David Miller:
I think you are right, Robert. Also there was a difference in Saudi between fuel price near Dammam and the filling stations further up the tapline which, I think, was basically distribution cost. In the early days each filling station seemed to own their own tanker, always a rigid Merc with a kid driving it, sometimes on the right side of the road, who could barely see out of the windscreen. The price difference was small but you would have noticed it with a tank that size.
The Turks certainly went in for prize-winning fuel tanks. I remember seeing a Ford D1000 Tonka in Syria that was all fuel tank down either side of the chassis - the boy must have been good for 2000 ltrs at least.
I also see that they have moved away from the Merc normal control that they loved so much - and which, if I’m right, were being assembled by Mercedes in Dammam. They used to say that the cabovers were too hot and certainly the ‘yawning hippo’ type provided better protection in the event of the typical badge to badge collisions that were such a feature of the tapline. I used to love the Arab modification that had a coke can and a bit of string holding the bonnet open for better cooling but now it looks like they can afford A/C now.
Great photos - keep 'em coming!
David
They still love their bull-nose Mercs! I took these pics about 7 years ago but not much has changed apart from the fact there are no Syrians any more. Robert:)
Big running tanks were always important !
On my 141, I had 750 Ltrs on the left which could be sealed and deisel could be blown across and 400 Ltrs standard Scania tank on the right. And of course a 2000Ltr round Belly tank.
And on my 112 I had 750Ltrs on the right which could be sealed and 350Ltrs on the left to run off of. You can see it in the photo but its not very clear.
All my tanks were fabricated at the Tank Farm which was just South of Aksaray at a village called Taspinar.
They built the best tanks.
THEN…
The Turks had stuff like this…!!
GS OVERLAND:
Big running tanks were always important !
On my 141, I had 750 Ltrs on the left which could be sealed and deisel could be blown across and 400 Ltrs standard Scania tank on the right. And of course a 2000Ltr round Belly tank.
And on my 112 I had 750Ltrs on the right which could be sealed and 350Ltrs on the left to run off of. You can see it in the photo but its not very clear.
All my tanks were fabricated at the Tank Farm which was just South of Aksaray at a village called Taspinar.
They built the best tanks.
THEN…
The Turks had stuff like this…!!
Happy Days.
GS
Great pics, GS! I used to diesel up at the Aksaray tank-farm. I must say, in some ways I used to feel more secure with a full belly-tank under the trailer than I did with a Shell card. Robert
Great pictures, Robert. Two in summer mode with the extra cooling and 2 in winter rig.
I suppose that the poor old Syrians are otherwise occupied these days. That must have made a hell of a difference to the transport scene because those boys were heavy hitters especially with the fridges. There were several who were kind to me over the years - hope they are OK.
David Miller:
Great pictures, Robert. Two in summer mode with the extra cooling and 2 in winter rig.
I suppose that the poor old Syrians are otherwise occupied these days. That must have made a hell of a difference to the transport scene because those boys were heavy hitters especially with the fridges. There were several who were kind to me over the years - hope they are OK.
David
I too liked the Syrian drivers. The convoy truck-stop at Homs had a great atmosphere to it. Robert
I had a trailer with a 1400 lt head board tank, never felt safe especially if I was doing steel, but it never caused any trouble, didn’t leek, and no one ever picked it. It was a bit of a pig to fill as you had to roll the front of the tilt cover back climb up and fill it through the top.
Had a Swiss stepframe with the fuel tanks welded into the chassis. In the trailer box was a genuine diesel hose & pistol working under air pressure. You just put the nozzle into the truck tank & waited for the pistol to click ,just the same as a garage.
David Miller:
Great pictures, Robert. Two in summer mode with the extra cooling and 2 in winter rig.
I suppose that the poor old Syrians are otherwise occupied these days. That must have made a hell of a difference to the transport scene because those boys were heavy hitters especially with the fridges. There were several who were kind to me over the years - hope they are OK.
David
They had some well fettied old tackle back in the '70’s.
These old Bussings were 30 years old then,usually re engined with a Mercedes lump.
One driver told me it was quite usual to run at 60 or 70 tons gross.
This one was snapped coming through Derra.
How are the Lebanese trucks getting through?
That’s if there is as much traffic as there was when I was last down there,Ramtha was always full of them,and they did like their T cab Scania’s.
Sorry to interrupt again! Youtube has worked out that I like old lorries, so it puts them at the top of the list. This Tahir one is modern (2006) but has lots of oldies in it, plus some great footage of the road itself. youtube.com/watch?v=9UXc_sT_fCo
David Miller:
I think you are right, Robert. Also there was a difference in Saudi between fuel price near Dammam and the filling stations further up the tapline which, I think, was basically distribution cost. In the early days each filling station seemed to own their own tanker, always a rigid Merc with a kid driving it, sometimes on the right side of the road, who could barely see out of the windscreen. The price difference was small but you would have noticed it with a tank that size.
The Turks certainly went in for prize-winning fuel tanks. I remember seeing a Ford D1000 Tonka in Syria that was all fuel tank down either side of the chassis - the boy must have been good for 2000 ltrs at least.
I also see that they have moved away from the Merc normal control that they loved so much - and which, if I’m right, were being assembled by Mercedes in Dammam. They used to say that the cabovers were too hot and certainly the ‘yawning hippo’ type provided better protection in the event of the typical badge to badge collisions that were such a feature of the tapline. I used to love the Arab modification that had a coke can and a bit of string holding the bonnet open for better cooling but now it looks like they can afford A/C now.
Hiya Those are great pics of the bullnose mercs I had the only one Bowker ever bought ex;Poulter and loved it.
but that was long before I done M/E work I seem to remember the mobile garage you mentioned,the fuel pipe was dragged
towards the hard standing ready for you to fill the tanks up.We had some Belly tanks made in Preston useless they got as far
as ■■? And we had no choice but to stop over some grids and let them drain out what a waste.
GUESTY44
Great photos - keep 'em coming!
David
They still love their bull-nose Mercs! I took these pics about 7 years ago but not much has changed apart from the fact there are no Syrians any more. Robert:)
That was a problem right enough - a leaking belly tank. Mind it wasn’t any problem outside of Europe where nobody cared but once you got back to Austria the ■■■ started! I remember the Crusader sprang a leak on the road tank one trip. I got to Spielfeld and wanted one of Mammas ham and eggs so I had a can with the top cut off which I put to catch the drips. From the bar I saw an Austrian policeman giving it the once over and he seemed happy enough. However when I came to leave, with him still watching, I forgot the blithering thing was there, drove off and squashed it! Diesel everywhere, a big smart fine and escorted straight to a workshop. Whoops!
It seems to me that the only belly tanks that worked properly were those with a round section which had been made by a proper workshop and fitted with baffles. They tried fitting rectangular tanks behind the headboard on the Altrex trailers but, as I remember, not one survived a round trip without leaking. But the temptation was always there. I even tried to bring petrol home for the car in two metal jerrycans tied onto the chassis of the 89 but they rubbed through half-way across H4. Another good idea!
A bar of soap swiped over the crack would have sealed it indefinitely. Volvo mud flaps used to rub through the round tanks easily. A Frenchman told me of this trick down near Orange. I used what I had to make sure it was a good seal then headed for an Intermarche for a few more bars. Never used them. Tank stayed dry for over 3 months and had it welded before the MOT. Funny thing is…rainwater/spray does not wash it off.
gazzer:
A bar of soap swiped over the crack would have sealed it indefinitely. Volvo mud flaps used to rub through the round tanks easily. A Frenchman told me of this trick down near Orange. I used what I had to make sure it was a good seal then headed for an Intermarche for a few more bars. Never used them. Tank stayed dry for over 3 months and had it welded before the MOT. Funny thing is…rainwater/spray does not wash it off.
Hiya "gazzer"Yes it would you are right it would of worked if it was even
weld,Unless it was cheap austrian soap. you look closer you will see white
lines round it.
GUESTY44
I had a daf do the same mudflap rubbed through tank . Told the driver to buy a bar of soap and rub it in the split he thought I was joking he soon stopped laughing when the leak stop
