Hey guys I a question, how are super snorkels to operate. I feel like this is a very stupid question, but i have always wanted to know how they are to operate. By no means am i new to the logging industry my dad my uncle my cousin my and my grandpas have all been in the logging industry in one form or another, so if you could answer my question it would be greatly appreciated!
Great, best Job in the woods. They are just like any other line loader just with much more reach . And a little sensitive to the grade in the road .Have been running them for the last 36 years. There are some good videos on utube of them yarding and loading.
You guys that run them are UNDER-rated Just watching an operator running one is really great. It is a respect thing. Over the years they have taken their craft to a very high level. HOWEVER They are an endangered species now. So is the machines they run. Take lots of pictures 075. Understand you guys are getting a couple more Grapple yarders and a couple 4800's. One is a button top Other one don't run. Button top is really good machine L45
HDX, hopefully IPLs snorkels will all find good homes. I'd hate to see them get cut up. Any word yet on who would be taking over IPL contracts?
IPL no longer?
No, IPL is still here and waiting for WFP to allow them to go back to work. They still have two years of their 5 year contract to go. Western has dictated that they want direct haul now and more wrap and splash loads (this does away with some guys in the dryland sorts and so on) Direct hauls are the flavor of the minute. All IPL can do is sit it out and wait. All in the hands of lawyers. You can see where this is going with BIG equipment. Shovel Operators are good, believe me but when you throw in several different sorts and pure loads it becomes somewhat of a struggle. No more R/W or snorkel wood. Just a never ending line of little trucks. This means that the roads are going to be built a LOT NARROWER because a highway truck is only 8 feet wide The real trucks were 11-12 feet wide. The only thing overlooked by this equation is the low-bed truck and trailer.
Interesting, thanks for the help!
Thanks for setting me straight. I thought they were trying to sell their Walbran operations and had ceased work there. Its unfortunate either way, but hopefully any of the guys who might get put out of work find good work elsewhere and the equipment does too. Its a real shame but the snorkels are really starting to fade into the history books.
Lowbed moves on Off Highway Log Trucks will be for existing Main Lines and Secondary Branch Lines built for the Off Highway Trucks , beyond that Track Mounted Yarders , Loaders , Faller Buncher's , Processor's , Excavators , Cats and Rock Drill's walk in and out of working area's . Even Highway Lowbeds are to long to get on to some of the bridges and around hair pin corners . I can remember putting old line loaders on a Lowbed to move a Mile now they run track machines around like pickup's . Those old Northwest , American and Washington's line loaders under carriages lasted for many years if properly greased and had the top end rebuilt a couple times , now the under carriages on the newer hydraulic machines are wore out before top end .
There is quite a number of off highway lowbeds now Al that will not move a big machine's anymore. I have encountered this more than a few times. Too hard on them now they say Remember what those old double drops use to haul? And cross loaded as well. Perhaps it is for the best
A 8 to 10 klic hike for my machine is normal now. And I have walked as much as 20 klic's a time or to. And i would sooner walk than be hanging over some narrow road edge with the lowbed ready to fall over .Been there done that to many times. The times are a changing, guess this is how it felt when they went from railways to trucks. Still HDX you and I have had some of the best years ever logging and we will never forget them.
Many a mile I spent against the push bar of the lowbed with an HDX or P16 pushing an American , Madill or Cypress on board with Tom Worth driving the Lowbed Truck #6-263 or #6-264 P16's , but thoughs were the day's that we had good roads to haul equipment around on .