Tow Plow

Bob77064 · Feb 13, 2012

Saw this on the news tonight, the second plow clears another lane.

Scooby074 · Feb 13, 2012

The "tow plow".
Not used here but interesting. I kind of question its safety however. Seems like an accident waiting to happen.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fthY3c7mi-M]PennDOT Tow Plow - YouTube[/ame]

Jstpssng · Feb 14, 2012

Bob77064 said:
Saw this on the news tonight, the second plow clears another lane.

They use them on the interstate here. Kind of a novelty the first time I saw it.

20 20 · Feb 14, 2012

Been around for sometime now, I believe I posted about it last year.
Scooby074 why does it seem like an accident waiting to happen? I don't see this as being anymore dangerous then pulling doubles{or tripples}. I have run doubles before and did not care for it. This seems, to me, like a good design and if used properly it should do twice the work. With that written the safety will still be up to the operator, as with anything.

joemd11 · Feb 14, 2012

Wow, seems like a lot of stuff to keep track of while motoring down the road. Hope there are two guys in that truck.

Jstpssng · Feb 14, 2012

joemd11 said:
Wow, seems like a lot of stuff to keep track of while motoring down the road. Hope there are two guys in that truck.

I wondered that same thing. The guy running it can't be a rookie, either.

doelake · Feb 14, 2012

Jstpssng said:
I wondered that same thing. The guy running it can't be a rookie, either.

We've had them on our major highways for the last couple of years running to North Bay. One operator reduces the need for muliple plow trucks on the road...there is a laser shining on the edge of the highway from the truck to establish spacing for the tow unit...very easy for the driver.

Since they started using these units, we've noticed more snow plows and sanders covering a greater area along the highways making roads safer through the winter months:thumbsup:

Scooby074 · Feb 14, 2012

joemd11 said:
Wow, seems like a lot of stuff to keep track of while motoring down the road. Hope there are two guys in that truck.

2020 this is my reasoning.

There is a heck of alot going on, more than just a truck and a wing. And its taking a pretty wide swath, more than a traditional setup for sure.

Then there is the issue of that "thing" hanging out there, in a driving lane..a misjudgement of its location would do a number on any unfortunate driver in its path. Throw blowing snow and a slushed up wing into the mix and its conceivable that someone could drive right into the back of it trying to pass the plow. I wont debate the sense of passing a plow in a snowstorm, but we all know that people do it .

I also have to wonder just how much savings in labour their will be, because a traditional wing plow is still going to have to come by and push the shoulder back after the tow plow has gone by.

Then there is the cost.. 100K. That's getting up into new truck territory.. although with this you save the cost of a driver.

Honestly it seems like a solution looking for a problem.

jonyyuma · Feb 14, 2012

joemd11 said:
Wow, seems like a lot of stuff to keep track of while motoring down the road. Hope there are two guys in that truck.

Nope, we don't get two to a truck here. I would hate to pull that rig down a highway. We only do airport lanes and guard rails still take a beating...Myself i prefer a spreader truck, without blade. But i salute our TDOT boys for the jobs they do here, esp with occassional ice on the bridges and hyways...

20 20 · Feb 14, 2012

Scooby074 said:
2020 this is my reasoning.

There is a heck of alot going on, more than just a truck and a wing. And its taking a pretty wide swath, more than a traditional setup for sure.

Then there is the issue of that "thing" hanging out there, in a driving lane..a misjudgement of its location would do a number on any unfortunate driver in its path. Throw blowing snow and a slushed up wing into the mix and its conceivable that someone could drive right into the back of it trying to pass the plow. I wont debate the sense of passing a plow in a snowstorm, but we all know that people do it .

I also have to wonder just how much savings in labour their will be, because a traditional wing plow is still going to have to come by and push the shoulder back after the tow plow has gone by.

Then there is the cost.. 100K. That's getting up into new truck territory.. although with this you save the cost of a driver.

Honestly it seems like a solution looking for a problem.