Taking a Dump...Part I

After years of doing chores like hauling manure, firewood, gravel and brush on our 40 acre hobby farm using only an ATV and pick-up, we decided to buy an old dump truck.

For weeks I searched Craigslist, Ebay, farm newspapers and weekly shoppers looking for something suitable.

Several possible candidates appeared each day. Eliminating all that were too big or too expensive still left a nice selection of single axle dump trucks and grain trucks from the early 1960's to mid 70's. Most had small motors and shorter boxes. All needed brakes.

I’d never considered a vintage truck until I saw the Craigslist ad for a 1952 Chevrolet 1.5 ton flatbed dump truck. From what I could see from the photos the truck looked clean and straight. The steel flatbed had removable stake sides which we wanted for hauling logs and hay bales. Plus, it had a rusty patina that made it look like a real work truck.

As a long-time antiques collector (vintage baseball equipment, Zane Grey books, Red Wing crocks, hunting/fishing gear) I’ve always been partial to old stuff. This truck had the look and I wanted to see it in person.

The listing was 10 days old when I responded, so I expected it to be gone. The seller said it was still available and was I only the second person to inquire about it. Was there something wrong with it I hadn’t noticed in the description? Or did it just happen to go unnoticed?

After explaining the specs (quiet and strong 235 ci., 4+2 driveline, PTO hydraulics, all accessories and lights working and REBUILT BRAKES!) I made the 400 mile round trip to look at it. Impressed with how smoothly it started and ran, and with how solid it was for a 58 year-old northern Wisconsin truck, I decided to buy it.  The story about getting it from Shiocton, WI home to Bruce is soon to come as Taking a Dump... Part II.

Home for 48 hours and it’s already given 25 miles of rides up and down our country roads - including a trip with my boys to our local recycling center.  Our cargo in the 14-foot box was one garbage can full of empty milk jugs and tin cans!

I’ve posted several videos on YouTube showing the truck in action. I’ll post more as I get them.  ~L

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DO17nl0-QaM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaVha7w9lYQ