Originally posted by Parallax When I met Mrs. P one of her brothers had a '49 Powerwagon PU. It had a top speed of about 45-50 but I swear that if it could have got traction it would climb straight up.
I do not for a minute, doubt it.
A neighbour, who moved away some years ago, was a lineman for our local Hydro-Electric company. His job was to maintain powerlines, electric generating equipment and also to ensure that the access areas to hydro structures, lines, etc. was kept clear and accessible. If we had a blizzard, heavy rain, prairie thunderstorm he was out there, fixing the power lines that were damaged. He worked in the country areas.
He had worked for Hydro since the late '60's and I recall one of the many times we would sit around, shootin' the $#!&
, he told me about his experience with a late model, military style Dodge Power Wagon, pickup.
Hydro had a large work trailer that had to be brought into a site where there were a lot of electrical issues, that needed fixing, after a big storm. The only way in, was down a dirt road, that had become a morass of mud and gumbo. Nothing seemed to be able to get through.
As this was many moons ago and he was one of the young guys and a farmboy ** to boot, the foreman selected him, to hitch up the construction trailer to their Dodge Power Wagon and attempt to drag it through this impenetrable quagmire.
He did so, put the Power Wagon in bull low, engaged the low gear in the transfer case and started the slog.
It wasn't easy, sometimes the PW had to be backed up, sometimes it just was barely able to move along at about 2-3 mph, with all 4 military lugged tires doing their all...but it accomplished the mission, got the trailer to where the foreman wanted it and work commenced.
He said, it was like a tractor, a 4WD tractor.
BTW, his favourite utility truck during his career was his last one. A Ford F350 cab and chassis, with dual rear wheels, a utility box mounted on the frame, manual transmission, locking rear axle, 4WD and the International/ Navistar supplied, 7.3 liter , diesel V8.
When he retired, it had about 450,000 kms on it, with little downtime.
** Farmboy. Guys who have been farmers, I find, always seem to be able to find some bush fix, to keep things going in difficult situations. I tip my 7 3/4 Tilley Hat to them.