My first wrecker in the 1980's was a 49 chevy with a Ernest Holmes Speed King twin boom wrecker. Holmes practically invented towing and recovery. Fine equipment. I alwsys liked gm but I always thought they looked best on a F350. I also had a F550 with a Holmes 500. It had a built 390, towed like beast. Nice you were able to get that.
I'm sure glad you was able to get this Wrecker Bed that your friend owned. It is nice condition for sure. It will be so neat to get it mounted up on another truck as a shrine for Pop's.
That's one DAMN fine example of a 480, you MUST put that on a chassis Jonathan.....that would be a killer winter winch truck.......so rare and such a walk down memory lane.....I drove one in the early 80s on a f350.......that tow body makes single line 440s jealous.....
I ran a 440 and a 660 Holmes in the late 60's early 70's those twin booms came in handy when retrieving.. Everything was chain drive off the power take off. Before wheel lifts and hydraulics became status quo .
I just bought a 1968 all original Ford F350 with this bed and split boom wrecker . The truck is pretty rusty but bed is good. All working but only has PTO mechanical winches. Thinking of restoring the cab or getting a newer cab. Cool video thanks.
I have a 480 just like it was the first one I ever got to touch a lever on and I chased it 20 years and finally own it I understand why you needed it I still use mine
Very nice bed for sure expcially with having personal meaning to you. There is a 1973 international 1310 on Knoxville TN Craigslist for 700. Would be neat in my opinion.
Haven't seen a Holmes at work in a long time. There is a guy who I think still has one he uses at his auto shop in Valley Center which is about twenty miles from where I live.
Nice! Add that to a truck & instant tow truck!!! NICE!!! Awesome that you have something belonging to a loved one of yours, I was robbed of every penny that I had saved & many effects because of a greedy family member who violated every aspect of someone's will! So, I think that it is awesome that you have something of your loved one/close friend that you can really relate to & truly use, Once added to a truck or whether you simply keep it as a momento.
I think that truck was together when I bought the international wrecker from Larry. He said he was selling that truck also but I didn't need a small one at the time. That is the exact kind of wrecker I started towing with. I had a 72 Dodge with a 480 twin boom and a non hyd KKK wheel lift.
I was scratching my head until you said the wheel lift was added later. I'm thinking like some others here. Old square body Chevy. But I kind of like old square bodies....
I realize that this vid is now a year and a half old, but does anyone know if there's any rhyme or reason to the way that Holmes bodies were numbered? I've figured out that the higher the number, the heavier the truck required and obviously the more complex and heavy the unit would be, but I've heard of a 440, (now a 480), and 660, and a 750.... does the first digit have any bearing on the design ? Do the other digits mean something, or do they get bumped up as say for instance the 440 gets improved to a 450, then 460, and so on?
My friend had a Holmes 500 on a '72 C30. We fixed it up so he could sell it. I should have just bought it, because there are no more Holmes split-booms where I live.
Yeap...I never thought if it much, but you don't see these "old style" wreckers at all. Everyone uses rollbacks. Is there anything a rollback can't do that would make using this Holmes wrecker handy to have?
find an nice old chevy and build it back for fun , that is great for a little 1 ton , don't get me wrong I love my 500 on my 63 chevy , but it really is to much bed for a 1 ton truck , it will pull anything as long as you can either keep the truck on the ground , or chain off to a tree or something , I hate winching and look down an see the mud flaps touching the ground , as that says the front end is a good 2 feet off the ground lol I still use mine sometimes the split booms come in real handy on 2 nice curvy mountain roads here , you can recover stuff without using 2 or 3 snatch blocks and closing a road , all you need is one big tree on the other side , it will pull until it breaks no doubt !
Wow 😮 I started towing in 1972 doing AAA calls at a Arco ⛽️ gas station after school and we had a Holmes 440 that was mounted on a Chevy 3/4 quarter ton truck and the only thing that ever went wrong with that truck was the clutch because that Holmes 440 would pick up anything and back then we had something called a Fox Unit for Jump starting cars it was a unit that used the truck battery and a auxiliary battery mounted on the bed and once you pulled up the switch on the Fox unit it would give you 24 Volts and you could start just about any dead battery on a car or truck Wow 😮 it does my heart well to see stuff like this AINT IT FUNNY HOW TIME SLIPS ON AWAY.🕰
Very nice bed. I wish I lived closer I would offer to pinstripe and letter it for you for free with pops name and info for you on it . If you want to fly me out from CA I will hook all the trucks up lol
Would it be possible to put a rear axle on it, hitch, electrical umbilical- and make a "towing trailer"? If hitched to your flatbed- you could pickup 2 wrecks if ever needed?
No. That's an accident waiting to happen. However sling wrecker trailers of various designs were built and moved plenty of vehicles, but their design is considerably different. There are a couple of examples in this thread: www.ford-trucks.com/forums/546046-wrecker-sling-tow-dolly-pics-info.html#post15901346
My name's Jeff, if you wouldn't mind I'd be interested in hearing more. I have use for one as I have the same situation difference for one is I' looking to put mine on a longer wheelbase truck so I'll have room between the hooker and the cab. I'd like to put mw welder and compressor either on a flat deck or maybe service box. An old IH with large running gear would be ideal, something 6 lug 10.00 x 20. I think we can work something out, mutual benefit if you'd be be interested. I'm located at the 'Wheelhouse Workshop' if you google map search it you'll see the home of "A Hired Gun" that's my DBA, welding and modifabrications is my forte' expanding my one man show to include; 'wreckin, hookers n recovery' kinda got a ring to it, anyway, you can message me here or better my message number is 239 887 8064, look forward to hearing back, Thanks in advance.
Well I'll be go ta hell, I open your channel and the image that came up caught me off guard, it's an image of my brother "My Friend Pete", "shake a hand make a friend" the maker of things such as Cecil Mcgee and "got a fucking situation" or the famous "don't do me a round, do me square" Pete and Mini his body shop better half...I have a friend that lives near his old shop in Dallas and simply now having learned you can relate to him you can relate to me as well, we have much similar outlook..regardless our Mothers may have never known, I'm convinced we share the same Father.....
And something drew me hear again as I watched this video a couple weeks ago and today, for no better explanation than a kindred spirit at work, I came back and read this comment. Coincidence or Evidence of something more. And all other posts are from a year ago, you posted a week after I first saw this video and now another week after that, I'm a believer in the kindred spirit more than coincidences, but then again they're merely spirits they may not always get the alignment right either...lol. doin it and doin it right is how we do it...
and if you go to my channel youll get a kick from my "how to gut your cat alytic converter' the truck backfired as i suspected but the video recorder didin't capture the volume of the explosion it was more exciting live, being on my back under the truck with my face next to the live bomb waiting to be ignited the little flash did no justice...
How about putting this bed on a correct era Cadillac? Use it for "special" jobs like towing hot rods and stuff. Would be very cool to have in the stable. Anybody heard for Jonathan lately? Been a while since his last upload...
I honestly cannot understand anyone giving thumbs down for any of your postings Jonathon. Some people are just born A**holes. It really pisses me off how disrespectful some people are. And you probably cant see who the culprits are either, or what they disliked about the video. If you dislike what you're watching go somewhere else you're not wanted no one cares about your negativity. Just go lock yourself in a room and cry , or Grow the F**k up!!!!
Lots of retards wander into videos they don't understand. That 440 is clean and there's no reason it couldn't be put to useful work. Mine will be but mine's rough and needs a lot more work.
I've got one on a '72 Dodge 1 ton. The bed is really nice but the paint isn't nearly that good. The only problem with the wrecker is the clutches in the winch are worn out.
Check the tow411 forums if ya don't already know about them. Their vintage section has some great trucks and it's a towing professional forum. I like the old layout better so here's the archives which have many years of content. www.tapatalk.com/groups/tow411/ Good place to find parts too.
what a great bed. First truck that I personally ever owned was a '73 Ford with a Holmes 480. I'm glad you were able to get it.
My first wrecker in the 1980's was a 49 chevy with a Ernest Holmes Speed King twin boom wrecker. Holmes practically invented towing and recovery. Fine equipment. I alwsys liked gm but I always thought they looked best on a F350. I also had a F550 with a Holmes 500. It had a built 390, towed like beast. Nice you were able to get that.
I'm sure glad you was able to get this Wrecker Bed that your friend owned. It is nice condition for sure. It will be so neat to get it mounted up on another truck as a shrine for Pop's.
When my family was in the wrecker business many years ago. We had one of these beds on a one ton Chevy!
That's one DAMN fine example of a 480, you MUST put that on a chassis Jonathan.....that would be a killer winter winch truck.......so rare and such a walk down memory lane.....I drove one in the early 80s on a f350.......that tow body makes single line 440s jealous.....
I ran a 440 and a 660 Holmes in the late 60's early 70's those twin booms came in handy when retrieving.. Everything was chain drive off the power take off. Before wheel lifts and hydraulics became status quo .
boy is that clean. what a nice piece that would be on an old c30.
I just bought a 1968 all original Ford F350 with this bed and split boom wrecker . The truck is pretty rusty but bed is good. All working but only has PTO mechanical winches. Thinking of restoring the cab or getting a newer cab. Cool video thanks.
Thanks for sharing. Always a pleasure.
Sweet bed, I ran a 440 with a T-bar back in 1976 great working bed. cant wait to see what you do with it.
I have a 480 just like it was the first one I ever got to touch a lever on and I chased it 20 years and finally own it I understand why you needed it I still use mine
I know nothing abut wreckers but I learned how to drive a manual transmission when working at a Standard station as a kid. This is a good looking bed.
fine addition to the yard there jonathan mr w; im thinking 'pops' would surely be proud you take your time come up with a titled proper roller for it.
Put it on a trucking in memory of him it's an awesome looking unit
glad you got it Johnboy and it still looks nice.
Nice Holmes unit. I am sure you well find the perfect truck for it. Be nice to see it working again.
I ran a 1959 Ford 1.5 Ton with a early Holmes bed out of high school for 2 years, before I was legal to run it.
looks like a strong winch and very good looking bed
Very nice bed for sure expcially with having personal meaning to you. There is a 1973 international 1310 on Knoxville TN Craigslist for 700. Would be neat in my opinion.
Johnny B's Basket case projects knoxville.craigslist.org/cto/d/1973/6324838339.html
Haven't seen a Holmes at work in a long time. There is a guy who I think still has one he uses at his auto shop in Valley Center which is about twenty miles from where I live.
Wow. Your right, its in great shape. Gotta find a truck for it!
Looks real nice, I am sure you'll find a use for it.
Sweet piece, good luck with it.
My dad built a lot of Holmes wreckers. The guy he worked for was a dealer.
Nice! Add that to a truck & instant tow truck!!! NICE!!! Awesome that you have something belonging to a loved one of yours, I was robbed of every penny that I had saved & many effects because of a greedy family member who violated every aspect of someone's will! So, I think that it is awesome that you have something of your loved one/close friend that you can really relate to & truly use, Once added to a truck or whether you simply keep it as a momento.
seems fitting that it needs to go on an old chevy, plus they are easy and cheap to find.
very cool that you got it!!! you should find a same period Chevrolet 4x4 pickup to put it on! take care!
Yes it would
Now that is something I would love to have. On a 1999 or newer Chevy or Ford.
I think that truck was together when I bought the international wrecker from Larry. He said he was selling that truck also but I didn't need a small one at the time. That is the exact kind of wrecker I started towing with. I had a 72 Dodge with a 480 twin boom and a non hyd KKK wheel lift.
I was scratching my head until you said the wheel lift was added later.
I'm thinking like some others here. Old square body Chevy. But I kind of like old square bodies....
Ahhhh memories!!!
Putting that on an old truck would be a good video series.
I realize that this vid is now a year and a half old, but does anyone know if there's any rhyme or reason to the way that Holmes bodies were numbered? I've figured out that the higher the number, the heavier the truck required and obviously the more complex and heavy the unit would be, but I've heard of a 440, (now a 480), and 660, and a 750.... does the first digit have any bearing on the design ? Do the other digits mean something, or do they get bumped up as say for instance the 440 gets improved to a 450, then 460, and so on?
My friend had a Holmes 500 on a '72 C30. We fixed it up so he could sell it. I should have just bought it, because there are no more Holmes split-booms where I live.
Oh, when I saw the thumbnail I thought that was an old picture of the bed you put on the rotator truck.
That is a nice bed. And strong
Yeap...I never thought if it much, but you don't see these "old style" wreckers at all. Everyone uses rollbacks. Is there anything a rollback can't do that would make using this Holmes wrecker handy to have?
The scrap yard had a nice old red 77ish Chevy 1 ton with one of these wrecker beds. They cut in half! I think someone bought the bed.
How long is this bed like from headache area to tail lights if you happen to know 👍
Nice bed.
Yup use to work with one of those.......Had it on a F350
Totally dig your vids
find an nice old chevy and build it back for fun , that is great for a little 1 ton , don't get me wrong I love my 500 on my 63 chevy , but it really is to much bed for a 1 ton truck , it will pull anything as long as you can either keep the truck on the ground , or chain off to a tree or something , I hate winching and look down an see the mud flaps touching the ground , as that says the front end is a good 2 feet off the ground lol I still use mine sometimes the split booms come in real handy on 2 nice curvy mountain roads here , you can recover stuff without using 2 or 3 snatch blocks and closing a road , all you need is one big tree on the other side , it will pull until it breaks no doubt !
Sort of sentimental , would be nice to find a truck to put it on , use it the odd time as tribute to your friend ! Nice story!!
Hope that gets done!
That would be sweet looking on a 1 ton Chevy 68-72 4wd. Kinda like what Rick just got from CTR
I did a lot of work back in the 80's with a 480 on a c-30 chevy never a problem.hydraulic's were just starting to hit the market.
Hope you decide to find a cool truck for it and do an old school wrecker project out of it Jonathan
What ever happened to that International ya picked up a while back? I think it would look good on that.
What happened to Pop's wrecker? Thanks.
what sort of truck would that have been mounted on, something like a Gmc viking? looks great tho, well rescued tho Jonathan.
C-30 one ton Chevrolet
Wow 😮
I started towing in 1972 doing AAA calls at a Arco ⛽️ gas station after school and we had a Holmes 440 that was mounted on a Chevy 3/4 quarter ton truck and the only thing that ever went wrong with that truck was the clutch because that Holmes 440 would pick up anything and back then we had something called a Fox Unit for
Jump starting cars it was a unit that used the truck battery and a auxiliary battery mounted on the bed and once you pulled up the switch on the Fox unit it would give you
24 Volts and you could start just about any dead battery on a car or truck Wow 😮 it does my heart well to see stuff like this AINT IT FUNNY HOW TIME SLIPS ON AWAY.🕰
Very nice bed. I wish I lived closer I would offer to pinstripe and letter it for you for free with pops name and info for you on it . If you want to fly me out from CA I will hook all the trucks up lol
That is the way I remember seeing a wrecker when I was a kid in the seventies. How do you get the wheels on the ground?
You still have this ?
Would it be possible to put a rear axle on it, hitch, electrical umbilical- and make a "towing trailer"? If hitched to your flatbed- you could pickup 2 wrecks if ever needed?
No. That's an accident waiting to happen. However sling wrecker trailers of various designs were built and moved plenty of vehicles, but their design is considerably different. There are a couple of examples in this thread:
www.ford-trucks.com/forums/546046-wrecker-sling-tow-dolly-pics-info.html#post15901346
An old Chevy the same year would be cool
It would go on the International you want to cut down.
what about the old international?it would be nice to see that ol girl work again
Jonathan Did you ever get this bed put on a truck?
I ranch & farm. I have grain trucks from the 1950s, 1960s, 1980s. How many you need. No rust .
My name's Jeff, if you wouldn't mind I'd be interested in hearing more. I have use for one as I have the same situation difference for one is I' looking to put mine on a longer wheelbase truck so I'll have room between the hooker and the cab. I'd like to put mw welder and compressor either on a flat deck or maybe service box. An old IH with large running gear would be ideal, something 6 lug 10.00 x 20. I think we can work something out, mutual benefit if you'd be be interested. I'm located at the 'Wheelhouse Workshop' if you google map search it you'll see the home of "A Hired Gun" that's my DBA, welding and modifabrications is my forte' expanding my one man show to include; 'wreckin, hookers n recovery' kinda got a ring to it, anyway, you can message me here or better my message number is 239 887 8064, look forward to hearing back, Thanks in advance.
Well I'll be go ta hell, I open your channel and the image that came up caught me off guard, it's an image of my brother "My Friend Pete", "shake a hand make a friend" the maker of things such as Cecil Mcgee and "got a fucking situation" or the famous "don't do me a round, do me square" Pete and Mini his body shop better half...I have a friend that lives near his old shop in Dallas and simply now having learned you can relate to him you can relate to me as well, we have much similar outlook..regardless our Mothers may have never known, I'm convinced we share the same Father.....
And something drew me hear again as I watched this video a couple weeks ago and today, for no better explanation than a kindred spirit at work, I came back and read this comment. Coincidence or Evidence of something more. And all other posts are from a year ago, you posted a week after I first saw this video and now another week after that, I'm a believer in the kindred spirit more than coincidences, but then again they're merely spirits they may not always get the alignment right either...lol. doin it and doin it right is how we do it...
and if you go to my channel youll get a kick from my "how to gut your cat alytic converter' the truck backfired as i suspected but the video recorder didin't capture the volume of the explosion it was more exciting live, being on my back under the truck with my face next to the live bomb waiting to be ignited the little flash did no justice...
How about putting this bed on a correct era Cadillac? Use it for "special" jobs like towing hot rods and stuff. Would be very cool to have in the stable. Anybody heard for Jonathan lately? Been a while since his last upload...
the tire on the bed are for what ?
I bet you can find a truck to put that on eventually. Patience pays off as you know:-)
That is a nice rig. Is that the rig you told me about?
I have 3 of those 480 units
You should get the same year Chevy he had it on originally and put it on
Jonathan I have a 1990 Chevy duly used to be my repo truck has a wheel lift on it I'm trying to get rid of it it runs and drives if you're interested
cool
Would that require a reversing pto? My neighbor had one on a 72 F700
No it has a gearbox that allows you to dog the winches in forward or reverse. You can run one winch in and one out at the same time too.
i had a holmes 500.
I need that bed
I even have a truck to put it on
I honestly cannot understand anyone giving thumbs down for any of your postings Jonathon. Some people are just born A**holes. It really pisses me off how disrespectful some people are. And you probably cant see who the culprits are either, or what they disliked about the video. If you dislike what you're watching go somewhere else you're not wanted no one cares about your negativity. Just go lock yourself in a room and cry , or Grow the F**k up!!!!
Lots of retards wander into videos they don't understand. That 440 is clean and there's no reason it couldn't be put to useful work. Mine will be but mine's rough and needs a lot more work.
What did you ever do with this JW
that would make a cool bed for a diesel cab over rat rod.
would make a cool rat rod on a 68-72 Chevy
I've got one on a '72 Dodge 1 ton. The bed is really nice but the paint isn't nearly that good. The only problem with the wrecker is the clutches in the winch are worn out.
repad them there clutches or sell it to me :]
a crew cab dUALLY CHEVY SQUARERBODY WOOD BE PERFECT
Check the tow411 forums if ya don't already know about them. Their vintage section has some great trucks and it's a towing professional forum. I like the old layout better so here's the archives which have many years of content.
www.tapatalk.com/groups/tow411/
Good place to find parts too.
yea I need a wheel lift controller
Use the Land Rover discovery to mount it on
Be kinda cool 2 c an update on this video
I would take the wheel lift off
Nice, restore a old truck
No wheel lift tho all slings