Load Trail Gooseneck Dump Time.

[jhenderson]

This country is all cinder mountains and that seems to be where they want them. There is one spot that has at least 8 towers, Porter Mountain, it is so steep the concrete trucks have to backup the last steep pitch so the concrete don't spill out the back. Even a truck and trailer my sized has to back down for a turn around.

How does all the steel for the tower get there?

 

[NIsaacs]

How does all the steel for the tower get there?

Good question, I will see my son today, I will ask. Not sure if he will know since once the foundation is done he is gone. I am going to haul his skid steer with my dump and he is going to haul a load of rebar. If his truck will fit, I will drive it and haul the rest and he will stay and dig.

 

[NIsaacs]

Good question, I will see my son today, I will ask. Not sure if he will know since once the foundation is done he is gone. I am going to haul his skid steer with my dump and he is going to haul a load of rebar. If his truck will fit, I will drive it and haul the rest and he will stay and dig.

He said each job site is different but if the road is tight/steep they use smaller trucks and or straight trucks. He don't know what length the steel comes in. This cell tower is 190' tall. It was a slow day yesterday. We couldn't get up one hill so it required a tow. Over all the road wasn't too bad, about like a logging road. The road builder dead ended the road and left. No turn around or even a J hole. The switch backs were too sidling, that's why we lost traction.

The concrete trucks will be the next issue, so at the very least he will order them with a reduced load so they don't spill out on the steep pitches.

 

[hseII]

He said each job site is different but if the road is tight/steep they use smaller trucks and or straight trucks. He don't know what length the steel comes in. This cell tower is 190' tall. It was a slow day yesterday. We couldn't get up one hill so it required a tow. Over all the road wasn't too bad, about like a logging road. The road builder dead ended the road and left. No turn around or even a J hole. The switch backs were too sidling, that's why we lost traction.

The concrete trucks will be the next issue, so at the very least he will order them with a reduced load so they don't spill out on the steep pitches.

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Your son has some nice gear!

 

[NIsaacs]

Your son has some nice gear!

Thank you, he rents the big equipment by the job requirement from Empire Machinery (Cat dealer) they are cheaper and have new equipment v/s the local rental yards. The Kabota is his and he has a new 304 Cat miniX. I picked up a load of forms in Phoenix yesterday and dropped them off at the job site, so I took a couple of pictures.

 

[TFucili]

Those are some big Sonotubes!

 

[NIsaacs]

Those are some big Sonotubes!

Yeah! Those things, I can never remember the lingo, too many strange words in concrete Three were 5'x5' and one was 3.5'x5', the small one I hauled to his shop, it was for another job. When I handed the invoice to the yard guy, he said 18.5" of tube...I was like no...18.5' 4 pieces, the invoice was clear about it

Ram tows Ram, Nice!

 

[TFucili]

Mule train!

 

[jhenderson]

I don’t know how your son stands it. I put in better roads to my log landings. And they’re rarely used more than 6 months. Those roads you’re using are to service that tower for decades.

 

[NIsaacs]

I don’t know how your son stands it. I put in better roads to my log landings. And they’re rarely used more than 6 months. Those roads you’re using are to service that tower for decades.

I agree, I was mad! Especially the dead end road. He seems to be used to it. Next years monsoon season will wash it away, not one water bar.

 

[TFucili]

Nick, is that road just decomposed granite?

 

[Ozymandias]

Do the concrete trucks not turn their bottle while driving? We do that so even the SCC stays inside on step roads. we have even some that have a hydraulic back cover for the lid to keep all inside even when over filled.

 

[NIsaacs]

Nick, is that road just decomposed granite?

I don't know what it is. The dirt is just powder/flour with big river rocks. Where I live, it is blow sand on top of layered sandstone. That you can't even drive a T-post in. Then a little higher up it turns to Malpais/volcanic rock everywhere, a lot of lava flows. Then higher up it turns to mostly cinders.

 

[NIsaacs]

Do the concrete trucks not turn their bottle while driving? We do that so even the SCC stays inside on step roads. we have even some that have a hydraulic back cover for the lid to keep all inside even when over filled.

I think the drum is stationary on these mixers. There are a few of the half cabs with the dump in the front. I don't know much about concrete, just that it is heavy and hard work, so I kind of keep a low profile around it, lol

Top of Saltriver Canyon.

 

[NIsaacs]

We both hauled another load of material to the Salt River job site. He had 3 pallets of block and a Cat skid steer, I also had 3 pallets, 3k per pallet. I would guess he was about 35k, I was 23,500. He topped out at 35 mph on a 2 mile long 6% grade, he was in my way, Lol The sun was barely up so the pictures are a little dark. We both cruised up the steep pitch this time. We had a nice gentle shower a few days ago so the road packed pretty good.

 

[NIsaacs]

Finally got my Garmin dash cam up and running. I tossed in the corner for about a year because I was mad at it, I wasn't nerd enough to figure it out, Lol

Here is a little clip of the steep pitch area. You guys are going to get tired of my video's, I gotta learn and play.....

 

[TFucili]

I tossed in the corner for about a year because I was mad at it, I wasn't nerd enough to figure it out, Lol

Hey, I definitely resemble that remark!!!

 

[NIsaacs]

What did I tell ya...here are two more. First one is me catching my son on a 2 mile 6% grade. The second one is me going down a 7% grade. About 40 years ago, before some improvement, a CTI truck pulling doubles, loaded with Fly Ash, crashed through the guard rail and went over the cliff. About 30 years ago, I looked at the remains. The truck and 1 trailer were gone but 1 trailer was still there. The aluminum tank had a big ole hole in it and about 1/2 full of ash that looked like concrete. It must have been not worth salvaging. I thought about it but didn't know how to get the concrete out of the tank. As far as I know it is still there.

 

[NIsaacs]

That time of year again

 

[TFucili]

That time of year again

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Still running half loads, eh???