#weirdwednesday High and Mighty: Gallagher’s Towering Kenworth Experiment In the 1940s and ’50s, American truck builders pushed hard to squeeze more payload out of what they had. That meant lighter components, shorter cabs, and anything that could free up more room for freight. One of the more extreme approaches was to shorten the driver’s cab so much that sleeper compartments were wedged between the frame rails—cramped enough to earn the nickname “coffin sleepers.” By shrinking the space for the driver, designers could add a small extra box between the cab and main body. But more cargo meant more stress on the drive axle—and something had to give. One solution came out of Denver, where a company developed a front suspension with independently mounted dual steer tires. Inspired by aircraft landing gear, the setup replaced the traditional front axle with a thick horizontal tube mounted high above the wheels. Two massive shocks dropped down from the tube to support an extra set of shocks and wheels on each side. The result: four wheels across the front, each running independently. Front axle load ratings jumped to 10 tons—strong numbers for the time. The design reduced tire wear, increased stability, and improved the turning angle by 30 percent. Several trucks used the system, but Gallagher Freight Line took it further than anyone else. To clear the oversized suspension on their Kenworth, Gallagher engineers had to raise the cab—dramatically. The result was a flat-faced Kenworth that stood nearly 13 feet tall to the roof. With tiny windows and high-mounted doors, it looked almost cartoonish. Visibility and access were clearly a challenge. Still, the numbers made sense. The revised front end handled up to 9 tons of axle load, which meant more cargo capacity and less stress on the rest of the chassis. It did exactly what it was designed to do. In the end, only one was built. Gallagher’s experiment never made it to production, and there’s no record of why they shelved it. Most likely, the setup was too complex, too expensive, or both. But for a brief moment in the late 1950s, this towering Kenworth proved that even the most outlandish ideas could hold their ground—at least for a while. (fb)

📍 Rooms are filling fast. Reserve yours today! Whether you're rolling into Madison with your truck or flying in for the fun, rest easy—there are plenty of nearby hotel options for every budget and style. When making your reservation, be sure to mention you're with the ATHS convention to receive the special rate. 🏨 Recommended Hotels Near the Convention: Fairfield Inn & Suites Madison South – $169 Phone: (608) 255-7400 ​ Sheraton Madison Hotel – $179 Phone: (608) 251-6900 DoubleTree by Hilton Madison Downtown – $189 Phone: (608) 251-5511 ​ Holiday Inn Express & Suites Madison Central – $199 Phone: (608) 709-5050 🔧 Book soon—rooms fill up fast as the convention approaches! Get the full rundown on the convention at aths.org/convention/2025-convention (fb)