REO/BIEDERMAN and FEDERAL 7 1/2 TON 6x6
Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 10:17 pm
There has interest expressed about information on these Rare WWII Trucks. They were a WWII irem of issue procured on a specification written by the US Army Air Corps, there is not much in the way of Military Manuals to be found as there were no Army TMs or SNLs printed for these trucks, all manuals fell under the catagory of Tech Order(T.O.) as the 7 1/2 Ton REO or Biederman were an item procured thru the Army Air Corps only and not issued to Army Ground Forces. Those would be either Quartermaster, or Ordnance responsiblity with a TM assigned.
The trucks were produced in three major versions, the FEDERAL C2 Crash truck with 5th Wheel and Crane, the FEDERAL/REO/BIEDERMAN Tractor used for USAAF Fuel Trailers,, and the Biederman Model P1 Crane Truck with cut down cab and a large revolving Crane capable of lifting 20,000 that was used by the USAAF to salvage crashed aiecraft.
The trick had unique dome shaped air shock absorbers located just aft of the front bumper, abd odball 10.00X22" tires. It was also equopped with Air Brakes, and went "chhh, chhh"
These trucks did not fare well post war and were dropped from the Air force inventory in the 50s with the advent of the M-53 5 Ton 6X6 tractor, and M-246 5 Ton 6X6 Tractor Crane.
These trucks do not survive ourside storage well as there is a lot of structural hardwood reinforcing used in the cab, ther suffer a lot of rot as a result of this, especially the doors as they just fall off once the wood beneath the hinges rots.
Fred Crismon, in his excellent book "US MILITARY WHEELED VEHICLES" does a thorough job describing these beasts. I have helped Jerry Biro locate scarce HXD engine parts for these trucks. These can still be found around the country in use as Crane Carriers, and in the Building Moving Trade
The trucks were produced in three major versions, the FEDERAL C2 Crash truck with 5th Wheel and Crane, the FEDERAL/REO/BIEDERMAN Tractor used for USAAF Fuel Trailers,, and the Biederman Model P1 Crane Truck with cut down cab and a large revolving Crane capable of lifting 20,000 that was used by the USAAF to salvage crashed aiecraft.
The trick had unique dome shaped air shock absorbers located just aft of the front bumper, abd odball 10.00X22" tires. It was also equopped with Air Brakes, and went "chhh, chhh"
These trucks did not fare well post war and were dropped from the Air force inventory in the 50s with the advent of the M-53 5 Ton 6X6 tractor, and M-246 5 Ton 6X6 Tractor Crane.
These trucks do not survive ourside storage well as there is a lot of structural hardwood reinforcing used in the cab, ther suffer a lot of rot as a result of this, especially the doors as they just fall off once the wood beneath the hinges rots.
Fred Crismon, in his excellent book "US MILITARY WHEELED VEHICLES" does a thorough job describing these beasts. I have helped Jerry Biro locate scarce HXD engine parts for these trucks. These can still be found around the country in use as Crane Carriers, and in the Building Moving Trade