Ice Truckers

[et1231]

Did anyone watch the History Channel's Ice Truckers tonight? What did you think about it? I thought it was pretty good. But noway would I ever do something like that. Good money I bet.

[yoopr]

yep-saw it-It was OK
I've driven in AK-Iraq-Next stop Yellowknife :P
One thing I was surprised about was that they drove with only 28" of Ice with heavy loads-I expected a lot more ice.
Where I live in the winter we get over 3' of ice and I'm careful driving my Pickup truck on it :P

[AquaW900L]

yes i watched "Ice Road Truckers"..also thought it was very good...also have to agree with you when i say that i'd probably never want to try that...but guess I cant say never...The money they make is unbelievable...you'd think they has some better looking trucks...i saw a nice looking Pete. 379 and a nice KW W900...mabe saw acouple more but dont recall them at the moment. Looking forward to next weeks show

[ben45750]

you'd think they has some better looking trucks

I don't think it would be to bright to run a $100K truck up there. Besides going through the ice or putting it in the ditch I wonder what their insurance premiums run up there?


It was a pretty good show (interesting topic) but seemed kinda cheesy, Discovery channel should have done the show. I did like it though.

[et1231]

I agree Discovery Channel should have done it also. The narrator sounded like the guy that does American Chopper. I wonder if they have to go by Canadian HOS? Well at least they don't have to worry about DOT up their. And I couldn't be the cameraman underneath the water. To cold for me. I live in Arkansas and I think it might get around 30 at the coldest maybe. LOL. And it sure cost alot to make an ice road also.

[AquaW900L]

I don't think it would be to bright to run a $100K truck up there. Besides going through the ice or putting it in the ditch I wonder what their insurance premiums run up there?

Well i know they are not going to run trucks like that up there but atleast trucks that look better maintained i guess i should say

[Snowman7]

I don't think it would be to bright to run a $100K truck up there. Besides going through the ice or putting it in the ditch I wonder what their insurance premiums run?

I have no clue but I wouldn't be surprised if they are self insured. I think if you take your POV off road its not covered by your insurance policy. Keep that in mind when you go ice fishing with your 40k new pickup! I have snowmobiled across ice many times and its a scary feeling when you think about all that water underneath you. We have riden across Whitefish Bay out of Paradise MI several miles and over to Mackinaw Island etc. I dont know how far it is but its got to be 5 miles across I'd guess. Sometimes the sun will melt the surface so there is an inch of standing water/slush on top of two feet of ice. That'll make you pucker up a little and squeeze that throttle for all its worth! Many people every year go through the ice, some dont make it out, but when its frozen solid its very strong. We have never had a problem but we dont like to take chances, or be the first to test it.

[yoopr]

I drive all over the ice in the winter in my pickup BUT you have to know the area you're crossing and steer clear of any areas that might have feeder creeks and currents. That's when people go through.

Snowman-You know that running fast enough with your snowmobile if you hit open water you can skim right across :P
Doesn't work with trucks though lol

[Snowman7]

Snowman-You know that running fast enough with your snowmobile if you hit open water you can skim right across :P
Doesn't work with trucks though lol

Oh yeah I know! But let me tell ya if you ever see this ole boy doing that it was an accident and I'm hangin on for dear life, crappin my britches till I hit land! I dont play around near open water cmon! Too damn cold and too expensive to salvage your sled. The environmental authorities wont let it stay there. Thats if I survive!

[yoopr]

When are you going to buy a Real Sled? :P
Last winter I was crossing a big Resevoir(sp) at full throttle and I hit a Pressure Ridge. Good thing I had a good grip because I became a Pilot

[Sealord]

If the first show is the best they have, it's not all that compared to the version the Discovery Channel ran. BOL

[ben45750]

I don't think it would be to bright to run a $100K truck up there. Besides going through the ice or putting it in the ditch I wonder what their insurance premiums run up there?

Well i know they are not going to run trucks like that up there but atleast trucks that look better maintained i guess i should say

I agree, I didn't mean for it to come across as a smart ass (which I think I did reading it tonight) Sorry. I just would think they probably have a truck just for running the ice and a nice truck they run the rest of the year. When they showed the guy preparing the trucks for the ice, the hood has up where you could see the engine and it looked like it had a lot of new parts on it.

I thought the show was great but they missed a lot of things that a truck driver watching the show would be interested in that they didn't discuss, it's like they filmed it for a Mr and Mrs History channel buff. I would think the people most interested in watching the show are in the trucking business?

My questions are:

What is the speed limit on the ice and if they are heavier do they have to go slower?

Are the tires studded?

How long can they drive? Sleeper time for reset?

At -40 and -50 below do normal anti-gels work or do they run a different fuel?

Do they have internal tank heaters for the fuel?

Any type of tracking devices (qualcom?) if they do go through the ice it will re-freeze and they will never find you?

I would like to know more about the technical side about the ice truckers but then the average viewer might get board with too many facts they know nothing about? I figure yooper might know quite a bit about this? Any knowledge to share yooper?

[yoopr]

I don't think it would be to bright to run a $100K truck up there. Besides going through the ice or putting it in the ditch I wonder what their insurance premiums run up there?

Well i know they are not going to run trucks like that up there but atleast trucks that look better maintained i guess i should say

I agree, I didn't mean for it to come across as a smart ass (which I think I did reading it tonight) Sorry. I just would think they probably have a truck just for running the ice and a nice truck they run the rest of the year. When they showed the guy preparing the trucks for the ice, the hood has up where you could see the engine and it looked like it had a lot of new parts on it.

I thought the show was great but they missed a lot of things that a truck driver watching the show would be interested in that they didn't discuss, it's like they filmed it for a Mr and Mrs History channel buff. I would think the people most interested in watching the show are in the trucking business?

My questions are:

What is the speed limit on the ice and if they are heavier do they have to go slower?

Are the tires studded?

How long can they drive? Sleeper time for reset?

At -40 and -50 below do normal anti-gels work or do they run a different fuel?

Do they have internal tank heaters for the fuel?

Any type of tracking devices (qualcom?) if they do go through the ice it will re-freeze and they will never find you?

I would like to know more about the technical side about the ice truckers but then the average viewer might get board with too many facts they know nothing about? I figure yooper might know quite a bit about this? Any knowledge to share yooper?

I've never driven the ice roads but we have pretty extreme low temps in the winter. Most of us have tank heaters and we get down to -40 and occasionally hit -50F(Rarely) and anti-gel works fine-Also pouring gas line anti-freeze down your air lines helps freeze ups.
Like I said before I've never driven the Mines Ice Roads but one thing to keep in mind is that even the smallest injury can be serious and possibly a deadly thing. I'm guessing they don't do log books and I'm guessing HOS are out the window when on the Road-You don't dare stop.
What I've "Heard"(For what it's worth) is that you're timed and if you get to your destination too early you're fired on the Spot.
If they used Studs they'd have to use them for all the tires or you'd be having your trailer coming around on you quicker than you could say Jacknife :P
One thing that I can guarantee is that even if the Trucks might look a bit Rugged they're mechanically top notch.

[trux]

That was an interesting show. Seemed like the loads they were hauling were only about 20-30k lbs but here's an article that says up to 70 tons gross.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...601335_pf.html

And I was wondering about speed on the ice:

"The drivers, however, say the biggest problem is tedium, as their loaded vehicles crawl along at mandatory speed limits of 6 and 15 mph to keep from damaging the ice."

Cripes, 360 miles at 6 mph would be a long drive.

Every time I cuss Ohio I'm going to think about those guys.

[yoopr]

Every time I cuss Ohio I'm going to think about those guys.

LMAO

[BigWheels]

..."The drivers, however, say the biggest problem is tedium, as their loaded vehicles crawl along at mandatory speed limits of 6 and 15 mph to keep from damaging the ice."

Cripes, 360 miles at 6 mph would be a long drive.

Hmmm...if I put my TV/DVD player in the passenger seat, how many movies could I watch in 350 miles?

[COLT]

One lake is named "two movie lake" Honest

[Trucker2007]

I saw the first Ice road truckers. I am on the road alot with my son that is 5 years old so my wife will tape the next one for me. today I am off, but I go back Sunday.

[Trucker2007]

I Watched the first show of ice road truckers, but this Sunday I can't watch it because me and my 5 year old son will be hiting the road. My wife will tape it for me.

[BigWheels]

One lake is named "two movie lake" Honest

I believe ya!