Classic Refuse Trucks GAR WOOD

Load-Packer 500 "Cyclomatic"

In the spring of 1957, Gar Wood unveiled an all new refuse packer body, the Load-Packer 500. The original Load-Packer (including the closely related LP200/300 series) had been around for twenty years. Gar Wood packers looked dated, especially compared to the ultra-modern Leach Packmaster and Heil Colectomatic. With advanced "Cyclomatic" packing, the new LP-500 kept Gar Wood in the competition, with a larger hopper and lightning-fast packing cycle. Complete automatic cycle took only eleven seconds, and reloading could commence in a mere four seconds! A rotating sweeper panel cleared the hopper, and fed a direct-thrust packing panel which delivered 81,000 pounds on the load at body floor level. Variations of this design would survive into the late 1970s with four major revisions, and become one of the most popular Gar Woods in company history.

With a 1.5 cubic yard hopper and 75" opening, the LP-500 was a dramatic improvement over the original Load-Packer. As shown here, refuse is loaded below and behind the rotary conveyor panel.

By pushing one of two levers, the automatic cycle begins with the rapid rotation of the conveyor panel. Power is by a hydraulic motor driving a double reduction chain & sprocket arrangement located on the left side of the tailgate. A cam wheel (not shown) on the right side is connected to the rotary panel shaft, and automatically the packer linkage. The twin cylinders above the packing panel energize, moving it fully rearward. Reloading of the partially cleared hopper may now commence.

The rotary panel continues, stopping at floor level at the completion of 360 degrees rotation. One-way latches lock the rotary panel in this position, preventing reverse rotation. Packing panel then moves forward, clearing rotary panel and compressing the load once the body becomes filled.

With the fully extended packing panel now retaining the load, the rotary panel moves a few inches more to a "blocking" position to prevent the packing panel from creeping back between packing cycles.

The LP-500 had the shortest life of all the versions of this design, lasting only until the introduction of the LP-600 in the Spring of 1959. Unloading was tilt-to dump, and body sizes were 13, 16 and 20 cubic yards. A narrow body (84" wide) ten yard version was also available. Absent was the big 24 yard box seen on the LP-300, but it was probably felt that the LP-500's greater compaction made it unnecessary, as well as roll-over concerns at the landfill.

The LP-500 is also noteworthy for being the first mass-market rear loader with a hydraulic "kick bar" container hoist. Dubbed the Pax-All Container System (borrowing the trade name of Gar Woods subsidiary) these simple and fast-acting lifts were ideal for light (up to 1.5 cubic yards) container routes, and would become a popular accessory on rear loaders of all makes for decades.

75" wide hopper on LP-500 was a big improvement over previous Load-Packers

Pax-All container lift was the simplest system on the market in its day

Wide chain drive cover was unique to LP-500. Chain drive was revised in 1959

Missing cover on this LP-500 offers a view of the early chain drive. Even with subsequent improvements, the chain driven sweep panel limited the ability of these packers to handle bulky objects

LP-500 packers in action

8/1/04 (revised 9/5/09)