My Baby

My BaBy Versatility

This awesome rig is built to work extreme recoveries in the Big Sky country.

by Jim “Buck” Sorrenti

Versatility: (noun) ability to adapt or be adapted to many different functions or activities.

The above definition describes the unit featured here perfectly. In more than 40 years of writing about trucks and 20 plus years of writing My Baby features this is one of the most unique rigs I have ever covered. Plying his trade in the Jim “Buck” Sorrenti, a longtime editor of American rugged Montana landscape, much like the Towman, has been our field Norberg’s do and my mentor, the legendary editor for the past 10 years. He is a freelance writer and Frank Child (RIP) did in neighboring photographer with more Wyoming, Scott Wolff, the than 40 years of experience covering motorcycle, hot rod, owner of Iron Horse truck and towing culture. He Towing based in writes weekly for TowIndustryWeek.com.

Unit recently updated with new paint job. Missoula, Montana, has a specialized fleet.

Scott founded his company in 1995 and now has 15 employees. His extensive fleet consists of 22 trucks, which includes four heavies, two medium-duty, four light-duty, three carriers, three service trucks plus, as Scott stated, “A bunch of other stuff.”

The “other stuff” includes three tractors, two Landolls, a bus trailer, a 45-ton crane, three Snowcats, one telehandler, two skidsteers, a light plant, an end dump trailer, two trailer dollies, four pickups, the list goes on... The incredible rig featured here is a one-of-akind specialty built recovery rig for extreme recoveries in an extreme environment. This is a 1996 Peterbilt 357 powered by a Cummins engine mated to an

This rig does both recovery and hauling, shown here with a Landoll.

18-speed transmission. It has a unique setup knuckleboom on its business end. Scott explained, “I didn’t build this unit. It came as a setup log truck right out of the woods when I got it from a friend of mine. We took all the logging rigging off, mounted a fifth wheel on it and the tail board for a pintle hook and did all the air and electrical ourselves. I also added wide base front tires, all new rims, a lift axle, herd bumper and all of the chrome stuff on it too.”

The knuckleboom is a Barko log loader setup, which has a grab claw at the end of the boom. Scott informed, “Log loaders like this don’t have a working load limit per se. It’s got a chart like a typical crane would but it’s listed as a 20-ton. Of course that decreases as the radius increases and you reach out.”

Barko Hydraulics, LLC headquartered in Superior, Wisconsin, known as “The King of the Forest,” has been building innovative quality equipment for the forestry and scrap industries since 1963. Their high-capacity knuckleboom loaders are engineered to meet the demanding needs of the forestry, scrap, utility, construction and industrial markets.

Lo Life Custom Body Shop at Montana Peterbilt in Missoula, Montana did the paint job. Scott said, “I had it painted white to match the fleet and updated it a little bit. It took two weeks.”

Like a Swiss Army Knife or a Leatherman this rig is a multipurpose multi-functional tool with a variety of capabilities. Along with its knuckleboom capabilities in recovery applications, the fifth wheel setup allows it to hook up to one of Scott’s Landolls and transport everything from heavy equipment and buses to wrecks all with this one unit.

“This unit has performed many memorable jobs under many different conditions,” stated Scott, “Versatility is the most important attribute this unit brings to our business.”

Tech Highlights

Chassis: 1996 Peterbilt 357 Engine: Cummins Trans: Eaton 18-Speed Special Equipment: Barko Hydraulics log loader Extras: Herd bumper Paint: Lo Life Custom Body Shop at Montana Peterbilt