Classic Refuse Trucks TRUXMORE

Truxmore Pakker

1960 Truxmore Pakker (23 cubic yard) on GMC LCF chassis

Truck Equipment Company of Buffalo, New York introduced the Truxmore Pakker body in 1960. This barrel truck was initially available in 18 and 23 cubic yard capacities, with bubble tailgates. The Pakker was the first American barrel truck to feature a hydraulically powered packer plate, having arrived a full year ahead hydraulic versions from its competitors, Pak-Mor and Seal-Press.

Truck Equipment Company had been in business since 1921, and was famous mainly for their Truxmore "third axle" sets that increased the load capacity of two-axle trucks. Their Richmond, Virginia office had been a Pak-Mor distributor during the 1950's, and thus had a well established refuse body sales operation. During the 1960's, they would help make the Truxmore Pakker one of the most popular bodies in the southeast United States. The Richmond branch would also later become involved with manufacturing a well. The simple but rugged circular packer was priced lower than rear loaders, but packed an awesome payload with its hydraulic power. 600-700 pounds per cubic yard was the advertised figure, and it delivered. Bulk objects that would stop some rear loaders were swallowed whole and crushed in the Truxmore, and full ejection unloading was a huge selling point, since ejection rear loaders were almost non-existant at the time.

Early model Pakker; note reeving hoist & chain at right front of body, which was used for blade retraction

The first version Truxmore Pakker (1960-62) used an angle mounted, single acting telescopic cylinder to power the packing blade. The big end was pivotally mounted to the upper front of the body, while the small end was affixed to the lower portion of the packer panel. The panel was guided by dual-rail roller tracks on the floor, assisted by a large upper guide rail attached to the inside top of the body. Fluid pumped into the big end of the cylinder caused the sections to expand, moving the plate against the load. Since the single-acting cylinder had no built-in means of retracting, a small ram attached to a reeving hoist and chain was used to withdraw the packer plate to the front of the body. To be sure, this was an unusual arrangement, and the patent application stated that the reason for this design was for a rapid return of the panel, resulting in a shortened packing cycle. As is apparent, side loaders of this type have no 'reload time', which is to say that no refuse may be added to the hopper until the entire packing cycle (including retraction) has been completed.

Furniture is easily loaded, and reduced to splinters by the powerful packing blade

The bubble tailgate was hydraulically powered, and a wheel-controlled remote latch release helped prevent injuries by keeping men away from the back end during the unloading process. The tapered shape of the tailgate also assisted in more uniform loading of the body. It worked in conjunction with the angled face of the packer panel to force refuse upward, reducing air pockets in the body.

Early model Truxmore container loader. Note the wheel on the body, which operates the tailgate latches remotely

An all-hydraulic container hoist was offered from the beginning, allowing side pickup of containers of from one to four cubic yards capacity. A loading door on the side of the body opposite the hoist allowed for manual loading when needed.

4/5/09