I Did Some 4-Wheelin Today

[Mmusicman]

I had an interesting day..
My work today took me to an off-road construction site.
The tow-lift I am pulling weighs in about 4000 lbs.
Backing the lift down into the site causes it to dig pretty deep into the soft dirt...
and it pretty much does the same thing pulling it back out

Here is a video of me pulling the 2 ton lift somewhat uphill in soft dirt using 4wd-Lo.
It's not as loosely packed at the top.
I note there is pretty good tongue weight here too, which I may address in the future...



There is no way I could have pulled this out without the low-range 4-wheel drive.
The last time I was here, the AWD failed me miserably.
The NP233 performed flawlessly as always

[MechBob]

I am impressed with the things you do with your work van.Before I moved out here,I spent time on sand(pre astro) and sand has no bottom(generally).Good job,sir.

[WoodButcher]

[1lowcab]

Lookin good!

[sixsix]

Nice to see a plan come together.
Sooo easy now!



Mike

[Mmusicman]

This is what my work day looked like today...

[Mmusicman]

I washed the dirt off my tires.. I'm done for now.
Here is how I finished this work week project...

Until the next time...

[MechBob]

Man,i wish there was "like" buttons for posts,your pictures are great,and good to see Astros still working commercially.

[Mmusicman]

Man,i wish there was "like" buttons for posts,your pictures are great,and good to see Astros still working commercially.

Thanks Bob. Yep.. I'd say the Astro does pretty well for BOTH work and play!
AND with a little love.. it plays a little in the 4x4 world too.

[WoodButcher]

Man,i wish there was "like" buttons for posts,your pictures are great,and good to see Astros still working commercially.

This site has that button Bob, you just pushed it.

MM, your pics always make me want to move down there. I know you get foul weather down there but your pictures would make any travel poster pop.
My father retired to the west coast. Every time I was there the weather was gorgeous, winter of 2000 I told the boss I was taking two weeks off to visit dad and stop at the in-laws house in S. Carolina. I just bought and setup my '97, fresh paint, new wheels, tires, interior and custom ladder rack.
I was finding work w/o looking and it was all I could do to say no but I would think back to the summer of '85 when I moved Dad south. I would have killed myself working there in the summer. Here we would start at sunrise to quit early but stay till 5 or so anyway. I never had the good sense to get out of the sun but back then I was a framin' n' roofin' fool.

I stretched that 2 weeks to six and stayed at the in laws an extra night too. I would have preferred to wave as we drove by but the ex insisted we stop.

As Bob said, I like the work pics too.

[Mmusicman]

Yesterday I went back to the same jobsite for a quick repair.
Couldn't have pulled the 4000lb load or done the job without 4x4-low!

Same spot, same load, same dirt, different video...

A few more photos (of this 2nd visit) ...

Pulling 4000lbs uphill in the soft dirt!
Here's the video...



Love my 4x4 upgrade!

[nosxjeep]

I could watch those videos all day.
Tires spinning, digging, pulling... fighting!

Can't wait to have mine!

[Mmusicman]

I could watch those videos all day.
Tires spinning, digging, pulling... fighting!

Agreed! I've watched them a few times.
I was kind of hoping a few others would post their 4-wheeling pictures and videos too.

Can't wait to have mine!

What's the hold up??
I just re-read all 8 pages of your build thread looking for the answer.. lol.
But it sure made for some impressive re-reading!

[MechBob]

Your super cool manlift is sweet.Questions,does it have onboard brakes,because of the towing weight?And,does it have an extendable tongue?Inquiring minds want to know.

[Mmusicman]

Bob, the tow-lift is a rental. They come is 35 and 50 feet. I just looked up specs (on the 50), and it's actually closer to 5000 lbs curb weight, another sub-model showed 6000 lbs. As far as I've seen.. the specs don't list on-board brakes, although it does have a manual parking brake lever and an emergency break-away brake. There seems to be some kind of tongue mechanism. After some more research (thanks to your question), I do see mention of a 2" hydraulic brake coupler in the on-line service manual.. so I now assume it does have on-board brakes.

If it does have some sort of hydraulic tongue brake, that might explain why I have issues pushing it backwards in the dirt. I'm also seeing now there might be a lockout for this scenario.

When I tow around town or on the highway.. I drive accordingly, cautious and careful.
Stopping does require some effort... but it's been manageable.

[AstroWill]

Bob, the tow-lift is a rental. They come is 35 and 50 feet. I just looked up specs, and it's actually closer to 5000lbs curb weight. As far as I've seen.. the specs don't list on-board brakes, although it does have a manual parking brake lever and an emergency break-away brake. There seems to be some kind of tongue mechanism. After some more research, I do see mention of a hydraulic brake coupler in the service manual.. so I now assume it does have on-board brakes.

If it does have some sort of tongue brake, that might explain why I have issues pushing it backwards in the dirt.

When I tow around town or on the highway.. I drive accordingly, cautious and careful.
Stopping does require some effort... but it's been manageable.

Most of those rentals have hydraulic brakes, and there is normally a pin that you put in to lockout the brakes when reversing. Something to look/ask for next time.

[Mmusicman]

Yes Will... I'm now realizing what I don't know! lol
Apparently they call them "surge brake activators or couplers" as I am quickly learning.

I just found out... looks like I am picking up the lift again in the morning.. so I will ask!
Going back to the same job to switch out a power supply.

I searched for a photo that shows the coupler.
I guess I should have just looked at it closer, but at the time wasn't sure what I was looking at...

Now that I see it... it's starting to look pretty obvious!
I guess I thought the hydraulics were just for the emergency brake.

[nosxjeep]

What's the hold up??
I just re-read all 8 pages of your build thread looking for the answer.. lol.
But it sure made for some impressive re-reading!

Well, I'm not ready to spill all the beans, but a week or so ago I pulled a Dana 60 and yesterday I ordered a 233.


Thanks!

[Mmusicman]

Well, I'm not ready to spill all the beans, but a week or so ago I pulled a Dana 60 and yesterday I ordered a 233...

After 8 pages on your build thread talking all about a 236... you order a 233?
What happened?
PS: Looking forward to the "spilled beans"... lol

[Mmusicman]

So I made it back to the construction site again yesterday.
The deep ruts in the photo are mine from pushing the lift...
I was also further back at the time.

I asked the counterman about tow-lift hydraulic brakes and lockout... he wasn't sure.
He was sure there was no backup lockout.

Here's a close-up of the coupler and hydraulic brake system...

Apparently there is a backup lockout, which I used for the first time.
You pull forward, position lockout in place, then back up.

I learned something new!

At first I was wondering if I was just lucky to be previously pulling in and out like I've done, but after my 3rd time of easy pulling (including driving around and re positioning.. I wish I had gotten that on video).. I have even better confidence now. Reach down, pull a lever, and off I go! The true 4x4 system fits my needs perfectly!

Sidenote: one of our guys went here last week in his full size RWD van and got instantly stuck!
Couldn't move an inch! Just straight down! And he wasn't even towing anything!
They called me, but I was 2 counties away. A construction 4x4 truck with chain pulled him out.

I could post a third video pulling out.. but it looks just like the previous two!