10-4 Magazine / May 2026 53 and haggling, a deal was struck, and the truck made its way to Gary’s shop in Commerce City. At the time, the truck was a basic white fleet truck, with short stacks that barely went above the cab. Though not abused, it was weathered and faded, but underneath the sun-bleached clearcoat, Gary knew a clean, cool ride was waiting to show up. Before the polish and paint could be done, it was time to go through the mechanicals. Getting a set of rod and main bearings, the 425-hp 3406C CAT was run through, freshened up, and, after some tweaking, brought back to the heyday performance of simple, mechanical engines. With only a handful of wires and harnesses under the hood, even after years of sitting, the engine needed little major intervention to get running like a watch again. The 425 CAT pushes power through an Eaton 15-speed transmission, but that transmission sits a little further back than average, thanks to the Caterpillar “Brakesaver” hydraulic retarder (the engine does not have jakes). Out back are 4.11 Eaton DS402s on Peterbilt AirLeaf suspension. Sitting on a comfortable 250-inch wheelbase, as a daycab, the truck has a longer look without the super-tanker turning radius. With dual 150-gallon tanks (the passenger’s side is a split tank), painted to match, along with smooth fiberglass battery box covers, both in front of and behind the tanks, and fiberglass half-fenders out back, the truck has a very tight, filled-frame style. Other exterior features include 7-inch turnout exhaust tips, a stainless steel extended visor, paint-matched catwalk, American Racing-X hubs on Alcoa 24.5 rims, and a 20-inch radius-end stainless steel bumper. Sitting on tall 24.5s, the truck is painted cream white with orange stripes and gold accents, and a matching cream white colored “Retro” 20-inch steering wheel. This short hood Peterbilt is neither understated nor overstated, and it is clean without being boring. You could write a book about the loads Gary Disher has done over his long career of oversize and heavy haul, but we will just focus on the transports Gary has done at the wheel of Creamsicle. Though Gary has largely stepped back from trucking on a daily basis, he still gets out on occasion, either when a move requires his expertise or it’s just too much fun to pass up. Perhaps one of the most unique was a museum transport of a Harrier fighter jet! Brought into the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum of Lowry, Colorado, it doesn’t get much cooler than hauling a fighter-jet down the highway! Other moves done by Creamsicle have included asphalt plants, haul trucks, and “tons” of construction equipment. And, although Creamsicle may not have the newest or most technologically advanced driveline like modern trucks, what it does have is dependability and simplicity. It may not get down the road quite as quick as the DD16s or the X15s, but it does get down the road, consistently, without the multitude of mechanical headaches. Creamsicle and Gary are both one-of-a-kind. Both are a little older, both a little antiquated, but both are also consistent and reliable. Before all else, Gary Disher wants to thank and acknowledge his wife, Sandy Disher, for their decades of marriage,
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