tylstruck
Canadian diisabled Yuppie
I was serious of getting another truck. Another like mine. I knew about this truck for a year and kept thinking bout it from what other people who saw it said about it. I did manage to see it the same day we went to the Smooth Rock Falls truck drag. I was a bit disappointed seeing the truck did not have the trim package nor bumper guards, but it did have excellent metal, and power steering. The truck is a ’78 Ford F350 dually one ton with extended 161” wheelbase like mine. Has a 390 backed by a manual 4speed trans. Has power steering and many other parts which will be swapped with mine before being sold again. Trucks like this with the extended chassis are quite popular for ramp trucks or haulers. Truck has a fascinating history as a DSO unit for Kimberley-Clark of Longlac, On.
Was a bit difficult to find the home-owner and truck owner, Chuck. Chuck moved out of his now vacant home when Tembec closed Smooth Rock Falls mill. Chuck lived in Strickland, and moved out to a town west of Thunder Bay.
On Sept 17, 2007 I got the truck. Quite a day. We arrived at Chuck’s house sometime before 10am. After some time, we found the missing wheel. Bolted them on. Pulled the truck out to the corner of the path and treeline using my truck and a pull strap. Dad thought of using the towbar from there to the drivewa and home, however as luck would have it a the second attempt to match the truck hitch ball to the towbar tongue, my truck got stuck in a small puddle of mud. There was tons of tree banches and boards, even a huge rubber tube to pile down under the wheels for more traction. After the second atempt, the truck wasn't budging.
I had my scooter and drove beside the hwy to flag down a motorist who might have a cell phone. We didn't have a cell phone, no one was home at Chucks. Only dad, the dog and I. There I was on my scooter beside the hwy, waving both arms to passing motorists. I may aswell have been sitting at the entrance to*a provincial jailhouse or phychiatric house. No one stopped. Some simply waved by a friendly hello. Meanwhile dad kept his attempts to free the truck. I did see him pull out so I returned back to the truck.
Dad had enough. He was unbolting the towbar to*the front of the other truck. About that time, a neighbor came to check on the house and feed the cat. He noticed us and came to*the truck outback.
During one of the calls to Chuck he mentioned a trust-worthy neighbor who has a loader and can pull it to the truck to the driveway and I could give him the money. The truck was unstuck however there was atleast three bigger puddles of mud to* tackle. We would be closer, but stuck again, unless we agreed to let him get his loader. A couple mins later, the loader arrived and it didn't take him long to chain it to the truck and drag it to the driveway.
I wrote Chuck a check, in care of his trusted neighbor. Attached the towbar to both of my trucks. Attached the towlights and drove both home.
We arrived home about 9pm that night. All I ate and drank that day was a bowl of 'Special K'. There was lots of work to do all day, that hunger or thirst was the furthest from our minds.
Dad would probably beg to differ and tell you a complete other story.
Although the UVIP demonstrates this truck was ordered by Kimberly-Clark, I have no further explanation what was its purpose and usage at their mill. I have wrote to the company for further information on this truck. The response included is a blank.
This truck was purchased for parts to be swapped onto my ’79 Ford F350 former U-haul truck. Ford Had the same body style trucks from 1973 to 1979. Only the front grilles varied each year. The 1978 and 1979 truck were identical in grilles and the front bumpers were unique only in those two year production.
Notable characteristics of this truck when purchased is the exhaust and muffler was removed, there was no body behind the cab, the gas tank had no cover, the carb was missing, the interior had a replacement shifter boot, a pair of windshield wiper blades, a ’79 Ford truck manual and other supplied materials/documents. The ignition and door locks have been broken into. The two front wheels including tires aren’t original, they were replaced from an ‘80s ½ ton Chev. Truck that has the same hole pattern as a Ford dually truck.
The license plate as pictured was on the truck’s front bumper. Note that it was last registered till Jan ’00. The sticker behind that one was for Jan ’99. Ken Simpson died in 2004. The truck sat in the field behind his house since I purchased it. It is unknown what he used the truck for.
Tyl
Was a bit difficult to find the home-owner and truck owner, Chuck. Chuck moved out of his now vacant home when Tembec closed Smooth Rock Falls mill. Chuck lived in Strickland, and moved out to a town west of Thunder Bay.
On Sept 17, 2007 I got the truck. Quite a day. We arrived at Chuck’s house sometime before 10am. After some time, we found the missing wheel. Bolted them on. Pulled the truck out to the corner of the path and treeline using my truck and a pull strap. Dad thought of using the towbar from there to the drivewa and home, however as luck would have it a the second attempt to match the truck hitch ball to the towbar tongue, my truck got stuck in a small puddle of mud. There was tons of tree banches and boards, even a huge rubber tube to pile down under the wheels for more traction. After the second atempt, the truck wasn't budging.
I had my scooter and drove beside the hwy to flag down a motorist who might have a cell phone. We didn't have a cell phone, no one was home at Chucks. Only dad, the dog and I. There I was on my scooter beside the hwy, waving both arms to passing motorists. I may aswell have been sitting at the entrance to*a provincial jailhouse or phychiatric house. No one stopped. Some simply waved by a friendly hello. Meanwhile dad kept his attempts to free the truck. I did see him pull out so I returned back to the truck.
Dad had enough. He was unbolting the towbar to*the front of the other truck. About that time, a neighbor came to check on the house and feed the cat. He noticed us and came to*the truck outback.
During one of the calls to Chuck he mentioned a trust-worthy neighbor who has a loader and can pull it to the truck to the driveway and I could give him the money. The truck was unstuck however there was atleast three bigger puddles of mud to* tackle. We would be closer, but stuck again, unless we agreed to let him get his loader. A couple mins later, the loader arrived and it didn't take him long to chain it to the truck and drag it to the driveway.
I wrote Chuck a check, in care of his trusted neighbor. Attached the towbar to both of my trucks. Attached the towlights and drove both home.
We arrived home about 9pm that night. All I ate and drank that day was a bowl of 'Special K'. There was lots of work to do all day, that hunger or thirst was the furthest from our minds.
Dad would probably beg to differ and tell you a complete other story.
Although the UVIP demonstrates this truck was ordered by Kimberly-Clark, I have no further explanation what was its purpose and usage at their mill. I have wrote to the company for further information on this truck. The response included is a blank.
This truck was purchased for parts to be swapped onto my ’79 Ford F350 former U-haul truck. Ford Had the same body style trucks from 1973 to 1979. Only the front grilles varied each year. The 1978 and 1979 truck were identical in grilles and the front bumpers were unique only in those two year production.
Notable characteristics of this truck when purchased is the exhaust and muffler was removed, there was no body behind the cab, the gas tank had no cover, the carb was missing, the interior had a replacement shifter boot, a pair of windshield wiper blades, a ’79 Ford truck manual and other supplied materials/documents. The ignition and door locks have been broken into. The two front wheels including tires aren’t original, they were replaced from an ‘80s ½ ton Chev. Truck that has the same hole pattern as a Ford dually truck.
The license plate as pictured was on the truck’s front bumper. Note that it was last registered till Jan ’00. The sticker behind that one was for Jan ’99. Ken Simpson died in 2004. The truck sat in the field behind his house since I purchased it. It is unknown what he used the truck for.
Tyl
