10-4 Magazine - For Today's Trucker

COVER FEATURE - APRIL 2005

BEAUTIFUL MISTAKE
Oklahoma Boys Build Another Head-Turner

By Daniel J. Linss - Editor

When most people begin a huge project, they start out with a well-defined plan. Some folks know exactly how the final product will be before they even begin working. But not so with Cliff and Brett Wilkins – a father and son duo respectively – they made changes and mistakes for ten years before their “project” was complete. But as you gaze upon their finished product – a beautiful custom show truck they call “Low-Comotion” – it looks like a perfectly planned piece of machinery that stands tall and sets new standards for creativity, style and craftsmanship – even after a decade of change in the world of “cool” trucks. Aside from building a few superb show trucks over the years for their own enjoyment, Cliff and Brett own and operate a large chrome store and repair shop in Oklahoma, as well as a small salvage operation and a wrecker/recovery service.

Back when they started this project some ten years ago, long, low and lean was not the style – it was more like short, tall and covered with anything you could find that was shiny. A lot has changed, but somehow this “Low-Comotion” rig ended up right smack dab at the top of the heap, still ahead of a few trends yet to get popular. Some changes were made along the way to accommodate new things that hit the market during those ten years that passed while the truck was being built, but much of what you see today was built years ago. The truth is, both Cliff and Brett are master fabricators and creators, and many of the common items you see on trucks today came originally from their minds and hands. They are very proud to say that virtually everything on their truck was built by them!

After over twenty years of hauling cattle from the Midwest to California and back, Cliff told his wife Dolores that he wanted to get off the road and be home more (something Dolores says never happened). Wilkins’ Oklahoma Truck Supply was opened in 1987 with two shelves of chrome stuff. Today, it is one of the largest stores in the area and features a huge selection of parts, chrome and accessories. Located just off I-35 at exit 211 (Fountain Road) in Tonkawa, Oklahoma, the store can’t be missed thanks to the 50-foot tall “sign” that stands in the field next to the shop. The sign is a real tractor-trailer (a 1972 Kenworth cabover hooked to a 40-foot van) standing straight up on its nose (windshield). Held in place by three 40-foot long, 20-inch diameter steel pipes welded together and 14 yards of concrete, the sign, which reads, “Got Problems? We Fix Trucks” has been there since 1988. Originally, all of its lights worked, but over time the bulbs gave out and the wiring rotted away. Because of its “distraction factor,” the sign had to be placed 600 feet from the interstate – but were talking Oklahoma, which in that area is virtually flat – so you can still see the “distraction” from miles away.

The store is a real family-run operation. In addition to Cliff and Brett, Cliff’s wife Dolores and Brett’s wife Kimber also play a major role in the operation of the business. Kimber is in charge of ordering the many varieties of parts and accessories, while Dolores keeps everything running smoothly in the office. Both are on hand daily to greet customers with a friendly smile and a helping hand. In the summer months and during school vacations, Brett’s teenage daughter Kyla joins the team. And last, but certainly not least, Brett’s 10-year-old son Tanner is often around, amazing everyone with his already impressive knowledge of trucks and parts, learned first-hand from his father and grandfather. With a love of the business that spans three generations, it’s easy to see why Wilkins’ Oklahoma Truck Supply has become such a successful enterprise.

The morning we came to see the Wilkins boys and take pictures of their truck, they got called out on an emergency recovery job about ten miles south of their shop. We drove out to the crash site to watch them in action. Apparently, a truck pulling doubles had swerved into the left lane, which at the time was occupied by a rig pulling a trailer full of Dolly Madison treats. To avoid a collision, the trucker hauling the goodies veered onto the center median but couldn’t stop in time to avoid crashing down a 35-foot embankment, into a muddy river bed below the roadway. We watched in awe as Cliff and Brett worked together, using two of their wreckers, to pull that loaded tractor-trailer up out of Red Rock Creek – which wasn’t easy since the truck’s entire front axle had been completely tore off and most of the trailer tires were wedged up underneath, forcing them to literally drag the 66,000-pound heap of metal up the steep embankment in six-inch deep mud. Their 1965 Mack and 1986 Pete wreckers performed in a manner that could best be described as effortlessly. And in the same manner, Cliff and Brett got the job done in a short amount of time without any squabbling or disagreements – they just got to work and got it done. They seemed to know what the other was thinking and hardly had to speak to each other while untangling the chaotic mess.

As mentioned earlier, Cliff and Brett are master fabricators and they enjoy a challenge – so much so, they built their own wrecker units. Currently, their fleet consists of four units – the old Mack, two four-axle Pete 359s, and a monster-sized 1951 Pete 351 featuring all-wheel-drive (6x6) and big tires. They took standard over-the-road tractors and converted them into extremely capable tow trucks. The Pete 359 being used at the accident scene that morning featured a custom-made bed and a boom built from an old crane. The boys built everything on these trucks from scratch – they even figured out hydraulics and made their own stabilizers to help keep the trucks in place while winching heavy loads (like pulling that tractor-trailer up out of the creek).

It was probably best that we didn’t try to take our pictures that first day anyway, as the weather was wet and gray. So we took advantage of the time and did some sight-seeing (photo shoot location finding). Brett’s son Tanner said he knew of some good places so we took him along. He was a wealth of information – probably more than we ever needed – but we had a great time hanging out with this certifiable truck nut! After a long and hard day of “playing” around, the entire Wilkins clan treated us to a fantastic night out at The Rusty Barrel Supper Club in Ponca City, where we enjoyed some of the best rib-eye steaks we had ever eaten (after all, we were in cattle country) as well as some great conversation.

The next morning came fast, and before we knew it we were shooting away at multiple locations, ending up at our favorite spot – a quiet soy bean field with a lone, rusty windmill. Cliff and Brett walked us around the truck as we waited for the sun to behave and gave us the full tour of their “Low-Comotion” Peterbilt. We first saw this truck at the ATHS show in Fontana last year (May 2004) and from that moment on, knew we were going to Oklahoma at some point to capture it on film (well, not film, digital camera Compact Flash cards). The “tour” lasted well over an hour and I’m sure the boys only scratched the surface. We could in no way cover all of the details we were made aware of, but we’ll try to give you a good clue as to what this truck is all about. When asked how it all got started and all came together, both Cliff and Brett laughed and said, “Just about everything on this truck is a mistake.” They would start a certain project and then something would happen (good or bad) and the plan would get changed – and usually it ended up better than the original idea. This happened over and over while they built this truck. They had no “master plan” when they started – they just started. And everything was learned through trial and error (unfortunately, mostly error).

The truck began as a 1984 Pete 359 frame, engine and transmission. They added a 1969 cab, slid it back eight inches, and extended the hood. Then, they added eighteen inches to the back of the cab. Fiberglass “old-style” front fenders, which the Wilkins boys have made from a mold they own, were also added (they now sell these fenders to the general public at the store). At first the rig had a standard spring suspension, but as air-rides became more popular and available, they swapped it out with a Pete low-leaf air-ride system. The wheelbase ended up at 315-inches and the custom sleeper (with no rivets) is 109-inches long. ASI out of Tulsa built the outer sleeper shell, and then Cliff and Brett added windows, a rear access door and the entire interior. Cliff actually bought an old sewing machine and taught himself how to sew. He personally did the entire interior, with exception to the seats and embroidered “Low-Comotion” tags on the door panels. We told you that they did it all – we weren’t exaggerating.

Down the sides of the truck, the boys fabricated running boards, which include integrated steps at the cab doors and behind the sleeper. The rear sets simulate miniature spiral staircases (which provide easy access to the door on the back of the sleeper). Eight-inch pipes with all custom-built brackets disappear into the farings, built above the running boards, which also hide the tanks and create super-clean “lines” down the sides of the truck. Modified WTI fiberglass “double hump” fenders were added over the drive tires and the entire frame was covered and hidden from view. In addition to the custom rear bumper, unique taillights were created as well. Using modified headlight brackets turned upside down and dummy spot lights with LED lights inserted into them, the boys made their own “antique-style” taillights. The brass headlights, which were purchased at a local swap meet, are thought to be from a 1931 Cadillac. Final touches to the exterior include chrome sleeves made to cover the air intake tubes, a 5-inch thick boxed-end bumper with a lot of custom fabrication added to it, a louvered grille with simulated shutters and embossed “PETERBILT” lettering, covered air vents on the sides of the hood, wheel spinners, and a neat front license plate that, at the flick of a switch in the cab, slides down out of the bumper with the help of an electric window system from an automobile (track and all).

Under the hood sits a beautiful (and mean) Cat 3408 with twin turbos. Covered in chrome and pumping out about 750 horses, this engine looks as good as it runs (and sounds). The hood has a remote-activated hydraulic system for easy opening and is sanded smooth and painted on the inside. Even the brackets for the hood are cool. The boys took a Freightliner frame cross-member that holds the front engine mounts, cut it in half, “tweaked” the two pieces a bit, and created a set of massive and unique hood brackets. We could go on and on with details of this nature, but we’d need ten more pages for this story.

When it was all put together, Cliff and Brett did all the painting themselves, except for the graphics on the side of the sleeper. The colors (Highland Green and Arizona Beige) were inspired by Cliff’s Ford pickup truck. Again, they’ve never been trained as painters; they just taught themselves how to do it and did it – right there in the shop (no paint booth or anything).

Although it looks like there are no lights anywhere on the truck besides the headlights and taillights, there are actually a lot of lights – you just don’t see them. They wanted the truck to look lightless, but they still wanted to have lights, so they ran LED strip lights under the lip of the sleeper on each side and under the front and rear bumpers. There is also a ring of lights inside each front wheel and two-sided turn signals are mounted (hidden) inside the air cleaners. We haven’t even talked about the interior – just believe us when we say, it is super-clean, totally custom and very comfortable (and yes, it has two sticks).

Finally, after ten long years, the project was complete – and all the “mistakes” added up to one awesome rig. Both Cliff and Brett absolutely love what they do, equating their jobs to hobbies that they get paid to have fun doing. When asked what he does when he’s not working, Cliff replied, “I sleep.” He considers building trucks to be a leisure activity – not work. But when he really wants to get away from trucks and truckers altogether, he goes Jeepin’ at various places around the state and beyond. He loves to get out and do some serious rock climbing from time to time, and now that he’s installed a “granny bar” on the passenger side, his wife Dolores and others feel a little better about going out with him. Cliff has no intentions of retiring saying, “I enjoy working. I don’t want to go home and just sit down.” Cliff still goes out all the time on late-night road service calls in the wreckers.

Brett loves it when people say, “I can’t believe you built that,” about anything he has created. For him, it’s about building unique things or taking useless things and making them valuable. And after nearly thirty years of doing just that, both he and his dad are excited about being in the magazine. They’ve been mentioned a few times in some other magazines before, but never featured on a cover or centerfold.

Poised to take over at some point in the future, young Tanner Wilkins can’t wait to grow up and get going. He, like his dad and grandfather (whom he worships), loves to design and build stuff. He said that he’d rather build trucks then drive them. That’s probably a smart move for Tanner, as truck driving is no easy way to make a living. His favorite thing to do is take old things and fix them up. Yep, he sounds like a Wilkins boy.

This truck was not their first show truck and it probably won’t be their last. When they finish a project, they are ready to move on to the next one. We wonder what they’ll build next. Whatever it is, let’s just hope it doesn’t take another ten years, because that would be a big mistake. Oh, wait a minute, the Wilkins boys thrive on mistakes – maybe it’s not such a bad plan after all.

If anyone would like to see “Low-Comotion” in person, stop by the store and ask. We’re sure the guys would love to show off their beautiful mistake one more time (be sure to allow some extra time – there’s a lot to see on that baby). And while you’re there, what the heck, you might as well buy something – tell em’ 10-4 sent ya!