Tankers' Choice: ISO vs 43' Food Grade vs 53' Fuel Hauler...

I liked pulling ISO , but fuel mileage sucked and yes it does feel pulling a wall behind u. Last one I pulled was flamable load on I 68 thru WV and MD. That trip kicked my ###

 

I'll take my 331 any day, then a 307/407 then anything else before an ISO. They ride horrible and it's like pulling a parachute.

 

Ive done milk tanking. Ive done carboys in liquids in a whole van. Ive done 20 foot tankers to seagrams off a ship downtown. (What a place... in Baltimore) and Ive done bottles out of there to either railroad head or back onto ships. There is enough weight to the liquid to make that 18 wheeler move a little bit.

But the one thing I will NOT haul is fuel. My father's brother was assigned to red ball in Europe and was under fire from the Luftwaffe where possible. He has even gained fame briefly for recognition from Generals for hauling 300 cans of fuel when 150 was the authorized load. And these were the 5 gallon jerry cans too.

After the war in the late 40's early 50's he had a dedicated tanker run on Big Savage into Cumberland downtown. Something to do or other with Emlenton PA as a source of fuel in them days.

One day his tanker ran away from him I think it was a 284 pete. A small tractor with a pretty small tanker for it's time. 7 miles to Cumberland down big savage he went.

When he rolled out at the bottom downtown, he left that rig where it was, climbed down to the big railroad station (Western Maryland, probably still there to this day) telegraphed Baltimore he quit and catch the next train to Baltimore.

I don't know bout you but that story died with him a couple of years ago about the 21 Jan when a massive stroke took him out. He pretty much died instantly without suffering too much. But it is assumed with a stroke that big it probably hurt him but not for long as death came for him quickly.

I had a thought to stop by his place in Florida at somepoint in my life time and talk over that particular runway but frankly what is known is known. The rest of it can be educated guesses about the rest of it.

To this day I wont haul fuel. Period. You could offer 20 million dollars to do it one time today, but I wont do it.