Driving a Hood

thats a hendricksen with a michigan centipede flowboy hopper , this is a v-8/10 version , the 12's added about 4 feet to the front of this , they where built up till the 1980's when they got out of the class 8 market and now make nothing but off road equipment , and firetrucks the truck that made Grand Rapids famous

I forgot to mention this is a 1/24 plastic model the guy does excellent work .

 

why do your comments have to involve criticism of the poster?

 

save your own life as I have seen what a truck can do to a person when it backs over them , stay belted untill the unit is at a complete stop or if you have the door open its easier to readjust the mirrors or seat . the driver in question lost both of his legs when they where crushed . he thought the door handle could hold his weight and it didn't it ripped off the door

 

I understand your statement and appreciate your concern for my safety. When I open the door, I use it for angle of the mirror. Actually, I have never tried to back any truck with the seatbelt on. It was something I was taught from the beginning of my short career. The hood that I drive (today as a matter of fact) has manual mirrors. That in it's self was a huge adjustment for me, as I was used to moto mirrors and at least a power passenger window.

I will certainly keep your statement in mind, and will try next time I'm doing any significant backing. Thanks again....

 

That's a model? The POV makes it look real!

Very cool. Thanks for the history! I love it all....

 

all of trucks I drove were long hood trucks, with the exception of a couple cabovers, no big deal really once you get used to it. The first time I drove a slope nosed truck was when we bought a couple
Cascadia's last year, I felt like I was driving a cabover again.

Some people really have a hard time though, had a couple drivers work for us that were used to slope nosed trucks, one guy we had kept wrecking bumpers and couldn't stop hitting things when he drove our long hood trucks.

 

Me too, I hate doing "maneuvers" with the seat belt on. Some kind of mental block I guess, just feel restricted. I usually put the window down too.

As to leaning out of the cab- my old man used to get out on the step of his 359 ext. hood while backing into a tight spot. I'm not that ballsy and I've been running a Mack CH, so the stacks aren't a visibility issue.