Trucking and Towing

2010-08-21T14:36:00.000-07:00

Nussbaum’s Sales Corp. is proud to announce a new online Parts Store department for trucks and wreckers

2010-05-05T13:27:00.000-07:00

Nussbaum’s Sales Corp. is proud to announce a new online Parts Store department for trucks and wreckers - launched at the end of 2009 and now continuously growing and expanding the assortment of products.

Our online parts store makes it easier to find the necessary truck or rollback part, get all the information about it and make a fast order. Online store is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week, therefore you can access it any time you need. We ship truck parts worldwide and deliver nationwide. The store is available at http://www.nussbaumwreckers.com/shop/index.php

The online store features a full product catalog with a huge selection of truck, wreckers and rollbacks parts.

Browse our site for heavy duty truck parts, to upgrade or repair your truck, or check our offering of the latest wreckers or tow trucks accessories. We offer you truck parts from GMC, Ford, Chevrolet, Jerr-Dan and other manufacturers. In our parts store you will find truck wheels, truck bumpers, truck transmission, ramsey winches, car dollies, light bars, slings, winch cables, tool boxes, lockout kits, ratchets & straps, chains, wheel covers, go jaks, hooks, PTO cables, gloves, simulators, truck equipment, towing equipment, to keep your wrecker, rollback or carrier operating efficiently.

Nussbaum's Sales Corp. has been serving the towing and recovery industry since 1959, offering our customers a complete line of towing equipment from JERR-DAN. We can supply your wrecker or carrier with a wide range of options on the truck chassis of your choice. We always have new Chevrolets, Fords, Internationals and Peterbilts in stock, ready to go. We offer a complete package deal at competitive pricing, with financing and lease programs tailored to your needs. Please contact us at www.nussbaumwreckers.com

Bucket truck safety: avoid falls and electrical hazards when using an aerial device

2008-05-25T13:31:00.000-07:00

THE AERIAL OPERATOR HAS THE MOST AFFECT ON THE SAFE OPERATION OF AN aerial device. He has an impact on receiving proper training, proper operation of the equipment, use of equipment as intended, and maintenance of the equipment. All are essential components for safe operation.

Safety rules have been developed as a result of repeated accidents, and these rules are written in blood. Following the safety rules every day is your only option. Let's look at just two items that can be hazards for an arborist: falls and electrical contact. Learn and follow proper work practices, because they have been developed to prevent accidents, including falls and electrical incidents.

Falls

When working from a bucket truck, taking precautions to prevent a fall is imperative. The operator is required to wear a fall protection system with the lanyard attached to the manufacturer supplied "D" ring.

Although not all from bucket trucks, four people fall every working day. Overreaching and not standing on the basket floor with both feet often results in falling out of a basket. However, being ejected from the basket is the majority of falls from buckets. There are several ways this can happen.

* The bucket truck is struck by another vehicle.

* An object, such as a tree branch, can strike the basket or boom.

* The basket or boom can snag on something and suddenly release, causing the boom to recoil.

* A lift rope can break, or the load slip while using a material handling aerial device.

* A rope used to tie off a branch to a tree can slip and allow the branch to fall or swing into the boom or basket.

* A mechanical part of the leveling system can fail from overload or improper maintenance causing the basket to tilt.

* A cut can go wrong and a branch fall the wrong way.

A fall to the ground can be prevented if the operator wears a fall protection system. The equipment owner and the operator must determine what type of OSHA-approved fall protection system they will need to use. Then it is up to the operator to always wear the harness, inspect it daily before use, and adjust it to fit, according the fall protection manufacture's instructions. An improper fitting harness can increase the chance of injury. Lastly, do not forget to attach the lanyard to the attachment point provided by the aerial manufacturer. Proper maintenance and skillful operation and techniques can prevent most accidents.

Electrical Contacts

You cannot tell what an object's electrical potential (voltage) is. Whenever you work near power lines, there is the possibility of an electrical contact. Proper precautions and following proper work rules will provide some protection from this unseen danger. Only a line clearance arborist can work around power lines. You must have the proper training to recognize the hazards in line clearance and know the techniques and equipment required to work in the vicinity of power lines. Unless you are a trained lineman or are a qualified line-clearance arborist authorized to work near energized lines, you and the equipment you are operating must maintain a minimum 10-foot clearance from all power lines. This 10-foot clearance increases with voltages of 50KV or greater. If you are an arborist and see a downed or damaged line, do not try to repair it. Contact the electrical system owner/operator of the power line. When your work may be too close to a power line, contact the power line electrical system owner/operator. They are much better equipped to handle problems safely.

To define some of the terms used: current is the flow of electricity, measured in amps; voltage is the force--the difference of potential--causing the current to flow, measured in volts; and resistance is the property trying to prevent current flow, measured in ohms.

Your body operates on electricity, the nerves use an electrical signal to see, think, make muscles move, indicate temperature, and let you know when you have an injury (pain). Low levels of an outside source of electrical current vary from undetected to where it will disrupt the body's electrical system and cause pain. At higher levels it can cause the muscles to contract intensely and interfere with the heart's function. At high levels it can cause severe burn injuries.

It does not take much current to affect the human body. Very small currents can be fatal. As the current flow increases, the tissue damage to the body increases. The damage will be determined by the power to which a body is exposed. This power is a function of the length of time of contact and the amount of current flowing through the body. Keep in mind that an electrical burn caused by a high-voltage contact causes current to flow through the blood and bone marrow. It literately cooks the body from the inside out. Further, a high-voltage electrical contact keeps on destroying tissue even after the voltage has been removed. High voltage is defined as equal to or greater than 600 volts. A distribution power line primary phase to ground potential can be anywhere from 2,400 volts to 19,900 volts.

Electrocution occurs when a person's body becomes a path for electric current. You place your body in a position to become an electrical path by touching, or getting too close to, two objects at a difference of potential (voltage). The voltage difference causes the current flow between the parts of the body in contact. You do not have to touch an object to be a path. The current can jump through air if the distance, voltage level and weather conditions are suitable. Current can also flow over what are normally considered non-conductive parts caused by surface contamination. These include dirt, moisture and oils. Here's what's important; any time any two parts of your body are placed between a difference of potential, current will flow. The amount of current flowing through your body is determined by the amount of resistance. The higher the resistance, given the same voltage, the lower the current flow. Conversely, given the same voltage, the lower the resistance, the higher the current flow. Lineman's rubber gloves and insulated booms provide an extremely high resistance. Leather gloves and moist skin provide a low resistance.

There is a false impression that current follows the path of least resistance. Current follows every path it can find. Lower resistance paths have more current flowing through them, but all paths will have a current flow--this is Ohm's Law. Even though there may be a lower resistance path for current flow, it does not take much current to be fatal. Consider a condition called a ground fault. This can have a momentary current surge in distribution power lines up to 15,000 amps. Remember, current will seek ground through every path available.

Current flow is not always from a hot wire in one hand to the ground under your feet. It can be:

* From a tree branch touching an energized phase or part, through your saw, to you and down to the ground through the tree you are climbing.

* From an energized phase wire, through you, to a neutral or ground wire.

* From an energized phase wire, through you, to a different phase wire.

* From a branch you are trying to remove, through the rope to the person handling the rope.

* From a tree branch you are holding, through you, to the controls you are operating when part of the aerial boom tip touches an energized phase or part.

* From an energized phase wire in contact with, or too close to, a non-insulated portion of a boom, through you, while standing on the ground touching the truck or attached chipper.

* From one foot, through you, to the other foot if standing near an energized vehicle or tree that has become energized (note:this is known as step potential).

* From the ground you are standing on, through you, to a tree you are removing, if an energized phase is contacting a branch of the tree.

* From an energized phase hidden in the branches through the branches and down the tree to you when you drill it to inject chemicals.

This partial list gives examples of contact possibilities. There are many possible combinations where a person's body can become a path for current, whenever a difference of potential exists. Remember, whenever any two parts of your body are at a difference of potential, current will flow. You must be aware of the clearance distance required to power lines. See ANSI Z133.1 for proper clearance distances.

Your bucket truck has three components that will provide some protection if they are properly maintained by being kept clean, dry and periodically tested per ANSI A92.2:

1. A basket liner will protect only that portion completely inside the liner. Anything conductive that extends out of the liner will conduct electricity into the liner and make it ineffective.

2. The insulating section of the upper boom will prevent current flow from the boom tip through the boom to the elbow only.

3. The lower boom insert will provide an insulating section between the elbow and the truck chassis.

The boom tip does not provide insulation because it contains metal components to provide structural support. Manufacturers place a band of arrows on the upper boom to show the end of the insulated section. Past the band of arrows on the boom, any part of the boom tip that contacts a energized line or part will become energized at that potential. Also, any part of the boom tip that contacts a grounded component will ground the entire boom tip. This includes the controls and all other components that are past the band of arrows. Covers and guards may provide limited protection but you cannot depend on them. They are not tested or maintained to provide electrical protection. Contact of fiberglass covers and guards with energized parts may arc along the surface or through the fasteners to metal under the cover and energize the entire boom tip. You must maintain proper clearance from all sources of electricity.

Just because you are in an aerial device you are not protected from all contact with an energized object. If you touch or are part of a path between two objects at different potential you can be electrocuted. The aerial device will only prevent one energized source having a path to ground through the boom. You are not like a bird on a wire.

Tool Hoses

Another hazard on aerials involves the tools you use. Many aerials are equipped with hydraulic tools such as power saws and loppers. The tools are connected to the bucket truck's hydraulic system through the tool hoses, which must be non-conductive. They are orange color and have NON-CONDUCTIVE printed on them. Inspect the hoses in the area just beyond the fittings for any wrinkling. Wrinkling is an indication of hose failure that's about to occur. Black tool hoses may be reinforced with wire braid and they are conductive. If a conductive tool hose bridges across electric lines it can cause an arc. A sustained are will melt a hole in the hose and ignite the mist that escapes. Since the hoses and hydraulic oil are flammable, the escaping oil will form a blowtorch and could spray the operator with ignited hydraulic oil. There have been far too many failed basket rescue attempts with a fire at the boom tip and an operator on fire because of poor or no training on basket rescue techniques, or failure to practice this necessary procedure periodically. The operator and the ground crew must know how to perform a basket rescue, especially in the case of a fire or an electrical contact. The operator's life is at stake here. If you don't know basket rescue techniques, find out.

An arborist's job is hazardous enough. That's why we follow the safety work rules and use the equipment properly in an earnest effort to prevent accidents.

Trucking - a successful career

2008-03-23T09:15:00.000-07:00

Making a Career decission
The independent trucking owner-operator faces a unique and challenging business environment as (s)he conducts business on the open road from a truck that not only serves as an office, but also as a second home. The success of the American economy depends on enterprising men and women like you who make their living in this field. Motivation and hard work alone will not guarantee success. You have to possess business skills, technical knowledge and industry experience to succeed as an trucking-owner-operator.
Trucks transport 94 percent of all consumer, 77 percent of all industrial, and 68 percent of all farm goods in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Annually, the value of all goods shipped exceeds $6 trillion.
You're excited about your career decision, but please proceed with caution and prudence. Owning and operating an 18-wheeler requires research and planning. As an owner-operator, you make sacrifices because your business requires you to work nights, on weekends and even holidays, often away from your family.
Planning and Preparation
Good preparation and careful consideration of what makes an owner-operator successful will help you avoid costly mistakes that can set you back or even destroy your dream. Such a major decision affects you, your spouse and your family. Include them in your decision-making process, since your family’s support will contribute to your success.
If you know exactly what type of trucking you want to do, and maybe you have a business plan, marketing plan, and resumes of yourself and your employees or partners all together to present to your prospective financial institution. With that (those) assumptions you can contact the State Department of Motor vehicles, tell them to send you the necessary package of paperwork.
Economy Based
Work varies from year to year, because the strength of the economy dictates the amount of freight moved by trucks. Companies tend to hire more drivers when the economy is strong and deliveries are in high demand. When the economy slows, employers hire fewer drivers, or even lay off drivers. Independent owner-operators are particularly vulnerable to slowdowns. Industries least likely to be affected by economic fluctuation tend to be the most stable places for employment. The number of truck drivers and Owner Operators with sales responsibilities is expected to increase more slowly than the average for all other occupations because companies are increasingly shifting sales, ordering, and customer service tasks to sales and office staffs, and using regular truck drivers and Owner Operators to make deliveries to customers.
The internet is one of the fastest growing tools for reaching qualified drivers and owner operators, 80% of workers in the transportation industry have internet access at home or work and 40% actively search the web more than once a day for job opportunities driving trucks. It's fast, informative, and most importantly convenient - the internet can accommodate any busy schedule.

Nussbaum Wreckers & Carriers new website launched.

2008-02-16T01:46:00.000-08:00

Nussbaum’s Sales Corp. is proud to present a new web site design, structure, and functionality - launched in November 2007.

The Nussbaum Wreckers & Carriers site has changed a lot since our first site went online. We hope this site is more attractive and easy to use. Much of the site content has been updated and we are now planning to launch new Parts Store.

When we decided redesign the Nussbaum Wreckers & Carriers web site several months ago, we had a few primary goals in mind:

Make sure the new design will be modern and attractive.
Update our product catalog to have more quality photos and better structure.
Create search tools to easily find inventory.
Provide a visually appealing and easy-to-use site.

Of course it's hard to measure success for most of these; we feel that the new site design meets these goals. We know that there is probably much more that we can do to make our site more accessible, usable, and informative. If you have recommendations, please contact us.

Jerr-Dan Towing & Recovery Technologies, Towing the Line

2008-01-24T13:35:00.000-08:00

Jerr-Dan Towing & Recovery Technologies, headquartered in Greencastle, PA designs and manufactures transporter truck bodies and towing and recovery bodies and equipment. The company has two production facilities in Greencastle and an installation/distribution center in Las Vegas. The company has 380 employees and revenues of $175 million per year. Jerr-Dan distributes its products across North America by a factory-trained independent distributor network; it also has distributors in Europe and Asia.
The Jerr-Dan story started in 1972, when the corporation acquired the rollback and farm equipment division from Grove Manufacturing, which had been making farm equipment and hydraulic cranes since 1959. Jerr-Dan’s innovative style quickly led to the development of new products and new markets, including the Aluminum Wrangler in 1977. Targeted for installation on the traditional one-ton chassis, the Aluminum Wrangler catapulted Jerr-Dan into a dominant position in the vehicle transportation industry. In 1982, Jerr-Dan introduced Wrangler Lite, an extruded aluminum carrier that set a new industry standard. To meet the needs of an expanding market, Jerr-Dan widened its distribution, appointing more independent distributors and factory-owned retail locations, and launched an aggressive product development program. In 1996, the company developed one of the first composite bodies in the industry, using aerospace and automotive technologies to bond composite materials to an aluminum structure, making truly lightweight bodies for medium- and heavy-duty tow trucks.
Well-known wrecker models made by Jerr-Dan today include the Quick-Pick and the HIP 40. Designed for a large number of tows in a short period of time, the Quick-Pick is ideal for impounding and repossession work as well as quick- spot movements in storage yards. A patented variable-width body features a low-profile tapered rear deck for superior rearward visibility. The HIP 40 is a light-duty wrecker with a large number of user-friendly features. Composite body panels reduce weight and add life, and an integrated boom tilts seven degrees below and 15 degrees above horizontal. A counterbalance valve on its lift tilt cylinders ensures smooth, reliable operation.
Jerr-Dan carriers include the sturdy, good-looking Aluminum Elite. It’s built from polished structural aluminum, which provides a better strength-to-weight ratio than most steel car carriers. It has a hard-pulling worm gear winch with planetary speed and a subframe that features long, greaseless slide pads. Jerr-Dan’s hardwood-floored Transporter series comes in 5-, 7.5-, 10-, and 15-ton models, each with a range of optional features suitable for number of industrial carrying needs. The 15-ton model has a deck capacity of 30,000 pounds and a winch line pull of 20,000 pounds. Its deck length options are 24’, 26’, and 28’.
Jerr-Dan was the first company to develop the aluminum carrier deck, independent underlifts, and composite bodies, and it continues to push the boundaries of tow-truck technology today. Last November, it introduced a new heavy-duty wrecker model, the HDL 700/350 Integrated. This 35-ton, heavy-duty wrecker features Jerr-Dan’s patented lightweight and corrosion-resistant composite/ aluminum body construction, and it has an integrated underlift boom. The 700/350 offers the same lifting capacities found in Jerr-Dan’s 35-ton independent wrecker, but at a different price point. The new wrecker model has many of the same features found on Jerr-Dan’s other heavy-duty wreckers.
Jerr-Dan has also launched a new remote-controlled winching operation option, developed jointly with Transportation Safety Technologies, Inc. (TST), a leader in the design, development, and manufacturing of electronic switching systems and components for specialty vehicles. This new option features TST’s Side Arm 2 function remote controller. The Side Arm features a 100-degree operation radius, backlighted switches, an all-weather, high-visibility cover/holder complete with tether and holster, and a low battery LED indicator with nine-volt battery operation. The Side Arm remote control winch option is available for all Jerr-Dan standard-duty and medium-duty carriers. “We are very excited about our new heavy-duty wrecker and partnership with TST to make available a new remote that will assist towers with all winching functions on our carrier products,” said Jeff Weller, president. “Both initiatives demonstrate that Jerr-Dan continues to set the standard for innovation and customer assistance in the towing industry.”
On the same day these two new products were launched, Jerr-Dan signed a distribution agreement with Long Island’s largest Chevrolet dealer, Ramp Chevrolet, to distribute all Jerr-Dan products. Ramp is a family-owned and operated business with one of the largest inventories of recovery vehicles in the United States and more than 58 years of automotive experience.
“Jerr-Dan is committed to providing the highest quality products and services nation-wide,” said Weller. “We are extremely pleased to form this partnership with Ramp, which is a well-run and highly respected truck dealership with a national presence, strong marketing capabilities, unwavering commitment to customer service, and proven record of success in the distribution end of our business. We look forward to working with Ramp and its professional and trained specialists to deliver our full range of products to new and existing customers.”Peter Kontzamanys, general manager of Ramp, said, “We are pleased to join with Jerr-Dan to provide our customers with quality towing equipment that complements our existing Chevrolet truck line.”

Manufacturing in Action, Source : The Manufacturer US

2008 Ford Super Duty

2007-12-24T12:48:00.000-08:00

Overview

The 2008 Ford Super Duty pickups feature new styling inside and out along with a re-engineered suspension that delivers a smoother ride. A new diesel engine and a new F-450 pickup are designed to handle the needs of ever-increasing agricultural, boat, and RV trailer weights. Other revisions and refinements are designed to address customer comment and stricter emissions standards.

Two words can define the 2008 Super Duty relative to the previous iteration: refined and more. It has more of the work ability you expect from a heavy-duty pickup, yet it is more comfortable, rides better, delivers more in the cost-benefit analysis, and is more environmentally friendly, a lexicon not normally applied to big trucks. With realistic expectations, any faults will seem minute when compared to the ability to plow a big parking lot, carry a small car or tow a small house.

The 2008 Super Duty is not an all-new truck. Some body panels, engines and transmissions continue. But many aspects more substantial than the front-end styling have changed. It has a new interior in five different flavors from hose-out to leather lux, a new diesel engine, more added features, and should cost less based on equipment than the outgoing model.
And in a first for any major pickup manufacturer Ford has added a medium-duty pickup, the F-450, to the line. This model will be pricey by pickup standards, probably over $60,000 loaded, but it offers load capacity and towing ability never before found in a pickup, and is capable of carrying 5,000 pounds of hay and towing an 18,500-pound horse trailer simultaneously.
Need a truck to work? The Super Duty line can haul from one ton to three. It can tow from three tons to more than twelve. It can carry three to six real-world people with room to spare. And the door pockets, glovebox, and console will hold more stuff than some sports cars' trunks. If you don't need a truck to perform heavy duty work, stop reading here.
Model Lineup

The 2008 Ford Super Duty comes in myriad configurations, with four trim levels, four weight divisions, and two box sizes (6.75 feet, 8 feet), the majority available in two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. Almost every permutation is built. Exceptions: The King Ranch version is offered only on Crew Cabs, the F-450 is long-bed Crew Cab only, and the FX4 trim is not offered on 2WD, any F-450, or with a regular cab.

A 5.4-liter V8 with 300 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque is standard on all models up to the F-350 Crew Cab DRW, which has the 362-hp, 457 lb-ft 6.8-liter V10 standard. Both the V10 and 6.4-liter diesel (350 hp, 650 lb-ft) are optional across the F-250/F-350 spectrum, but the diesel is the only engine offered on F-450. A six-speed manual is standard, a five-speed automatic available.

The base XL is commercial in nature, with vinyl seats and flooring, black painted grille and bumpers, plain trim, AM/FM stereo, and a weight-appropriate receiver hitch. Options include mechanical upgrades (engine, limited-slip differential, larger tires, traction control, camper package, off-road package for 4WD, Tow Command, etc.), air conditioning, auxiliary switches, reverse sensors, and a tailgate step.
XLT trim adds chrome trim and wheels, 40/20/40 cloth front seat, carpet, AC, CD player, power windows/locks/mirrors, tilt wheel and cruise control. Options include aluminum wheels, captain's chairs w/power and heat, Audiophile sound system, adjustable pedals, Sport trim package, moonroof, and rear-seat DVD entertainment.

The FX4 off-road model adds 18-inch wheels and LT275/70R18 all-terrain tires, standard limited-slip, skid plates, fog lamps, security system, overhead console, and leather-wrapped steering wheel. Options include 20-inch wheels, navigation/Audiophile system, Sirius radio, and power telescope/fold heated dual-element towing mirrors.

Lariat trim (n/a on regular cabs) adds polished wheels, leather power seats, dual-zone climate control, trip computer, redundant sound/climate controls on wheel, woodgrain trim, illuminated visor mirrors, privacy glass and a sliding rear window. Options include those offered on most Super Duty models plus captain's chairs, universal door opener, and a power sliding rear window.

The King Ranch package, offered only on Lariat Crew Cabs, adds two-tone paint, driver memory package, tow mirrors, unique forged alloy wheels, powered trailer mirrors, badging, and Chaparral-leather for the steering wheel and four captain's chairs and both center consoles.
Safety equipment includes antilock brakes, dual front airbags, adjustable height outboard belt anchors, child-seat LATCH anchors, and a passenger airbag deactivation switch on regular and SuperCabs, all standard.

Walkaround

Already the biggest pickup in town, the 2008 Ford Super Duty appears even more imposing because of a larger grille, deeper bumper, and stacked lamps with the headlights on the bottom. Dimensions are easily given in yards rather than inches. The sheer vastness of the sheetmetal may overwhelm your car wash guy. The color of the side vent gives away if it is gasoline or diesel-powered.
Given its fender flares and dark snout, the FX4 is the most aggressive trim style, though no Super Duty would be mistaken for anything less than a full-size pickup even with nothing scalable within sight. New towing mirrors include signal repeaters that won't distract the driver; they telescope and fold (manual or powered), and include two large reflective elements for safe rear vision with the widest street-legal trailers.
An optional tailgate step pops a 16.7 x 4.5-inch step with a half-ton load rating out of the tailgate and raises a grab handle rated at 300 pounds to make the climb safer. It also includes an assist so the very heavy tailgate feels less heavy. The handle makes bed access easier but may need to be lowered again to slide a load in, and removing the gate, as is often the case with some trailers, may become a two-person chore.

Ride of the Month

2007-06-26T01:21:00.000-07:00

http://www.truckinweb.com/ is holding a “Ride of the Month” contest where visitors can enter their cars. Winners will receive a T-shirt from the site, as well as the possibility having their car be featured in its own article.

This is a great way for enthusiasts to get their truck the attention that it deserves! The contest entry form can be found here: http://rideofthemonth.truckinweb.com/index.html

The International Towing & Recovery Hall Of Fame and Museum

2007-05-30T23:46:00.000-07:00

This 1913 Locomobile with a Holmes Wrecker is owned by Bob Meyers Auto Parts & Wrecker Service in Owensville, Ohio. The 485 wrecker was completely bolted together from the factory. The Locomobile was built in Connecticut, and cost a whopping $6,000.00.

This 1947 GMC "bubble nose" was found in 1988 near West Bend, Wisconsin, by George Lanser of Lanser Garage & Towing in Belgium, Wisconsin. The "bubble nose" was originally purchased by the Pabst Brewery to deliver beer, and later sold to a bus company which used it to tow their buses. The company abandoned the truck when a water pump failed and they couldn't find one to replace it. George searched for two years before he found one that could be machined to fit.

Custom Ford F650 Pickup - Daily Driver

2007-03-29T10:45:00.000-07:00

Why Buy the F-650? Typically, Ford F-650 medium-duty trucks are used for a wide range of commercial jobs-from agriculture to construction. But not too many of these trucks are converted into pickups to be used every day. So what possesses a person to build and use a truck as a daily driver when that truck is built for medium-duty commercial applications?
That was the question on our minds as we left to check out Judd Balls' F-650. After meeting Judd, he told us, "I needed a vehicle that was more reliable and more capable than a 1-ton truck. I first saw the 650s online, but with all the modifications, I was skeptical about the build quality, so I flew down to F650 SuperTruck in Georgia to check them out. I was surprised to find that the axles lined up perfectly, and the truck was really well built. I just had to have one. So I picked the specs that I wanted and had it delivered about eight months later."

Judd uses the truck as his daily transport and has put over 43,000 miles on the odometer in the one year he has owned it. "The main reason I bought the truck was that it came with a 400,000-mile, five-year warranty on the drivetrain," Judd explained. He also said the repair bills were getting too costly on his Excursion and F-350, and he came to realize he was just asking too much from a 1-ton truck. Judd needed a vehicle that could seat at least six adults comfortably and have enough capacity to tow a snowmobile trailer or toy hauler without putting too much stress on the vehicle.
Building the F-650 Judd purchased the truck from F650 SuperTruck (www.f650pickups.com) in Augusta, Georgia. The F650 SuperTruck crew has built similar F-650 trucks and giant SUVs they call XUVs for a long list of celebrities, including many NFL and NBA stars who have trouble fitting inside smaller trucks (such as Shaquille O'Neal, at 7 feet 1 inch tall and 325 pounds). Judd's truck started as an F-650 two-wheel-drive crew cab and chassis and was stretched into six-door form by Alton Company in Pigeon, Michigan. It then returned to Georgia and was converted to four-wheel drive with a kit from Marmon Herrington that comes with a new front axle and transfer case. As a six-door 4x4 cab and chassis, it returned to the F650 SuperTruck shop for paint, interior, wiring, and suspension upgrades. The bed from a F-350 1-ton dualie sits on a two-channel cold rolled and tempered stiffener that reinforces the frame and brings the bed into the correct elevation with the cab.

Custom Ford F650 at Nussbaum Wreckers

You've got a truck, you need a tool box, ... but which one?

2007-03-29T10:37:00.000-07:00

OK, not everyone with a truck needs a truck tool box. You know who they are, they get a truck because it's cool but if they get a flat tire, they're lost. They don't USE their truck, they just want to be seen driving one. If you fit that category, there isn't much here that you'll find interesting. On the other hand...
Let's see if you need a truck tool box. Here's a checklist:
You drive a full size, mid size or mini pickup, SUV or RV, flat bed, full size van or semi tractor
You have a lot of tools, you know how to use them, you feel lost without them and you need a place to keep them secure
When something breaks or needs to be built, everyone looks at you
You spend a lot of time working and relaxing outdoors and you load your truck with a lot of gear for camping or hunting
If two or more apply to you, this is your site. We'll wade through the many tool boxes and narrow the choices down until we find the right one for you. Ready? Great, ... grab some coffee, roll up your sleeves, let's get started.

What are you going to put into your tool box?
Yes, they're called truck TOOL boxes, but you can carry a lot of things besides tools and most people do. Pickup trucks don't always have enough room in the cab for things like camping and hunting gear, and some things you want to keep out of the cab under any circumstances, like paint, chemicals and gasoline. If you have long handled tools you'll need a different box than if you just carry hand and power tools. Do you work directly out of the tool box or do you take a smaller box out to the job site and store that in your truck box? All of these things will affect your choices.
What other factors affect tool box choice?
How secure do you need the box to be? Does it have to withstand bolt cutters and pry bars or simply keep things out of sight? What kind of weather do you typically see? Will you be lifting the lid a lot or once a day or even less and does it have to stay up on its own or is a simple hinge ok? Will the box be permanently mounted or do you want to remove it occasionally or frequently? Is access from the side necessary or will you get in the truck bed first? Starting to get complicated isn't it? No problem, no matter what you need, one of our tool boxes should do the trick..

Give new life to your old truck

2006-12-24T11:23:00.000-08:00

Have you ever had a dependable tow truck that reached the end of the line due to rust or other body damage? It’s frustrating to let go of a solid truck regardless, but when you look at the cost of a new one, the thought becomes even more painful. Instead of buying new, consider rebuilding old reliable. While the cost of a rebuild might seem high when first considered, a properly done rebuild could save you thousands of dollars and add years of life to your truck. Tom Graham, owner of Superior Wreckers, a division of Southside Body and Fabricating in Holland, Michigan, has been building and rebuilding tow trucks for 12 years. According to Graham, there are a number of factors to consider before attempting a rebuild and there is specialized equipment that can make the job much easier. Rebuilding tractor-trailers was Graham’s regular business and it led him to start rebuilding tow trucks. “People with wreckers would pull semis in and would see what I’m doing,” Graham said. “One guy had a homebuilt wrecker. It wasn’t hydraulic, it had a mechanical bull winch. He said the old girl had more power than even the new trucks. He said it was rusted out. And he asked me, ‘You can’t repair the body, can you?’” Graham rebuilt everything on the truck except the boom, a-frame lift and decking. “Welding is my first love,” Graham said. “I told him I could make a new body pretty much from scratch cheaper than patching up what he had. It was quicker really than to just try to patch it. I still see him running it every day.”

More Projects Graham did the same thing with a Ford 450 about six or seven years ago. He made new side panels for the fender area, cut out and replaced the rotted-out bottoms of the truck’s toolboxes and replaced the panels around the doors. He still sees that truck on the road as well. “Other towers around [have] seen what I did for that man, so I did a handful of other trucks as well. They’ve all held up well,” Graham noted, adding that, “you may have a bill of $5,000 to $6,000, but even if it’s $10,000, it’s still much cheaper than replacing the truck.” But not every truck is worth rebuilding. One tow truck body Graham rebuilt for a shop in Ann Arbor should have been scrapped. The tower owned a Ford 550 with an 84-inch cab-to-axle chassis, but he wanted something to tow larger vehicles. He approached Graham about placing the body of the old truck onto one with a 102-inch cab-to-axle chassis.

The original old and rusty body. Note there is no tunnel box or side step on the original – these were added later.

The finished truck with the same body but installed on a newer, longer chassis. A PTO,new gas tank, and all new wiring were added

Graham sandblasted the body, built in a saddle box to match the old body, and added a custom step to make it easier to reach the tower’s car dolly. “By increasing his wheel base he could lift more and still be able to handle it well,” Graham said. “I put in the step so it and the saddle box bottom were even. I matched everything to the new doors. You couldn’t even tell it had been rebuilt.” The expense incurred to fit the old body on the new chassis left Graham thinking the tower would have been better off to start with a new body to begin with. “If you’re going to take something old and rusty and put it on another truck, it’s not worth it,” Graham said. “If you’re going to rework and modify it, it won’t be that much cheaper than if you bought a new one. It was a learning curve for me too there.”

To Rebuild Or Not

What should you consider before attempting a rebuild yourself or hiring someone to do the job? First, ensure the truck you want rebuilt is still worth rebuilding. “Just make sure it’s a good runner. Check and make sure the hydraulics are sound, the linkage is in good working order and tight. Make sure you have something to start with,” Graham said. Second, skip the rebuild if you’ve got a smaller truck. “Medium to large trucks would be the most cost-effective because they cost more. Some towers can drop $150,000 in a heartbeat,” Graham said. “Even if you put $20,000 in one good running truck, that’s worth it.” Once you’ve inspected your mediumto large-sized truck and decided you want to get it rebuilt, look for a shop that is equipped to handle the work that will be required. Graham’s body shop is stocked with metal-working tools, machining tools, and a paint booth. He also recommends finding a shop that has experience with hydraulic systems and can manufacture its own hydraulic lines to keep costs down. The main items a shop will need are a brake press to bend the metal body and a shear press to cut the metal sheets. However, Graham also relies on a 20- year-old Lindy flame table to manufacture tool boxes, bumpers, and any number of other metal parts. “My flame table, according to nowadays’ standards, it’s obsolete,” Graham said. “I draw a life-size pattern on a piece of paper with black India ink, take that white paper and put it on the table under the machine’s eye and it’ll run across that white paper and pick up the line and follow it.” Graham modified the flame table to not only fit the original torch head but to allow for the attachment of a plasma head for cutting materials such as aluminum.

A Longer Lifespan Many of the items Graham rebuilds for his customers are built off the original measurements on the truck. However, towers have found that his equipment will last longer than commercial tow trucks. “The reason they last so long is the way they’re prepared,” Graham said. “With most places, they just wipe off the oil from the new body and just use primer and paint it. If the metal isn’t really etched, the paint doesn’t stick good. By blasting the body, that makes texture. It puts a little peck in it, sort of like a football, but not near that rough. It gives the body a micro-texture. Then you apply a good epoxy primer and it will really stick.” Towers should also insist on getting a spray-on coating such as Rhino Coat or Line-X sprayed into any toolboxes and on the underside of the body to make the truck last longer. “If you’ve got a wrecker that is mechanically sound and you prep it right then you can easily get 10 more years out of it,” Graham said.

Used Wreckers and Tow Trucks

Excite Truck

2006-12-24T11:12:00.000-08:00

In the grand racing tradition of Excitebike, get ready for a big-air experience like no other as players rocket their trucks across dynamically changing terrain. Remember tilting your arms to try to make your character land a huge jump? That experience is finally a reality with Excite Truck, a wild, off-road race in which players hold the Wii Remote like an NES controller to control the truck. The 2 button is the accelerator, the 1 button is the brake, the + Control Pad is the turbo. Tilt the Wii Remote right and left like a steering wheel to steer. Once the truck goes airborne, tilt the Wii Remote every which way to line up perfect landings for turbo boosts. Pick up items on the courses to make the terrain deform in real time, turning innocent bumps into massive launch pads that affect not only the player's route, but that of his or her rivals. Players jump and bump their way to the highest score and highest finish.

The fact that you can launch a two ton 4x4 hundreds of feet in the air and land it unscathed, earn points for taking out the competition, and cool off an overheating engine simply by driving through a mountain stream should tell you that Excite Truck is not for the fans of realism. This Wii launch title isn't designed to be anything more than an adrenaline rush of a racing game, and it definitely achieves this focus. It is, however, a title that suffers a bit from launch title-itis: its presentation isn't quite as fleshed out as far as current generation racers go, but even with a few small gaps like its weak multiplayer component, the game is a hell of a lot of fun to play in its solo outing.

Game screenshots:

2007 Ford F650 XLT

2006-10-21T08:37:00.000-07:00

Key Highlights

- 3 cab configurations: Regular Cab, SuperCab,Crew Cab

- 3 diesel engine families: 5.9L Cummins^® Turbo Diesel, 7.2L Caterpillar^® Turbo Diesel and 6.0L Power Stroke^® V8 Turbo Diesel

- 21 horsepower and torque ratings topping out at 300 hp and 860 lb.-ft. of torque

- 13 transmissions; 10 rear axles

- Standard air conditioning

- Pro Loader (low loadfloor) truck combines low load height with tight turning diameter
- Rear air suspension option from 12,000 lbs. up to 23,000 lbs., available with either air or hydraulic brakes options

- 6 Allison^® tailored vocational transmissions

Available Body Styles

F-650*

F-650 Pro Loader^®

Badged as Pro Loader when equipped with 19.5" wheels.

Safety & Security

Belt-Minder^® safety belt reminder

Color-keyed safety belts with fixed D-rings (Regular Cab) or adjustable D-rings (SuperCab and Crew Cab)

Major Standard Features

2 Motorcraft^® 12-volt, 625-CCA batteries

5 roof clearance lights

12-volt, 130-amp, 1950-watt alternator

Air conditioning

Body builders wiring at back of cab at frame

Brakes – 4-channel Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)

Chrome grille with chrome headlamp bezels

Engine – 5.9L Cummins^® Turbo Diesel (ISB 200)

Exhaust – Aluminized-steel single horizontal muffler and short tailpipe, frame-mounted, right-side

Exterior and interior assist handles

Front-end tilting fiberglass hood and fender assembly – Frame-mounted with torsion-bar assist (includes integral noise shield, inner splash shields, and mudflaps)

Fuel tank – 35-gallon (132.5-liter) capacity

Full-width chrome-steel front bumper

Instrument panel-mounted cruise control

Mirrors – Dual rectangular, 71/2" x 161/2" stainless steel, West Coast-style, with 102" spacing

Transmission – Allison^® 2500 Series wide-ratio 5-speed automatic

Major Optional Features

3 front bumper options, including bumper delete

5 single muffler/tailpipe options

Automatic Traction Control

Body builders wiring to end of frame

Brakes – Air system

Engine block heater

Engine exhaust brake

Floor console between front bucket seats

Front frame extension

Fuel tank – 35-gallon (132.5-liter) to 160-gallon (605.7-liter) capacity (14 different option combinations)

Power TakeOff (PTO) provision

Rear air suspension

Seats – 30/70, 40/70, 30/0/0, 40/0/0, 30/0/30, 30/0/40, 40/0/40, and 40/20/40 front-seat combinations

Transmission – 5-, 6- or 7-speed manual

Transmission – 5- or 6-speed automatic

Optional Packages

XL Trim Package (680A)

Bright front headlamp bezel, chrome grille and chrome front bumper, cloth sun visors with passenger-side mirror, high-back driver’s seat with 2-person passenger’s seat, manual air conditioning, and vinyl seat trim

XLT Trim Package (682A)

AM/FM stereo with single-CD player, cloth seat trim, high-back driver and passenger seats with integral head restraints and folding seatbacks, driver’s-seat recline, intermediate-folding center-rear seat that creates armrest with cupholders, molded door-trim panels with lower map pocket, and Power Equipment Group

Ford Motor Company reserves the right to change product specifications at any time without incurring obligations.

Ready For Active Duty

Their capability and reliability are defined by 3 words: Built Ford Tough. With GVWRs from 20,500 to 33,000 lbs., their rugged engines, transmissions, axles, frames and suspensions deliver outstanding hauling and towing strength, year after year. Ford uses continuous improvement to refine design and assembly, and medium-duty truck buyers rewarded their hard work. A New Truck Limited Warranty provides 5-year/unlimited-mile protection on frame rails, and 2 years/unlimited mileage on select cab, chassis and engine choices. There’s even a Ford extended service plan available to provide coverage during the long service life for which Ford trucks are legendary.

Before You Buy a Truck…

2006-09-25T23:35:00.000-07:00

…a vehicle with two or four doors and an exposed cargo box.

Size/Market Segment: Most trucks fall into either the compact or full-size category, although there are a few models designated as midsize.

Price: Base model compact trucks are some of the cheapest vehicles on the market, but loaded premium models can run into the low $30Ks. Full-size trucks range from the low-$20Ks to the low $50Ks.

Engine/Fuel Economy: Compact trucks offer four-, five- and six-cylinder engines that deliver respectable mileage. Full-size trucks offer six-cylinder engines on base models, but most trucks use V8 or even V10 engines that return marginal fuel economy numbers at best. Most full-size trucks also offer diesel engines that provide plenty of towing power and better mileage.

Safety: Most trucks offer basic safety equipment like front airbags and seatbelts for all passengers. Some newer full-size trucks offer more advanced systems like side curtain airbags and stability control.

Drivetrain: Almost all trucks offer both manual and automatic transmissions, as well as two- and four-wheel drive. Many vehicles also offer traction-aiding devices like limited-slip/locking differentials and electronic traction control.

Passenger Capacity/Interior Space: There are three basic body styles for trucks: regular cab, extended cab and crew cab. Regular cabs have two doors and seat between two and three comfortably. Compact extended cabs add mostly extra storage space, while full-size versions can seat three additional passengers. Rear clamshell doors make it easier to get people and cargo in and out of the back of extended cabs. Crew cabs have four full-size doors and seat between five and six passengers comfortably.

Versatility of Interior Seating: Most trucks with extended or crew cabs offer the ability to either fold the entire rear seat up or at least one half or the other. Some newer full-size trucks also allow you to fold the front-passenger seat flat to provide a handy tablelike surface.

Towing Ability: Compact trucks can tow between 3,000 and 7,000 pounds, depending on how they're equipped. Full-size trucks can tow as much as 12,000 pounds with certain engines and suspension configurations, although most range between 8,000- and 10,000-pound capacities.

Bed Capacity and Conveniences: Most compact truck beds are 6 1/2 feet long, although a few models offer longer beds. Almost all full-size trucks offer long and short beds that range between 6 1/2 and 8 feet long depending on the brand and/or cab configuration. A few models offer a spray-in bedliner, a cargo light and adjustable tie-downs as factory options. Built-in storage compartments are another convenience to keep an eye out for as you're shopping.

Operating Costs: Compact trucks are relatively fuel-efficient and cheaper to insure because of their low buy-in cost. As you add size and cylinders, expect a corresponding increase in fuel and insurance costs. Adding four-wheel drive to any truck will add to annual operating costs as well.

Materials from http://www.edmunds.com

SPECIAL TRUCKS FOR SPECIALIZED APPLICATIONS

2006-08-24T22:28:00.000-07:00

Freightliner’s Business Class M2 106V is designed for heavy-duty vocational applications requiring a front engine PTO and front frame extensions. With a front engine PTO, you can power a wide variety of equipment from snowplows to refuse packers. One of many standard features on these trucks, the PTO shaft runs below the radiator, not through it, for optimal cooling and reliability. Front frame rail extensions are standard and provide a solid mounting point for hydraulic pumps, winches, front stabilizers and snowplows.

Trucking Health Care

2006-08-24T13:03:00.000-07:00














Massage therapy is essential for people of all
ages and from all walks of life, especially for truckers.
Massage therapy helps in most of health conditions,
like stress related tension, which, experts believe,
accounts for 80%-90% of all diseases. Massage therapy is
treating high blood pressure, diabetes, low back pain,
sleep disorders, spinal cord injuries, eating disorders,
smoking cessation, and depression, and these are very few
examples.

Massage therapy has many physiological effects, such as:

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Increasing circulation
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Stimulating the lymph system
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Relaxing overused muscles
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Reducing spasms and cramps
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Increasing joint flexibility
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Releasing endorphins, the body’s natural pain killers

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Reducing pain for low back
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Reducing pain for migraines
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Massage therapy also provides another therapeutic
component largely absent in today’s world: tactile
stimulation, or, more simply, touch. Many adults have
reported cathartic experiences on the massage table.
As a therapist unwinds a client stressed and
tired muscles, the therapist is also unwinding the taut,
pent-up emotions that one does not always have time to process.
The feeling of being touched in a safe, caring, compassionate
manner can be a very powerful experience, reminding the trucker
that he or she is not alone in the world.

2007 Peterbilt 378 DUE IN EARLY FALL!

2006-08-24T12:15:00.000-07:00

Peterbilt Performance

Peterbilt’s versatile Model 378 offers the best of two worlds: the flexibility, agility and durability of a local or regional workhorse – along with the horsepower, comfort and maximum aerodynamic efficiency of a long-haul highway tractor.

Two different cab and axle configurations offer you more ways to tailor performance than any competing make. The 119" BBC Model 378 can be ordered with a set-forward front axle, or a 47-inch set-back front axle for optimum weight transfer. Also available is quiet, smooth-riding Unibilt® Cab Sleeper System, UltraCab Sleeper, UltraSleeper and Unibilt Day Cab.

The sloped fiberglass hood tilts a full 90 degrees for easy engine access, and serviceability is further enhanced through the strategic positioning of common maintenance components. Brake drums are outboard mounted for quick replacement. Gauges snap in and out individually from the front of the dash for quick repair or replacement. Sealed spring pins and bushings in the front suspension reduce maintenance and extend service life. And rugged silicon O-ring connectors protect wiring from dirt and corrosion.

The Model 378’s unmatched versatility and productivity put it in a class by itself.

EQUIPMENT:

16,000 Front Axle, 46,000 Rear, AIRTRAC suspension, 2-90 gal Fuel Polished Aluminum Tanks, Alcoa Aluminum Wheels, All Peterbilt Options, Jerr-Dan 700/350 35 Ton Wrecker, 131 Underlift, 6 Sets of Underlift Tools, Heavy Duty Tire Lift, Fifth Wheel & Pintle Hook Attachments.

Click here to purchase

If you have questions regarding new trucks, please contact us directly at 1-800-922-1122 or via email at info@nussbaumwreckers.com

NUSSBAUM WRECKERS & CARRIERS

2006-07-24T22:05:00.000-07:00

Nussbaum's Sales Corp. has been serving the towing and recovery industry since 1959, offering our customers a complete line of towing equipment from JERR-DAN. We can supply your wrecker or carrier with a wide range of options on the truck chassis of your choice. We always have new Chevrolets, Fords, Internationals and Peterbilts in stock, ready to go. We offer a complete package deal at competitive pricing, with financing and lease programs tailored to your needs.
Our very friendly sales department has over 100 years of combined towing equipment knowledge and experience to share with you. Our product line is the recognized leader in our industry. We are proud of the broad JERR-DAN product line that will fill any of your needs from 4 ton to 60 ton. Nussbaum offers a full line of new and used wreckers and carriers, service, and a huge parts department with anything that you might need for a carrier or wrecker. We usually have 40 used flatbeds and wreckers for you to choose from. Our parts manager, Jack Mizdol, has a wealth of knowledge and can always provide the correct part that you need.
We are conveniently located ten minutes from the George Washington Bridge, five minutes from the Lincoln Tunnel and fifteen minutes from Newark Airport. We will gladly pick you up!
We look forward to helping you meet the towing and recovery needs of your business and make you another one of thousands of satisfied Nussbaum customers.