Large Scale Freight Trucks

[GearDrivenSteam]

Does anyone know of a good REASONABLE source for large scale freight trucks? Preferrably arch bar.  I need 16 for some skeleton log cars I scratched up. The cars are kinda small, so I don't want the largest trucks out there. Can anybody help?

[cacole]

Define "REASONABLE".  Do you want metal, plastic, kits, or RTR?  Arch Bar trucks are not going to be cheap because there are too few suppliers of them.

The only two I have any experience with are Ozark Miniatures and Northeast Narrow Gauge.  Both of these companies have cast metal arch bar trucks.

http://www.ozarkminiatures.com

http://www.nemodel.com

 

[DMUinCT]

Bachmann freight cars can be bought (on-line or on sale) cheap.  The trucks have metal wheels and a coupler.  The Coupler arm receives LGB and other brands.  The trucks are worth more than the cars. 

[g. gage]

I built a string of ten skeleton log cars from a GR pull out plan about a decade ago. I used MDC arch bar truck kits. They are plastic with plastic wheels and easy to assemble. I replaced the wheels with USA and Gary Raymond wheels. I used both truck mounted loop hook and Kadee couplers with no modification and painted them red oxide with spray cans. I still use these cars and have had no problems. I don’t know if they are still available.

 

 

                                                   

Hope this helps, have fun, Rob

 

[GearDrivenSteam]

I define both of those unreasonable....at least for me. I certainly thank you for the suggestion, though. If you have any more, I'm all ears.....or eyes as the case may be.

 

As for the Bachmann trucks, who has them? I've googled myself to death and cannot find those.

[cacole]

 I think I have seen Bachmann replacement G-scale trucks in a hobby shop, but they don't show any on their web site.  Aristocraft also sells replacement trucks, but neither brand is arch bar, they are either Andrews or roller bearing.

The MDC trucks have not been available for many years.  MDC doesn't exist amymore, having been sold to Athearn, and Athearn does not seem to be the slightest bit interested in the G-scale market.

The only other possible source I can think of is Hartland Locomotive Works, but their web site gets you nowhere.  They apparently deal with the public only by telephone.

Unfortunately, I think you're asking for the impossible when you say you want a cheap arch bar truck, because no one makes such an item.

 

[NORCAL LOGGER]

Unless something has changed in the last couple years Aristocraft in their old Delton line has archbar trucks, they come with plastic wheels so they have to be replaced but the trucks are very good in 1:20 scale.  I use Sierra Valley wheel sets in them.  Seems the last ones I bought were about 15 bucks a set.

Later

Rick

[kstrong]

AristoCraft/Delton Classics truck:

Sprung, plastic wheels included - cost (MSRP) c. $20, street price around $16/pair. Wheelbase (1:20.3) 4' Metal wheels extra; either Bachmann's 31mm wheels or Accucraft's 1:29 wheels would be your cheapest sources. I don't know if Accucraft's wheels are available separately yet. Bachmann wheels go for as little as $12 for a set of 4 axles (enough for one car), so you're looking at $28 per car.

Bachmann/LGB/USA Trains truck:

All three manufacturers' trucks are virtually identical. Rigid frame. Wheelbase (1:20.3) 3' 8". Finding them as parts may be problematic. I'd call USA or Bachmann to see if they have any in parts that you could purchase. Failing that, buy a Bachmann flat car kit (c. $50), and get 2 sets of trucks, since the kit includes two flat cars. The kits come with Bachmann's metal wheels, bringing your cost to $25/car. Then, you can use the flat car bodies as loading docks, a long boardwalk, ...

I use both varieties almost exclusively on my railroad, and they have served me very well.

Hartland's trucks are another option. Plastic trucks, plastic wheels. I don't know what the exact wheelbase is, but it's on par with the Bachmann/LGB/USA trucks. Give them a call as to price and availability.

Later,

K

[GearDrivenSteam]

Thanks yall. ....seems there's a niche for decent affordable large scale trucks.

[DMUinCT]

 Bachmann cars with metal wheels can be bought on E-Bay for about $20 to $28.  Junk the car, save the trucks and coulpers. 

[chuckger]

 Hi,

 Charles Ro lists #R2030 arch bar truck frames with cupler for around $7, they do not include wheels. You can find these on their web site under parts, the are almost the same as bachman. Check with Phill Jenses at Hartland for a price on there metal wheels. Hope this helps.

  Chuck