AZ ranch

[BoFuller]

I was planning on getting the CDL eventually, I was just figuring a way to stay legal until I took the test. I'll start studying and get it over with.

Thanks.

 

[MacLawn]

Wow, Bo, what a project!! I like it! And, as an easterner, I don't understand much of what y'all westerners are talking about with power, water, etc. What I mean is, you won't have access to electricity at all in your location? And water, except for a 5,000' deep well? I cannot imagine that! Sorry for my ignorance of things out west, but I truly do not know.

I love that dump truck, tractor, etc., and your land! Hmmm, go west OLD man (me) go west... I am looking forward to more or your adventures...

 

[BoFuller]

Wow, Bo, what a project!! I like it! And, as an easterner, I don't understand much of what y'all westerners are talking about with power, water, etc. What I mean is, you won't have access to electricity at all in your location? And water, except for a 5,000' deep well? I cannot imagine that! Sorry for my ignorance of things out west, but I truly do not know.

I love that dump truck, tractor, etc., and your land! Hmmm, go west OLD man (me) go west... I am looking forward to more or your adventures...

Thanks, I'm having fun! The well would be at least 500 ft not 5,000. We will probably get around to drilling next year. But no electricity for several miles, and that's okay!

 

[MacLawn]

Thanks, I'm having fun! The well would be at least 500 ft not 5,000. We will probably get around to drilling next year. But no electricity for several miles, and that's okay!

Right, 500'. I understand that - my well in Georgia is 500' deep, and great water! County put in water last year, but at $2,000 to tie in, I opted out, plus, our water is fantastic.

No electricity? Man, that is the west I guess, eh? That means they will not run electricity to your place? I thought by generator, you meant only while you were building, but you must mean permanent, right? At least in Arizona solar should work great. I checked out the link someone posted, and it looks good.

Keep them photos coming!

 

[BoFuller]

Right, 500'. I understand that - my well in Georgia is 500' deep, and great water! County put in water last year, but at $2,000 to tie in, I opted out, plus, our water is fantastic.

No electricity? Man, that is the west I guess, eh? That means they will not run electricity to your place? I thought by generator, you meant only while you were building, but you must mean permanent, right? At least in Arizona solar should work great. I checked out the link someone posted, and it looks good.

Keep them photos coming!

Yeah it took awhile for this whole project to get started. We discussed the idea of living somewhere completely off-grid and it was rather slow to catch on for both of us. I grew up in Ohio, near the Amish country, and my wife grew up close to L. A., so the idea of hauling water was a struggle for awhile. But after spending time out in the area looking around, we got more and more excited and decided to go for it. Now we're looking forward to being "independent".

 

[Duffster]

Anything with airbrakes requires an air brake license/endorsement is what the MVD told me. Big rig, motorhome, farm truck, whatever.

There is no such thing as an air brake endorsement. Not at least that I have seen in the states.

Just a heads up. By registering it lower that is all you did. You didn't actually change the GVWR. To do that you would need to get a new sticker for the door. As long as the door says the GVWR is over 26k it will require a CDL class B minimum unless you fit an exemption.

 

[tommu56]

There is no such thing as an air brake endorsement. Not at least that I have seen in the states.

Just a heads up. By registering it lower that is all you did. You didn't actually change the GVWR. To do that you would need to get a new sticker for the door. As long as the door says the GVWR is over 26k it will require a CDL class B minimum unless you fit an exemption.

from the pa manual

Endorsements/Restrictions

Endorsements The following authorizations are required when operating vehicles of the type listed:

H - Required to drive a vehicle with hazardous materials placards (you must be 21 years of age).
N - Required to drive a tank vehicle.
T - Required to drive double and triple trailers.
P - Required to drive a vehicle designed to carry 16 passengers or more including the driver (buses).
S - Required to drive a school bus. Designed to carry 11 passengers or more, including the driver.
X - Represents a combination of the hazardous materials and tank vehicle endorsements (you must be 21 years of age).

Restrictions The following restrictions prohibit you from operating certain type vehicles:

L - Restricts the driver to vehicles not equipped with air brakes.
B - Passenger endorsement restriction cannot drive Class A buses.
C - Passenger endorsement restriction cannot drive Class A or B buses.

so if you have the L endorsement/ restriction in pa you can't drive air brakes!

 

[BoFuller]

from the pa manual

Endorsements/Restrictions

Endorsements The following authorizations are required when operating vehicles of the type listed:

H - Required to drive a vehicle with hazardous materials placards (you must be 21 years of age).
N - Required to drive a tank vehicle.
T - Required to drive double and triple trailers.
P - Required to drive a vehicle designed to carry 16 passengers or more including the driver (buses).
S - Required to drive a school bus. Designed to carry 11 passengers or more, including the driver.
X - Represents a combination of the hazardous materials and tank vehicle endorsements (you must be 21 years of age).

Restrictions The following restrictions prohibit you from operating certain type vehicles:

L - Restricts the driver to vehicles not equipped with air brakes.
B - Passenger endorsement restriction cannot drive Class A buses.
C - Passenger endorsement restriction cannot drive Class A or B buses.

so if you have the L endorsement/ restriction in pa you can't drive air brakes!

I have called 4 different offices of the MVD and have gotten 4 different answers! One said that with farm plates I don't need anything else. Another said it doesn't make any difference, you need a class B no matter what. One called the main office and called me back and said that it's not really clear, and you could argue either way.
So I will work towards a class B, but meanwhile I'm driving it with farm plates and will take my chances with the highway patrol. The last time I drove the 36 mile round trip to the quarry and back, I saw two vehicles, one going the opposite direction each time. With that small amount of traffic, I'm not too concerned.

 

[Duffster]

so if you have the L endorsement/ restriction in pa you can't drive air brakes!

Correction. If you have an air brake restriction you can't drive a CMV with air brakes.

 

[BoFuller]

We were at the ranch last weekend - finally gave it a name - M & B Ranch, which stands for Merry and Bo - real original, huh?
I made my first trip to the quarry to get some chat for the drive. It looks like it will work out well.
Here's a picture of the truck waiting to be loaded. One of me unloading. And one of the drive that I covered.

 

[LoveTheSmellofDiesel]

Looking good Bo!

 

[BoFuller]

We finally had a chance to burn some of the brush that has been accumulating. I felt it was a little too breezy during the day, but the winds calmed down in the evenings, so we had a bonfire going for a couple hours on two evenings.

 

[BoFuller]

It sort of looks like I'm on fire, but I wasn't that close. Just the way my wife took the picture.

 

[BoFuller]

We just got back on Tuesday from a 5 day stay there, and I'm on call for work this weekend.
But I've emailed you my summer Ranch schedule, so maybe we can meet up sometime.
Good luck with your project. I already envy your toys!

I took the Markham Pass "shortcut" to the limestone quarry last Friday. I must have driven past your place, but I didn't know exactly where it was. I'll have to call you and get directions. It was shorter than going Fort Rock Road & 66 but it took me over 2 hours to go 42 miles!

 

[MacLawn]

Wow, Bo, it DOES indeed look like you're on fire! That is a neat photo.

You probably know about dumping gravel, but be very careful doing that. Many trucks flip in that process. Great looking drive!

 

[BoFuller]

Wow, Bo, it DOES indeed look like you're on fire! That is a neat photo.

You probably know about dumping gravel, but be very careful doing that. Many trucks flip in that process. Great looking drive!

That's the first load I ever hauled/dumped in my life, so no I don't know all about dumping gravel. Any pointers, suggestions, or warnings are appreciated.

 

[jayste]

That's the first load I ever hauled/dumped in my life, so no I don't know all about dumping gravel. Any pointers, suggestions, or warnings are appreciated.

I can only assume he's talking about turning over sideways. Try to keep all dumping on even ground, mainly side to side. This really is an issue for end dump 18 wheelers.:thumbsup:

 

[deereman75]

Just be careful, the best way to avoid injury is common sense:2cents:

 

[BoFuller]

I also got a chance to try out the new pallet forks. Here's a picture of me storing my non-QA bucket in the back of the dump truck. I also used the forks to gather up a lot of the brush that we burned.

 

[crash325]

That's the first load I ever hauled/dumped in my life, so no I don't know all about dumping gravel. Any pointers, suggestions, or warnings are appreciated.

Congrats on your new (to you ) dump truck. :thumbsup:

First & foremost, dump on level ground as much as possible. It is pretty easy to lay a dump on its side if leaning one way or the other. It is even possible to go over back wards if the nose is high (headed up hill.) and a load *"Hangs". ( *Fails to slide out.)

Just as important, make sure the gates are unlatched before trying to dump. Sounds silly, no one would ever do that. Happens a lot more than you would think.

Your dump bed is one considered a "Landscape" or "Roofers" dump. Due not overload it for a couple of reasons. If a loose load shifts against the gates, they can pop open against you or the load can land on your feet.

Not really a safety thing, but if overloaded the scissors or a cylinder can bend. If possible next load weigh truck in and out so that you have an idea how much weight you have loaded. If you haul after a rain, reduce the amount of your max. Load. Wet sand or gravel weights a lot more than dry.