1Fury1
Slab Side Slacker
Sure. Just bring it back with a full tank of fuel.Can I borrow it?
Okay. Some of you guys asked for it. Here it is.
- Thread starter The Goose
- Start date
The Goose
Senior Member
Alright here goes round two. These are two 777 trucks we built side by side. We did them outside because our shop is so packed we didn’t have any open bays. So much for a weak economy. I’ve worked every day including weekends for the last two weeks. Most days started when it was still dark and ended around 10:30 or midnight. You might think this sucks if you knew I was salary but I’m salary plus commission so the math actually works out okay. Anyways enjoy the picks of how the sausage is made.
The Goose
Senior Member
777 is the smaller end of the scale when it comes to CAT haul trucks. They are big in California due to the backwards rules we have to follow more common is the 789 much bigger but comically small compared to a 797.
The Goose
Senior Member
You can see what our welder need to do to put the beds together. Below you can see our welder got a bit ahead of himself. I had to have him knock off these wings because they add just enough width to make this impossible and illegal to ship over the road. We attach these on delivery site during the commissioning of the machine. Proper tire pressure test drive fire suppression etc etc...
The Goose
Senior Member
Starting to look like something.
The Goose
Senior Member
The beginning of another late night.
The Goose
Senior Member
Now this is what I’m talkin’ about. Who among you wouldn’t want this for your apocalypse transportation? I know I would Lol !!!
The Goose
Senior Member
The home stretch.
Lots of cold wind and rain (a couple snowy days too) made this a real challenge to get delivered by our drop dead day. It’s getting down as low as 22° but this doesn’t take into account the constant 10 to 25 mph wind. I know it’s worse in other parts of the world but it’s pretty awful for us.
We invited the fire suppression folks to install in our yard. They were quite happy for the cell service, mostly dry pavement, no mud, hot coffee and a building to come get warm in. Usually they add fire suppression in the field but I figured this would speed things up and it did. The customer asked how long before we can get fire added an get this in the dirt? We threw them the keys said Merry Christmas it starts work immediately and they were really happy. Might start doing this every build but there are liability issues with them installing in our yard. I know I know ....
Lawyers...
Lots of cold wind and rain (a couple snowy days too) made this a real challenge to get delivered by our drop dead day. It’s getting down as low as 22° but this doesn’t take into account the constant 10 to 25 mph wind. I know it’s worse in other parts of the world but it’s pretty awful for us.
We invited the fire suppression folks to install in our yard. They were quite happy for the cell service, mostly dry pavement, no mud, hot coffee and a building to come get warm in. Usually they add fire suppression in the field but I figured this would speed things up and it did. The customer asked how long before we can get fire added an get this in the dirt? We threw them the keys said Merry Christmas it starts work immediately and they were really happy. Might start doing this every build but there are liability issues with them installing in our yard. I know I know ....
Lawyers...
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The Goose
Senior Member
And away she goes!!!
The Goose
Senior Member
Whole build of the two trucks took about 3 weeks. Not bad w thanksgiving and the constant heavy rain & below freezing temps. We also got a 972 torn down to the frame rebuilt and out the door. On top of the normal day to day work. I’ve been wearing a lot of different hats lately. Here is one of my side jobs while getting everything else done. I did most of this after hours locked in the shop by myself so the guys could concentrate on getting less time consuming stuff done & out the door.
Amazing what a hack can do with little training or skills and the proper tools.
Merry Christmas everyone !!! hope you all get to play as hard next week as we’ve all worked these last few years.
Here’s to 4 more years of a roaring economy and more money in all of our pockets !!!!
Amazing what a hack can do with little training or skills and the proper tools.
Merry Christmas everyone !!! hope you all get to play as hard next week as we’ve all worked these last few years.
Here’s to 4 more years of a roaring economy and more money in all of our pockets !!!!
The Goose
Senior Member
A 797 haul truck cannot be shipped assembled. Believe it or not it take 18 tractor trailers to deliver.
300rag
It's Not Going to Shift Itself
300rag
It's Not Going to Shift Itself
And this...
1Fury1
Slab Side Slacker
797s are the most widely used in the Alberta oil sands where I worked. Some companies are experimenting with autonomous (driverless) haul trucks. Have you seen any of those come through your shop?
How many hours will one of these things last before it is back for another rebuild?
Dave
The Goose
Senior Member
I would say 10 to 15k for powertrain and frame off at 20 to 25k. Every truck is guaranteed at least one second life build. You can also do a CAT certified rebuild that comes with all new serial numbers and it’s history wiped from the system. Treated as a brand new machine brand w the new machine warranty included. It’s a good deal at 50 to 75% cost of new. New is north of 1.2 million I believe.
The Goose
Senior Member
Yes and no. I’ve seen them when I worked in Az at Empire CAT. This was almost 11 years ago. 797 are nonexistent in California but common in Az. Autonomous was at AREA 51 (the CAT Proving Grounds at Tinaja Hills south of Tucson) and out at Phelps Dodge (now Freeport ) but I believe their remote drivers were 789 trucks. Not completely autonomous all were remote operated thru repeaters. We did just have an autonomous steam roller in our yard. 100% of us said F that I’d never work with or trust that thing.
The CAT demo rep was giving us crap about hating on it ( the electric low drive D7e sucks too by the way) & I told him sorry bud I still run points in my car & I hate the future. Swear to god the kid had no idea what points were...
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The Goose
Senior Member
With that number on the radiator I’d guess that’s being shuttled from one part of a mine to another. You can do whatever you can get away with post delivery but CAT ships them unassembled. Then again Mother Mopar has taught us to NEVER say never Lol!!!
The Goose
Senior Member
That’s my old gang in Morenci putting that monster together. You can’t make out Empire on the service trucks but you can clearly see Freeport on the lube trucks. Cool thanks that was pretty bad *** !!!!
I’ve been to most of the factories not sure but my guess is that’s Aurora ILL.
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