Question: is it difficult to drive dumptrucks?

[ovrszd]

Learning to drive a truck that size will be easy.

Learning how to evenly gate spread material such as gravel is another matter. An artform that takes much practice.

 

[fatjay]

Learning to drive a truck that size will be easy.

Learning how to evenly gate spread material such as gravel is another matter. An artform that takes much practice.

Buddy of mine that did my driveway base did a hell of a job on mine.

https://imgur.com/eHEWglW

 

[ultrarunner]

16 and driving a dump with 2spd rear axle... lots of fun even being a 1950's GMC with no power anything.... King of the Road when daddy let me drive.

Dump was engaging power take off...

 

[Sebculb]

Do you have manual transmissions down? If so, it's just a matter of adding a splitter if you're getting an older dump. 5 speed trans with 2 or 3 speed splitter. Then you'll have 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, etc. All easy going up, tricky part is coming down when you can't come to a dead stop and you'll have to find what gear you need to be in. The ones I've run the engine rpm range is about 600rpm at idle and 1200-1500rpm at red line, so when you have to slow down quick and keep the clutch in for any period of time when speed is changing, you gotta find the right trans and rear gear combination.

I can drive clutches and 4x4 transfer cases and old stubborn transmissions with damaged synchronizers no problem. I imagine I'll be able to pick up the gear ranges easily enough if someone shows me how.

 

[Sebculb]

I had the good fortune to drive from San Jose to Liberia to Playa Flamingo across to Arenal and then back to the capital. That was in an SUV. Scared the heck out of me half of the time. I cannot imagine driving a big truck on those narrow, often steep roads. Beautiful country, though.

Big trucks often have many gears (and multiple ranges). Dump trucks also have visibility problems (though modern ones probably have cameras). Like any skill, practice makes perfect...or at least competent.

It's not ideal terrain for learning how to drive backhoes either but we all survived somehow or another. Hopefully I'll survive the learning to drive trucks phase too

 

[beckmurph]

Anything over 26,000 lbs you’ll need a CDL.
Air brakes? You’ll need an endorsement on your CDL.
Medical card.

 

[ovrszd]

 

[Sebculb]

Anything over 26,000 lbs you’ll need a CDL.
Air brakes? You’ll need an endorsement on your CDL.
Medical card.

I live in the country in Costa Rica. I'll be able to learn how to drive the thing and do jobs around the neighborhood while I get my licenses straight.

 

[Sebculb]

View attachment 763879

Yeahhhh, we're going to try to avoid that

 

[4570Man]

Yeahhhh, we're going to try to avoid that

It doesn’t take much to flip one dumping on a side grade. The tolerance for side dumping angle isn’t more than just a few degrees slope. Gravel that spills out at a low angle isn’t as bad as dirt that’s bad to stick until full height and sometimes doesn’t release then.