Posted 8/6/2010 22:07 (#1304071) Subject: Old D model Mack's why the off set cab?
Goshen, Indiana
I was just watching an old bananarama music video and it had a d model mack in it. Made think back to my early truckin days where I worked at a gravel pit and they had a ex county plow truck that was a d model. So my question is was there a special application or request for the off set cab? It never made sense to me. The extra long bracing for the passenger side mirror, or the special steps to get into the passenger side. Thinking back does remind me of my worst stuck ever. Backing that mack up following the contractors directions straight into a 6 foot trench that was just filled up with MUD. Needless to say the fuel tanks were on the ground and it took a excavator lifting and a big CAT to get me out! I was very green and thought I was going to get in to trouble. But the boss showed up he fell out the truck he was in because he was laughing so hard. He called the office to get a camera to take pictures which were put up in the office to show Rob's first day in the mack!!! So enlighten me oh wise ones.
Rob
Posted 8/6/2010 22:53 (#1304190 - in reply to #1304071) Subject: RE: Old D model Mack's why the off set cab?
according to Mack "The first thing you’ll notice about the Mack DM is that the cab is offset to the left. This helps give drivers better visibility in tight spots."
Posted 8/7/2010 00:14 (#1304340 - in reply to #1304190) Subject: Mad Max movie
Remember "Mad Max: The Road Warrior"? The semi truck driven by Mel Gibson was a Mack with the cab offset to the left... however it was made for the Australian market with the steering wheel on the right.... making visibility quite poor in this case. Especially when one is being chased by a band of crazed bikers and the driver's door (and mirror) got ripped off.
Posted 8/6/2010 22:57 (#1304201 - in reply to #1304071) Subject: I like to know also
I remember a kid seeing those Mack trucks with those offset cabs. I remember seeing them a road tractors and dump trucks, concrete mixers trucks, trucks hauling concrete blocks.
Posted 8/7/2010 02:42 (#1304447 - in reply to #1304429) Subject: Re: Old D model Mack's why the off set cab?
Va
ive got a off set L model mack i once did a research paper on Mack and they said the reason for the offset was in quarries the drives have tight condtions and this allowed them to be as close as possible to other truck when passing on narrow roads in the quarries
Posted 8/7/2010 06:58 (#1304478 - in reply to #1304415) Subject: RE: Along the same lines, PB....
NW Tennessee
I was wondering why anyone would want to go where they HAD to watch a Bananarama video! Lol!
By the way, my mind has gone blank, I guess, but what song is that line in your signature from? It's playing over and over in my head but I can't get the title or even the artist. I know it and it's driving me nuts.
Posted 8/7/2010 07:43 (#1304500 - in reply to #1304455) Subject: Re: Old D model Mack's why the off set cab?
Northern Illinois
Mack made a U model for tractor applications. The DM for straight truck, you saw a lot of these chassis used a garbage packers and roll offs, heavy frame and front axles and a DMM was used in redi mix as as a 6x6. Also made a DMM with 2 front axles I saw in Canada. Another reason for this design they had very short hoods and half of the engine sat back in the cab. The idea was longer platform and able to get more wieght on the steer axle. They also made a steel hood but they offered a R model, RM with a steel hood and a RMM steel hood with 6x6. The DMM looked silly as a 6x6 on a redi mix truck with a boost a load with the cab sitting all the way forward a long gap then the drum. I have no idea how mack comes up with their id system. We have some CXU Pinniciles mp7 395 hp. with Allison auto. Quite a different truck that our first 76 R model.
Posted 8/7/2010 08:14 (#1304536 - in reply to #1304500) Subject: Re: Old D model Mack's why the off set cab?
Central / West Texas
Steel company out of San Antonio has several of those or similar type design with a flatbed on it. The use it to carry steel that is longer than the bed. It protudes towards the front of the tuck alongside the door.
Posted 8/7/2010 10:04 (#1304687 - in reply to #1304071) Subject: Re: Old D model Mack's why the off set cab?
Goshen, Indiana
To EricCKS, I'm 40 so yes I am a child of the 80's. Plowboy, I watch a lot of music and other videos on you tube. Cotman, if your referring to my sig, it's not a song that I know of it's just a line a read somewhere. Thanks for all the replies.
Rob
Old D model Mack's why the off set cab?
