Blown tire simulator....

I've seen that video before and love it.

 

I agree that rookies need that first boom. Once they have that experience of actually dealing with it on the steer where possible it will prove invaluable.

The one other thing I did not and failed to mention here which may or may not be relevant. To me when something fails on a big truck there is a sort of image in my head that shows the possible problem and the associated fall out that is possible as part of my decision making. It's hard to describe.

What happens if that steer tire removed the hood, or took out certain important other componets on nearby areas such as air lines and so forth leading to additional issues that will require attention if time and space permits. Certain failures of the tire has the ability to bomb shrapnel steel into if not through cars next to it for example.

Just a few thoughts when I consider the problem further. Usually not always is the survival of the mate to that tire in a dual wheel set up comes into question sometimes. But it is has proven to me that it's rather rare to have both tires go unless they have been abused beyond endurance such as attempting to travel to a tire shop on the rims which I have seen happen in the past but never tried it myself. Cheaper to have a tire man come out rather than to throw away the wheel and possibly induce a fire etc.

 

Be cheaper just to send them out in Swift trucks. Oh wait, they do that already...

 

There was a poster here who was talking about the good old days, and about how much better the drivers were back then. Now I don't argue with that statement at all, in fact I am thinking he was right.
Now, here comes the "but" ( or is it butt?).....
While those drivers had to deal with two lane highways, less safety equipment etc, they also had to deal with a whole lot less traffic. Traffic of ALL kinds. They seldom had to deal with road rage, and if they did have to deal with it, usually a good arse whuppin' took care of the problem.
Sure there were drunk drivers back then, but not too many who were hopped up on dope, and looking for somebody to kill.
Yes drivers watched out for each other. You didn't have the luxury of electronic communication, other than the CB. Your company put you in a truck, told where to go to load, and where to deliver. Then they left you alone to go do your job.
There wasn't any JIT service, you got it there when it got there. Nobody was telling you what route to take to get there, or where to fuel and how much to put in the tank.
I've got a feeling there isn't an old time driver out there that would put up with the crap these megas put on their drivers.
And by the same token, they do not give a driver room to grow into being an excellent driver. You don't have to think, it's all done for you. After a few generations of this, people no longer know how to think.

 

Cost prohibitive I'd assume. They'd have them already if it were cheap.

Probably wouldn't be hard to set up an electronic simulator with force feedback. Just would require the investment in the equipment and programmer(s).

 

Its been a good 4 or 5 years since I drove in the simulator. It does have force feedback (the gearshift for sure, I'm thinking the steering did as well). Having never had a flat tire, much less a blowout means I can't compare it to the real thing.

I do agree with an earlier post though that its very hard to judge curbs and see while backing up because you can't just move your head to get a better angle in the mirrors.

 

All wonderful concepts until the government gets involved. That's when you will be required to hit the simulator twice a year forever and pay $2500 to some senator's cousin who owns the only "approved" simulator company. And then of course, they will need to track the effectiveness of the program so all your driving will be monitored electronically so they can say "the program is a success and must be expanded"

Sorry but involving the government in anything rarely improves it, it just winds up being another way to move money to the ruling class.

Maybe if we required schools that accept fed money to own a simulator? But I would rather they taught them to think. It's a lost art.
Memorize this, pass your test, get your license! It's better to understand why things happen, how things work. ever try to teach a young one how to use a ratcheting strap? They try to memorize step by step, instead of understanding why and how it works, it's painful to watch.

Simulator..... great
Government involvement.......NO

 

I blew out a drive tire this week. It was a new tire with lots of tread on it. I know it had plenty of air in the tire because it went off like I had hit a roadside bomb.

Anyone else out here change there own tires?

I was back on the road in 20 minuets, I have my own jacks and impact wrenches.

 

I've given it significant thought how are you powering the impact? A truck can't power a 1" impact and seems like anything less may not be up to the job?

 

Ever tried a torque multiplier, not so fast but works great. Turn the handle and it very slowly breaks them loose. Cool Stuff for emergencies.