World's Ugliest Pilothouse

[greg g]

I saw this on another forum, and skipped over it.  I then went back and noticed the cars look like 50 something Dodges, then I noticed the grille bars.  Is this mongrel looking thing based on a Dodge???

 

[De Soto Frank]

Looks like '51 Dodges on the carrier, and some mad scientist klodged a '48-'50 Pilot-House with a Mack "cherry-picker" !

 

[GlennCraven]

Ugly? That thing's awesome! ... I want one!

 

Seriously, once I get the hang of this stuff -- which could be never -- two things I want to restore or even fabricate are a vintage cab and chassis-based horse hauler and a car hauler, like this Mercedes, or that Pilot House above, or even a D-700 like the one once owned by Cotton Owens (below).

 

 

 

 

 

[HanksB3B]

Rock On L6!  Boo Ya!

 

 

Hank 

[Young Ed]

Sure looks like 48-50 pilot house grill bars and it appears to say dodge just above that. The 2 closest to the truck are 51 plymouths and the third is a 51-52 dodge.

[JBNeal]

Look close & ya might see the COE ram hood medallion...but the D-O-D-G-E nose emblem & grill bars make me think 'Route Van'...I'm gonna guess that thar is a special order Cab & Chassis with a wicked steering, brake & throttle linkage setup 

[Frank Ollian]

Now thats a real Pilothouse.

[Scruffy49]

Glenn, make a run out to Graham WA. Just east of Meridian on 224th St is a Pilot House horse hauler. Complete. He uses it to store/feed hay, hasn't moved in years. I wanted it something fierce when we lived out there from 10/01-3/11. There is also a 4 headlight Sweptline version in Puyallup that was supposed to end up in AZ a few years ago, D400 or so sized.

[GlennCraven]

Glenn, make a run out to Graham WA. Just east of Meridian on 224th St is a Pilot House horse hauler. Complete. He uses it to store/feed hay, hasn't moved in years. I wanted it something fierce when we lived out there from 10/01-3/11. There is also a 4 headlight Sweptline version in Puyallup that was supposed to end up in AZ a few years ago, D400 or so sized.

 

Oh sweeeeeeeeeeet.

[41/53dodges]

Wasnt there a rig made from a pilothouse kinda like this awhile back? Pretty sure it had the exact same axle configuration

[NiftyFifty]

That's one awesome PH!!! I'd kill for a beauty like that!

[John-T-53]

You can even see the remnants of the front fender curves above the headlights. Not sure if this would be considered a cannibalization or what...

[rustrunner]

The back tires on the truck are interesting.  It looks like it has tandem axels, but each with only one tire, and with the front turned out, and the back turned in.

 

Or am I just seeing things.

[Young Ed]

Looks like a set of duals and then a single with the possibility of making that a set of duals too.

[41/53dodges]

Looks like a set of duals and then a single with the possibility of making that a set of duals too.

That farthest back axle looks like a regular front axle judging by the lack of a drive hub, wonder if it steers? Man, that would be complicated Edited October 15, 2013 by 41/53dodges

[Don Coatney]

 

, that would be complicated

That looks easy. This would be complicated.

 

 

 

[ggdad1951]

there are concrete pumper trucks that have wheels that articulate like that.

Edited October 15, 2013 by ggdad1951

[41/53dodges]

there are concrete pumper trucks that have wheels that articulate like that.

Indeed, but im not sure hydraulic steering was quite there yet in the 50's, was it? Most cement trucks have hydraulic lines, this would almost have to have a mechanical link of some sort to the back. Either way, interesting piece of engineering for sure! Edited October 15, 2013 by 41/53dodges

[41/53dodges]

That looks easy. This would be complicated.

You're right Don, that thing is complicated. Did anybody else notice 2 driveshafts going back? What was that masterpiece called anyway?

[Don Coatney]

Built by Eisenhauer Mfg. Located in Van Wert, Ohio. This was a prototype late WW2 military vehicle that never went into production. Note the two stovebolt tandem 6 cylinder engines. In the early 1980's I bought an old fertilizer building in Cavett, Ohio and this truck was sitting in the back of the lot so I got a hands on look at it. I bought the building at auction and this truck sold at that auction. I assume it has been sent to China, crushed, and turned into parts for those cute little umbrellas that top off your favorite summer beverage.

 

http://www.eisenhauermfg.com/history.html

[Merle Coggins]

Indeed, but im not sure hydraulic steering was quite there yet in the 50's, was it? Most cement trucks have hydraulic lines, this would almost have to have a mechanical link of some sort to the back. Either way, interesting piece of engineering for sure!

 

Actually, most of those steerable tag axles steer themselves. They merely follow along and turn as necessary when the truck turns. It's similar to towing another vehicle with a tow bar. The front wheels of the towed vehicle steer themselves as you go around a corner.

[austinsailor]

The dual front axle trucks mentioned earlier have been common in Europe since at least the 60's. It should be a simple math problem to figure the gears to get them to make the same turn.

And, strange this should come up, as I followed and later passed a big oil field truck this morning set up this way. Longer cab, dual steer axles quite similar to the pictures earlier in this thread, about a 30' flat bed with two rear drive axles. I didn't notice, but I'm guessing both front axles were also driven.

[HanksB3B]

Hey Gene,

 

I think you would do that truck justice.

 

hank 

[41/53dodges]

Actually, most of those steerable tag axles steer themselves. They merely follow along and turn as necessary when the truck turns. It's similar to towing another vehicle with a tow bar. The front wheels of the towed vehicle steer themselves as you go around a corner.

Huh , learn something new every day! Thanks for the lesson in trucks!

[austinsailor]

Hey Gene,

 

I think you would do that truck justice.

 

hank 

I could really haul rusty gold home if I had that!

My wife would have a cow.