Steep Grade Question

[New Look]

I have a job coming up over in S.F. and I have a question. The property is located on a very steep grade at the street level in which I figure my rig will be sitting on an incline or a grade of approximately 45+ degrees.

Should I worry about my pump oil and engine oil not circulating through due to the grade it will be on? Anybody every encounter this?

Thanks!!!

 

[Mark]

If you can keep the unit closer too level that is the best.

Maybe you can use blocks, jackstands etc.

 

[Doug Rucker]

Yes, you should definitely worry about it. Chock the tires and raise your trailer to level using blocks. I have had to do this before after finding out the hard way.

 

[New Look]

This is scheduled for early December....I will let you know how it turned out.

 

[Grime Busters]

Recently did a 12,000 square foot residential driveway built of the side of a mountain. Ran 600' of hose to reach the top, 300' of it 1/2" hose to lessen the friction loss. Kept the rig down on the flat street and tapped into a neighbors water source.

Too many things can go wrong with your rig even on a 5% grade. Not worth the risk to your equipment.

 

[New Look]

Recently did a 12,000 square foot residential driveway built of the side of a mountain. Ran 600' of hose to reach the top, 300' of it 1/2" hose to lessen the friction loss. Kept the rig down on the flat street and tapped into a neighbors water source.

Too many things can go wrong with your rig even on a 5% grade. Not worth the risk to your equipment.

Exactly...I may have to purchase another 100 feet of 3/8 to get to the farthest part of the house but the cost of the contract is worth it. I can sit my rig above the house next door on a flat surface I think.

For those that are familiar with S.F. This street is as steep or maybe even steeper than the famous Lombard Street.

 

[Jim Gamble]

Exactly...I may have to purchase another 100 feet of 3/8 to get to the farthest part of the house but the cost of the contract is worth it. I can sit my rig above the house next door on a flat surface I think.

For those that are familiar with S.F. This street is as steep or maybe even steeper than the famous Lombard Street.

There may be issues with weight and the ability to prevent a runaway trailer. Tipping could also be a issue. esp[especially at 45 degree angle. for those who have not been in SF, this hills are tuff for trailers. I took ours with another sub's rig. He had a Ford diesel. It stall 5 times on just one hill because the torque was not as high as the Cummings at 900 RPM's. Fords are set at a higher RPMs past the 3,000 mark. This results in burning the clutch or staining the torque convert for the automatics.

This is the main reason why we have dodge cumings...that and because of great fuel mileage and the ability to get 550 HP and over 750 LBS of torque with just a few modifications.

If you need any help Carlos, Call me.... I'll help you..... as long as its not on a weekend. We are booked for the rest of the year.

 

[New Look]

There may be issues with weight and the ability to prevent a runaway trailer. Tipping could also be a issue. esp[ecially at 45 degree angle. for those who have not been in SF, this hills are tuff for trailers. I took ours with another sub's rig. He had a Ford deisel. It stall 5 times on just one hill because the torque was not as high as the Cummings at 900 RPM's. Fords are set at a higher RPMs past the 3,000 mark. This results in buring the clutch or staining the torque convert for the automatics.

This is the main reason why we have dodge cumings...that and because of great fuel milage and the ability to get 550 HP and over 750 LBS of torque with just a few modifactions.

If you need any help Carlos, Call me.... I'll help you..... as long as its not on a weekend. We are booked for the rest of the year.

Thanks Jim..I appreciate it. You are correct about the Hills in S.F. This particular hill is right next to Lombard Street in the city. In any other circumstance I would walk away from this one but the home owner is paying a decent amount of money for this wash and he has put his confidence in me and my ability. Last week in a weird kinda way I was hoping he wouldn't go for the bid as it was pretty high in my opinion BUT low and behold he contacted me while I was in AZ to say lets go for it. So....I guess we are doing it.

 

[Jim Gamble]

Thanks Jim..I appreciate it. You are correct about the Hills in S.F. This particular hill is right next to Lombard Street in the city. In any other circumstance I would walk away from this one but the home owner is paying a decent amount of money for this wash and he has put his confidence in me and my ability. Last week in a weird kinda way I was hoping he wouldn't go for the bid as it was pretty high in my opinion BUT low and behold he contacted me while I was in AZ to say lets go for it. So....I guess we are doing it.

Just be careful with the trailer. Parking it side ways could allow ( With the Water level mid to high levels) the trailer to tip, or skip.

Parking it with only the rear truck brakes could have issues as well. You will have 8 tires with only 2 of the 8 having brakes on them. There are devices that will engage the trailer brakes. Maybe you should look into that.

That is a steep hill. Be careful !

 

[810F250]

I have read that the Kohler engines should not operate at more than 25 deg tilt angle.

Considering that the engine is pressure feed, I would think the plunger pump maximum operating tilt angle would be much less than 25deg as it is splash lubed.

 

[Grime Busters]

I would never take the chance on a grade more than 5%. Too many things could go wrong. Oil pressure, pump oil levels, brake failure.....

 

[New Look]

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

The job went without a "hitch". Was able to snug my rig right at the crest of the hill vs. the cold water unit that I brought as a back up. What a day. Customer and his neighbor were so cool and liked everything about the job.

Here is the view of where I was at....I totally enjoy doing what I do. Also the other pic gives you an idea of how steep this hill was.

It must be S.F. week cause I am back there tomorrow night to do some flat work right off the Embarcadero. Closed that today after I did this job.

 

[Doug Rucker]

Nice pics Carlos. Brings back old memories. I use to live in San Jose. I was District Manager back in the 80's for an Atlhletic Footwear Company called THE ATLETES FOOT. I had a stroe in Embacadero, Kearney St. Stanford Univ Campus, San rafael, and other places. In fact I was in Giants stadium the day the quake hit the giants game.

 

[welder]

I fried a Onan 16 hp on a lincoln welder by having it parked on to steep of a incline. NEVER happened again

 

[New Look]

I fried a Onan 16 hp on a lincoln welder by having it parked on to steep of a incline. NEVER happened again

I hear that.

There was no way I was going to use jacks on this grade. I heard at least 2 cars today applying their emergency brake going down this street. 200' of hose did the trick!