Still more heavies

 Several more heavy and or oversize loads rolled out of the port area again today. I only caught a few of them.

Trucks from Transport D. Dumais are well known in Halifax, even though they hail from Dolbeau-Mistassini - way up north of Lac-St-Jean, Quebec. That is timber country, so it is no surprise that their Western Stars haul logging machinery, such as this Ponsse harvester, from Finland.

 Another familiar company is JNB Heavy Haul from Brodhagen, ON. I saw their Western Star with set-back front axle twice today, so it must have taken its first load to a staging area to await highway clearance. 

That load was a Sandvik TH545I, a 45 tonne capacity articulated mine dump truck.

Certainly an impressive load, and an unusual set-back axle truck. I saw it again as it came back to Pier 9C for another load - possibly another Sandvik.

JNB has it own pilot cars too, although I did not photo them. (As I have mentioned previously JRB calls the hamlet of Brodhagen home, but operates from the nerarby town of Mitchell. That is near to the home of some of my maternal ancestors.)

And not so heavy, but rugged...

 The European RVs continue to roll in too - I have missed most of them, but did happen to see one today. Its license plate indicates it is from Landshut, Bavaria, in southern Germany, not far from Munich. (They ought to go the the Brodhagen area - they might find some family connections there too.)

The Toyota Safari model 4x4 is likely to come with a guarantee of uncomfortablility, particularly in a high wind with that camper body! The Land Cruiser is no longer available in North America, bur may be making a comeback due to its reputation elsewhere in the world.

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Bring out the 4x4s

They seem to be everywhere these days and 4x4s are pretty much a ho-hum sight on every road, but a few distinctive ones do show up from time to time.

1. This vintage Toyota Land Cruiser VX Limited (and Right Hand Drive at that) was receiving some TLC this afternoon.

[While I normally try to take serious pictures, I couldn't resist including the background and the advert for underwear - zoom in to see]

2. Mighty Dodge Ram with serious bumper also attracted my attention this afternoon.

All truck manufacturers seem to be offering downsized models now, none more so than Navistar International with its Terra Star, also offered in 4x4.

 Of course if you can't afford the 4x4 option-just take an energy drink and bull on through.

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More Mercs from across the pond (updated)

It in the tourist season, but the campers keep rolling in from Europe.
Recent arrivals include these two Mercs:

1. This Sprinter chassis camper looks more North American in its style, and certainly isn't as rugged looking as many of the expedition type campers we see. However there is lots of checker plate and other European features on the "bimobil" body.

It says "Alemania" on the hood, but I don't think it refers to someone who is mad about beer.

2. I've never seen a Mercedes Vario in North America before, so this was a surprise. Normally used as delivery vans, this one has been very capably transformed. It took some digging to discover the meaning of the name "Fuchur" on the sign. This is the German name for the flying dog Falkor, from the Neverending Story. Despite that there is a a seahorse superimposed on the world map.

3. The rear view reveals Swiss plates and symbols, including I believe, the "Arosa" plate, which is a region in Switzerland, It may also be the van converter's name, but I can find no reference to such a company. Update:This one is on the return leg to Europe, and will be leaving by sea next week.

Added September 19, not a Merc, but it is from Germany:

4. Well travelled Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4 spotted on a city street.

5. This one has a sandwich/canopy type bike carrier under the rear overhang, and a strange bit of artificial greenery on its back window.