Rocky, a question about concrete mixers

[NormMessinger]

I see concrete mixer trucks up in Madison Wisconson that seem bigger than those around here which have the mixer tub mounted so that it discharges over the truck cab. What's the deal on that design vs. the "traditional" aft discharge that RediMix and all the others around here use?

[Rocky]

Somebody sat down and figured out to make a better mixer, Norm, they're superior in every way. Better traction, better weight distribution, lower axle weights, automatic transmissions, better access to the engine, better chute control, better reach on the job so fewer laborers are required, plus you can see where the concrete's goin. The fancy ones are the lazy man's dream, you can sit on your ass all day and run the whole show while listening to Waylon Jennings in AC comfort. Quieter too. The barrels look bigger but their capacity is the same.

And boy do they turn heads! Funniest-looking truck on the road, people wonder if you're comin or goin. And they get the highest approval rating from little boys, sometimes even from their mothers!

[ 03-10-2003, 09:45 PM: Message edited by: Rocky ]

[Donn]

http://www.maximglobal.com/gallery_3.jpg

Works for big boys too!

Maxim (http://www.maximglobal.com/front_vs_rear.htm)

[Donn]

I'm a real sucker for BIG trucks. Yesterday on This Old House Classics, Steve toured a giant copper mine. After blasting low-grade ore out of the mine, they scoop it up with a power shovel that takes 100 ton bites, and drops it into one of these:

http://www.kennecott.com/images/KUC-WEB-Haulage-Truck-360-T.jpg

15' tall tires...capacity of 360 tons (4 scoops) and cost $1.6 million each. They run them 24/7/365 and scrap them out as salvage after 4 years. The driver has to climb up that ladder in the front, to get to the controls.

[ 03-10-2003, 11:07 AM: Message edited by: Donn ]

[Rocky]

I drove one of those for a short time (not that big), it was the easiest vehicle to drive! Automatic transmission, one-finger steering, no traffic, no cops, the biggest problem was staying awake. One guy flipped one into a 10-foot embankment and they had to replace the mirror.

[ 03-10-2003, 11:36 AM: Message edited by: Rocky ]