The worst truck you have ever driven?

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Dave1837, Jan 28, 2020.

  1. Dave1837

    Dave1837 Road Train Member

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    I started a thread a while ago asking what everyone's dream truck was, how about that one truck that you'll never drive again? I'm too new to driving to have a least favorite but it's amusing to hear everyone else's bad experiences lol
     
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  3. REO6205

    REO6205 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Absolute worst? A 1951 Mack LF. with a 220 Cummins and a 5/3 set of sticks. I don't know what the rear ends were but top speed was probably fifty mph. I drove it in 1970 for about six months.It was worn out before I ever got it. It had been totally wrecked twice and always ran down the road a little sideways.

    It was an off-road logging truck with 12 foot bunks. We were hauling redwood out of a canyon up to a deck on the main road. Four or five trips a day, hard as you could go. There were six trucks in the rotation and if you drug your feet they'd pile up behind you at the landing. Do that a couple of times and they'd fire you.
    No jake but we had a big water tank behind the cab for spraying the brakes if they got hot. No power steering, it had a solid seat, no radio, no air conditioning, No onboard scales, they loaded us until we ran out of saddles and I imagine we were probably well over 100 grand on every load. It rode just about the same empty as it did loaded...rough.

    There were only two gauges that worked, oil pressure and water temp. You just drove it like you felt it.
    Everything rattled. doors, windows, fenders, bunks, stakes.
    After that season it was made into a water truck and ran for a couple more years until a guy rolled it and they cut it up for scrap. Nobody was sorry to see it go.
     
  4. Dave1837

    Dave1837 Road Train Member

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    That's gotta be the best story I've ever heard hahahaha thank you!
     
  5. Just passing by

    Just passing by Road Train Member

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    I don't have a specific one. But the worst truck to me will always be the "spare one" at any company. Dirty, nasty, uncared for, never really pre-tripped so never really fixed up either. Gross. Frustrating. Money losing son of a switch.
     
  6. Bakerman

    Bakerman Road Train Member

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    Early to mid 80's GMC cabover for Safeway grocery stores here in Phoenix. It has over 800K on it, but looked like it had a 2 in front of that 800K! It was a pile!
    She was rode hard & put away wet.
     
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  7. MACK E-6

    MACK E-6 Moderator Staff Member

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    Baltimore, MD
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    I have a toss up between a 1976 F700 and a 1986 L8000.

    The ‘76 was a single screw dump truck with a 429 and so much steering lash the wheel could turn almost 180 degrees before there were any response.

    The ‘86 was a tandem axle boom truck with a bench seat, a dog of an 8.2L Detroit and a 15 ton JLG mounted behind the cab. The boom had missing teeth on the rotator gear, which necessitated tilting the truck every time you wanted to swing past the point of the cradle.
     
    x1Heavy, Dave1837 and bzinger Thank this.
  8. Michael 247

    Michael 247 Heavy Load Member

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    Dublin Va
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    DM 800 Mack Coal Truck..45 MPH top speed..Brakes were so bad..in 1st gear loaded downhill it would not stop ...Drove it one day..LOL
     
    x1Heavy and Dave1837 Thank this.
  9. Michael 247

    Michael 247 Heavy Load Member

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    Caint wait to hear X1 Heavys reply..LOL
     
  10. Tall Mike

    Tall Mike Road Train Member

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    Mack R model.
    I have nothing against the R model it’s my favorite Mack, but the company I drove for had two that were absolutely wore out junk. Cold in the winter, hot in the summer, and would beat you to death on upstate NY roads. The twin sticks were kinda cool though.
     
  11. Judge

    Judge Road Train Member

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    1978 GMC Brigadier.. 210 powerhouse with a straight 7 speed.
    No A/C or place for an AM/FM.
    Mankiller seats, only went to middle of your back, and had a metal bar there were no cushion was.

    Or 1969 GMC Astro with 8V71
    They should bring back the hendrickson walking beam suspension with these smooth roads we have
     
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