hiya,
Dave really heavy when shunting about in a tight spot you’d literally to stand up
to pull the steering wheel round, but I liked firm steering when running on the
road, I don’t ever remember breaking down “apart from punctures” and those
old motors would always get you there at about 32 MPH which was speeding in
my early days.
thanks harry, long retired.
I remember when I was a kid travelling with my Dad in the lorry Harry,the legal speed for lorries was 30mph.He used to say to me " keep your eyes open for the police " especially through villages and small towns.
The normal control lorries like the Bedford J type that S W Brisbane had on hire to Radnorshire County Council were heavy on the steering,especially in the winter when they had the snowplough attachment on the front. It certainly helped to keep your arm and chest muscles exercised.
Cheers Dave.
Dave the Renegade:
I remember when I was a kid travelling with my Dad in the lorry Harry,the legal speed for lorries was 30mph.He used to say to me " keep your eyes open for the police " especially through villages and small towns.
The normal control lorries like the Bedford J type that S W Brisbane had on hire to Radnorshire County Council were heavy on the steering,especially in the winter when they had the snowplough attachment on the front. It certainly helped to keep your arm and chest muscles exercised.
Cheers Dave.
hiya,
I bet I’ve been cursed many times when tramping about on the old A and B
roads, it must have been murder for the guys in the faster motors getting
stuck behind my wag and drag, there was very little chance of getting past
but being a knight of the road I did lay the old girl by to let “my convoy” on
their way sometimes getting the V sign for my trouble or the odd bod who
would wave a box of matches in my direction on his way past, indicating I
put a light to the “old girl” nice people Eh’ but all good fun and in those days
I was bullet proof just out of the army and as fit as a buck rabbit.
thanks harry, long retired.
I remember some of the old eight wheelers trundling along in the 50’s and 60’s Harry.Then along came the artics and they gradually disappeared as you well know. Its a different world again now.
Cheers Dave.
Dave the Renegade:
I remember some of the old eight wheelers trundling along in the 50’s and 60’s Harry.Then along came the artics and they gradually disappeared as you well know. Its a different world again now.
Cheers Dave.
hiya,
Dave I worked for quite a few firms when I first kicked off in the driving game
and how different firms seemed to have different ideas as to what you could
put on an eight wheeler and trailer the BRS would have been legal I guess putting
14 tons on the “legger” and 6 tons on the “drag” other outfits said 16 tons on the
motor and 6 tons on the trailer I never did find out what the real weight’s should
be, I also drove artics in my early days (self taught) and I think 16 tons was the
load for a 4 axle artic when I first started but it might have been 15 tons, tell you
what my memory is rubbish.
thanks harry, long retired.
I remember that the 32 ton gross artics carried anything up to 23 ton payload depending on the weight of the unit and trailer.The artics weights only went up to 32 ton gross when the plating and HGV bill came in,as far as I know.You would know more than I do about that.
The best thing about the HGV licences coming in was the wages going up which pleased me.
Cheers Dave.
One thing I will say on the old lorries, 
you would never get crossed hands driving on those, you needed push & pull motion to turn the wheels, and muscles. 
The best 8 wheeler I drove was an AEC With geared steering, you just had to be very careful on a full turn, Just leave loose of the steering wheel & it flew back itself, mind you if you didnt get your hands out of the way quickley you ended up with black finger nails Eh, Regards Larry
Lawrence Dunbar:
The best 8 wheeler I drove was an AEC With geared steering, you just had to be very careful on a full turn, Just leave loose of the steering wheel & it flew back itself, mind you if you didnt get your hands out of the way quickley you ended up with black finger nails Eh, Regards Larry
Your dead right there Larry,that AEC steering was nearly as good as PAS eh! Cheers Dennis.
Norman Ingram:
One thing I will say on the old lorries,
hiya,
And a bit of hand from the trailer boy if he was awake, I was too soft with
the little fellah’s should have used the knotted rope more, bone idle little
sods they should really have given me their pay packets and let me pay them
what I thought they was worth some of them would have gone home owing
me money.I know I had a problem, I was all heart.
thanks harry, long retired.
Bewick:
Lawrence Dunbar:
The best 8 wheeler I drove was an AEC With geared steering, you just had to be very careful on a full turn, Just leave loose of the steering wheel & it flew back itself, mind you if you didnt get your hands out of the way quickley you ended up with black finger nails Eh, Regards LarryYour dead right there Larry,that AEC steering was nearly as good as PAS eh! Cheers Dennis.
The worst one I ever drove was an 8 Wheeler Thorneycroft Ex BRS Peterbrough BEG 506 What a beast to steer the bloody steering wheel was out of shape, & I had to standup to get it into tight get ins, I recall a drop in Manchester which was really awkward & the old boy there used to come out with a hose pipe & wet the road surface t make it a bit easier, It worked but only just, Happy days Eh, Regards Larry.
harry_gill:
Norman Ingram:
One thing I will say on the old lorries,hiya,
And a bit of hand from the trailer boy if he was awake, I was too soft with
the little fellah’s should have used the knotted rope more, bone idle little
sods they should really have given me their pay packets and let me pay them
what I thought they was worth some of them would have gone home owing
me money.I know I had a problem, I was all heart.
thanks harry, long retired.
Couldn’t find you a eight wheeler chaps,but here’s a six wheeler AEC to use until I find an eight.
Then along came an eight legger,right colour as well.
Cracking photo earley 50s model I would say Registered London, Regards Larry.
Lawrence Dunbar:
Cracking photo earley 50s model I would say Registered London, Regards Larry.
hiya,
Get a pup on that Larry and a decent bottle of single malt in the cab
and I reckon you and me could still make a few bob with this old girl.
thanks harry, long retired.
Harry Im sure you meant a selection of malts, I mean one bottle Oh dear Ive just supped it thinking about it Eh, Ha Ha, Mind you ive been on the Singleton Malt this evening a smokey taste but very very nice to say the least, I have some more that I got for Xmas but I shall keep them for later, Regards Larry.
Lawrence Dunbar:
Harry Im sure you meant a selection of malts, I mean one bottle Oh dear Ive just supped it thinking about it Eh, Ha Ha, Mind you ive been on the Singleton Malt this evening a smokey taste but very very nice to say the least, I have some more that I got for Xmas but I shall keep them for later, Regards Larry.
hiya,
Larry we could always use a tank trailer for our own drink that should
get us to the “smoke” and back, can you buy single malt in bulk 
only
a quality one mind I’m not drinking rubbish.
thanks harry, long retired.
VERY heavy, As said, they were a proper mans lorry. The ratchet handbrake took some handling, sturdy bit of kit that was. 
grumpy old man:
VERY heavy, As said, they were a proper mans lorry. The ratchet handbrake took some handling, sturdy bit of kit that was.
Compared to the multi-pull ratchet handbrake on the MK3 the MK5 handbrake was a doddle.The MK3 used to make a rayt “clunk” when it was knocked off,I can hear it now.
Chris, are you sure it was not your wallet falling to the cab floor.