I-10 blocked

dilligaf · March 18, 2005

Abuse yes! (it wasn't me) But I have to tell you about it.

Recently one of our company semi trucks (2005 W900L Kenworth w/studio sleeper pulling 48' trailer) loaded grossing 79800 lbs, quit. Blocking I-10 west of Phx Az around Tonapha. Which was restricted to one lane do to constuction.

A highway contruction worker approched driver saying "Hey man you got the whole road blocked. We got to move this thing." He offered to pull him out of the way. Out of the way was 1 mile away, up a 1 to 2% grade. Up off ramp to rest area. One would think, tractor or med duty truck. He pulls up in a 2002 or 3 Chevy 2500 6.0L automatic trans 2wd longbed. Chains up to receiver hitch on pickup and tow hook on truck. first attempt. Tires go up in smoke. 2nd attempt, little less power. They were moving. Maxed out at 25 mph top speed. No doubt the guy was in it all the way. Pulled him right into a parking spot in rest area.

Not trying to glorify the total abuse of the truck and careless guy. Who used company pickup to do it.

But still astonished it was able to do it and drive away. (no doubt shortend trans life)

asilverblazer · March 18, 2005

Somebody been watchin' too much "Trucks"

GMCTech · March 19, 2005

Man oh man, Some guys take the commercials too seriously..

Does anyone know who I can borrow a Hemi Dodge pickup so I can jump it in the desert?

LOL

silverado3500 · March 19, 2005

I've done that in my F350. It helps to have a stick, and 4x4 with manual hubs. 2Lo can be a beautiful thing. Won't get much above 15mph, but better than nothing.

jelisfc · March 21, 2005

I've moved a full 20 yard dumpster that was froze to the ground with my truck. You'd be amazed at how easy and fast they slide once you get it on top of the snow. Good thing I didn't hook the chain too short.

Shawn T · March 21, 2005

As long as there was no tongue weight I think he might be alright. The resistance point is where the tires meet the road. I would not go very far though. That is hard on drive train parts. Your weekest link should be the U-joints. If anything fails, hopefully it would be that. You always see these dumba$$es on "trucks" doing brake stands. That technically has more resistance on the drivetrain because you have the traction hook-up issue and the application of the brakes on top of that. I pulled a 30,000 lb tractor about 300 yds with my old 88 half ton on dry pavement. I just used two wheel drive. I figured 4wd would be to much traction, if it did not spin the tires in 2 wheel drive, I should be alright.

USA1Fan · March 21, 2005

RAMBLE

Somehow I don't see towing a large semi / trailer with an HD on level ground as being a huge accomplishment so long as it starts off slow'n'easy and gradually picks up speed and finishes up pretty much the same. That's because I'm pretty sure that if a strongman can do it that our trucks can too. I've also got a sort-of scientific idea of why it should be possible (something to do with inertia, force, all that stuff), but I can't really come up with a good way to put it into words.

Towing a truck up a grade seems like a different story though. At least unless the tow vehicle could get moving on a level / downhill stretch first, to help carry some momentum (and use the inertia to help make it the whole way).

/RAMBLE

Anyway I'm not trying to get any arguments started here, in case anyone takes offense at what I posted above. I just always found those HD commercials of trucks pulling other even heavier trucks to be a bit misleading, especially after watching some of the strongman competitions and realizing that level pulling has a lot more to do with rolling resistance and traction than the overall force being applied. Not that the force doesn't matter (needs to be enough to get the ball rolling, so to speak, but like I said, if a strongman can do it, surely nearly ANY truck should be able to, even 1/2 tons.)

USA1Fan · March 21, 2005

AH-HA!

I just thought of something truck-oriented that illustrates my point pretty well- tractor pulls and the sleds. The sled doesn't change weight as the pull vehicle goes down the track. Just the amount of rolling resistance changes (as the weight is shifted forward over the skid from the wheels in back).

Shawn T · March 21, 2005

AH-HA!

I just thought of something truck-oriented that illustrates my point pretty well- tractor pulls and the sleds. The sled doesn't change weight as the pull vehicle goes down the track. Just the amount of rolling resistance changes (as the weight is shifted forward over the skid from the wheels in back).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Good point. That was the direction I was starting to head when I posted. "Dragging" an object doesn't necesarrily do alot of damage if it is done in a slow gradual manner. Traction is the issue, and as long as the load is not transferred directly to the vehicle you will not gain any. Your right about the strong man contest too. If I am not mistaken, I think one guy pulled a 747 passenger plane for about ten feet on the level. Don't quote me on that!