Transport
History
To transport Popeye to the pulling events, we use a truck. During the years all sort of things have changed. All those changes can be found on this page.
1979;
First Popeye tractor, with 2 Daf 575 engines, was transported by a Daf
truck of Roos company, where Frans Kools worked.
In 1980 a new Popeye, equipped with 2 Detroit diesel engines, was also transported by the same Daf truck of Roos company.
In
1982 the
Detroit engines were replaced with an Allison engine and this was the
last year Frans Kools would transport Popeye to the pulls. Sometimes
the truck of Verbunt was used, also a Daf truck.
Because we wouldn't depend on others with a truck of our own, we purchased a Daf with approx. 160 hp in 1983.
This one needed rebuilding to meet our demands. The roof was replaced with one that had no holes in it, a new trailer body was made for it and it all was painted in the red colour.
With this truck we basically travelled all over Europe, from Finland to Italy.
Before the 1989 season this truck got some changes, we made some storage facility's under the trailer body, the cabin got a facelift and the new sponsors colours were painted on it.
In 1991 Popeye got his 3rd Allison and with that less ground clearance; therefor the loading ramps were changed.
For the 1997 season another truck was purchased; a Daf 2500, with air suspension.
We replaced the cabin, fixed a new crane on it and made another trailer body for it with storage facility's under it.
After a new paint job this truck brought us to every pull, untill...
...in 2007 we were on our way to the Bernay (Fr) tractorpull. Due to a blowout tire we hit the concrete crash barrier and with that the Daf and caravan were total loss.
Reparing
wasn't an option.
We already thought about a truck/trailer combination, which makes the use of a caravan unnecessary.
After Popeye was transported to several pulls with the help of other trucks we purchased another truck; a Daf 95XF with 380 hp.
A trailer
was also purchased, this trailer had a trailer body on it made with
snap lock profile plates.
The Daf truck was equipped with a new bumper, other lightning, other mirrors and side skirts with alu. bulb plate on top of it.
For the trailer we had lots of building plans. Those plans and the fullfillment of them can be followed on this page.
