Amazing! Is that a little boom crane ahead of the trailer? Then you could deposit your accommodation at your campsite, then use the truck to run errands in town 🙂
Wow, never seen an F model with a set back front axle in person. The FM series must have been a special vocational model here in the U.S., going by Mack nomenclature (like the RM, DM models). I am thinking oil field use, International offered some long wheelbase Transtars with set back front axles for such service. Either this truck actually is an FM model or a special export version of the F 785ST. Thanks for posting, very interesting truck.
I think the polka dot concrete mixers in New York City used this set back axle but with a day cab. They had a front end that stuck way out partly due to the front mounted hydraulic pump but also a set back axle fo rtighter turns
A fair number of HD conventional trucks did, but I never saw a COE Mack like this. In addition to improved turning radius the primary purpose of the setback front axle is to improve weight distribution, to make sure the front axle is carrying the maximum weight allowed. That’s important with trucks that regularly carry maximum weights like concrete trucks. It’s not so important in semis and other conventional trucks.
Oh man what a rig! The knuckle boom crane! Easy to park, no crappy trailer tires, no repacking trailer wheel bearings every year and……….NO trailer sway!
Jumbo Truck + Shrimp Camper = Jumbo Shrimp!
Camper just needs a couple Mack emblems on each side and some on the back to balance them out. The owner really likes Macks that’s for sure. 😄😄
Amazing! Is that a little boom crane ahead of the trailer? Then you could deposit your accommodation at your campsite, then use the truck to run errands in town 🙂
Yes, the Mack (a 6×4 tractor) is equipped with a knuckle boom crane and outriggers. It can handle any grocery bag just fine!
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a set-back front axle on one of these. I’m assuming that was a local modification?
Export model? It’s registered as an F 785 ST, but the ones with a set-back front axle were apparently designated as FM 700-series.
Wow, never seen an F model with a set back front axle in person. The FM series must have been a special vocational model here in the U.S., going by Mack nomenclature (like the RM, DM models). I am thinking oil field use, International offered some long wheelbase Transtars with set back front axles for such service. Either this truck actually is an FM model or a special export version of the F 785ST. Thanks for posting, very interesting truck.
I think the polka dot concrete mixers in New York City used this set back axle but with a day cab. They had a front end that stuck way out partly due to the front mounted hydraulic pump but also a set back axle fo rtighter turns
A fair number of HD conventional trucks did, but I never saw a COE Mack like this. In addition to improved turning radius the primary purpose of the setback front axle is to improve weight distribution, to make sure the front axle is carrying the maximum weight allowed. That’s important with trucks that regularly carry maximum weights like concrete trucks. It’s not so important in semis and other conventional trucks.
Have a look here for the whole factory brochure/spec sheet:
https://www.trucksplanet.com/photo/mack/fm/fm_k1.pdf
You can also google-image-search ‘mack fm 700’.
Thanks again for posting a link to the spec. sheets. Appears to be from 1978.
That is cool! His knees are better than mine!
Oh man what a rig! The knuckle boom crane! Easy to park, no crappy trailer tires, no repacking trailer wheel bearings every year and……….NO trailer sway!
Even if that little trailer still had its axle, I think it’s safe to assume this Mack would be able to pull it with little worry of trailer sway.
Jumbo Truck + Shrimp Camper = Jumbo Shrimp!
Camper just needs a couple Mack emblems on each side and some on the back to balance them out. The owner really likes Macks that’s for sure. 😄😄
https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73508-f-series-set-back-front-axle/
May have been a European/Asian model after all.
Splendid, clicking on the link results in a link to CC.