Here’s a cool old truck I bought last summer. I love old trucks! It’s a 1969 Mack R611ST with a fully rigged oil field winch bed utilizing two massive winches (one Tulsa and one Braden), rolling tail board, power assist poles, and a fifth wheel. I’d love to hear from some Mack guys on this truck, because I know very little about Mack’s. Although I haven’t done extensive research on it yet (that will come when I get the truck to my shop), I haven’t seen much in terms of history or specs on the R611ST.
This truck has been setting up for a few years and obviously needs some work to return it to roadworthy status. I’ve always wanted a winch truck for loading heavy equipment, and this one is larger than anything I imagined owning (you can see a much smaller version of winch truck that I also bought last summer here), but the price was right and the bed is in good shape for its age. Very cool old rig.
So once purchased, the first order of business was moving this monster. At first, I checked into getting it running and driving it home. However, upon close inspection I found the brakes, as well as other components, had taken a beating from the weather and it would take more time than I had to get it going. I thought about hauling it, but I didn’t have access to the type of trailer that would likely be required. The most viable solution was to have it towed. I called a local towing company and we immediately got to work. Concerned that the rear brakes may be stuck, we opted to tow it from the rear…
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Once we got it rigged up, we hit the road. Since the yard at my shop isn’t quite big enough to have much non-running equipment present, I decided to have it towed to my friend’s property until I have time to get started on it. We had to get it into some tight places to reach its final parking place.
It was a tight squeeze for the wrecker to back out of the road we dropped the Mack on, but he got it done. Once the wrecker let it down, we used a 2006 Caterpillar D3 to move the truck into place. I jumped up into the cab of the Mack to steer. Below you’ll see some pics and a video clip of the process.
There are a few projects on the list before the old Mack, but once I thin some of those out, we’ll move it to my shop and get started. Until then….
Nicholas Fluhart 
I know this is an older post but if you need help with your Mack go to bigmacktrucks.com. Its the best Mack website on the internet with many active members, many with decades of knowledge and experience. You will find all the help you need on there.
Comment by Thad — April 23, 2012 @ 3:16 pm |
Thanks for the message and the link. Looks like a great site. I’m sure I’ll be using it. I haven’t started on this truck yet; I’ve got so many projects going. LOL With work and such, I have less time for my old iron hobby than I’d like, but hopefully sometime next year I’ll be able to start on the Mack. Thanks again!
Comment by nfluhart — April 23, 2012 @ 5:27 pm |
great job on getting it.
Comment by patrick coney — September 10, 2013 @ 11:20 pm |
Thanks, I’m glad I was able to save it. Hopefully one day soon I’ll have a chance to get it up and running again.
Comment by nfluhart — September 11, 2013 @ 11:29 am |
I am a big fan of oilfield trucks, and am searching for a “special” project to recreate one of my grandfathers first haulers, which is how I found your blog.
If I can offer any advice that will help you with your restoration, I would be glad to help,
Comment by JW Morgan — April 14, 2014 @ 8:55 pm |
Thanks for the message. I haven’t started on this truck yet…I’m trying to decide if/when I’ll be able to schedule it in, or if I should sell it to someone that could get the job done sooner or better than me. Anyway, what type of rig was your grandfather’s? The oilfield around here is primarily operated by small companies and families that have been in the business since the turn of the last century, so there’s still a lot of old iron around. Maybe I could keep an eye out for a particular type of truck?
Comment by nfluhart — April 15, 2014 @ 8:36 am |
It was a 1956 Ford F-750, single axle with winch and tail roll. Pulled an old 42′ Freuhauf oilfield float. I remember watching them load and hook it up……coolest thing I ever saw as a kid. 🙂
Comment by JW Morgan — April 15, 2014 @ 10:23 am
Those are neat trucks. I know where two old F-750 single axle winch trucks are. They still run and drive and are actually in pretty good shape. They may not be quite that old though…I think they are 1960’s models. They have monster 500+ cubic inch engines. My friend owns one and a local construction company owns the other, but they were both purchased new by Hilyard Drilling Co. and still have the winch, poles, rolling tailboard, etc.
Comment by nfluhart — April 15, 2014 @ 2:04 pm
You’ve certainly got my attention. The old truck I’m talking about had some 500ci monster in it. Email me some photos and prices when you get time.
Comment by JW Morgan — April 15, 2014 @ 2:34 pm
Sure, next time I see him I’ll see if he is interested in selling it.
Comment by nfluhart — April 18, 2014 @ 1:31 pm