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The Differential company began building side dumping equipment for
railroad and motor trucks in 1915, and introduced 3-way dump truck bodies in
the 1920s. The truck that Differential recommended for this body was the
3-ton Graham Brothers, but in 1931 they decided to build their own chassis
for use with their dump bodies. This was a conventional assembled truck
powered by a 85 hp 6-cylinder Lycoming engine, with a 4-speed transmission
and Timken spiral bevel rear axle. Load capacity was 2Yo to 4 tons. It was
made until 1936, after which Differential made bodies only.
In about 1960 the company decided to make a complete truck again, this
time a large, off-highway 6x4 model. It was designed to carry 30 tons of
rock, sand or gravel, plus up to three additional30-ton short-wheelbase
trailers for a total payload of 120 tons and a gross weight of 170 tons. All
frames and bodies were of welded construction. The power unit was a
Continental A VI 1790-8A air-cooled V12 of 825 hp driving through an
Allison transmission with torque converter and Torqmatic brake; a slightly
smaller Continental diesel was an optional alternative. Final drive was via
a Timken-Detroit tandem axle with single reduction differential and final
reduction through planetary gears in each wheel. Internal expanding air
brakes and power steering were standard. Total length of the Wagon Train was
86 feet. R W
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