Pics of work updated 11-14-10.

[Grover 1]

Here's my work - it's a love/hate deal.  I can't imagine not driving, it's been 31 years and 3+ million miles - I still love parts of it, but at times I'd like to retire.

[Lt.Del]

I have loved Kenworth trucks since I was around 10.  I loved the Bicentennial year of '76 when KW did the sleeper over cab style.  Back then, shows like BJ and the Bear were popular.  Smoky and the Bandit was popular.  I had my life set by the time I was ten.  I was going to buy a '76 KW, throw a '76 TransAm with an eagle on the hood, inside the trailer, and drive the truck around the country.  I have no idea how I was to make money, but, that was the plan.

I still beleive these are the most beautiful trucks out there, ever.

[Grover 1]

Sgt, I've had nothing but Kenworths since I started driving in 1978.  My first truck was a cabover like your pictures.  I've used the T600 since they came out, can't beat them for turning radius, ride and fuel mileage.  My wife went with me for 10 years, we had a great time.  I just run local now, 300 mile radius. 

[Blazin]

KW's, Pete's, or Western Star's are the only ones as far as I am concerned.

[Lt.Del]

When I retire in 8 years, I just may take to the road.  I still love the thought of long distance driving (which I love) and gettin' paid for it.  

This is what I will retire from....I enjoy my job.  I am in one of six oldest Sheriff's Offices in the Nation, Henrico, formed idn 1634.  Back then counties were called shires.  8 shires, of only 6 now exist, were formed in 1634 in Virginia by the Virginia Company of London.  The Shire Reef (where the term Sheriff comes from, was responsible for maintaining peace and collecting taxes for the King).  Above my desk you see an actual copy of the 1634 map of Henrico County.  Named after Prince Henry, King James I 's son (Jamestown, James River) in fact, after Jamestown, Henricus, 1609, was the second oldest English settlement in the nation, that is, prior to the indian massacre of 1622.  Now the only fame of Henrico County is due to it being the home of the Richmond International Raceway in NASCAR, the Action Track.

Anyway, I ensure we maintian National Accreditation in regards to policy and procedure and write/adapt policiy keeping up with court cases, changes in national accreditation, etc...It's the best position I have had in 18 yrs working there and I love it.



Notice the calendar behind my desk?  It's November now, now it is showing a great looking suburban (this pic was taken in May)



the 1634 map of Henrico



One of the original departments to use Glock in the nation, 1992.  This is the second series poster for Glock advertising, with our patch on the top row, 4th from left--with a picture of Pocohontas and tobacco (the first profit - maker of the new world) on it.  



    

[smitty77]

KW's, Pete's, or Western Star's are the only ones as far as I am concerned.

I guess it depends on your preference.  For some reason my company is awfully fond of Mack.  We have a few R-model 10-wheel dumps, a dozen or so new Granite tri-axle dumps, a handful of Granite tractors and a bunch of CH series tractors for hauling liquid asphalt and a few low-beds. We've got one Pete with a 540 hp Cummins (I think, it's got some monster power) that does the heavy low-bed hauling.  Rear-set steer axle for turning radius and a tag-axle for the extra weight.  The driver says hauling our heaviest road reclaimer will tip the scales somewhere around 128,000 lbs.

No matter what you drive, the old addage always hold true - chrome won't get you home!

[Grover 1]

Good work Sgt.  My youngest son is a deputy sheriff here in Clark County, he's been there for 10 years and loves his job.  Just like the armed services we need to take time to thank all law enforcement officials for their service.  I know the liberal courts make your jobs tough, but hang in there.

[Lt.Del]

Thanks.

I know the liberal courts make your jobs tough, but hang in there.

You said a mouthful there!! Of course, there are bad apples in every line of work as well.  All it takes is one bad report (or God forbid, a bystander with a camera taping an arrest) and that one incident ruins it for everyone else, both in the public eye and in legal changes---changes that make things like kindergarten for the criminals--they really have it made.

[Irish_Alley]

don't even mention harassment or if someone wants to pull out the race card

[SUX2BU99]

Sgt, when was that pic taken with the two KW's? It would make you very sad to know that the original BJ and the Bear KW is sitting in a junk yard somewhere I believe in the midwest. I read this information last year and saw a pic. The truck is still completely intact though and has a wood plaque inside of it stating that it was the truck used in the filming of the series.

That all said, I remember the show (I was around 5 when it was on) but I have no idea what the plot was???  Yes, the late '70's was the romantic era of being the big-rig trucker eh?

[Lt.Del]

i got the pics from this site:

http://www.the-truckers-page.com/slideshows/misc/Tennesse-%20HHH%20with%20BJ%20&%20THe%20Bear%20Truck.html

I use google a lot and simpy googled 'bj and the bear truck'...

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=bj+and+the+bear+truck&aq=3&oq=bj+and+the+bear&aqi=g10

awesome website of beauties....

http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/david_miller.htm

This is cool about an original trailer used in the show...

http://channel19.blogspot.com/2009/02/toward-more-perfect-bj-bear-rig.html

Here's an original BJ truck restored...
http://www.digitalmagazinetechnology.com/a/?KEY=customrigs-08-08august#page=45

[Jim Rockford]

Here is the site for the guy that has the BJ and the Bear truck now, and he has the one from the show "Movin on"
http://www.tvtruckin.com/index.html

[Blazin]

Another chip trailer, but this time we are building it from a railroad freight trailer. The others had allready had the third axle added.
Before:






Our donor third axle:








Cutting all the old junk off:




The new rear bumper, frame extensions, and landing gear steel:


Pile of money on the floor:


Starting fabrication:














Sliding the new frame rail in:







Frame welded in, making gussets:






Lifting the box off the carrige to remove the nylon slide strip:


All the drums are removed, needle scale the spokes, and Chassis Saver them:


Getting ready to install air tank mount tabs, and cross members:


New spring hangers:






5/16 studs for lights, and wire hold downs:


Cross members, mud flap tabs, air tank mounts, and starting paint:










Fun with wiring:




Ready for thrid axle, and brakes:






The owner of the trailer hired a no mind to cut the doors and do the interior work!. He just hacked a hole to small in the tops of the doors!


This is what he left for good on the bottom!


We cut the rotted out bottoms off the doors, and dropped them down a set of holes on the hinges:


He also managed to screw the front wall up. Used very thin plywood witch the chips would have blown through in several loads. Made the vent door full width across. He also didn't run the plywood all the way into the corners. We tore that out. Welded fillers in at the bottom of the vent screens, so chips can't fill the wall. Installed backers for the plywood seams to land on. Made a vent door that only covers the vent holes.






Old landing gear partly cut off:




New landing gear and mounting plates:


Still working on this project. This week is getting the new landing gear on.

[jaredts]

I know this is an old post, but thought I would link my company's website.  I designed the tooling to make pretty much every forging you see and I'm also heavily involved in the machining of tool/die components (high speed machining and that sort of thing):  www.millenniumforge.com  No we don't forge crankshafts or any other parts for our trucks, but I did work at a forge shop that forged chevy v6 and v8 cranks for a short time.  Most of our parts are for Caterpillar or for tractor trailers.

[Blazin]

Well figured I would put a few pics up of a little project I did this week at work.
Old moving trailer. The guy uses it to transport bikes around the country for people. Hauls them to Daytona, Sturgis, Myrtle Beach. etc.
The batteries, and power pack for the lift gate were in a box under the trailer just in front of the tail gate. It was rotted just about off the trailer. I moved it up under the side door, fabricated a ladder to climb in easier. Extended the hydraulic lines, set it up so the controls are plug in, and can be 20' from the trailer while running the gate.