Topic: my not so lucky "field trip"

[1981cb650c]

Here's a link to an article in the local newspaper with a picture of the vehicle in question.
http://www.thespec.com/article/411936

My work is in charge of maintaining this fleet so it was towed into our yard, FULLY LOADED. I was the lucky one who got to work on it. My task, get it running, fix the hydraulics and go with it to the waste transfer station (on the back of a tow truck) and tend to any problems that may occur while trying to dump it. The ground (without exaggeration) was moving with maggots. I got it running and fixed the hydraulics. Off to the dump we go!

On a side note, wasn't going to the dump on the weekend with your dad the most exciting thing you do? All the big equipment, all the broken junk. It was for me, or am I the only one?

Neither myself or the tow truck driver know how to operate a garbage truck. No one from the garbage truck fleet came with us. The labels for the controls had all rubbed off. How hard could it be? I started hitting buttons and pulling levers. I saw the rear wall moving so got out to see what was happening. I somehow activated an automatic compacting function. Do you know what happens to wet garbage (it had rained), a moving compacting wall and closed rear door?

AUTO JUICER

I have seen some pretty gross things, smelt some really bad smells. The evil, toxic, vile "bin juice" that was squeezed out the rear seal was THE WORST smelling (I don't even now what to call it so insert adjective of choice here) I had ever smelled. It was so pungent I could taste it. I had to walk away before I lost it. Luckily I found some Cini-bun garbage to stand near that smelled not to bad.

Turned out the rear door was jammed. Bent during the rollover. I had a 6ft pry bar with me. The tow truck driver worked the controlls (we had figured them out) while I pried on the door, in the still dripping juice. I had to climb onto the roof and pry, got it to budge and finally open. It also turns out the smell is better the higher up you go.

We dumped it, I left, the truck was towed to our body shop. My fear is that it is "my truck, my job" and I will be putting in MEGA hours on it. We figured about $50,000 in damages. CAN'T WAIT.

My memory's of going to the dump with dad are now tainted. When I see the same big equipment I think "some poor sole has to fix that thing" and can't even imagine how bad that job must be.

[troppo]

I know what you mean about the trips to the dump mate, used to get excited days before we went "scrounging" used to spend almost all day there, ah happy days...lol
As for the truck, i feel for you, i do repair/modifications on trucks myself but have never been stuck with something bad. Worst i ever had was an abattoirs waste truck that needed a new floor, cutting, grinding and welding on that had me throwing up for hours....

[tramp]

glad it's you and not me

[Steve F]

You should have called Mike Rowe.....he'd have come right over to do your "Dirty Job".  I can't imagine having to work in that miserable type of environment day-in-day-out.  You'd probably end up permanently smelling like garbage yourself even after several hot showers.

[74cb750]

Good luck. SOunds interesting.

I couldn't load the article. ??
michel

[BlindJoe]

    I feel your pain... I'm working for my city's parks dept. this summer and ride around on the back of a garbage truck all day through the parks dumping trash barrels. I've gotten pretty used to the smell after doing it for two months so it ain't too bad. Don't think I'll ever get used to the smell of Carp that's been rotting in a dumpster under the hot sun for a few days ... I've about lost my lunch a couple of times.

[chrislib]

Wow, that really stinks  . Seriously, I feel for ya, I got dosed with dumpster juice once, and it was a smattering compared to what you went thru. You have my deepest sympathy.