ajvolpe Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 Looks like it works pretty darn good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Rosadini Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 We have not had graders since the late 50s. Once the gravel and dirt roads were paved, graders were an expense that could not be justified. And for "unsurfaced" road maintenance I am seeing more and more townships getting rid of the old graders (one recently sold its 50+ year old grader for scrap, as the scrapyard was the only bidder on it), replacing them with an ag tractor that pulls a spike tooth harrow followed by a smooth drag. An ag tractor is much more versatile than a grader at times other than the mud season. Graders are expensive to buy and do need rather experienced operators. And I agree with you Bob, sometimes you need that 3000+ lb plow backed up by 30,000+ lb of truck and salt/sand to get down to pavement or to open the road. Hear you on the Ag tractors- versatile- then take the harrow/drag off and hook up a big bat wing mower. I do some work for neighbors on common gravel driveways-one is 2800 ft long and I've found some good online maintenance info on gravel roads. Grader is key piece but operator skill (Or lack of it) is key to a good job. By the way, buddy of mine has a LandPride 8' power rake which I borrow and pull with my 4720 Deere-does a great job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Rosadini Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 But do they tow plow? The deeper stuff starts about 25 seconds in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkmBP-ISzKk Impressive. Mass DOT bought a few. I took pix at local municpal equipment dealer when they came in but I guess I did not download. International and Freightliner tandems. I don't believe they had the big chem tanks like the MoDot I think I've seen them on Mass Pike once. By the way- Mass Pike still has some big L-9000 Fords- but their days are numbered-last of the old Louisvilles-believe they are 97's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Rosadini Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 Oh, I'm sure they're well preserved holdovers----Sioux Falls has some very respectable fleet managers, regardless of what one may think of the political appointees in the offices over them..... The bulk, these days, are dump trucks with front plows. One thing I'm curious about--and it may be why the city keeps the graders around: When they do curb-to-curb plowing, they actually put a blade about 1-2' over onto the boulevard/sidewalk, and I know they can do that with the graders. I don't know if they can do that with the plows you see on dump trucks---the blade's up about 6" or so off the ground, and set out about 2' to one side of the vehicle. The graders would be using the "sideshift" feature on the moldboard (blade) As for a truck, if it had a wingplow you might be able to do that but keep the dogs and pedestrians off the streets! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 The guys that operate that grader over the curb are fairly skilled. They manage to swerve the blade around parking meter and light poles. It's pretty impressive to see them push that windrow out into the middle of the street with a long line of dump trucks waiting to haul away snow coming off a force feed loader. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lfeg Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 A skilled operator is the key Richard. Be glad your city has them. And I have seen tow plows, but ODOT does not seem to like them. 12 foot plows and wing plows are popular on the interstates here. It is a sight to see three big plow/spreaders gang plowing from Geneva to the PA line. Another sight is some of the different setups they use on the state and US 2 lanes in the snow belt. Extended wheelbase (270 inch plus) tandems with extra large spreader boxes and side mounted liquid deicer tanks and a plow mounted 4 to 5 feet out in front of the bumper so it can be severely angled to really throw the snow to the far side of the road ditch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Rosadini Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 Check out this Cargo cab application: The new Ginaf HD5395TS was recently shown to the press. It's certainly a very professional application of Ford's "Cargo" heavy truck cab. Specifications: Engine: Cummins QSX15 Engine power: 449 kW (610 hp) at 1900 rev / min Engine size: 14.9 liters Transmission: ZF AS Tronic 12AS3141TO with GINAF HD Mining Shift software Engine brake: 360 kW at 2300 r / min + ZF Intarder 600 kW Front axles: 13 tons Sisu (2x) Rear axles: 23 tons Sisu (3x) Suspension - Front axles: parabolic springs with four bellows per axle Suspension - Rear axles: HD HPVS hydropneumatic Tires: XZL Michelin 395 / 85R20 Maximum travel speed: 69 km / h (empty limited to 60 km / h, loaded 40 km / h) Fuel capacity: 400 liters Trailer: KH 32 m³ (water content) Dump body cycle times: 29 seconds Load capacity: 70,000 kg Curb weight: 25,000 kg . Attached Thumbnails Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Rosadini Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 Sorry guys, I could not download the pix. If you want to see this beast, go to: Bigmacktrucks.com Forums Scroll to "odds and Ends" -Trucking News Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 (edited) Bob...you mean this big mo-fo?? Or this big jammie... Edited February 10, 2015 by twintornados Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Rosadini Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Bob...you mean this big mo-fo?? Or this big jammie... TT- Thx for the link-looks like a very interesting site. The orange unit is I believe the predecessor to this Ford cab unit. It was a DAF cab. The Ford Cargo cab has been jacked up to accommodate the 15 liter Cummins. But go to the Bigmack site and there are other pix showing chassis, rears etc. This is a beast- 154,000 lb PAYLOAD! This is a Dutch outfit that is building these things and fact that they chose a Ford cab I think speaks well of the cab's durability. These things will be big buck units and I can't imagine them choosing a cab that would NOT be able to take the beating these things will be going through Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzcat Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 I've never heard of GINAF so I looked it up... it's a Dutch severe duty truck specialist now owned by a Chinese conglomerate. It made sense that while it was Dutch-owned, it collaborated with DAF (another historical Dutch brand now owned by Paccar) but now it is Chinese owned so they probably were more open to using an alternative supply for its cabs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe771476 Posted February 12, 2015 Author Share Posted February 12, 2015 Some tidbits: 1) Class 8 mfrs. are using more of their own engines, nipping at Cummins lead which is still hefty. International is the only mfr. using more Cummins. 2) Some fire dept. in Kentucky just received delivery of a "new" Sterling truck! Huh?! 3) Ford gets almost full page in USA Today's Feb 5th edition. It seems the Transit is selling like hotcakes! In January it sold 6380 units, Ram Promaster 1580, Sprinter 1505 -- gee that's too bad Daimler, Nissan NV 1059. GM figures? The Express and Savana managed to garner a respectable 5071 combined! It goes to show you the E-series shouldn't be put to bed quite yet. Also on same page Ford is adding 1550 workers to meet high demand for the new F150. 3) Pickup trucks top list of vehicles selling over $50000 with Ford F-series number one. 4) I saw the American Towman Exposition ad in their mag and there's a pic of a HUGE F750! It has to be a 4WD. I can't find the photo online here to save my life, but when you scroll down to see the list of exhibitors on the web site, the only truck mfr. listed SO FAR is Ford. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Rosadini Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 Some tidbits: 1) Class 8 mfrs. are using more of their own engines, nipping at Cummins lead which is still hefty. International is the only mfr. using more Cummins. 2) Some fire dept. in Kentucky just received delivery of a "new" Sterling truck! Huh?! 3) Ford gets almost full page in USA Today's Feb 5th edition. It seems the Transit is selling like hotcakes! In January it sold 6380 units, Ram Promaster 1580, Sprinter 1505 -- gee that's too bad Daimler, Nissan NV 1059. GM figures? The Express and Savana managed to garner a respectable 5071 combined! It goes to show you the E-series shouldn't be put to bed quite yet. Also on same page Ford is adding 1550 workers to meet high demand for the new F150. 3) Pickup trucks top list of vehicles selling over $50000 with Ford F-series number one. 4) I saw the American Towman Exposition ad in their mag and there's a pic of a HUGE F750! It has to be a 4WD. I can't find the photo online here to save my life, but when you scroll down to see the list of exhibitors on the web site, the only truck mfr. listed SO FAR is Ford. Joe-just curious-was the 750 shown a ramp or a boom? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe771476 Posted February 12, 2015 Author Share Posted February 12, 2015 I guess the plow blade weight is the determining factor and you can't put the big heavy ones on the lighter F-series. Bob you must be having fun up there in the snow! CT here and we're buried not quite as much. The new thing now is truck mounted snowblowers! Even the class 8's can't move 3 feet of snow in a single bound, or if they can, it's with great difficulty! When we had a 3 foot storm last year or the year before, some roads were never kept plowed so they had to use snowblowers! I think my town has 2 or 3 of them, and asking for more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 I would still like to know when Avon Lake begins construction of the 2016 F650/750 line....should be any time now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lfeg Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 With changes on my projects and contacts, I do not get much news about what is going on at assembly plants such as Avon Lake any more, so I have no info other than what is going on with stampers that ship stampings there. Do not even drive by there anymore. And about moving large accumulations of snow off of the road, truck mounted snowblowers are nothing new - I have a catalog from the late 30s that shows one. With the central hydraulic systems available for trucks today a hydraulic motor powered snowblower is about as easy to mount as a big plow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Rosadini Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 I would still like to know when Avon Lake begins construction of the 2016 F650/750 line....should be any time now. TT May 13 is first schedule date and July 15 is "Job 1" per Ford Fleet ( I might haven the days switched) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Rosadini Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 With changes on my projects and contacts, I do not get much news about what is going on at assembly plants such as Avon Lake any more, so I have no info other than what is going on with stampers that ship stampings there. Do not even drive by there anymore. And about moving large accumulations of snow off of the road, truck mounted snowblowers are nothing new - I have a catalog from the late 30s that shows one. With the central hydraulic systems available for trucks today a hydraulic motor powered snowblower is about as easy to mount as a big plow. Or you are also starting to see loader mounted units. I think they have their own power units. Now those really make sense in my mind as you can clear tops of piles at intersections where there is no visibility. But speaking of blowers, TV news a night or two ago had a shot of a Boston North Shore town using a nice blower- like a Sicard or Oshkosh or FWD (old timer) with its own power unit on back for blower. shows the giuy going down the street with discharge headed for sidewalk! Duh! must have run out of dump trucks! Then an even dumber move! Another news shot shows big city of Boston "snow dump". they have a snow melter running. " SNOW 101" says-...."What is hourly capacity of melter? Staff accordingly with feeding equipment" Nope-not these guys -must have had 5-7 big loaders running a circular pattern-each grabs a bucket from pile and creeps along to melter. Government at work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Rosadini Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 I guess the plow blade weight is the determining factor and you can't put the big heavy ones on the lighter F-series. Bob you must be having fun up there in the snow! CT here and we're buried not quite as much. The new thing now is truck mounted snowblowers! Even the class 8's can't move 3 feet of snow in a single bound, or if they can, it's with great difficulty! When we had a 3 foot storm last year or the year before, some roads were never kept plowed so they had to use snowblowers! I think my town has 2 or 3 of them, and asking for more! Joe-its getting old! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lfeg Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 I have a question, What is wrong with dumping the snow in the bay (or a lake or river)? Would be less costly than using a melter, and the end result is the same - discharge from the melter runs down a storm sewer and ends up in the bay/lake/river? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Rosadini Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 I have a question, What is wrong with dumping the snow in the bay (or a lake or river)? Would be less costly than using a melter, and the end result is the same - discharge from the melter runs down a storm sewer and ends up in the bay/lake/river? Ifeg-As recently as late 80's that was ok- then EPA stepped in. About 3 or 4 towns in Mass just got an emergency order to allow ocean/river dumping (Merrimack river which flows by Lowell and Lawrence MA.) I believe city of Boston did NOT apply for permission- unreal huh? Absolutely correct- melted run-off from melters goes to storm drains-and bulk of that water is not treated. I believe the melters have screens that keep the solid trash out of the discharge. Another point-from an environmental point of view, think how much fuel those melters consume per hour. But then again, who ever said logic was a consideration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 Melters are just a quick answer to longer term "placement" of the plowed snow in the winter months....when allowed to melt "naturally" the natural filter process of the water melting into the ground and returning to the water table is always a better option....hauling it to other areas for dumping is also an option....dumping the snow and debris from road plowing into creeks, streams and rivers should only be used as a last resort...the melters usually channel the water into the sanitary sewer system to be treated before discharge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lfeg Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 Every melter I have seen has the discharge onto a paved surface and then to a storm drain. And form my snow belt experience, most spring melt does not percolate down into the soil, but runs off into creeks, ditches, streams, and rivers. I should try to find a picture from a few years ago, Chardon needed to clear the town square after a run of storms, so they just piled the snow up on a lot on the outskirts of town. Piled it over 40 feet high. Then someone made a nice sign and put it in front of the pile along US 6 - Snow for Sale. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Rosadini Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 Every melter I have seen has the discharge onto a paved surface and then to a storm drain. And form my snow belt experience, most spring melt does not percolate down into the soil, but runs off into creeks, ditches, streams, and rivers. I should try to find a picture from a few years ago, Chardon needed to clear the town square after a run of storms, so they just piled the snow up on a lot on the outskirts of town. Piled it over 40 feet high. Then someone made a nice sign and put it in front of the pile along US 6 - Snow for Sale. I would agree. Most of the snow dumps are located on hard paved surfaces. The sheet runoff from these areas flows to the storm discharge system. The biggest objection to direct water (ocean/river) is I believe the amount of typical street trash/garbage that ends up in the water. As for TT'S COMMENT ON RECHARGING THE GROUNDWATER, a noble thought but IMO when the thaw does occur, the ground is typically still frozen and IF the snow dump was not on a paved surface, the runoff In any case would be so quick, that there is no way percolation can handle it all. Keep in mind, land is scarce. These dumps do not have a lot of surface area but are piles often 30+ feet high as they have dozers stacking the piles. It is ridiculous that in the current situation Boston is in, people cannot safely navigate the streets-either as pedestrians or in vehicles. If I would fault the Mayor for anything, it would be his refusal to seek permission to ocean dump. Another house was lost this morning in a fire as fire hydrants were not accessible. 12 to 18 inches forecast for Boston Saturday/Sunday! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 Well...it sure sounded good....lol. Anyhoo....back to the question at hand; When does Avon Lake begin production of the new F650/750?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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