DirtMerchants new picture thread.

[DirtMerchant]

Can't find the old one. So here goes.

Was under the Portmann bridge examining some work that had been done.
Pictures aren't allowed onsite, so I got what I could from shore.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2729/4059019829_ce5aa5d23c_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2733/4059021369_4eecce1ff7_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2749/4059027355_51b3f8ff3d_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2487/4059770048_6c70b20ac4_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2689/4059024813_953d4a9db6_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2767/4059767556_e4d987703d_b.jpg


5000 horsepower vacuum right there they're pumping about a mile and a half away

[bobcat_ron]

That's one project I want to pop in sometime and snoop around, FRPD is a massive company with some really neat toys.

[DirtMerchant]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2446/4059066359_4f3cd9f4ab_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2801/4059065293_bee02e72e6_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2499/4059811630_6d076950e2_b.jpg

[DirtMerchant]

That's one project I want to pop in sometime and snoop around, FRPD is a massive company with some really neat toys.

I'll be snooping this weekend, pm me if you'd like to join.

[bobcat_ron]

I'll be snooping this weekend, pm me if you'd like to join.

I'm working this weekend, but hell, as long as you do the driving!

[DirtMerchant]

I'm working this weekend, but hell, as long as you do the driving!

Lucky you to be working, I wish I had a job, I have to wait for more snow to fall.

We got 8cm's the other night!
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs057.snc3/14470_163330269860_27538634860_2586297_1232477_n.jpg

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs077.snc3/14470_163330274860_27538634860_2586298_130409_n.jpg

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs077.snc3/14470_163330284860_27538634860_2586299_3773700_n.jpg


I'll get some better shots of the 950 next time I'm running it.

[KrayzKajun]

you can keep the snow!!!

[DirtMerchant]

I want more snow!

[Gravel Rat]

Not easy working on the river especailly when it starts to run.

FRPD is a big company been around for a long time.

[Bleed Green]

wow it is snowing there already. you must be far north of those pics are from last year. It prolly wont snow here till December I would guess, maybe January.

[Gravel Rat]

As long as the snow stays up in the mountains its fine we don't want a winter like last year. The snow was horrible I'am hoping I don't need to order snow chains this year I should have had them last year. Dually trucks suck in the snow :cry:

[DirtMerchant]

Our plow trucks don't run chains. Actually none of trucks do duallies or not.

[Gravel Rat]

I had 3000lbs right over the rear axle and the tires spun like I had nothing on the truck. See what it is like this year I got rid of the retreads and bought Ohtsu Traction tires. Bigger tread and it works well so far in the dirt and mud.

Last year the snow was bad you needed chains. Going to work at 5am its dark and snowing like a b*tch. I was one of the first vehicals on the road and your grinding your way through 6 inches of snow.

Climbing the hills was nerve racking and decending them was just as bad. Down 10% grades with that much snow on the road. Its not bad when the snow is fresh its not turned to ice like it gets around here. Once you drive on the snow its wet and packs to ice. Climbing the hills was in 2nd gear (6spd) using the the Detroit True Trac in the rear diff and trying not to spin the tires. Soon as you felt slipping had to back out of the throttle and try not to spin. I should have had chains I was pushing my luck but I made it to work during the snow. You don't need 4 wheeldrive if you know how to use 2wd.

I passed 4x4s that were in the ditch or stuck I also passed front wheel drive cars that were spun out.

I think I will pick up a set of Canadian V bar chains it is cheap insurance.

Rural roads no cell phone service and if you go off the road ie slide in the ditch you will be there for hours.

[Junior M]

I had 3000lbs right over the rear axle and the tires spun like I had nothing on the truck. See what it is like this year I got rid of the retreads and bought Ohtsu Traction tires. Bigger tread and it works well so far in the dirt and mud.

Last year the snow was bad you needed chains. Going to work at 5am its dark and snowing like a b*tch. I was one of the first vehicals on the road and your grinding your way through 6 inches of snow.

Climbing the hills was nerve racking and decending them was just as bad. Down 10% grades with that much snow on the road. Its not bad when the snow is fresh its not turned to ice like it gets around here. Once you drive on the snow its wet and packs to ice. Climbing the hills was in 2nd gear (6spd) using the the Detroit True Trac in the rear diff and trying not to spin the tires. Soon as you felt slipping had to back out of the throttle and try not to spin. I should have had chains I was pushing my luck but I made it to work during the snow. You don't need 4 wheeldrive if you know how to use 2wd.

I passed 4x4s that were in the ditch or stuck I also passed front wheel drive cars that were spun out.

I think I will pick up a set of Canadian V bar chains it is cheap insurance.

Rural roads no cell phone service and if you go off the road ie slide in the ditch you will be there for hours.
gotta say, this is about the oh, uh, 400th time I've heard this almost exact same post..

Just saying!

[Dirtman2007]

gotta say, this is about the oh, uh, 400th time I've heard this almost exact same post..

Just saying!

Remember this is not your average driver behind the wheel. You got yourself a real know it all, professional steering wheel holder SOB,AKA Gravel rat

[Junior M]

Remember this is not your average driver behind the wheel. You got yourself a real know it all, professional steering wheel holder SOB,AKA Gravel rat
Yeah, remember, you dont need 4wd if you know how to use 2wd. :laugh:

I'd like him to come down to the swamp and show me, he'd save me alot of money on another truck!

[Gravel Rat]

Lets see you two don't get snow what do you guys know about driving in the snow :laugh:

When your the only vehical on the road the plow trucks are miles away and the tow truck is hours away. Brake down on the highway around here you can have a 10 mile walk to the nearest phone. Like I said cell phone service is spotty.

You also have to contend with these guys you get 8 of them crossing the highway. I have already hit a 500lb baby good thing I drive a Ford

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Roosevelt_Elk_in_Oregon.jpg

You also have to watch out for black bears they are fun to chase down the road with my truck :laugh:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Black_Bear

These black tail deer are the worst I hit a doe thismorning I couldn't miss it the duals on the truck snapped its neck

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_tail_deer

[Gravel Rat]

Junior that is wild life something you may not see in a trailer park but its what I see every day because I'am in rural B.C.

At 5am and pitch black you have a 1000lb Elk standing in the middle of the road playing chicken.

[Scag48]

I clown the winter in a FWD 2,600 pound rocket. It's all about tires and not being a moron, driving in the snow isn't a big deal. GR you make the easiest of tasks sound like a 3rd world war, put on your big boy pants and nut up.

[Hanau]

Yeah, remember, you dont need 4wd if you know how to use 2wd.

Put it in drive and floor it.

Repeat as necessary.

[Junior M]

Lets see you two don't get snow what do you guys know about driving in the snow :laugh:

When your the only vehical on the road the plow trucks are miles away and the tow truck is hours away. Brake down on the highway around here you can have a 10 mile walk to the nearest phone. Like I said cell phone service is spotty.

You also have to contend with these guys you get 8 of them crossing the highway. I have already hit a 500lb baby good thing I drive a Ford

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Roosevelt_Elk_in_Oregon.jpg

You also have to watch out for black bears they are fun to chase down the road with my truck :laugh:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Black_Bear

These black tail deer are the worst I hit a doe thismorning I couldn't miss it the duals on the truck snapped its neck

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_tail_deer

Hey Genius, I know what elk, bear, and blacktail deer are. Sure I've never seen 2 out of the 3 up close. But you dont have to treat me like an idiot.

Junior that is wild life something you may not see in a trailer park but its what I see every day because I'am in rural B.C.

At 5am and pitch black you have a 1000lb Elk standing in the middle of the road playing chicken.

Oh, what a dumbass! Dont even start that with me GR. I've spent more time in the woods than you spent time working on trucks.

Lets see, ever had a 400pound hog the size of a freakin volkswagon standing in the middle of road along with various other sizes from 50pounds and up and you come rolling through in a tandem dump? What about in a regular pick up?

I clown the winter in a FWD 2,600 pound rocket. It's all about tires and not being a moron, driving in the snow isn't a big deal. GR you make the easiest of tasks sound like a 3rd world war, put on your big boy pants and nut up.

He makes everything sound like that.. :laugh:

Put it in drive and floor it.

Repeat as necessary.

This doesnt work in mud or slippery hills.

[Scag48]

Put it in drive and floor it.

Repeat as necessary.

I like the concept although it's not terribly effective for snow. Haha.

[Gravel Rat]

Hey Junior I don't know where you get the idea I think your a idiot from ?

The trailer park comments well that isn't a nice comment. From the pictures of you and your familly you have posted on here your not that type of person.

Where I live I see wildlife every day. I was checking on things on the neighbours place the other day and a 3 point buck following me around. Almost came to me the deer was about 6 feet away it was interested in the coca cola can I had in my hand. At work there is a black bear that hangs around a person has to be carefull with a bear. A pair of racoons following me around at work couple weeks ago while emptying out the trash cans. Brave little SOBs wouldn't back off they were looking to see if I dropped any food.

The Elk are common sight they are a pain when they block the road they don't move when you honk the horn. Hit a fullsize 1000lb elk the truck will have some serious body damage. You hit one with a car you will be lucky to be alive. Knock the legs out and they fall onto the hood and crush front of the car and blow out the front windshield. There has been accidents where the Elk's head has gone through the windshield and 50% of its body.

As for the snow if any of you watch ice road truckers that is a piece of cake compared to when the roads around here get covered in ice. Last year a Cat 14G grader with chains and steel blade could not scrape the 3 inches of compact snow (ICE) off the road. The highway dept had to spread 3/8s minus gravel over the frozen snow to provide traction.

Slide off the road here you may not be found for days because you can slide couple hundred feet out of sight. You will be lucky to survive if your car slides over the bank roof first. There was a car so deep into the bush I couldn't see it.

Tires don't do anything in wet coastal snow this isn't dry power it is very heavy and once it is compact you can put on a pair of ice skates.

When it snows my trip to work that takes 25 minutes in normal dry weather takes a hour in the snow. Your traveling at 31 mph when you hit the grades your down to 18 mph. Decending the grades your in 2nd gear crawling down slowly barely touching the brakes.

At 5am nobody else on the road your on your own get in accident or go off the road better hope your able to get out of the vehical with no broken bones. The ambulance can't get you they have to chain up and it usually takes a hour to get to you. Police can't get to you their cars don't go anywhere when it snows here. The firedept has a 4x4 5 ton fire truck they can get to accidents.

Hopefully this year won't be like last year.

[Hanau]

I like the concept although it's not terribly effective for snow. Haha.

You're not doing it properly. Once your tires spin so much they catch fire they will melt the snow. There's your traction. Duh. :hammerhead:

[Junior M]

You're not doing it properly. Once your tires spin so much they catch fire they will melt the snow. There's your traction. Duh. :hammerhead:
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[Hanau]

That reminds me of this January. I had just bought the 09 3500 like a month, month and a half before. Still had the shitty stock tires on it. Got the ***** stuck in a snow drift, and the chains were in the other truck.

Got pissed and threw it in drive and 4hi. Floored it until the engine overheated and shut down. Let it cool off and repeated.

Throwing huge snowdrifts from all 4 corners, white smoke from the tires, heat plumes rising off the engine.

Finally on the third go around, the speedo was indicating 50mph, the front end kind of settled and hooked up.

Shot out of there like an F-14 off an aircraft carrier. In a spray of snow, smoke, and coolant the truck freed itself. Beautiful.

Went over to the dealer for some warranty work. Somehow the radiator got so hot it cracked and started to leak. No idea how that happened Mr. Service Manager.

[Gravel Rat]

You're not doing it properly. Once your tires spin so much they catch fire they will melt the snow. There's your traction. Duh. :hammerhead:

I had my 6.0 PSD at redline in second gear going now where both wheels spinning with a 3000lb chunk of lead over the rear axle. The ice that formed under the tires was hard as a rock.

The True Trac works good just like a Detroit locker both wheels spin.

The fun part is the wheels are spinning and your still sliding backwards :laugh:

The road my brother lives on his 3/4 ton 4x4 Dodge Cummins was no match for the ice he couldn't climb the road. All the truck would do is spin wheels he had near new tires on the truck. The only way he got up was chaining up the tires.

[Dirtman2007]

That reminds me of this January. I had just bought the 09 3500 like a month, month and a half before. Still had the shitty stock tires on it. Got the ***** stuck in a snow drift, and the chains were in the other truck.

Got pissed and threw it in drive and 4hi. Floored it until the engine overheated and shut down. Let it cool off and repeated.

Throwing huge snowdrifts from all 4 corners, white smoke from the tires, heat plumes rising off the engine.

Finally on the third go around, the speedo was indicating 50mph, the front end kind of settled and hooked up.

Shot out of there like an F-14 off an aircraft carrier. In a spray of snow, smoke, and coolant the truck freed itself. Beautiful.

Went over to the dealer for some warranty work. Somehow the radiator got so hot it cracked and started to leak. No idea how that happened Mr. Service Manager.

Remind me to never let you borrow my truck:laugh:

[Hanau]

Want to buy a slightly used Chevy?

[Gravel Rat]

So Bob this is what you were listening to on the radio and smoking a big roach while you were playing in the snow :laugh:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BjQKMxJNEc

[Hanau]

I was listening to this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8-UiXotuXE

Didn't spill my 40 of OE either. Cuz I rock.

[Junior M]

Remind me to never let you borrow my truck:laugh:
I was going to let him take mine, I'd like a new one! :laugh:


Bob, is it a duramax?

[Hanau]

Yep, and when the engine reaches 250 degrees it shuts down. Won't restart until it cools to 125. Luckily when it's 20 below with a 40 knot wind it cools down pretty quick.

[Dirtman2007]

Yep, and when the engine reaches 250 degrees it shuts down. Won't restart until it cools to 125. Luckily when it's 20 below with a 40 knot wind it cools down pretty quick.

Just how long did you sit there with it floored?

[Hanau]

Takes 7 to 8 minutes of flooring to get it that hot.

3 tries.

Call it about 21 to 24 minutes of flooring to get her unstuck.

The important part is I got it unstuck by myself, and bought some decent tires.

It was a drifted over road. Underneath all the snow and ice was blacktop. Just had to dig down to it.

If I'd left the plow on I could have punched through the drift, took it off since I was just going to the store for cigarettes and beer.

[Junior M]

Just how long did you sit there with it floored?
To long.. :eek: :dizzy: ;)

[T_S_S]

Wow Gr , from reading all your other post's it sounded like you live in hell. Didnt know that they had snow and ice there...

[Gravel Rat]

The coast usually doesn't get snow like we did last year. It doesn't help when the dept of highways doesn't plow the roads. The snow gets packed down from people driving on it so it turns to ice. You can't scrape it off with a plow with a steel cutting edge. Road salt has no effect so they have to use sand or 3/8s minus.

This year it is supposed to rain :dancing:

[DirtMerchant]

Starting to fire everything up as we continue to be getting dumped on. Things are happening quicker then we're use too. The 950F aka crusher is waiting on an alternator, until then I'll make do with the 950 and it's six way blade. When I stop working graveyards I'll get better pics. I will have some videos in a couple weeks of plowing a few feet deep parking lot.

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs042.snc3/12947_173328421902_511411902_3058868_1533858_n.jpg

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs042.snc3/12947_173328456902_511411902_3058869_8095883_n.jpg

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs042.snc3/12947_173328476902_511411902_3058870_7686642_n.jpg

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs042.snc3/12947_173328501902_511411902_3058872_7179559_n.jpg

I can't wait for the other loader to get going, then we can start moving serious snow.

[Dirtman2007]

Snow in November:dizzy::dizzy::dizzy:

It was 75 degrees here today:drinkup:

[Gravel Rat]

I know where you can use a old 980B you can use perfect for plowing snow. Start moving fast enough it does the wiggle wobble :laugh:

My favorite model Cat loader is a 966C.

[DirtMerchant]

Snow in November:dizzy::dizzy::dizzy:

It was 75 degrees here today:drinkup:

I'm hoping we only get six inches tonight and a total of 10 through the day tomorrow, then another six over night.


I've got a huge area to maintain and it's tough with a single machine.

[DirtMerchant]

I know where you can use a old 980B you can use perfect for plowing snow. Start moving fast enough it does the wiggle wobble :laugh:

My favorite model Cat loader is a 966C.

English is sweet. Come again? Where?

I miss the 966 but it was OLD. The mountains made a real effort to stick with newer equipment which is nice. They're replacing snow cats every 3 years. Imo tho the 950F out works the newer 950H

[Ozz]

wow it is snowing there already. you must be far north of those pics are from last year. It prolly wont snow here till December I would guess, maybe January.

Hopefully not another Ice Storm this year...

[DirtMerchant]

This is what it looks like up where i work.

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs042.snc3/12947_173307941902_511411902_3058481_1839161_n.jpg

On the left hand side you can just see mount baker

[Gravel Rat]

The 980 is up coast in camp.

The newer loaders are tiller steer it took me a while to get used to one. I haven't run one with the half steering wheel.

I did get to use a 988G it was almost orgasmic the power it had wow.

Heres what you want a Green Slime aka Terex with screaming Detroit power

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdLyULG3gzM&feature=fvw

[Junior M]

Snow in November:dizzy::dizzy::dizzy:

It was 75 degrees here today:drinkup:
was here to but colder than s#it early this morning!

[DirtMerchant]

That terex is wayyyyy too slow my typical operating speeds are 15-25

The thing i can't stand about the H is how slow the hydraulics are unless you're foots buried in the throttle. The quick change is nice tho

[Dirtman2007]

was here to but colder than s#it early this morning!

I wouldn't know, iI did't leave the house till 11am :laugh:

[Junior M]

I wouldn't know, iI did't leave the house till 11am :laugh:
well you missed out on a beautiful fall morning.. :rolleyes:

I was out at 5:40. And holy crap it was cold, I think I am going to start wearing shoes out to warm the truck. :laugh:

[Gravel Rat]

That terex is wayyyyy too slow my typical operating speeds are 15-25

The thing i can't stand about the H is how slow the hydraulics are unless you're foots buried in the throttle. The quick change is nice tho

I was giving you the razz the old Terex machines are too old and slow.

[bobcat_ron]

Dude, you got some view up there!!!!!!!