Hopper, Dump O/O's & Drivers

Gettin pretty lively in here.

 

Yeah, I am not a mids pro by any means. Actually, that was only the 2nd time I have loaded them. I do like playing with all those valves, its fun Apparently I am a slow learner LOL.

Its funny you mention the anti seize. I handed the mechanic a bottle of anti seize I saw sitting on a shelf just as he was putting it back together. He didnt use it, and I don't know why! Guess he didnt want a stupid truck driver telling him what to do lol. I may take it back apart this weekend and put some in there.

 

The stuff is messy and some mechs don't like it. I think there's a copper-based anti-seize that some prefer. Maybe he used grease? Might be just as good.

 

Sorry to hear about your misfortune,Pawnd.

Sounds like a loooong day,Kansas. You have got to get you a bordercollie pup so it will change your luck

Welcome aboard,Lightnin30

They need to get to take a trip with my 'ol grandad to the woodshed with his willow switch IMO.

 

Back again from the middle of Indiana this time - how's it going all?

Well the trailer is now a constant dog-trot (I've gotten used to it) and I will be asking the company to pay to have that checked out. They've taken care of repairs before on PP's trailer with no grief at all, and they do take good care of their equipment. My bet would be wear and tear from pivot turns - I haven't had the time to check the suspension on this other than look at the airbags before I rolled out with it.

Gotta tell you that it was more than a little exciting coming through the I80/90 (between Gary, IN and South Bend) construction early this morning with that going on. They have concrete barriers along the lines on both sides, 2 traffic lanes, and a tanker decided to pass me in the lane shift areas - not alot of fun to be had. That area is the worst "road" I have ever driven in my life, and that accounts for alot. After I parked and walked around my truck, I had a piece of fairing trim about ready to break off the side - 4 feet of it was hanging by the last foot. It's now secured with clear duct tape, that stuff is the best thing since sliced bread - you can't see it from 20 feet away.

I drove up to South Bend, IN yesterday and this morning from Little Rock, AR - it was a great drive up 57 most of the way. I counted my gallons and still had to run a few hundred pounds over - but luckily only one scale was open and they were full - so no awards! In hindsight, I was never weighed once in 1,200 miles who could've guessed?! I had no choice but to run watching my mpg, and was able to hit 6.7mpg average on the dash-o-meter. While they aren't dead accurate, it's the highest number I've ever seen pulling a load, and the fuel went really far this trip. I'll have to keep those habits going all the time, and no one barked at my radio for having to pass me.

The Clean Diesel treatment didn't do a thing for the fuel fiter (as we all guessed) and I had it changed when I stopped for fuel and a shower in Little Rock. I will have to carry a spare filter in the truck, as well as a few other emergency items in the very near future. I was finally able to fuel tonight after I loaded (set the limit at 48,000 and got 47,100 LOL), and I just topped the tanks off for a change. Whenever I'm rolling in to load, I can never find a close fuel stop, and if I do - there's a line around the block. Starting out on my own with this rig, it may not be a bad idea to keep it full and top the tanks after the loads if I have time - when I get pressed I'll have plenty of fuel to run with.

Have a great night all - I'm beat! This week came to about 3,300 miles total - although 1400 and 3 days of it was bobtail miles to get the trailer, and deadhead in between loads. I'm taking this next load through Friday and the weekend, so I'll have 3 days to cover 700 miles and a reset - I can use the rest!

 

Hwy Pilot: Good weather today at least! That section of I-80/90 sure is a shooting gallery. Devil take the hindmost. Hope you get that trailer squared away soon.

 

The thing was still smoking hot, he sprayed some penetrating oil in it (dont ask me why) and it just smoked real bad. Maybe he thought the anti-seize would just melt and run away.

You may be right, I need some sort of luck change for sure.

Thats a little too close to Chicago for my liking, but I feel somewhat vindicated when I can skirt a big city like that, and not have to go on in lol

 

The few times I've been through I-80/90 around Gary was enough for me to learn to hate it- seems like the traffic is always crazy, the concrete barricades, and not a nice neighborhood. Always a sigh of relief to get through it.

That could be, if it was still hot, the stuff probably would just run off. I'm a big believer in anti-seize though.