Got my Heavy Rigid (HR) License yesterday, in a HUGE Hino

[spudboy]

Had an excellent day yesterday, driving a big old Hino dump truck.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

Never been so terrified doing 50Km/h!! It is unbelieveable how different it feels when you have to manouver 20 tonnes of steel and dirt compared to a car. MUCH respect to people who do this for a living! Especially the big semi drivers.

Spent the day learning how to operate the gearbox, reverse using only mirrors and wrangling the air-brakes.

Did my test at 4:00PM and passed even though I did the whole reversing bit in high range slipping the clutch 'cause I didn't remember to put it back to low range first :mad:

So, now I can drive big things up to about 26 tonnes I think, as long as they have a synchro gearbox (but not Semis - that is a different class again).

Was excellent fun :D

Cheers
David

[digger]

Had an excellent day yesterday, driving a big old Hino dump truck.
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/general-chat/54062d1354592361-got-my-heavy-rigid-hr-license-yesterday-huge-hino-img_0177.jpg

Never been so terrified doing 50Km/h!! It is unbelieveable how different it feels when you have to manouver 20 tonnes of steel and dirt compared to a car. MUCH respect to people who do this for a living! Especially the big semi drivers.

Spent the day learning how to operate the gearbox, reverse using only mirrors and wrangling the air-brakes.

Did my test at 4:00PM and passed even though I did the whole reversing bit in high range slipping the clutch 'cause I didn't remember to put it back to low range first :mad:

So, now I can drive big things up to about 26 tonnes I think, as long as they have a synchro gearbox (but not Semis - that is a different class again).

Was excellent fun :D

Cheers
David

That truck, young spudly, isnt that old!!

congrats!

[UncleHo]

Congratulations :) after you have had a fair bit of practice then try to learn on a "crash" box, where one has to be able to match the engine revs to that of the gearbox,using the double de-clutch method,and then you will be able to drive older trucks and Ex-Military vehicles :);)


cheers

Got my truck license in 1960 in a Studebaker US-6

[Chops]

Congrats from me too,,

Did you go straight from car to HR, is that why you have "L" plates on?

When I got my MR, (next up from car) in NSW, I didn't need L plates. Humm,, maybe I did :angel:

[BigJon]

Congrats from me too,,

Did you go straight from car to HR, is that why you have "L" plates on?

When I got my MR, (next up from car) in NSW, I didn't need L plates. Humm,, maybe I did :angel:


About 10 or 12 years ago I went from car straight to HC. The truck had L plates on it.

Congratulations Spudboy, they are fun to drive. The bigger you go, the more fun they get (I have driven two trailer road trains in Alice Springs).

[PeterM]

Congrats on the license. Doing it in a syncro box is pretty straightforward, if you are getting the license for employment purposes, go to an unrestricted one as soon as you can as it will increase your employability greatly.

I spent a few years driving rigids and semis, including oversize work, and it certainly teaches you a great deal about the road, driving and others on the road. All the best with it and stay safe.

[spudboy]

Congrats from me too,,

Did you go straight from car to HR, is that why you have "L" plates on?

When I got my MR, (next up from car) in NSW, I didn't need L plates. Humm,, maybe I did :angel:

Yeah - went from Car to HR in one go. L plates were there when I turned up so I assumed I had to have them. It's pretty quick - all over and done in one day's training.

[spudboy]

Congrats on the license. Doing it in a syncro box is pretty straightforward, if you are getting the license for employment purposes, go to an unrestricted one as soon as you can as it will increase your employability greatly.

I spent a few years driving rigids and semis, including oversize work, and it certainly teaches you a great deal about the road, driving and others on the road. All the best with it and stay safe.

Well, for someone who has never driven a split gear box ever before, it was quite stressful trying to work out the gears to begin with. Flipping between high and low ratios on the 4-5 and 5-4 changes.

Also, I did a lot of stopping in high range, and forgetting to flick back to low range to take off. Took me a while to get the hang of that.

[bussy1963]

Did my test at 4:00PM and passed even though I did the whole reversing bit in high range slipping the clutch 'cause I didn't remember to put it back to low range first

I couldn't see the "driver under instruction GEARBOX under destruction sign on the front"

[goingbush]

Good Job, Why did you go & get your truck license then ??

Do you want a job driving trucks ??

When I bought my old Ex Army Inter Mk3 I had to go get my Truck Licence but the Learner Driver place only had one HR truck and it was broken and he didnt think the RTA tester would be to impressed with my old Acco, so the instructor said how about getting your Heavy Combo license (same price), No worries mate , and that has been very useful to me over the years too.

If only everybody was made to get one - especially idiot caravan towing grey nomads they would have a bit more respect for Truck Drivers.

[Ausfree]

Congratulations Spudboy on getting your HR class licence.:D:D I got my HC (Heavy Combination) licence 30 years ago and now I spend my days swanning around in one of these, with an auto tranny, just like driving an oversize car, mate!!:p You really only need an MR class licence to drive it!!:)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/06/742.jpg

You really don't know where having a heavy vehicle licence might take you!!

[slug_burner]

Congratulations spudboy,

The 130 not big enough?

[V8Ian]

Onya Spud, we'll have you swinging three in no time. ;)

[Mick_Marsh]

Had an excellent day yesterday, driving a big old Hino dump truck.

Never been so terrified doing 50Km/h!! It is unbelieveable how different it feels when you have to manouver 20 tonnes of steel and dirt compared to a car. MUCH respect to people who do this for a living! Especially the big semi drivers.
Well done.
I got mine a few months ago in a Freightliner. Your sentiments match mine.
I have a new found respect for heavy vehicle drivers (except Ian).

[Blknight.aus]

That reminds me... I should regale the story of how I got my HC....

after I got it I must have been the only HC driver in sydney who was required to drive on P plates.


took em 3 instructors before they got one that could assess me.

[spudboy]

Good Job, Why did you go & get your truck license then ??

Do you want a job driving trucks ??


Hmmm - I am thinking of upsizing my 130 to something with a little more interior space. Something to "live in" rather than "live beside".

Don't want to go stupidly big, but something with a "box" on the back of maybe 4.5m x 2.3m that I can stand up in, with a permanently made up bed and a shower and a toilet. Must be getting soft in my old age.

Something along these lines:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/963.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/964.jpg

I am thinking of a MAN in the smallest TGM series (13 Tonner). Seems a pretty common choice for German overland vehicle builders (like UniCat and ActionMobil). There's a few 2nd hand ones around in 4x4. Maybe a UniMog, but they only seem to be able to cruise at 80KM/h and not have airconditioning, which sounds grim when you live in Australia.

Not sure that you need the ultimate offroad performance for a touring rig so a balance of good road speed + comfort + adequate offroad performance are what I'm looking for. The litttle MANs have air springs on the rear which should be a lot more comfortable than a stack of heavy duty leaf springs. Fronts are parabolics.

[LandyAndy]

Well done.
I bet you are now a whole heap more cleverer,there aint nothing good gear crunchers know;);););););)
ENJOY
Andrew

[51jay]

Both Mary and I got our HC licences when we moved from SA to Darwin in 1978 we didn't actually do a test drive just the written test. The vehicle in question was a 2.5L Dihatsu diesel truck with a home built removable campervan on the back :D

[superquag]

Hmmm - I am thinking of upsizing my 130 to something with a little more interior space. Something to "live in" rather than "live beside".

Don't want to go stupidly big, but something with a "box" on the back of maybe 4.5m x 2.3m that I can stand up in, with a permanently made up bed and a shower and a toilet. Must be getting soft in my old age.

Something along these lines:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/963.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/964.jpg

.

Wuss-Wagons.... THIS is what you need !

Well done for getting your HR licence. - Great view from up there...

KAMAZ/KAMA3 at rally paris dakar - YouTube

a.k.a. ANY 4wd Recovery Vehicle...:p

[hodgo]

Well done on obtaining you truck license.You now have a skill that you can fall back on for the rest of your life The first truck I ever drove was a 1948 dodge I think I was about 12 or 13 yrs old, that my uncle owned he use to sell sand around the building sites in Hobart, No ready mix in those day He was mad keen shooter and he taught me to drive it so he could shoot rabbits or roos between the main road and the sand pits he would stand in the tray and shoot over the top of the cab As a teenager I was lucky in lots of way I was trusted to do a lot of things with his trucks which set me up for the Army as a driver at the age of 17 in the army the 6x6 Studebaker's and GMC were not a problem but the few Blitz that I got my bum into took a little sorting. The only other vehicle that ever beat me the first time round was a 12E Cat Grader.
If you like driving and machinary never be afraid to bigger.

Hodgo

[LandyAndy]

Well done on obtaining you truck license.You now have a skill that you can fall back on for the rest of your life The first truck I ever drove was a 1948 dodge I think I was about 12 or 13 yrs old, that my uncle owned he use to sell sand around the building sites in Hobart, No ready mix in those day He was mad keen shooter and he taught me to drive it so he could shoot rabbits or roos between the main road and the sand pits he would stand in the tray and shoot over the top of the cab As a teenager I was lucky in lots of way I was trusted to do a lot of things with his trucks which set me up for the Army as a driver at the age of 17 in the army the 6x6 Studebaker's and GMC were not a problem but the few Blitz that I got my bum into took a little sorting. The only other vehicle that ever beat me the first time round was a 12E Cat Grader.
If you like driving and machinary never be afraid to bigger.

Hodgo

Hey Hodgo.
If you are ever in downtown Williams WA I bet my 12M Cat grader will beat you first time around.No steering wheel or levers,just 2 joysticks:cool::cool::cool::cool::cool:
Andrew

[superquag]

... like comparing an old crash-box Greyhound coach...with a new Volvo automatic bus.
Reckon the joysticks would be cool... should'nt take too many road-signs and guide posts to master.

I'd take you on.... IF I could ever trust my Classic (to be reliable) outside RAC range... :o

Signs & Farmer's fences in Williams are safe.....:p

[V8Ian]

... like comparing an old crash-box Greyhound coach...with a new Volvo automatic bus.
Reckon the joysticks would be cool... should'nt take too many road-signs and guide posts to master.

I'd take you on.... IF I could ever trust my Classic (to be reliable) outside RAC range... :o

Signs & Farmer's fences in Williams are safe.....:p
Spicer seven speed?

[460cixy]

I kicked off in a kenworth k123 15 speed road ranger over drive Detroit two stroke diesel then later moved on to a f series Volvo again 15 speed rr but much nicer to drive

[42rangie]

Growing up on the farm, I was put into a lot of different equipment. Tractors, combine harvesters, trucks. when I was old enough, I drove firetrucks, ambos, and would help out with the road department plowing snow. One of the baddest rigs was a 60's FWD 6x6. Big International 6-cyl., 10 spd Fuller, 3 spd aux tranny, 2 spd hi/lo transfer box. Had a set of tire chains. That beast could crawl.

Think maybe kids these days have missed out on somethings?

Les

[stallie]

Good work. The non-syncro gearbox takes a while to get used to that's for sure.

It's a quick way to realise how many f#ckwits there are on the road. Despite the driver under instruction signs all over the truck, and accelerating away at a perfectly acceptable speed, occasionally there'd be a car beeping, or pulling in front of you, giving you the finger. Love to see them have a go - and watch them fail.

[superquag]

Growing up on the farm,......

Think maybe kids these days have missed out on somethings?

Les


YES

[UncleHo]

Yes, nothing like the feeling of driving a Commer CBEW coach with rear mounted Perkins 6-354 Vacc over Hydraulic with tare of 8.5 Ton & gross of 12.2T, 5 sp Clark crash, No4 Eaton,on the daily school bus run,or on charter with 90 noisy primary schoolers, and to think I did it for 16 years and the Dr reckons I am still sane :eek:


cheers

[Ausfree]

Yes, nothing like the feeling of driving a Commer CBEW coach with rear mounted Perkins 6-354 Vacc over Hydraulic with tare of 8.5 Ton & gross of 12.2T, 5 sp Clark crash, No4 Eaton,on the daily school bus run,or on charter with 90 noisy primary schoolers, and to think I did it for 16 years and the Dr reckons I am still sane :eek:


cheers I think you deserve a medal, I do service work and occasionally when they are short of school run drivers they have asked me to do it, the noise from the "mothers little darlings" is unbearable. I wouldn't do school runs on a daily basis that's for sure!!;)

[V8Ian]

Let the fun begin Spud. ;)

Some near misses - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=ZZ3gmj9bIqk)

[UncleHo]

G'day Ausfree.

Aah! it is easier with Primaries than H/schoolers, teenage boys can be a little hard to control,only had one try it on for a blue,told him outside, I didn't want blood on the floor as it is hard to cleanup,out he went bag and all, I shut the door and drove off,if he was big enough to challenge the driver, he was big enough to walk home :D dropped in after work and had a quiet word with dad,the son was made to appolgise!


But it makes me feel old when I see some of my bus kids with their high school aged children and they still me "Mr" :(


cheers

[Ausfree]

G'day Ausfree.

Aah! it is easier with Primaries than H/schoolers, teenage boys can be a little hard to control,only had one try it on for a blue,told him outside, I didn't want blood on the floor as it is hard to cleanup,out he went bag and all, I shut the door and drove off,if he was big enough to challenge the driver, he was big enough to walk home :D dropped in after work and had a quiet word with dad,the son was made to appolgise!


But it makes me feel old when I see some of my bus kids with their high school aged children and they still me "Mr" :(


cheers
Must have been a while ago, try doing that now and you would lose your job, you can't even raise your voice to the little bar stewards.... sorry ..err little darlings. Nowadays the father of a miscreant child would believe the child's convoluted version of events and be down at the bus depot yelling merry hell!!:( We are constantly told "No child is to be left behind". I guess the bus company is worried about being sued...........isn't it sad.....no discipline at all, nowadays!!:( Sorry for highjacking your Thread Spudsy.

[hodgo]

Hey Hodgo.
If you are ever in downtown Williams WA I bet my 12M Cat grader will beat you first time around.No steering wheel or levers,just 2 joysticks:cool::cool::cool::cool::cool:
Andrew


Hi Andrew I would love to take you up on your offer if I am down your way.

I laugh about this these days but just after the 1974 floods in Brisbane I was posted to Canungra , We had several pieces of enginers plant TD15 dozer, P& H crane, 966C Cat, Chamberlain Front end loader/ backhoe an Westinghouse scraper and a D4, strait after the floods a section of planties from the school of many errors came up to assist in the rapid rebuild of the training area but time was against them and as we only had one plant operator on strength it was left up to him and a couple of senior drivers to finish of the work I manily operated the dozers and the 966 and the Chamberlain One day I was asked to go and get the 12E from the other side of the camp and on the way back I tried to grade the road I was only making about a one inch cut on the crown of the track when next thing the grader went left and I went right, right out on to the ground, after recovering my scenes I had to chase it then get back up in the cab. A few days later I tried to take a right hand corner too fast with out laying the wheel and ended up going scrub. The most boring job was pushing the scraper with the TD15

[hodgo]

Spicer seven speed?\

If you want to drive a challenging gearbox try a spicer 4 speed as was fitted to the PD4 106 coaches back in the early 1950's these old buses were fitted with an 8v71 GM mounted east west in the left hand rear corner of the veh. The gearbox was mounted in the right hand rear corner on a very obscure angle, the tail shaft also was mounted on an obscure angle to the diff with a junction box in front of the diff. What with the linkage system and the Spicer box it was very unforgiving .
Another interesting feather of this box was unless you were told or shown how to engage reverse you would never get it.
You would engage second gear, press and hold a button on the dash board then when/ if the red light came on you engaged 1st gear.
I had the pleasure of driving two of these vehicles in my working years.
Another feather was they had the ability to be able to disconnect the Hyd's to the front wheels for driving in snow again by the use of a switch on the dash

[V8Ian]

\

If you want to drive a challenging gearbox try a spicer 4 speed as was fitted to the PD4 106 coaches back in the early 1950's these old buses were fitted with an 8v71 GM mounted east west in the left hand rear corner of the veh. The gearbox was mounted in the right hand rear corner on a very obscure angle, the tail shaft also was mounted on an obscure angle to the diff with a junction box in front of the diff. What with the linkage system and the Spicer box it was very unforgiving .
Another interesting feather of this box was unless you were told or shown how to engage reverse you would never get it.
You would engage second gear, press and hold a button on the dash board then when/ if the red light came on you engaged 1st gear.
I had the pleasure of driving two of these vehicles in my working years.
Another feather was they had the ability to be able to disconnect the Hyd's to the front wheels for driving in snow again by the use of a switch on the dash
I had to google PD4 106 coaches, it was before my time; before Google's time too, it offered no enlightment. ;) Are you sure about it being a '71? That was a big engine in that era, particularly for a bus, could it have been a '53? I've experienced some 'interesting' 'boxes in my time too; a rear engined Bedford (ex Kirklands) that had 1st in the centre of the gate, 2nd and 3rd toward the driver with 4th and 5th back past 1st on the left. :confused: Also a 5x2 Scammel that had the electric splitter wired A about F, up for low, down for high. :eek:
A lot of Yank trucks had a switch to isolate the air to the front brakes in slippery conditions.

[hodgo]

I had to google PD4 106 coaches, it was before my time; before Google's time too, it offered no enlightment. ;) Are you sure about it being a '71? That was a big engine in that era, particularly for a bus, could it have been a '53? I've experienced some 'interesting' 'boxes in my time too; a rear engined Bedford (ex Kirklands) that had 1st in the centre of the gate, 2nd and 3rd toward the driver with 4th and 5th back past 1st on the left. :confused: Also a 5x2 Scammel that had the electric splitter wired A about F, up for low, down for high. :eek:
A lot of Yank trucks had a switch to isolate the air to the front brakes in slippery conditions.



It was myfault, the old memory bank is getting a little slack on the finer details this link will take you to the PD4106 site
Australian Transport Discussion Board • View topic - The Pioneer PD4106 (http://www.busaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=55180&hilit=pd4106)

The PD4107 wa the same vehicle with a raised roof line a bus company in Canberra had several 107 years ago

[spudboy]

Was impressed to see Tony Abbott drive off in a big truck, on the news last night.

I thought it was some sort of stunt for the cameras, but apparently he has a heavy vehicle license from working with his local CFS brigade, so he really can drive one!

[UncleHo]

G'day Ausfree :)

Yup! would have been either late 80's or early 90's and with a dedicated school bus operator,kilometer per child type run,and the driver did have a certain amount of respect and obedience from the kids


cheers

[V8Ian]

Was impressed to see Tony Abbott drive off in a big truck, on the news last night.

I thought it was some sort of stunt for the cameras, but apparently he has a heavy vehicle license from working with his local CFS brigade, so he really can drive one!
Odds on it's an auto, aim and go.

[Chops]

G'day Ausfree.

Aah! it is easier with Primaries than H/schoolers, teenage boys can be a little hard to control,only had one try it on for a blue,told him outside, I didn't want blood on the floor as it is hard to cleanup,out he went bag and all, I shut the door and drove off,if he was big enough to challenge the driver, he was big enough to walk home :D dropped in after work and had a quiet word with dad,the son was made to appolgise!


But it makes me feel old when I see some of my bus kids with their high school aged children and they still me "Mr" :(


cheers


It's all about respect. Too bad the young ones of today don't know what it is.

[Disco44]

Just a piece of advice from an old codger.When Qld Fire & Rescue went from the antiquated board system in 1989 to a state department all drivers were ordered to attend a course at the Mt Cotton Driving Centre.My platoon whinged like hell about it, why should they go as they had been driving for years, some had semi and B Double licenses etc etc .I just said "orders is orders Bud" so we are going.Everyone of us thought we could drive but the things the instructors taught us proved we mostly "steering wheel attendants" and after 8 eight hours we learnt so much and had a lot of serious fun doing it. The moral, is go on a driving course like these and really learn how to drive a heavy vehicle.

[Mick_Marsh]

Got to say, I had a ball getting mine.
At the beginning I told the instructor I didn't have to pass, I just wanted to do the course.
We had a ball of a time. The small roundabouts in suburban streets were particularly challenging. The instructor thought I hated cyclists but I was just trying to avoid hitting on coming traffic. It's amazing how narrow wide roads become.
Towards the end of the course, the instructor was whacking me with an umbrella every time I did something wrong. I had developed the habit of my left foot hovering over the clutch. A very bad habit in the truck drivers almanac apparently. I don't have that habit anymore. It's been replaced with a fear of umbrellas.
I found it a fun and challenging experience, especially with the non-synchro box (I now know what the term "missed a gear" really means). I highly recommend other people to add it to their bucket list.

[460cixy]

I found it a fun and challenging experience, especially with the non-synchro box (I now know what the term "missed a gear" really means). I highly recommend other people to add it to their bucket list.


Yup you miss a gear on a steep climb with a road ranger and you could find your self in some real bother as it will easily select the next highest gear to the one you missed but not the one you need and can find your self stopped and starting over again and of course if its serious steep your kicking off in deep reduction if your lucky enough to have it

[Davo]

Congratulations, Spuds. I got my C class in 1989, which allowed me to drive anything at all. I learned in a Ford F-Series with a fifth wheel on the back and a little 40-foot trailer. We didn't cover air systems, changing a wheel, double wheels, or in fact anything except driving and reversing.

Luckily, nobody would hire me, so I didn't get the chance to kill myself learning on my own in an actual semi. This is why I'm a big fan of the licensing system now. Then I had to go back to just a plain car licence while moving overseas and back here again, and got my MR a few years ago.

I've been trying to get a full crashbox HR but I can't get my hands on a truck up here so maybe I'll do a proper course and learn what I should have in '89.

[Davehoos]

I should have got my lience in the 80's.but couldnt find a registered truck to take to the police station.around the farm an ex council austin with a long throw crash 4 speed.

then I sould have got it at landrover in a 6X6--but the rta didnt like me.

each time i go through the motions the rta move the goal post.boral sold of its coal transport along with my mates so no free HC [class 5] or B double ticket to drive.

after all you dont need a lience in those days if you are with a liecenced driver or operating a fire truck----then the RFS registered their fleet and you needed a lience and an RFS off road qualification.and work cover.

gone are the easy to drive C1300 and bedfords.
I finally organised to get a HR and they scrap our 6x6.

RFS paper work in hand mum pays for driving school as a 40th.
I book the course through the neighbours and the sub contract it to a mate up the valley--Volvo N of some type,HR crash box-15 speed road ranger.

8 hours of drving as I know how to drive--only three laps around the block to learn how to swap cogs before heading in to newcastle peak hour...roll up the next day for the 45 min test-with an arm sore from using muscles that have never had to work.

RFS course was a bit of a waist of time-instructors spent all the time on the once a year drivers.only thing that RFS needs is how to drve in convoy and a not get lost course.

I drive a hino FD at work,6 speed drives like a car.13.5 ton.40000Km in 2yrs.
we have a range of japanese trucks.
new hino FG single axle are 9 speed eaton split shift.these drive like they are fully loaded and you constanly swap cogs to keep it on the speed limiter.

Hino FM water carts are auto and these are not as easy to drive as you would think.lifting off the throttle often they feel that they get faster and then the water moves around in the tank and she gets Fluid..In new south wales we cant use the 26 ton as its a 22.5 ton maximum here.

new road patrols are isuzu bogey and auto--as they are expecting it to hard to get drivers.the reason for the bogey is the current single axle eaton 9 speed UD are over wieght on the job.

[Bigbjorn]

\

.
Another interesting feather of this box was unless you were told or shown how to engage reverse you would never get it.
You would engage second gear, press and hold a button on the dash board then when/ if the red light came on you engaged 1st gear.


About 1964 I used to drink at the Queen's Arms in the Valley. A real blue singlet pub then. Transport companies all around before the exodus from the inner suburbs to Rocklea. Enright, Ryan's, Flynn's, Russell, North Coast, Lind and Sons, Nobles, R. Jackson, Aitken, Seymour, P.B. Thompson and no doubt a few others I have forgotten. A local bloke, Roy Spring, an interstater since the early 50's cracked a job driving a new Peterbilt cab over. Laurie O'Neil had not long been importing these. Springie showed it off at the pub and invited anyone to try to put it in reverse. Transmission was a 4 x 3 Spicer twin stick. Reverse was found as Hodgo described. Engine running, air up, clutch in, into neutral and flip an air valve on the dash, then up into first. We thought these Peterbilts were the duck's nuts compared to the old crap on the road then.

Those seven speed Spicer 1107 mentioned by V8Ian were a great box. Meant for buses but real slick shifters when run in and good on high torque low rpm engines like Formula Cummins and TT Detroits. One Darwin runner had one hooked to a Spicer 1241 aux. box with air shift, a great combination.

By the way, folks, Road Rangers are not a crash box. They are a constant mesh box with gear changes effected by sliding dogs. A crash box has gear changes effected by sliding gears and do need a degree of skill to operate. Road Rangers are dead easy to drive and can be used double or single clutch or clutchless, but the bosses generally don't approve the latter.

[tonic]

Well done Spudboy you will have a lot of fun and like the others I say go for the open license and learn how to crunch a bit. I was driving a low loader once and the clutch cable broke just after Dalby, had to keep going to Roma none stop which you can do in a crash box because once your going you dont generaly need to touch that pedal again.

I like the look of your camper truck, just remember that other truck drivers will always ask you if you like getting in and out of Man:o:wasntme:

[460cixy]

About 1964 I used to drink at the Queen's Arms in the Valley. A real blue singlet pub then. Transport companies all around before the exodus from the inner suburbs to Rocklea. Enright, Ryan's, Flynn's, Russell, North Coast, Lind and Sons, Nobles, R. Jackson, Aitken, Seymour, P.B. Thompson and no doubt a few others I have forgotten. A local bloke, Roy Spring, an interstater since the early 50's cracked a job driving a new Peterbilt cab over. Laurie O'Neil had not long been importing these. Springie showed it off at the pub and invited anyone to try to put it in reverse. Transmission was a 4 x 3 Spicer twin stick. Reverse was found as Hodgo described. Engine running, air up, clutch in, into neutral and flip an air valve on the dash, then up into first. We thought these Peterbilts were the duck's nuts compared to the old crap on the road then.

Those seven speed Spicer 1107 mentioned by V8Ian were a great box. Meant for buses but real slick shifters when run in and good on high torque low rpm engines like Formula Cummins and TT Detroits. One Darwin runner had one hooked to a Spicer 1241 aux. box with air shift, a great combination.

By the way, folks, Road Rangers are not a crash box. They are a constant mesh box with gear changes effected by sliding dogs. A crash box has gear changes effected by sliding gears and do need a degree of skill to operate. Road Rangers are dead easy to drive and can be used double or single clutch or clutchless, but the bosses generally don't approve the latter.


As I'm sure your aware using a rr clutch less can be as smooth as glass when it's done right