US style heave duty winch truck in scale 1:17,5 with PF. It features solid axle suspension on all axles, liftable and steerable pusher axle, Ackerman geometry on both steering axles, fully functional and slidable fifth wheel and winch to load and unload easily.
As I always do I tried again to design and build a completely new model that would be challenging. Because I was planning on building a detachable gooseneck lowboy trailer it would be obvious to build a heavy duty truck to go along with it. So a new idea was born. On this lowboy trailer there is this other topic click here on MOCpages for you to check out.
This model again is not an exact copy of a specific brand or model. I do have to admit though I am strongly inspired by the Mack Granite. Basically my model is a fusion of the Mack Vision and the Mack Granite but it is completely my own creativity that gave birth to this model.
Another issue I could not stop thinking about is how to be original when it comes to selecting the color of this new model.
During the process of building and designing I checked the availability of specific parts in the orange color. With some minor changes I was able to build the body work of this model using orange parts. The roof is another story, from the very beginning I knew I wanted it to be white. Together with the white mudflaps and 2nd axle fenders, the dark bluish gray frame and axles and the red details and winch I think this gave the model a very nice color scheme.
What is also rearrange on this model is the exhaust stack. They have been moved to the back of the sleeper and instead of chrome I used plain black. I also worked on the drivers visibility to the rear, the sleeper now have a rear view window, just another minor change to make this a completely new model.
A couple of years ago we had this in my opinion very nice television program called �Ice Road Truckers�. The most inspiring part of it was the many technical details explained and the stories on how to load and unload trailers, how to attach the trailers to the trucks and many many more. Yes you are right I am not a truck driver my self and since I do not live in the US and not even close to it loads of info was completely new for me. There are two things in particular that caught my eye mainly because I did never see that before.
The first thing, it is a common method used with oil field rigs, is the process of loading/unloading and attaching/detaching the trailer using a winch. I knew I do like to equip one of my future models with a winch. First of all it looks just great, gives that extra heavy duty look to it and another feature for me to develop and deploy. Once again the Internet proved to be one heck of a useful informational source. As you can see on the picture beside I was again inspired by a real life truck. Not an exact copy, but just go with the flow and what happens, I like the winch a lot.
The other thing that caught my eye was the explanation of how and why a fifth wheel on some trucks is slidable. Quite some effort was spend on how to make it slidable remotely, but that turned out to be a failed project. Basically because I did not have enough space to hide the mechanism to operate it. Since the body work of this model is a couple of studs shorter it is not that easy to fit it all in even though I moved the XL motors to the exterior (in the other models it is hidden inside).
Like with all models build so far I had to add full suspension to this model as well. Since this is a heavy duty truck I did add a 4th axle. It is a steerable axle in front of the two powered axles, this added axle is called a pusher axle. In Europe where I live liftable axles is very common for quite a long time now. This feature is more and more added to US trucks as well and so is my model. The second axle, the steerable pusher axle is liftable using a small air compressor inside the truck.
One other detail I like a lot about winch trucks is the tail lights on top of the winch. I prefer to make all lights on a model work, but that is (almost) impossible with LEGO� light units. So I brought it back to just one set of tail lights at the back and one set on top of the winch. This model is also featured with an auxiliary electrical power output to power for example the gooseneck of the lowboy trailer. It could off course also be used to power trailers without a power supply of there own.
Quoting eric draves Are the instructions for this MOC available for purchase yet? I'm interested in building this.
Hi Eric, thanks for your interest. At the moment not, but might happen this year. Please take a look at my other trucks and trailers, I'm pretty sure there'll be a model that you would like as well of which instructions are available... :-) See you around!
Are the instructions for this MOC available for purchase yet? I'm interested in building this.
Quoting gbqcca gust Hi Ingmar , Not many wrote here for a while, But wanted to let you know that I'm very intered by this truck because of the dual steering axles. I'm still working on T1 and T12. I nearly completed Trailer 14 and it's jeep. Soon I should start Truck T14 in few weeks. Anyway, if this US truck3's instructions could be ready for next christmas that would be great. Keep on, good work!
Hi Ingmar , Not many wrote here for a while, But wanted to let you know that I'm very intered by this truck because of the dual steering axles. I'm still working on T1 and T12. I nearly completed Trailer 14 and it's jeep. Soon I should start Truck T14 in few weeks. Anyway, if this US truck3's instructions could be ready for next christmas that would be great. Keep on, good work!
Quoting Max The Owl Amazing moc! The details are more than jaw dropping! :O US Truck 3 is easily my favorite Lego creation ever. This was also the first creation I ever saw on Mocpages, but I didn't have an account to comment with. Good luck with all of your other future creations!
Amazing moc! The details are more than jaw dropping! :O US Truck 3 is easily my favorite Lego creation ever. This was also the first creation I ever saw on Mocpages, but I didn't have an account to comment with. Good luck with all of your other future creations!
Quoting Alex & Austin Bessinger Terrific truck, all of your models are absolutely amazing!
Terrific truck, all of your models are absolutely amazing!
Quoting George Staples This is a very detailed truck. I was wondering, with the steerable drop axle, does it have a smaller turning angle than the front axle? I am making a truck with double drops, and I want them to be steerable, just trying to get some ideas.
Yes steerable axles on different locations on a truck do have different turning angles. The closer to the not steerable axles the smaller the turning angle is... Good luck building!!!
This is a very detailed truck. I was wondering, with the steerable drop axle, does it have a smaller turning angle than the front axle? I am making a truck with double drops, and I want them to be steerable, just trying to get some ideas.
Best truck builder on MOC pages,the detail is insane!
Hi Ingmar, Amazing! Incredible realistic looks and it works too: in every detail.
Best road tractor ever. You didn't miss anything, looks like a beast too.
Congrats on TBB! Great MOC!
Super again Ingmar! Superb looks and functionality. Don't know of any better.
It looks excellent and has working parts to boot! Well done! Congrats on being blogged by TBB too, Much deserved!
The word AWESOME is not enough for this MOC!!!
I better not start to point all the things I like... no - love about this truck, 'couse than it would be a looooong list! Incredible work!
what a amazing truck!! it really has a heavy duty look. nice job!
This is a very nice truck. Very detailed, Nice color schedule and i love all off the technical features. The liftable axle is also a very very nice detail. Superb.
Wow Ingmar.. that is great work. Really love this one, and great technique in there. Love how you used the engines as tanks too. I guess you start to like 'odd' colours too :-) I hope to see it at the next Lowlug meeting, then we can put our rigs together for some pictures.
OMG, I'm pretty speechless after seeing this truly, truly amazing MOC. The functionality AND looks are just beyond words. Congratulations on yet another mindblowing truck !!!
Masterpiece! Completely! I also live in Europe and like American vehicles so your models are quite close to my way of thinking. What I mostly dislike about some models people make is the lack of something. Like you have everything working but it looks like something cat dragged in or vice versa. With your model, it's the complete works! It's got style, color, the looks and functions. Congrats!