Busting Through a GIANT Snow Bank in a 6x6 Western Star
Автокөліктер мен көлік құралдары
After getting hit with two major snowstorms in one week, we spent the next few days trying to open roads that were buried in huge drifts. The road I am working on here was normally plowed with a grader but it couldn't get through heavy snow after trying it from both directions. Thanks to my co-pilot/co-worker Mike for helping out. It was a fun day.
I reposted this video because of a copyright claim on a jingle used at the end of the original video. Music has been removed.
Пікірлер: 745
I’ve been plowing all my life and I was just reminded of 2 important lessons... 1. Get the chains 2. Failure not an option. We are the cavalry. Nobody around to save us.
I used to love plowing snow. Thanks for getting rid of the music. I'd much rather listen to the machines
@gadielsantiago8813
Жыл бұрын
I second that
I just retired from plowing snow for 30 years from the Department of Transportation in Pennsylvania. I loved it . That brings back some memories of a couple deep snows we had over the years.
@JimHowDigsDirt
Жыл бұрын
Thanks Kery! I don't think we got any more than an inch of snow each time I got called out this month. I'm sure we'll pay for it later, lol.
I’m retired now,don’t miss pushing the white stuff.But when I see a rig like yours(which is a piece of mechanical art), I get a little nostalgic.Thanks for the posting,it made my day and cured my want to get behind the wheel one last time. P.s.-you handled that drift with great patience and care,you deserve all the accolades you are getting from the comments section.👍
@JimHowDigsDirt
Жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for the kind words! Some people comment that I should have just hit it hard. But as an experienced plow operator like yourself, you understand that's how you get in trouble and end up stuck or broken. I hope you are enjoying retirement and thanks for coming along for the ride!
Thanks for posting this! Brought back lots of great memories of working on the road crew. This is a situation that calls for a V-plow and double leveling wings. Great job getting it done with what you had.
Me: Why am i binge watching snow clearing videos, I live in Australia. Other me: Because its 113F outside, youve never seen snow and that looks like fun.
@JimHowDigsDirt
5 жыл бұрын
Wow, that warm. And I thought 90F around here in the summer was hot.
@bradspatz7690
5 жыл бұрын
I'm from Wisconsin USA, just got over -30 to-50. Arctic blast, ha ha, then got 12 more inches of snow, and blowing and drifting, snow up here is asshole deep on a tall indian, ha ha, still got 2 months to go, its 18 amd feels warm, i couldnt take that heat, in the cold you can warm up, but in the heat you cant cool off😅
@bjorker40
5 жыл бұрын
Trust me...owning all the snow removal items used to be fun , but now after many years of snow removal it’s really starting to suck for me! Lol
@kurtismckemmie4850
5 жыл бұрын
Honey247365 is it warm year round for you guys over there?
@MrWarrendale
5 жыл бұрын
Live in Vegas, 115-120. Saving video for same reason you are binging now.
I work for Ohio Department Of Transportation, great video, we don't have any 6×6 here cause there is no need for them just tandems and single axles, stay safe and keep the videos coming!
Good work! That's a lot of snow to push back, you really did a good job.
Everyone should spend at least one bad winter plowing snow, it's something you won't forget
@JimHowDigsDirt
7 ай бұрын
You got that right! Sounds like you've been there and done that!
Some of the comments on here are from viewers who definitely never plowed snow in their life, or did once, and know it all. With the equipment available to Jim on hand, the job at task was performed perfectly. He took his time at first then gradually increased power. Working with a one way blade obviously restricted Jim from directing the snow to the left. He didn't over power spinning wheels to much, and the wheel spin is natural to that beast, it was designed to work in such a manner in those conditions. I've seen plenty of snow and pushed plenty of snow with multiple types of equipment for many years and for that reason I give Jim a 10 out of 10 as a professional driver.
@JimHowDigsDirt
Жыл бұрын
Thank you brother! I appreciate your kind words!
I just love the sound of that big cummins and the turbo spool, can't be anything better than that
@robertmoreau9382
5 жыл бұрын
Detroit diesel in WS. DD16
Loved it. Thanks for the ride along.
@JimHowDigsDirt
Жыл бұрын
Any time Tom! Check out my latest videos if liked that one.
Love that Turbo!
In Alaska I operated a Electro Westinghouse haha 440 and we sure cleaned up roads like this all day long and all night. Them old knuckle busters you couldn't stop
Good job Jim, another great video !
@JimHowDigsDirt
6 жыл бұрын
Thanks Lenny!
This is one reason you have to be careful when buying one of these trucks at auction cause some employees drive the shit out of them. This guy drove it like a champ. Nice work!
@JimHowDigsDirt
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you! I have a lot of respect for any gear I run and treat it as if I owned it. Thanks for watching Rob!
@cahg3871
2 жыл бұрын
@@JimHowDigsDirt that’s key-respecting your equipment,if you don’t look after it,then that will come back to bite you when least need the hassle.
The whistling sound of the turbo gave me a woody
@JimHowDigsDirt
4 жыл бұрын
Maybe the video should have an R rating lol.
@adambrunt7290
3 жыл бұрын
It would be weird if it didn’t
@minerdad02
3 жыл бұрын
@@adambrunt7290 true dat
Man that reminds me of my good ole days. Started in ‘76 with a Gas Autocar. Beast.
Going through a snowdrift like that would surely wake you up or knock the coffee out of your hand. Lol!
Nice truck. Great job of whittling down that drift!
Enjoyed the video! Thank you!
looking forward to more videos this winter since last was so warm. God bless brother
@JimHowDigsDirt
7 жыл бұрын
Stay tuned...won't be long now for the new snow plow videos to begin. Thanks for watching!
Nova Scotia, I should have known! lol .. love the videos buddy!
@JimHowDigsDirt
7 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoy! Thanks for watching!
I use to plow for State back in 79 east Va. got dumped on . we new it was coming we were out 5 days earlier put up snow fence at major snow drift spots . I was the old FWD driver and my pump man was a buff dude , oh and the FWD still had the hand pump mounted in floor not to many state trucks back then were fully equip with electric plows . but we had some dam deep 6 foot drifts we had to bust though a 35 foot long one , that muscle bound boy was so tried after a hour or more he didn't come to work for 3 days . loved plowing . specially when 6 of us would line up side by side on I-95 and 14 inchs of snow moved from left to right and be amazed at 5 foot pile left on the right side of road ! ! thanks for a memory !
I've seen a couple of these in action and it's like watching professional chainsaw racers, vs average joe's, the way they can chuck snow so you never have to move it again, it's gone. They can cut a path through DEEP snow, even if at lower speed, they get it done. UniMog with a Schmidt snow thrower handles some snow.
It's simple, easy to understand, and full of achievements.
@JimHowDigsDirt
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you!
That thing's a BEAST!
Grind em til u find em 💪 THANK YOU and every PLOWMAN out there for the battle you do against mother nature so we can get to work every morning
@JimHowDigsDirt
5 жыл бұрын
Sorry to make you have to get to work, lol.
@ihavefallenandicantreachmy2113
4 жыл бұрын
Spoiler Alert!!!! Nature will win, in the long run....or.....are you the same "Louis Ampersand Pamela Hedges" what are designing a Spaceship for to transport Mankind, to a different, yet, similar, Planet, for Mankind to destroy, in the long run? I thought it was you. Merry Holidays.
That was tuff to watch. An old Walker Snow Fighter would have flown thru that. But these guys were on the clock.
V-plow!!! it's amazing how fast the one way sides the front over!
@JimHowDigsDirt
7 жыл бұрын
You are right! A vee plow would have been much better but we got the job done. Thanks for watching!
@02hreblue30
3 жыл бұрын
Learn from the Scandinavians
i love that star car man. thanx for the video
@JimHowDigsDirt
7 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching!
That ole 6x6 is doing a great job
This Operator did a great job !
@JimHowDigsDirt
7 жыл бұрын
Thank you! It was fun!
Loved watching this video. Thank you for sharing. God Bless from Phoenix.
@JimHowDigsDirt
6 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching Russ! Bet you don't get snow like this in Phoenix?
Nice job!Great power of WS.
@JimHowDigsDirt
6 жыл бұрын
She's a good working rig!
Nice and easy gets you through. Nice technique! Don't matter how many times you have to push the snow away to break through. Handle the equipment gently - that way you do not break welds or blow hydraulics or rip cables on the plow. Do not beat on the rig if you feel impatient! I might damage a hydraulic ram once or twice a season, but it was already close to broke when I got the truck. I very seldom got stuck, too. We had a competition each season - with the winner earning the $500 prize if they had the least number of breakdowns or getting stuck. I won the prize 5years running.
Really enjoyed the blizzard of 1993 and the blizzard of 1996
That was a lot of snow. Great job!
@JimHowDigsDirt
7 жыл бұрын
Thank you! It was fun!
Great job, slow and easy, didn’t break anything. To those who say you should have called a loader, we don’t know how far you we’re from a loader or if it was immediately available. If you were 30 miles out it could take 1 1/2 to 2 hours or more for a loader to get there , then that much time to return plus a lot of Diesel in 3 to 4 hours of road time plus the operators time/wages. Very costly compared to taking your time and dealing with it yourself. Again great job!
@JimHowDigsDirt
4 жыл бұрын
Thank you! I'm glad someone sees it my way. Slow and sure wins the race!
Good job, second camera man. Nice and steady.
@JimHowDigsDirt
7 жыл бұрын
Thanks! He did a great job ehh?
That looks like a lot of FUN! You are HANDSOME, HANDY, FUNNY......Is there anything that JIMHOW can't do? I am having way too much fun watching your videos! :)
Nicely done.
@JimHowDigsDirt
7 жыл бұрын
Thank you, thanks for watching!
I miss hearing that big 12 cylinder engine behind me and seeing snow flying out through the field for 50 or more yards
My ole four wheel steer blower would have made that look easy, I plowed snow for 32 years and really miss it
Wow that was quite impressive...
Glad you reposted this, I must have missed it. This is just insane. What a fantastic truck, takes some serious power to move that heavy wet snow.
@JimHowDigsDirt
7 жыл бұрын
She's a great old truck! Days like this make it fun to be at work!
What a machine you got there my friend ! Keep them roads clean for us please and stay safe !
@JimHowDigsDirt
7 жыл бұрын
Thank you! Drive with care!
Still my fav video on this channel. Cant wait till Ya folks get some more snow up that way.
I'm retired now but my fondest memories of snow removal was coming into work at vdot, and putting 12 hours in on their large snow blower
Real good for your frame rails there Guy.
Captain Hindsight here. You should have used a front-end loader. This is Captain Hindsight.
Western Star are the old Macks of today. Beasts! Plowing uphill seems dumb to some people but it's hard to back these heavy rigs uphill if your were plowing downhill.
@JimHowDigsDirt
5 жыл бұрын
I agree. And it's easier to get unstuck if you have gravity on your side.
@Fabes002
5 жыл бұрын
@@JimHowDigsDirt Yep thats what I meant to say. LOL! Our township had a pretty nasty drift on a gravel hill. For years I wondered why the guy plowed up hill. Once we took over it didn't take me long torealize there's no way to back that truck up and out of a drift on that ice covered gravel. Same with the road grader.
What they needed was a good wing operator. Then start back away from the blockage and keep winging the bank back so the front plow has a place to push snow too. Once the bank builds up, the front plow can't get rid of the snow and has to just keep pushing it down the road.
That's a lot of hard work
In PA we have a big snowblower attachment that goes on a front end loader for that. That way the snow is blown way back off the road so we have room for the next snow.
@JimHowDigsDirt
7 жыл бұрын
I could have used a snow blower this day!
We use a v plow or a snowblower for that kind of drift but then again, it's only because we have that equipment available
Easy does it. What we say in PA. Nice job. BTW a farmer in Philip, S.D. told me they'd occasionally get 30' snow drifts (I am assuming it was light n fluffy because it's a drift) and if the driver wasn't seat belted in "forgot", it ends very poorly because that truck takes a hit to bust through. This pile is compacted and with 6x the driver can work his way, just have to go bit by bit or you end up with too much behind you and lose traction if you don't get all the way through, waiting to be pulled out.
@JimHowDigsDirt
4 жыл бұрын
Slow and sure win the race! Thanks for the comment Gale!
That there star actually enjoys it . Couldve sworn I heard her giggle when she come thru there son
@JimHowDigsDirt
4 жыл бұрын
Yeah, I enjoyed it too! Don't beat her and she purrs like a kitten!
That was awesome
I plow a lot at work using a half ton truck. I actually angle the blade the other way so the right side will dig in and take small chunks out of the pile.
@smokum0
7 жыл бұрын
Good job
Good times guys!
I would have put the V on and been though in two three passes , but then I wouldn't have piled it in the middle of the road from each end either lol, good work with the one way ant way.
@JimHowDigsDirt
Жыл бұрын
I agree with the Vee plow making it easier but it would have taken me longer to go get the plow and return so I thought I'd give it a try. The snow was pushed up by our grader as he attempted to get through from both ends. Thanks for watching!
Great video!
@JimHowDigsDirt
3 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it
Nice work 👍
Good thing buddy wasn't taking a dump! lol
Damn man is that FOUR FEET OF SNOW in the fields? Just wow
@kurtismckemmie4850
5 жыл бұрын
Looks higher than that.
Fun to watch.
@JimHowDigsDirt
6 жыл бұрын
Even more fun doing it!
Right tool for the right job I always say
@JimHowDigsDirt
Жыл бұрын
Make do with what you got, I was always told, lol. Thanks Dwight!
Tim from Canada . you need to have a tractor with the snowblower.. to start off.. then maybe thinking about putting your truck through with the blade…. too much snow for the blade need a tractor with a snowblower
@JimHowDigsDirt
Жыл бұрын
Thanks Tim!
The front end loader operator was still down clearing the girl friend's driveway.
@JimHowDigsDirt
5 жыл бұрын
Yeah, but you should see his girlfriend! lol
@spookytowie7838
4 жыл бұрын
@@JimHowDigsDirt lol haha
@Big.G5137
4 жыл бұрын
@@JimHowDigsDirt lol
@imzackson
3 жыл бұрын
@@JimHowDigsDirt gotta cover for that one lol
You should have just claimed it was a dam built by a snow-beaver and dropped 2 sticks of dynamite in it.
@MRIDNETGUY2004
7 жыл бұрын
Forbes Hutton LOL
@xx5zi
7 жыл бұрын
snow beaver, 'eh?
@forbeshutton5487
7 жыл бұрын
What? You've never heard of them? They are pretty rare as the Sasquatch have eaten most of them.
@64CadDeville
7 жыл бұрын
lol
@thiebaude
6 жыл бұрын
Eh? lol
a V plow is definitely better for this kind of challenge -- I just watched a video of a V plow in 1939 slamming thru deep snow with a thick hard ice layer , it was alot tougher challenge than this pile of snow , but his old truck was doing good smashing thru it
Should try to straighten up the main plow to stop it from pushing the truck to the left. That's how them funnel plows were designed. Works great!
@stevevlietstra629
7 жыл бұрын
Looks like a Wausau plow and it is a great two lane road plow!
@JimHowDigsDirt
7 жыл бұрын
It's an right angle plow and can't be moved.Thanks for watching!
Old school cool, love it :o)
@JimHowDigsDirt
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you!
"Busting through" = strategically moving snow out of the way over 20 minutes (in my mind it was a high-speed battle with snow flying everywhere and a man standing on top of his huge truck victoriously pumping his hands in the air)
I really enjoy your videos. I am in Ontario Canada. I was able to take an early retirement three years ago after a 33 yr career in driving tractor trailer, heavy equipment and snow removal for the same company. The snow removal was my favorite. Loved it at night. Less idiots on the road. We had big equipment but not like the beast you drive. I was just wondering though, wouldn't it have been easier on equipment to just use a big pay-loader on that drift? It looks like you cover a lot of open country. Though it may not be feasible to drive a loader out to each drift. I stayed off the trucks for about nine months after I retired. I am back driving a tri axle dump truck part time and am loving it. Keep those videos coming.
@michaelmactavish1728
7 жыл бұрын
a buddy of mine uses the M series kubota s with the snow plow and blower for doing snow clearing
@sophieparent9700
7 жыл бұрын
awoodworker a
@awoodworker
7 жыл бұрын
Since I retired I just use my ATV with a 54" Warn Plow and winch to do mine and some neighbors driveways. It's just a 350 Kodiak but it pushes lots of snow. For heavy drifts I get out my trusty 12 yr old Craftsman Snowblower. My dream is to get a Kubota, or Deere with a Cab and Blower.
@michaelmactavish1728
7 жыл бұрын
awoodworker yeah the kubota M5-111 111hp are selling for $60,806 with cab and the deere 109hp are $109,000 here in pei and kubota blower are about $1,000.00 to $4,000.00 wich deeres frontier are $3,200 to $9,000.00 here
Thats great! I do that same stuff in Radio Control... Not snow that deep....
My grandfather worked on a crew in SW Iowa where they moved snow by hand with shovels.
@JimHowDigsDirt
2 жыл бұрын
Ohh....the good old days, lol.
Big motor grader with V plow full speed, BOOM! Go and gets some pizza
@bobbysolo5411
5 жыл бұрын
Treat it like you rented it. That'll get expensive.
@larrypalmer2415
5 жыл бұрын
absolutely! grader and v-plow.......tough!!
Need a v-plow for that type of drifts 🤦🏽♂️
Many many years ago we used to load the snow and dump trucks in Stamford Connecticut and dump it in Long Island Sound just to get rid of it it would get to the point you had no place to push it no more
@JimHowDigsDirt
Жыл бұрын
We don't often get that much snow, but that year we got nailed with three big storms back to back in March. It was fun while it lasted!
Good job..work it!!
20min.into it finally giving her some juice!
@JimHowDigsDirt
Жыл бұрын
Slow and steady wins the race, lol. And I didn't break anything!
If you think that snow is easy to plow thru (more or less) sometimes the drifting snow gets so densely packed by the wind that you can drive your F-150 truck over the top without breaking thru and getting stuck. The diesel powered front end snowblowers just bog down and stall the engine. So here comes a line of front end loaders to break up the drifts with trucks pushing the snow down the road out of the way of traffic.
@JimHowDigsDirt
Жыл бұрын
Wow! That's some hard packed snow when you can drive over it.
that looks like quite the job
@JimHowDigsDirt
6 жыл бұрын
That's not a job...that's just playing in the snow!
That was cool.
@JimHowDigsDirt
6 жыл бұрын
Thanks!
Looks like a great job for A large snow blower. If one was available
good job. High drift.
oi amigo moro no brasil parabéns lindo trabalho meu like
@JimHowDigsDirt
4 жыл бұрын
Obrigado! Saudações do Canadá!
Plowing through the snow, in a yellow and big black truck, got caught in the snow, yelling what the fuck! Almost done with job, feeling like a snob, and when I'm almost done with this I'm gonna visit Bob.
@JimHowDigsDirt
4 жыл бұрын
Your a poet and didn't know it! lol
@jesuschrist2886
4 жыл бұрын
@@JimHowDigsDirt someone had to
that turbo wind up tho
That is a stubborn pile of snow.
This operator has been at this for a while. It is obvious that this is not his first snow pile
@JimHowDigsDirt
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you Ronald!
@ronalddubuc848
3 жыл бұрын
@@JimHowDigsDirt No problem ;) I call 'em as I see 'em
nice job
@JimHowDigsDirt
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you!
i miss snow. southern alberta right now is brown. One of the biggest reasons i miss being out East
@JimHowDigsDirt
7 жыл бұрын
No snow here yet either. Coming soon tho!
Back in my days 😂
Nothing like laying under a truck, with salt dripping in your eyes, 10 degrees 50 mph wind nice and dark, putting the tire chains on your truck,. Now days they flip switch chains drop down start spinning under your tires, no more frost bitten fingers
A retired WI contractor once told me that he came across a snowdrift so big that his Caterpillar 12 road grader couldn't get through it. He came back with his Caterpillar D6 bulldozer and bored right through it.
Looks like the wind blows from the side you were pushing snow, if that's true then you just made the next drifts that much bigger with that huge bank to drift off of. Too bad you can't roll over that plow and push the snow to the other side.
Bring in a loader!