Transporting the
Futurliner to the Eyes On Design show revealed a special need -- a
trailer to tow it on!
The day prior to the show, GM had made
arrangements with a major antique transporter to move the Futurliner
from here (Zeeland) to Warren, Michigan about a 3-hour drive. The
tractor, with its lowboy trailer, arrived on time but when the
driver climbed out of the cab he immediately recognized that the
flat portion of the lowboy was too short to accommodate the
Futurliner. The driver spent the next hour trying to locate a
suitable lowboy, low enough and long enough (34') to move the
Futurliner. To make a long story short, we ended up hiring a tow
truck to haul the Futurliner. All went fine but the rear axles had
to be removed each time the Futurliner was towed and then
reassembled so it could be driven -- no small job -- we need a
trailer!
This trailer was spotted in the weeds at a
construction sight. We got it for free and, although refurbishing
this trailer will be a lot less than the $35,000 we were quoted, we
will still need funds to complete the Futurliner as well as purchase
items for this trailer. For the full text story, follow
this link.
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Project Director, Don Mayton (hands in pockets), looks over a lowboy
trailer that was picked up out of the weeds for free. It would have
been nice to have had a brand new (or nearly new) one donated but,
you take what you can get.
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There is major structural rust that will require steel beams to be
replaced. In addition the bed must be lengthen. A hydraulic
self-contained power pack must be purchased. The brake system must
be updated like we updated the Futurliner's brakes. Although the
axles look okay, we will have to go through them mechanically. The
trailer will have to be completely rewired. Most of the tires look
excellent, in fact some of then look new.
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This is the hitch portion of the trailer.
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Looks like it has a nice tool box built in.
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