen and I understand the reasoning behind that, but to me you sound like a safety man or a trainer that never drove much. I see the Valley mud flaps so I'm going to assume that you've been to Michigan and observed the weights we carry on a daily basis (not just on the slab) and without permits. I don't even consider our 11 axles heavy haul, I just think of them as visually stunning and more efficient than the standard 5 axles. Some other states go even bigger, I've seen 15 axle A train side dumps in South Dakota. You are certainly correct in saying that most heavy haulers run around with light spec road trucks and throw another axle under it, which is what you've done, And your 315s don't fool any real truck driver, the DOT only cares about the width of your tires, not if you bolted them onto a 13,000 lb axle. And yes I've been a driver for 17 years. Done heavy wrecker, B trains, A trains, lowboy, oilfield rig moving and everything in between, so you might say I have a little industry knowledge and I don't even consider myself a full blown heavy hauler yet. I just drive what I'm given and get that load there in one piece. So now maybe you understand why I felt the need to voice my opinion, it's a lot like those people who pretend to be soldiers. One day when you own a true heavy hauler you might look back and regret not calling it "specialized" rather than "heavy".
The 315's were never intended to fool anyone...? I actually was explicitly clear when I said I put them on the truck because I like the way they look. You must just be wearing shoes that are far too big for me to ever fill; so I suppose I'll just stay the course and run around in my "specialized" lane, until someday I can live up to whatever your definition of heavy haul is.
You must have the most prepared flatbed I've ever I countered... From the chain storage to the tool boxes, a place for everything and everything in its place, quite impressive.... But I notice the four axles on the trailer, how come you don't have a drop axle on the truck.? What's the load limit you carry now? Just wondering and thank you for the video ...
+Aaron Gilbert. Lol. No problem man, appreciate you checking out my videos and your compliments! We take a lot of pride, and go to great lengths to take care of our equipment. It certainly pays off!
