last summer i got a chance to run a 777, it felt like its an easy machine to tip over, even when i dumped it felt like it would be easy to go over backwards. do you ever get used to that feeling? with enough experience on one, while your dumping and it feels like your going to tip over can you drop the bed back down fast without breaking it in two? due to the remote nature ofthe job, not very good housing conditions and the screaming bosses after 3 weeks i took a job closer to the house. wish i would of taken more pics though it was an impressive mountain rock job.
Tripple 7's are a good machine, but like all large haul trucks, they do require some getting used to. They sway and bump and bang loaded or unloaded and, many folks have trouble knowing where the off side is in relation to the edge of the haul road. Backing up to dump is the same way. It just takes time behind the wheel to get the hang of things.
The 777's have a good reputation where we work them. They do feel a little unsteady at first, but they are stable. The first time I rode in to test it out after a repair, I cut a buttonhole in the little seat. We dropped off the ramp going into the pit at over 30mph on a 14% grade and there was a nice little switchback ahead. That driver was smiling and took that turn like a champion. Proper gear selection and auto-retarder will take care of most all of the downhill braking on their own. After a while you get used to the sway that you feel.
They feel far less stable than they really are. After a while in the seat, you get quite comfortable with what they can and can't do. You can lower the box without breaking the truck in half, but slamming it down could definitely cause damage to the truck. However, the most sever damage will be to your back. I have a friend who had the box on a 789 come back down on him loaded due to a malfunction, and he can barely walk to this day.
thanks for the input, the reason i asked about the 777 is there is an outfit working close to my town and they run the 777s im gonna tell them i got experience running them, ive seen where they are working and it would be a lot better place to learn to run one.just like they always say about carefull what you wish for, on that mountain job i was bouncing around on rock in a 10n when they fired a truck driver, always wanting to run a big truck i voluntered. running scrapers and dozers for a long time definitely helped but not that much. thanx again
Hey 637, Just curious where the Ames boys were working? Looks like a pretty cool job, haven't seen them on a colorado job in a while now.
did you recognize the equipment or boss trucks? it was a job in the big horn mountain range, i forgot the yardage but it was pure rock. ames are some dirt movers for sure, blow and go. i wish i would have taken more pics.
That's pretty country to work in -- in the summer! I know a lot of people that used to work for the Washington Companies that have since gone over to Ames. Ames has taken over the spot that many now gone contractors used to be in. If I were not all stove up, I'd probably be working for them myself.
That’s the Burgess Junction Highway project in north central Wyoming; 1.6 million CY rock excavation. Ames won the bid at $15 million, 2nd place was $18 million. They made the difference by completing the project in one working season; instead of the two that WYDOT had planned for the project, hence the 777’s. I had wanted to make it through their over the summer to see the progression, so it’s nice to see some pictures from the project. Thank you for posting them.
i only wish i had taken more, i was definitely planning on it, i just came home for the weekend a friend told me about a road job that was closer to home. which never panned out i might ad, i talked to the super and he put my name on a list of about 300 operators looking for work, he said in 30 years of being a super he had never seen so many operators looking for a job.
yes beautiful country to work in for the summer, i spend alot of time up there riding atvs. every day at lunch i could look around and 4 times a week i could spot a moose just sitting and watching us. im surprised no videos have shown up, every day people would be videoing us. the blasts were really heavily videoed.
forgot a pic, of the wiggly trucks working at night