snow and ice on trailer roof...

Yeah saw one of these at the walmart dc in Menomonie WI the other day. So I wonder how long it will be before they install them at truck stops. All they would have to do is figure out a way to get rid of the snow buildup after multiple trucks using it.

 

Very provoking think tank here!

Big Alaska fish plants off load with vacuum pumps, there are the 'super sucker' trucks out there where the ice and snow debris could be fired clear with a chipper. Maybe put off season rigs into a new seasonal use.

I ran boats in Alaska and broke tons of ice. When I start driving, I will do everything I can to be sure the trailer is not carrying a potentially lethal ice pack. (Drive Florida regional)

 

Instead of electrical warmers, would there be a way to route the heat the engine creates to that purpose? Maybe altering the exhaust system.

Also, the top of the trailer could open like a clamshell, putting the top surface of the trailer at 90 degrees to the ground. The stuff would either fall off on it's own, or could be cleaned off with blowers or water jets..

Is here where I mention that one of my hobbies is robotics (I taught myself), and I'm building a CNC machine in my garage? You've already got heat and voltage nearby. It's just a matter of getting it to do what you want.

 

Also, the top of the trailer could open like a clamshell, putting the top surface of the trailer at 90 degrees to the ground. The stuff would either fall off on it's own, or could be cleaned off with blowers or water jets..

Only one problem, the roof has to come down to be legal clearence and somebody, my self included would drive off with the roof doors open and kabang there goes the roof, I drove a parking lot first time around and a couple of times I caught myself driving off, forgeting to put the top back platform back down, and a pickup up there would be over 15 16 ft to the roof, alway remembered after I jumped back in the cab but! It does happen, interlocks and limit switches would help, but thing can go wrong. Also the weight of the system to do it and keep the load dry probably would be too costly in lost revenue,

 

that's gonna be the telling issue - cost. There are (generally) not huge profits to be made in this industry, and dropping money into a retrofit of this magnitude would break a lot of companies. Keep in mind, it's more than just the up front cost - you'd have to deal with maintenance as well.

An electric blanket would be the cheapest way to go (just get one of those driveway blankets - about $900 last I looked)

 

SOME of these truckin' companies aren't even interested in keeping their drivers
warm on cold nights.
How likely, unless it's a law, do you reckon they'll be to shell out
900 bucks to keep a trailer roof warm?

Then again, I guess a driver COULD sleep on the trailer roof
in cold weather.
That'd kill two birds with on stone.
Win/Win ----- well, ......... except for the bird.
The bird would be stoned.
And I think that's illegal.
Even with a doctor's prescription.

 

It is one of those things you can't do anything about. Just hope the 4-wheelers can figure out how close too close is.
As for the brush bar idea--how do you get to the brush bar from a shipper with the snow/ice on top? Same as the old question which came first the chicken or the salamander?
If they tried to make it a rule or law, all shippers would be required to install on at their facility, not to mention all truck outfits, truck stops, scales, just about anywhere a truck can park and gather snow.
QUIT ASKING IMPOSSIBLE QUESTIONS, I'M GETTING A HEADACHE!

 

WoW!
That very question has perplexed me, like forEVER.

Take two painkillers --- and post me in the mornin'.

 

that's exactly the problem.. it's *absolutely* not feasible to have brush bars everywhere they need to be. The ONLY way to make it work is to make snow removal an integral part of the truck.

I just can't see it happening

 

Uh I believe it was the common house cat. Or maybe the ####roach. . .

Once again, I see where this is going. Laws made that are impossible to comply with, but will be enforced. Traffic fines to the poor old truck driver. Government agencies reaping the benefits from the fines.

Oh yeah, the attorneys. Always the attorneys.