I don't know how to post pictures, but for anybody that can (and would) there's a fantastic profile photo of a "TT" tractor/trailer with a load of lumber on the Shorpy Historic Photo Archive today. Pretty neat with pneumatic tires on the rear axle of the "TT" and solid rubber tires on the front axle.
Here it is:
Full sized at:
http://www.shorpy.com/node/13171?size=_original#caption
Thanx Jim.......harold
One of the trucks I bought last weekend has solid tires like that on the front. I would guess the reason they used pnuematics on the back is for traction. The solid tires had virtually no traction at all in mud, snow, soft ground, etc.
That's a good load for a TT.
I believe that driver is, as they used to say, of the "dusky persuasion."
The way that load is tied down, I would say the driver was a bit vulnerable! And an Armstrong start to boot!
Model T's that didn't come with starters, etc. had cowl lamps. It's interesting that this one appears to be a non-starter truck, but doesn't have cowl lamps.
Keith
And that trailer rig can carry longer boards too. Note the main frame tube extending out under the trailer bed and with a red cloth flag hanging off the end! TT was one tough hauler.
You're sure right about the ol' TT's, Dan. Certainly sliding the dolly longer or shorter on the main frame tube would allow the hauling of some very long loads. I would imagine that with proper centering of the dolly you could maintain a pretty consistent dead weight load on the TT. I would also think that there was an optimum "hitch weight" for the truck. Obviously, if you have a really long load you could slide the dolly far back and have a very heavy hitch weight, or you could probably slide it forward enough for the cantalevered rear load to lift the truck rear axle off the ground.
Neat photo - Thanks!!
I believe that is called the coupling pole between the truck and the rear dolly.
At least that is what they called it on a wagon.
Herb
Just how old are you, Herb?
Sorry, I couldn't resist.
Around here we just called them a 'pole trailer'.
The part the load sat on was a 'bunk'.
55 going on 112
I've always heard the member attaching the trailer to the vehicle called a reach. As in:
http://web.cocc.edu/logging/lrlinks/reach.htm
Jim
Herb, a "coupling pole" is what we call it around here for a wagon too. Dave