adventures

[chelidon]

I just spent the last several hours having an adventure. Let's just say that a 45-foot single axle tractor-trailer so *very* barely makes it down our 1/4 mile drive without taking out trees, the power pole, the garden or the rig. And in fact, while the 40-footer I expected can (barely) use the turnaround, a 45-foot trailer simply cannot. So, after dropping off his load (my 955 gal hot water tank and four heat-exchanger coils for the wood boiler), the thankfully highly skillful and good-natured driver had to *back* his big rig all the way up the 1/4 mile drive again, around the turns, over the bridge and up the steep-sided hill road. Those of you who've ever driven any kind of trailer will know that this is a nightmare scenario for a driver.

But the bridge held (wasn't really worried about that, it's reinforced concrete footings and steel I-beams under all the pretty wood), no trees were lost, he didn't take out the power pole and transformer, or even the mailbox. He did get stuck in a low spot backing out, and I had to pull him out with my tractor, which proves its might once again, by (helping to) pull an entire tractor-trailor rig about 15 feet, after dumping several loads of hard pack road gravel under the big rig's tires.

Whew. The driver was flabbergasted when I gave him a $20 for beer on his way out (all I had on me) for going way above and beyond, his master-class skill, and his unflappable good humor. He said nobody had ever done that before, which shocked the heck out of me, even here in thrifty New England.

Lesson learned: if anyone ever wants to make delivery again in a big rig, have 'em drop it off at the end of the road and carry it down on the tractor.

Pictures of the mayhem:

http://www.casachaos.net/Casa_Chaos2005/pages/page_368.html
http://www.casachaos.net/Casa_Chaos2005/pages/page_369.html
http://www.casachaos.net/Casa_Chaos2005/pages/page_370.html
http://www.casachaos.net/Casa_Chaos2005/pages/page_371.html
http://www.casachaos.net/Casa_Chaos2005/pages/page_372.html
http://www.casachaos.net/Casa_Chaos2005/pages/page_373.html
http://www.casachaos.net/Casa_Chaos2005/pages/page_374.html
http://www.casachaos.net/Casa_Chaos2005/pages/page_375.html

Comments

[raqs.livejournal.com]

good for you. i HAVE driven vehicles with trailers and he deserved the beer.

[chelidon.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I really figured he could...my grandfather was a regional and long-haul trucker for 55+ years, going all the way back to the days of chain drive solid-tire trucks with lift-up windshields, and I know from the stories he used to tell how much of a (literally) pain in the ass and thankless job it can be, not to mention very, very dangerous at times.

Skilled Drivers

[(Anonymous)]

When our kitset shed was deliver a few months ago we had some similar fun (though our drive is only about 200 m long). I wonder what the total load of the truck and load was- 15 tons? I am curious just how much our bridge can take.

Anyway, he backed up the driveway. I wondered why- then he hit the turn at the top and the truck was just too long. So it was an easy drive out for him. (they called a smaller truck with a crane, transered the load, and the "little" truck too it up). Kiwi truck drivers get to deal with some serious small and windy roads.

Stephen in NZ

Re: Skilled Drivers

[chelidon.livejournal.com]

Kiwi truck drivers get to deal with some serious small and windy roads.

I bet -- much like British country and Irish lorry drivers.