Freightliner 911!!!

[wiatowski]

Neighbor woke us up at 1:30 this morning... my truck had caught fire somehow.... at a loss for words.
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[wiatowski]

this morning....
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I've put over 1,000,000 miles behind the wheel of this old girl.... feels like I lost an old friend.

[wspeedin]

WOW!! That is alot of damage! Im guessing you cant put her back to pristine condition, lol. Do you htink it was arson? or just some random fire?
Sorry for your loss, vehicles are like family members, except they dont complain :)

[Ptownkid]

Oh dude, that sucks a lot. Here's to a speedy return to the road!

[chrisk]

Man, so sorry about that, hoping you have a nice speedy insurance process.

[haugy]

Damn man, that's rough. Normally I'd ask about an engine block heater, but it's summer. Fuel pump burn out? Had it been running recently?

At least the tanks didn't go and take the trailer with it.

Sorry bud. That's rough. But at least you weren't in it when it decided to catch fire. Good luck, and I hope you get back to haulin soon.

[Diggs]

That is rough. That is a total loss. Sorry to hear it. Are you an owner op or do you haul for someone?

[wotan2525]

Very sorry to hear/see that! I don't think its going to buff out....

[DAFF]

On a bright note the Sunsport wasn't parked next to it. Worst thing is trying to find another all mechanicial diesel to replace the truck.

[86 century]

That's rough

At over a million on her she was getting a bit long in the tooth doesn't make it any easier to loose.
Hope you get back out there soon

[cadunkle]

Sorry to hear it man. Hopefully your insurance covers it. I hear you on the mechanical diesel, I too prefer to keep it simple... Simplicity is reliability is beauty.

I've been there too man, with a smaller truck though...

Before:
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o234/cadunkle/P1270002.jpg

After:
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o234/cadunkle/uvs060208-002.jpg

[wiatowski]

Thanks all... just got in from working at the clean up today... Was sifting through the rubble trying to find stuff... So here the deal and I apologize if it's long.
I'm an owner operator for Landstar Ranger, the truck is a '93 freightliner with a 425 mechanical Cat. 13 speed double over. Insurance is looking after it, however it I not sure yet how much we are going to get yet... worse case 5000 was insured only for 8.
Electrical fire was the culprit.
I loaded at the plant 30 miles from my house temp warning light and buzzer came on and truck shut off briefly for a second and turned back on. Temp was reading normal. Drove down the highway and didn't do it again till the exit 15 miles from my house. Backing up my drive way (9:30 pm) it did it again... so after I got to the top I opened the battery box, and hood grabbed my flash light and started to move wires and such to see if I could find the short. Couldn't smell anything or hear or see anything truck ran fine. Closed the hood and turned off the truck, and decided look further in the morning. In laws were at the house till 11:45 and we went to bed at 12:30.... Been a long week for us Wed. friend died in single plane crash only him in it. Thurs. Friends of our killed in head on crash... so we had a lot to talk about.... ( back to the action) So needless to say we were emotionally and physically tapped out. Fall asleep and wake up to the sound of the neighbor banging on or door. He had already called 911. ( apparently we had slept through the 2 load bangs of the steer tires exploding... which according to one of the fireman who lives in town.. about 2 miles away... sounded like someone slamming a car door really hard, neighbor woke up cause he thought someone was shooting, he went out side saw flames thought our house on fire, called 911, came running to assist in anyway... wonderful neighbor.) Fire department was quick to respond, as we helplessly watch our livelihood go up in smoke.

Yes Haugy we are counting our blessings.
1) it happened in my drive way and not on the road... Had I been sleeping in the truck there is no doubt in my mind that I'd not be here
2)We had rain for the 2 days previous, if it had been dry like the last 5 weeks it could have resulted in an area fire.
3)there was no wind, it usually blows toward the house and had it been the case the house would have burned from the outside in, meaning little chance for escape for us and the kids

We are very grateful, a Truck can always be replaced but lives can't.
Here what I lost in the fire:
wallet, wedding ring,GPS,ipod,cell,phone,tools, parts, camera,myfi, clothes, CB... somewhere around 5000 worth. House insurance is hopefully taking care of that.

So that's the deal.. thanks for all the concern hoping to find an new to me truck and be back on the road in about a week or so.
I'll miss the truck as I've owned it since '99 and has been a big part of our life together. I know every inch,part,and sound that truck made... I Would call it an extension of me when I was driving it.... So sad to see her go in a fire...Never saw it coming.

so many memories and miles from the big day to the last ride being towed down the driveway.
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[Jetlink]

So sorry for your loss, I can relate to your comment about how you get so familiar with something like that. Even though we have hundreds of airplanes at the company, I know the noises and the quirks a few of them exhibit. I also can relate to how it becomes an extension of you, I feel the same way when I buckle in to my seat with the five point and take 50 people who don't really know any better for a ride. Hopefully you get this resolved and back on the road soon. May you find a great truck to take up where this one has left off at. May you learn all the noises that the new truck makes and become familiar with the ride and get a million plus miles under your belt in the new ride. If there is anything any of us can do to help, please ask and I am sure you will find help in one form or another. I myself will be more than happy to help in a time of need.

[wiatowski]

So sorry for your loss, I can relate to your comment about how you get so familiar with something like that. Even though we have hundreds of airplanes at the company, I know the noises and the quirks a few of them exhibit. I also can relate to how it becomes an extension of you, I feel the same way when I buckle in to my seat with the five point and take 50 people who don't really know any better for a ride. Hopefully you get this resolved and back on the road soon. May you find a great truck to take up where this one has left off at. May you learn all the noises that the new truck makes and become familiar with the ride and get a million plus miles under your belt in the new ride. If there is anything any of us can do to help, please ask and I am sure you will find help in one form or another. I myself will be more than happy to help in a time of need.
thanks Ben .. that's awesome... already in the process of hunting down a new one... it's all good. :)

[wiatowski]

Hey all haven't been on here for a bit, been quite busy. Just an update.
After a 4 day search I bought a 1999 Peterbilt. Nice truck. Went and got my safety done on it (passed of course) drove it to my folks and noticed water coming from the vent tube off the top of the valve cover. Opened up the cover and found sludge. :( Starting the in-frame on Monday. On the bright side of things at least I'll know the engine is fresh, and the thing drives like a dream. As my nephew put it " it glides down the road". anyway here's a picture of the new ride.
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[pap]

Wedding ring might still be in there somewhere. 14K gold melts at around 1600 degrees and car fires are typically 1000 degrees or so, at least from what I've read. I'm not a firefighter or have any practical experience, but maybe it's worth looking for. #1 because I'm sure it means a great deal to you, #2 because even if it did melt, the gold blob may be worth 500-1000 bucks.

My condolences, after that much time a trusted vehicle is almost like a member of the family, but of course in the end it's a machine and you said it right, you were blessed that it wasn't much much worse.

[DAFF]

Paint the front fenders silver and add the chrome stripe and wave on the side.... Nice ride by the way.

[jzelt]

Looks like a scene from Maximum Overdrive. Sorry to hear, but glad your future is looking better. What a rough couple weeks.

[wiatowski]

Wedding ring might still be in there somewhere. 14K gold melts at around 1600 degrees and car fires are typically 1000 degrees or so, at least from what I've read. I'm not a firefighter or have any practical experience, but maybe it's worth looking for. #1 because I'm sure it means a great deal to you, #2 because even if it did melt, the gold blob may be worth 500-1000 bucks.

My condolences, after that much time a trusted vehicle is almost like a member of the family, but of course in the end it's a machine and you said it right, you were blessed that it wasn't much much worse.

ya I've got a hunch that it's in the big blob of plastic that use to be my cooler. It was sitting right over top of it... but the thing is as hard as a rock, thought about keeping it and just burning it in hopes of finding it.

Daff...was totally thinking of Supra-ing up the truck some how. Have the engine pretty much stripped down, need to go get a 12 point socket to get the head off. Will try to post pictures of the in-frame tomorrow for those who like to see big stuff ripped apart.:)

[pap]

plastic burns off fairly easy - just build a little fire and throw it in, the gold won't melt but the plastic will. Fish it out and you may be feeling at least a little better in making lemons out of lemonade.

[Moose]

Sorry you lost your rig that's a tough one. Didn't have mine very long but I loved it. Hated to sell but mine was a 99 pete with a 3406E only had about 100,000 miles on the inframe. Beautiful truck rode like a cadiliac. Congrats on the new rig. Hope you make lots of money in it.
Found this pic of mine from the day I bought it.
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[wiatowski]

Sorry you lost your rig that's a tough one. Didn't have mine very long but I loved it. Hated to sell but mine was a 99 pete with a 3406E only had about 100,000 miles on the inframe. Beautiful truck rode like a cadiliac. Congrats on the new rig. Hope you make lots of money in it.
Found this pic of mine from the day I bought it.
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Nice looking truck! :)... I have pictures... am to exhausted to go get the camera.
Head has been pressure tested and ground, as well as the exhaust manifold. Main bearings and new cylinder packs and rod bearings were put in today. Have to go home tomorrow to go to a funeral. will be back at her on Monday. Still waiting on a few parts from CAT. Head will be going back on an Monday, so I'm making some head way figure I should be done sometime on wed.... I hope.

[Okie Boarder]

Sorry for the loss, but glad you're OK. Looks like you are getting things figured out...definitely keep the pics coming. That newer rig looks nice.

[Moose]

Nice looking truck! :)... I have pictures... am to exhausted to go get the camera.
Head has been pressure tested and ground, as well as the exhaust manifold. Main bearings and new cylinder packs and rod bearings were put in today. Have to go home tomorrow to go to a funeral. will be back at her on Monday. Still waiting on a few parts from CAT. Head will be going back on an Monday, so I'm making some head way figure I should be done sometime on wed.... I hope.

Sorry to hear about the passing of your friends. Death is never easy but remember all of the good times you had with them and celebrate their lives. We will all get to see our past loved ones again someday.

On the truck sounds like your not wasteing any time. That's the way to do it. Get up, dust yourself off, and climb right back on. When you get that cat purring take a video of it and post. Been awhile since I've heard a big diesel run. Found some better pics of my pete.
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[wiatowski]

Ahhh...truck porn... I love it! :) Forgot my camera at my folks... I promise pics to come soon.

[wiatowski]

As promised... I have some earlier photos but I find it hard to stop and take pictures when you're trying to get the job done.
Got to the shop late yesterday evening, Started working on the engine this morning around 8:30am and came in the house around 10 tonight.
here's the start of my day.
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u436/wiatowski/IMG_4721.jpg
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u436/wiatowski/IMG_4722.jpg
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u436/wiatowski/IMG_4723.jpg
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u436/wiatowski/IMG_4724.jpg

[wiatowski]

the end of today.
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u436/wiatowski/IMG_4733.jpg
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u436/wiatowski/IMG_4734.jpg
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u436/wiatowski/IMG_4735.jpg
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u436/wiatowski/IMG_4737.jpg

[Moose]

Looking good!