There’s an excellent chance that while you are reading this, I am hunkered down at the office with no power, a couple feet of snow, and sincere regret that I do not own a truck like the 1969 Oshkosh plow rig you see both above and below this text. Unlike lots of the over-hyped dud storms we have around here, this one is the real deal. Winds approaching 80mph, potential for upwards of three feet of snow, and a rather short duration mean that this this could potentially be the most stout snow storm I have lived through in my 35 years here in eastern Massachusetts. Undoubtedly the town highway department will have their heavy guns out to move the snow. Road graders and tractors will be chugging along the thoroughfares and the dump trucks and other lumbering beasts will be trundling down the side roads. If I had a brain in my head I’d own the rig below and join in on the fun but because moths fly out of my wallet when I open it up, the big Oshkosh doesn’t live here.
This truck was designed to battle back against storms like the one I am experiencing. 400 big cam Cummins engine, four wheel drive, the curb weight of a granite building, and a top speed of about 45 mph mean that it has the gearing to not only climb a snow mountain but also to chain it up and drag it away. Yes, it is a very spartan beast and it is not designed to do anything but dig in and push stuff but it is ain great shape. Rust seems to be at an absolute minimum, the cab is mint, and we bet the open stack hooked to that Cummins sure makes some good noises when the plow is trying to move all that snow out of the way. The snow chains hanging from the sides of the utility bed are a nice touch and almost a dare to old man winter to heap more of the white stuff on. We’d mention the leaf springs out back but you need to see the photo below to truly appreciate their insanity.
This is a nicely maintained rig and I’d love to take it for a spin, especially in three feet of sloppy snow!
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE 1969 OSHKOSH TRUCK AND THEN HIT THE LINK FOR THE EBAY AD –
If I owned a good size truck, like maybe a C60 tow truck, maybe an old one, I would have figured out a way to add temporary weight to the back of it and would have found an old used plow to mount to the front and would be having less trouble than most clearing my driveway. Lets see now, is there anyone like that in the house?
I’d definitely do it!
An old C60 with a 292 and an SM420 would be a great powerplant for a plow, just be sure to box the frame just aft of the cab. I’d also slap a PTO winch on the back and portal boxes on the axle for added grunt.
New definition of bad ass!
I am the current owner of the C50 Lohnes named Goliath. It is honestly terrible in the snow with no weight in it. Judging by how heavy the truck is it will take a ton (pun intended) to make a difference. I will buy a plow for it one of these days though.
It is currently buried in three feet of the white stuff.