My Journey Continues - The Latest Gig

Thank you SO much for this thread, G'!

I guess I never really 'understood' the hydraulics/pneumatics, of the PTO in Tom's truck. He's not the best trainer; it was just 'jump in the driver's seat, and do "A, B, then C. Hurry up, and don't screw up!" ' I'm learning....,from you, haha!

The concept of the walking floor is brilliant; totally new to me! The other toys and OS/OD/OW/HH (whatever) league you get to play in, sounds like a boy's (man's!) dream come true, and even some of us females, addicted to the industry! I've never been the 'don't get me muddy!' kind of gal. I love the learn & the burn!

I sure remember when John (one of the other Tank guys for Saunders, LLC for Shelly Company Toledo) blew his up; something about the rpm's being too high; that's why I asked you before. We had to pump off ALL his product into OUR tank, at the end of our 14 hour day, and run under 'my' driver ID, to finish the load. Paper Days. But because John's PTO was shot, I guess we kinda 'sucked' off his product. I'm still not sure, myself, and that didn't sound right, so I'll just shut up now. (I'll have to ask PJ next time we speak!)

I'd LOVE to see that trailer in action! So happy for ya!

THANK YOU!!!!

~ Anne ~

ps: I agree w/Brett. Tom's actually 'skooched' up in the last year or two, to being a '2nd shift' driver, yet still keeping the 'pay/shift differential,' that many companies DO have, to keep their night guys. Tom's aging out of the getting home at 0200 to 0400. Now, it's more like 22 or 2300; doable for my ole' guy! Leaves the house between 1100 and noon. Works!

pps: TL;DR I love this thread! I'm always keen on learning more, of what I've barely been exposed to in this wonderful profession!!

Thanks so much Anne.

Meant to say the PTO engaged raises the RPMs about 50 r’s, disabling the throttle (pedal). Definitely taxes the motor.

I’ll try to video the trailer pushing out the load. I’ve always had issues posting videos here... I’ll email it to you!

Thank you SO much for this thread, G'!

I guess I never really 'understood' the hydraulics/pneumatics, of the PTO in Tom's truck. He's not the best trainer; it was just 'jump in the driver's seat, and do "A, B, then C. Hurry up, and don't screw up!" ' I'm learning....,from you, haha!

The concept of the walking floor is brilliant; totally new to me! The other toys and OS/OD/OW/HH (whatever) league you get to play in, sounds like a boy's (man's!) dream come true, and even some of us females, addicted to the industry! I've never been the 'don't get me muddy!' kind of gal. I love the llearn & the burn!

I sure remember when John (one of the other Tank guys for Saunders, LLC for Shelly Company Toledo) blew his up; something about the rpm's being too high; that's why I asked you before. We had to pump off ALL his product into OUR tank, at the end of our 14 hour day, and run under 'my' driver ID, to finish the load. Paper Days. But because John's PTO was shot, I guess we kinda 'sucked' off his product. I'm still not sure, myself, and that didn't sound right, so I'll just shut up now. (I'll have to ask PJ next time we speak!)

I'd LOVE to see that trailer in action! So happy for ya!

THANK YOU!!!!

~ Anne ~

ps: I agree w/Brett. Tom's actually 'skooched' up in the last year or two, to being a '2nd shift' driver, yet still keeping the 'pay/shift differential,' that many companies DO have, to keep their night guys. Tom's aging out of the getting home at 0200 to 0400. Now, it's more like 22 or 2300; doable for my ole' guy! Leaves the house between 1100 and noon. Works!

pps: TL;DR I love this thread! I'm always keen on learning more, of what I've barely been exposed to in this wonderful profession!!

What you wrote about John’s PTO, I attached my hydraulic lines to the lowboy to adjust height while it was grounded. I nosed in along side of it, with my trailer still attached. Your summary of that situation is totally believable.

We’re total “country” on this job...using the truck air compressor and a long hose to keep the tires on our trucks, trailers and loaders inflated.

G-Town, you said you have a skid steer on this job. What make and size? What attachments? The skid steer is one of the most versatile and useful pieces of equipment ever developed.. what do you use it for on your new job?

I have a Gehl 5640 unit with a 3/4 yard bucket, removable tooth bar and forks. I put solid tires on it after I had several flats on the construction site. Not cheap, but changing and fixing pneumatic tires was a real pain in the butt. It’s an excavator, forklift, grader, snowplow and many other things.

Plus, it’s a fun piece of equipment to operate.

I'm glad you found a niche that fits your goals. You are the type of professional who will thrive no matter where you work. A real bonus is that bulldogs have sticks, not umbrellas. to deal with yourself. Always provide guidance and dedicated support no matter where you ride.

Thanks so much Anne.

Meant to say the PTO engaged raises the RPMs about 50 r’s, disabling the throttle (pedal). Definitely taxes the motor.

I’ll try to video the trailer pushing out the load. I’ve always had issues posting videos here... I’ll email it to you!

YW, G' and thank you BACK; I'll check my email happily!

The only way I could get a video to post was email it to Brett, myself. I never COULD get the "embed" to work, either.

Thanks so much for your time in explaining the PTO; I'm finally understanding all this!!

Happy Easter!

~ Anne & Tom ~

ps: Here's how I tried, maybe yours will work!

"How do I embed a video in html5?

When you click the share button, a share panel will open displaying some more buttons. Now click on the Embed button, it will generate the HTML code to directly embed the video into the web pages. Just copy and paste that code into your HTML document where you want to display the video and you're all set."

Sunrise on the grindings hill...makin’ mulch.

I'm happy for you G...and somewhat jealous. Although content for now, I'd like to eventually settle into a gig like that to finish off my career.

Thanks Turtle...indeed, my hope and desire is to retire here. However not every day is Utopian...

Fortunately this occurred late in the afternoon on a job site. It was good as new next morning.

I'm happy for you G...and somewhat jealous. Although content for now, I'd like to eventually settle into a gig like that to finish off my career.

Thought I’d give some updated info…

Below is an image of an active job site where we are grinding trees, branches and stumps. The end result (coming off the end of the chute) is called “grindings”.

We either sell grindings to compost companies, other mulch companies or we stock pile it to make and dye our own mulch for commercial or retail use. Due to our proximity to the beach, resort properties are a major source of customers for this material. Demand is currently is currently ahead of supply by about 7-10 days.

The machinery depicted in the picture includes an excavator with a hydraulic log grapple attachment (grabs trees and stumps like a huge vice grip with teeth). This is moved via lowboy (permitted for for width and weight) from job site to job site. We also use this same machine to pull stumps out of the ground, knock dirt and debris from the wood and clearing other brush during land clearing.

The other machine is a tub grinder. Scary beast, looks nasty and sounds nasty. It’s name describes its function. It will obliterate anything up to 8’ in circumference and or length… into mulch sized nuggets no greater than 4” in length or smaller, about 1” wide, 1/4 to 1/2” thick. The grinding mechanism is powered be a V-12 Cat motor (don’t know actual specs). At full throttle it sounds like a thundering herd. It’s portable, also moved on a permit as well. Mounted on a tri-axle frame, it weighs-in at a hefty 98,000 lbs. A tandem dolly is used to move it around the job sites with the excavator.

The pile of material under the chute of the grinder is loaded into walking floor chip trailers using a tilt bucket loader. 9-11 scoops, depending on moisture and “dirt” content scale at about 44-45k lbs., equating to roughly 35 cubic yards. Weather permitting at least half of my work week is spent hauling grindings out of job sites. Average day is 4 loads.

Greatest, unexpected challenge with my job? Off-road driving with the chip trailer and lowboy. Added a whole new dimension to driving requiring heightened levels of focus, attention and special awareness. Terrain condition and the make-shift route can change without notice from passable to impassible. No exaggeration, very low margin of error.

We frequently compete for space and access with a multitude of contractors. The good news… usually same folks on these jobs performing excavation and infrastructure installation, so you get to know them.