Never in a million years would I think that I'd be so fascinated by a tour of a working man's truck from front to back top to bottom but there you go you did it buddy. Better than any Netflix documentary!
I watched the whole thing. Dunno why. I've never had a truck. I'm retired.. But we do have our septic system and yeah, it's time for our "every three years inspection". That was actually really interesting.
I was just wondering the same thing lol I’m a 60 year old Single White Woman who lives in an Apt! I’ve listened to many of his videos and I’m sincerely and genuinely engaged! I have nothing in common with James, nothing! Yet between the subject matter and the tone of Jane’s voice (it’s very VERY Soothing) I find I’m more relaxed after listening! I have extremely high Anxiety! My BP will Double and I’ll end up in the E.R. ☠️ So lately I chill out while listening to these Videos!
Having a WHMIS sticker on the copper sulphate so it’s identifiable. First aide info attached would also increase safety for everyone. Awesome video James. Love the detail.
Didn’t see it but they make fire extinguishers that mount to the back rack of a truck. An ABC type extinguisher would be super helpful since you mentioned that your gas can almost melted. Second a small roof would help with your water issues in the valve/ a possible box around the entire pump with doors that can fully open to allow air flow during operation. Third you can always have heat trace installed along the bottom of the tank and around the valves that freeze during the winter months. It would only keep it warm while the truck was running but it would help to thaw out the valves.
11:34 They could fix that water intrusion fairly easily. Simply drill a center hole in a bowl or cup, place the cup on (upside-down) and then the handle. Could first try with open clearance, but if water keeps getting in due to wind, then can adjust to a tighter seal. Could even go so far as something machined with an o-ring. Otherwise, simply ample grease on that horizontal moving joint.
Love the color coded tools by truck. You could add at the end of the handles color coded stripes in duct tape or reflective tape. That way no matter what truck you are on, if you are staring at the ends of all the tools and want a specific shovel (or whatever), look at the color coded stripes and you will pull it everytime.
I quit my last job, because we were driving and working with garbage tools. Even people in the deepest Kosovo region are working with better tools than we did. And that is not acceptable!
I am so impressed by your knowledge and passion. You have great equipment and it’s inspiring to see you talk about it. I’m thinking of auto inflating kits on your tires like military vehicles have to prevent flats. Also, reflective tape on your vehicle to increase your visibility to other vehicles and people while working in remote dark environments. The last thing I was thinking was a modular Molle organizer that goes in the back of the driver and passenger seats. This will help organize all of the extra gear you have back there like your duct tape, pens, flashlights, first aid etc. It will give everything a place and clear up a lot of room.
As a woman and a quality Supply engineer I found your tour of your trucks so fascinating I was glued to the video screen thank you so much for taking the time and job so well done with your building of your truck I love all your stories
-A small cordless impact is handy to keep on hand for the lid screws -for all the stuff under the seat (duct tape and stuff) would be handy to have in a soft tool bag -On my friends truck he has a small water tank mounted under for clean water and a hose just in case you need to spray crap off :)
One recommendation I would have is for the electric start on the Honda motor to wire it to the truck batteries with one of the built in auxiliary switches being a battery shut off to prevent the truck battery from dying. At my work we did something similar for our air compressor for the service truck
I did this on our work trucks and also ran all auxiliary lights and flashers off of it to keep from having to burn fuel while parked. Just make sure to have a deep cycle battery and a good battery isolator. Also added an override switch to be able to start the truck from the aux if the primary is dead
Came here to say this! Also not sure if the truck is gas or diesel, but if gas just use the vehicles tank and install a transfer pump (or just lift straight from the tank). If diesel, consider a diesel pump OR go electric motor/PTO from the truck gearbox.
Such an incredible difference between this truck and the truck you cleaned. I can't believe that I watched a truck tour. I wish you and your folks all the best.
Thank you for the tour. Very informative. I’m glad to see that you go above and beyond when buying tools and hardware. Not going for the cheapest and keep replacing it. I wish more companies did that. To keep water from getting into the handle and freezing, have you thought about a frost bib for a water faucet? They are water proof and look big enough to cover the housing.
The level and amount of equipment you keep on your trucks is so fascinating to me. And sure, I don't look into getting into this line of trade work, but people like you and your company make everyone's lives able to be lived in this way. I personally do all my own auto maintenance and enjoy doing such, even on my older 1980s F-150.
Probably something I missed but a fire extingusher? 5lb minimum due to the remote locations. Also idk how lit it is at night but an LED remote spotlight mounted on top of the cab is always nice.
@@LegendStormcrow How do we know that its their then? No markings indicating this like other DOT approved vehicles. If it is the one that came with the truck then those are junk out of the box.
The only thing I could think of that I'd like to have if I was working for you, which I didn't see or hear mentioned, would be a separate small water tank with a pump to spray off tools and ppe to keep the inside of the truck sanitary. I'm sure it's not really needed as you probably have one back at the shop for the end of the day but I'd like the ability to clean myself in some way before getting into the truck and spreading whatever I have on me around the truck. Doesn't have to be anything fancy either, maybe a 5 or 10 gallon tank. The other thing, which idk what works better or is more cost effective but I've always been taught to use sawdust for cleaning spillages and never once thought about kitty litter. It's a great idea and makes alot of sense but where I am kitty litter is expensive as hell so just thought I'd throw that out there.
That kitty litter he had around us is $10 for a 50 lb bag that's hard to beat plus there is not a whole lot better then kitty litter for sucking up liquids it holds 10x what sawdust or oil dry does.
I can tell safety and efficiency are important. I would recommend a fire extinguisher. We bolt ours to the floor inside the cab. I would also move the first aid kit next to the fire extinguisher or place it behind the seat. You want these to be easily accessible and easy to find. During situations, you can easily forget it is hiding under rain jackets. I didn’t see a flashlight, would include the brightest ones if you don’t for those night jobs. Rear back up alarms are also helpful to prevent backing accidents. I’d make a magnetic clip for the tools in the back. Hanging them horizontally would make it easier to grab the tool you need instead of looking for it. And if placed back to the proper location, easy to see what is missing. I’d attach it to the “headboard” of the trailer. Get a guy to 3D print a protective handle for the pump. You can customize it however you want to really get the job done; prevent water from getting in there. I can’t give specifics without seeing where the water comes from. Love the GFC sticker and your content. Let me know if any of these ideas were beneficial and we can gift it to a local charity. Support the Carolinas!
This was fascinating, James. I now feel that if I had ANY problem with my sewage system, I am COMPLETELY QUALIFIED to get on my phone and call a Professional. Many decades ago, I assisted a friend run a Rodding machine to cut some roots out of his sewage line. Yes, it was a shitty job that I never want to do again.
A couple things. I'm pretty sure your rear bumper needs to be extended to the end of your overhang on the bed. Also the dash center has a piece you can buy that allows a ram mount for easier eye line and access for gps or cell phone holding. Built right industries makes this dash mount. I'd also recommend flood lights on the side of the vehicle for truck work and to see the property. For the batteries look into lithium batteries. They last much longer than a year. Something I saw before was running exhaust along the tank to keep the tank heated to keep it from freezing. Switch to super single semi rims and tires in the rear dulles? Longer life and Good weight rating. Handle on the rigid pipe for tank cleaning would be more convenient. Good luck. Truck looks great.
If you're running super singles, you can't get a flat.. it'll cripple the truck. On a dually setup,you still have 3 good tires in the rear. Plus, have you ever priced the conversion wheels and a pair of 22.5" tires?? Definitely not going to pay for itself. Ever..
Hey !! Great video. Those seals are not glued in to those caps because over time depending on the application those gaskets stop sealing and need to be replaced as well as the hoses that connect to them. There are different companies that make those caps and the ones I used had a pretty thick ridge that the gasket sits in. and rarely had to pop them back in. Oh yea, That rigid pipe you showed that clamped on the end of the hose - We called a dip leg.
I have a few suggestions that could be helpful, for your small engine battery not lasting a year, it doesn’t look like it has a recharge system on it so you could be a kit that will run off the alternator you’re truck already has and you can run wires to that battery to keep it charged and running longer. The next thing is you could make a shovel rack that goes right on the headache rack on your flat beds and it can keep the shovels up off the bed so you could store more if needed and all around just keep the back looking neater. Finally a backup camera would be extremely beneficial for you guys backing down long and narrow driveways, I used to run plow trucks with salters in the bed and the backup cameras make things so much easier since you don’t have to worry about anything being in your massive blind spot behind the truck
Batteries are crappy if you are not a big company, as an "civilian" you get lower quality batteries, so they break sooner. With cars your factory set can last 5-7 years, the replacements usual 4 ish years. (in my and people i talked to about it experience) So i would be not surprised if the smaller batteries who are usual for motorbikes and lawnmowers keep one year, they are build to last max 3 years but not for high frequent use. Because, hey, battery manufacturers want more income too!
@@pouncepounce7417freezing over the winter also shortens the life of batteries. I wonder if a battery warming system would eventually pay for itself by making those little batteries last for a few years, rather than just one.
@@bastarddoggy you can buy batteries for arctic use, they are inside an foam box and have heater elements that heat the battery as soon it gets cold. That costs power but less than the battery would loose degrading due to cold. So if you have less than -15C regular it is an option to consider.
I haul water for a living and face many of the same problems. However, the 6,000 gallon tanker I haul has a couple more accessibility issues due to its length and weight. I wish the truck I drive was set up as well as yours are. Awesome content.
I pump petroleum. I’ve learned to keep a lot of 3” and 4”’ hose seals with me. I keep them on a carabiner, and out of the sunlight to prevent degradation. Another thing that is an easy help is having the hoses male on one end and female on the other, so no more barrel connectors or female to female connectors. Also, a short 5’ extension hose for when you’re just short of reaching your pump out target. I too use coated cable to attach the plugs and caps to the trailer and each to the hoses. Wilson Electronics makes a cell phone amplifier that will boost your ability to hit the cell towers. It’s hard wired to the truck, but not to your phone. Very handy when servicing customers that live so far out of cell service. Thanks for the leadership videos. It’s great material you’re putting out, and refreshing to hear
I commented on another video that I've done body recover/clean-up and a few nasty things, your job is where I draw the line. When you grabbed the turd-sucker-pipe thing, my mind started with "I don't think that's mud" then shifted to "please wash your hands...several times" I was also morbidly curious with every step. Thank you for the tour, stay safe.
Hi there James, your TikTok got me interested in this video and I have to say it gives a good impression of the trucks you use. As of the suggestions you asked about, many things I can come up with have been mentioned before me like : crates for the loose stuff in the car a camera for backing up more easily and maybe a rack between the tank and the cab for the tools there. The last can be cheap from 1/2 PVC pipes with straps and this will also lead to less mess and damage in the back. About the valves you can maybe look at electrical heat tracing, this is used widely in the petro/chemical industry for their lines, the one you want is specifically for winterizing. Of course it works best when insulated but doesn’t have to be a lot. The pump assembly could be enclosed with some lightweight aluminium plates ( also used in the chemical industry) to keep it out of the elements and prolong its life, these enclosures can be opened of lifted away very easy. ( even by one man ) With this cover the valve will not get the water or ice around the stem and will work for longer. Even the battery will last longer is my best guess. Like some others commented , why no water tank for cleaning and just handsanitiser ? I would put a simple camping tank with a drain on the opposite site from the pump assembly for cleaning tools and hands there. Overall like I your content and you seem to know what you’re doing, keep it up 👍🏻
I dropped a few things on TicTok. First, if you aren’t using the backseat for seating, remove it and have custom storage made. You can keep stuff like the caps with the seals preglued in the cab so you don’t have to mess with it on a job. Next, move the tank back another 6” and hang shovels and other tools on the headache rack so you don’t have to dig for the right tool and easy to make sure you have all your tools before you leave a job. Also, put the pump and motor in a box with louvers on the sides and a door you can open when in use, that would keep both out of the elements and water from getting to your pump and freezing it up. Side note, and I’m sure you already have something, but hang a water cooler with soapy water on the bed somewhere to wash your hands before getting into the truck. Love the content, and the way you treat your employees
Also, run the wires from the starter of the for the small engine for the pump directly to the truck batteries. This will eliminate needed a separate battery. We do this for our air compressors on work trucks.
Never go direct, always have batteries separated by an isolator or solenoid. If that little battery shorts out it can kill both truck batteries over night.
@@theredneckman001 good point, I did miss that part. We do have a solenoid for our work truck compressor with a fusible link that trips if something shorts out.
That was fascinating. Going to add some of these ideas to my pickup. When I was a kid I heard my neighbor refer to these trucks as a "ca-ca sucka" (with Boston accent) I am enjoying the heck out of this channel. Thanks!
Honestly, I can only think of two things. A portable winch that can be coupled to the front of the truck if needed or on a frame to help lift the lids. Second is to ask in advance for people to send pictures of the access drives or videos, you can setup an WhatsApp account or telegram account so people can send those pictures/videos. Maybe include a water kettle that connects to the car 12V so you can heat water and use to clean, and even drop on top of the ice that freezes those connections that you mention.
Being someone that lives in Canada and deals with stuff freezing for half the year if not more. I would recommended looking at if your can buy or have someone make a heated/insulated system for the valves. I would recommend having it be able to run off of the 12V battery from the truck when it's running and/or have it be able to be plugged in to an outlet while the truck is parked.
Hey James, love the tik tok, couple things, 1. Maybe a little box to put the hand tools in, going around corners the tools have the potential to come off the bed, also, maybe some lights to illuminate the bed for those after hour calls, something on the pump so you could see it if anything was to happen to it, so you could see it to do minor repairs in the field, being able to see when putting up hoses and those hand tools
I would honestly love to see you and your crew put one of those harbor freight predator motors in place of the Honda and see just how long it lasts. Great video and love seeing all the equipment!
You didn’t mention anything about having a back up camera anymore they’re so affordable if it prevents one accident it’ll pay for your entire fleet of trucks to have them
On cab and chassis they are wired for backup camera but since there’s nowhere to mount it to it’s an option but you can buy the camera and prep kit directly from Ford even if the truck wasn’t bought with the option
@@kawiet830 CM beds also do not have a location for a backup camera. It would need to be custom mounted. Typically I use the Ford camera it comes with because it has a housing and mounts, making it easy to just find a spot to drill a few holes. (I build service trucks for a living)
So this is in response to your Tik Tok account, I did this cause I enjoy it not to get money out of you. You were humble enough to know your limits and I respect that. I hope something here with be of some help to you down the road. In the cab of the truck above your head in the center right behind the 12 volt outlets you can have a mesh net pined on all 4 corners for storage. Keep your clip board up there so it's not rolling around everywhere and it's easy to get to. There are special chair mounted elastic, compartmentalized storage systems you can get to put over your driver and passenger seats as well as your rear seats as well to get everything off the floor of your trucks and to organize everything better. It would also help eliminate confusion among your employees as everything would have a place to be put and any employee can get into any truck and immediately know where everything is. For the bad of the truck first and foremost, get some large sized square piping and weld that shit to the front of the bed where you've been "throwing your tool". This will allow you to stand your tools upright so they can't move around on you and open up that space right behind the headache rack for more of whatever you may need. For your freezing pipes issue, I work in injection molding and there is a thing called a nozzle or tip heater. It's just a small ring you can get in various sizes that goes around the pipe your need to heat(or barrel in my case) and can heat up extremely quickly. It just has 2 wires coming off of it but it might be useful to help you with the freezing issue. I will warm you now though, the ones we use can get up to 600 degrees and over so I'd look for one with a regulator or something similar to keep it from melting your pipes. Steel shouldn't be too much of a problem but it might boil the contents inside... Just fyi. Use this as well for any other water freezes. For the seals pooping out, I'd suggest looking into how monster( the energy drink) seals thier cans and see if there is something similar that you can get. I would suggest looking into semi-trick truck tires and or to replace the ones that you're currently going through they are standard going to be more reliable and should help you out longer than the typical City highway tires that you can get somewhere else and with the vehicle as big as it is you can probably get the right tire size and get away with it For the "mucking sucker"(?)(the pipe you use) consider taking the diameter of that pipe and buying a 4 or 6 inch piece of square tubing, cut it in half long ways and then weld that to the bed so that thing doesn't slide around everywhere. Good luck! Keep up the tik-toks!
I’d get that first aid kit mounted on the back of the front passenger seat and not let the guys hang jackets on it. That way it’s accessible from the drivers seat and there is no question of where it is if it’s an emergency and someone isn’t thinking straight.
Sure do wish you weren't so far away. A business owner with your intellect, knowledge, fairness and thoroughness is so incredibly rare. Also, the way you care for your employees is extrordinary. Kudos to you. Your videos are fascinating, something that I never thought I would say about a septic company. What is the furthest distance you'll go for a job?
Tire chains, tire puncture repair kit, a winch maybe, emergency lights front and back, side and back facing lights on the headache rack, fire extinguisher, nice flashlights and headlamps, zip ties,
I enjoy watching your posts. Even this one about your work trucks! 😂. I’m a retired woman who helped build Subarus in Lafayette IN! So I like all this extra info although it doesn’t affect me anymore! ❤
1. A 12v fridge like in semis/rvs. 2. A small 5-10 gallon tank with clean water for washing hands and tools. Pressurizing the tank would help as well. 3. They make flexible pipe heaters which are basically a 120v wire you wrap around a pipe. In your case you would wrap the valves. This would require a generator/invertor or be set and plugged in at night like an engine heater
James, love your content, not interested in working your field but your pragmatism is infectious. You like solutions... correct? I have one for you. The Masport pump control handle winter freeze has a very cheap simple solution. Take a water bottle, one that is about the same outer diameter as the bearing housing (right in there), cut the bottle in half, cut a slot in each half (on the cut side) the width of the control handle and deep enough so that once inverted and placed over the handle so the cut edge of the bottle overlaps the tapered bearing housing creating an umbrella that sheds water away from the handle and bearing race. Hot glue (neatly) the slot in the former bottle to the handle so it doesn't blow off in transit, you now have a very inexpensive, fairly invisible modification that probably only needs to be installed for three months in the year, insuring annual replacement so it won't get too raggedy. My guess would be, if water can infiltrate and freeze, it probably isn't good for the mechanism during any season, water and metal don't really get along. Drop me a line if this helps at all. P
Only things I can think of: alternator for the pump battery, backup camera, and maybe some more off-road style tires for those rough driveways. The alternator probably won’t save you a ton of money, but it would help with the hassle of getting batteries. Someone already said backup cameras but I thought I’d mention it anyway. The more “off-road” style tire would have deeper tread and won’t need to be replaced as frequently while also aiding in the rougher driveways, but also cost a little bit more. Some smaller mounted lights or even just magnetic lights for around the more frequently used areas of the truck would probably help a lot an night too.
Offroad tires are not going to last long on the road.. gravel isn't off road, just not smooth sailing. The honda pump motor has a complete charging system, I don't know how you could think it doesn't..
Porta potty/various other septic needs truck driver here, we use amthor tank setups but I have to say having a 50% fill bubble along with the 100% full bubble helps me out a great deal when I have a lot of stops with lots of sewage, gives me a better idea where exactly I'm at so I don't get somewhere and can't finish a job because I got filled up. Also I'd suggest instead of running a bunch of hoses the same length, get a few hoses like a 60' or two, a 30' and a 20'. Whichever combination would give you the range you need in the least amount of hoses possible. Then instead of the guys needing to connect 3 20' hoses they just use one 60', or instead of 2 20' hoses use one 30' hose to go the 25 feet they need, the less hose you use the more pulling power you get, overall results in jobs getting done faster. In my experience clogs are easier to deal with in one hose than two or more connected hoses.
Some simple things I would say to have, spare spark plugs and other miscellaneous parts for the pump, a tool rack of some kind to improve inventory, and as a machinist I would highly recommend getting a custom handle made for the pump control, you the dead centres on CNC tail stocks have a sealed off bearing as well as a design near the bottom to deflect coolant and I feel if that was incorporated into the handle it would help with some freezing issues in the winter
My FIL runs a single axle 2,500 gallon truck in NYS and with the freezing temps that we see, we use a heated valve that uses the engines coolant to unfreeze the valves on the way to the jobs; we keep both valves open with a bucket at the valve when the truck is not running in the winter. You didn't discuss hand tools in this video, but we stay away from carrying battery powered drills and saws as everyday carries and instead carry hand saws (hacksaw and wood saw) as well as a ratcheting brace with a quarter inch socket drive head and 1/4 inch sockets and screw bits that fit into a 1/4 inch socket. These items guarantee that we can complete most jobs with the least amount of headaches since we are not dependent on batteries, and also aren't injuring wrists using screw and nut drivers when unscrewing lids or tightening ferncos. We will bring battery powered tools if we know we need them, but not as everyday carry. My father in law also created a better way to deal with clogged inlet pipes. He took a 3" 90* elbow and added a fernco on one end that allows the 3" hoses to easily be added to it and a short piece of pipe 3" I.d. to the other. This allows us to use the truck's vaccum to remove clogs instead of having to snake them multiple times. We also use the truck's outlet valve to backwash the tank allowing more of the muck to be easier to remove on tanks that aren't pumped regularly.
Can you convert the honda engine to run off the diesel tank in the truck? Would save you from packing that can around. I would put a coned pipe with a slot for the handle that goes past where water gets in over your valve on the pump. Might take a few iterations. Maby a converter of some type to get charge the honda battery when the truck is running. Also could take some pipe and weld it on the headache rack to organize your tools there. Could have a secondary pipe come from your exhaust in the winter to unfreeze that bottom valve. I would have it on a butterfly valve that can be tured on in the winter. Or insulate it and plug it in when you plug the blockheater in.
Btw love your tiktoks just recently moved to South Carolina and yours instantly came up. Being someone is a special trade it's good to see others promoting them!
3 suggestions. I drive a non has met tanker truck so I deal with those quick connects and 3" rubber gaskets. 1. Try wrapping gasket with electrical tape. Tighter fit. 2. You did not mention it but wondering if you had drain holes in the front and middle of your truck bed so water does not collect. 3. Might want to get a small Rubbermaid container to put the small items that you have behind the passenger seat in so they are not laying all over the floor. Thanks for your videos enjoy your content
a good idea the company I work for does is add a first aid sticker to help everyone quickly locate the kit in an emergency situation. also we use 2 inch pvc pipe strapped on a slant to organize shovels and what not.
You have a great attention to detail. When I ran a septic truck our company always had steel traction mats, to lay on the ground to help you from getting stuck, or to lay over areas that may have crushable lines , or shallow power lines. They do make heated valves, for the tanks heated by truck coolant, our truck had the exhaust focused towards the tank, to help from freezing. The same could be done to the flow valve from your Honda pump , with a flexible exhaust pipe. If you like my ideas or would like pictures of what I could make, I like money lol
Another idea is to get license plate backup camera. It replaces the frame of the back license plate and will give the driver a view of what’s behind him on a screen that you can put on the dash
Damn you guys really set your employees up for success. I’ve worked for people whos goal was to force you to make as much profit as possible while spending as little as they can to help you reach the goals they set .
For the pump control handle try putting a line of silicone sealant around where the water collects. If you need to disassemble it soak the silicone in mineral oil, alcohol or vinegar. Then scrape it off with a pull scraper or sharp knife.
Mechanical designer here - machining or even 3d printing some sort of cover to keep water out of the stem on that vacuum pump would be pretty straightforward. I could design & 3d print you a sample with a few measurements...
I would get some toolboxes to organize everything in the back. This would protect the drivers from getting hit with any loss and flying objects in an accident
I love the preparedness of it all. Worked for a place that had no vehicle / fleet / safety policy and comprehensive on-board equipment/tools. Made me angry for some of the staff (the ones who I didn't hate, anyway) to be driving a janky/older vehicle to jobs, sometimes in the middle of the night, and not have a fall back for a breakdown or accident other than to call someone (who may or may not have their phone on). There was maybe 1 florescent orange triangle that I wasn't even aware about till way later.
Have you ever though of having an inverter installed in the trucks, so that your guys can use anything that requires a regular 110v including a jump box?
You look at the details like they are the most important 🤔 definitely one of the best bosses I've seen, damn man, thank you for being yourself, it's not like you only care about yourself or only the business, you care about every piece of the puzzle. I thank you and appreciate you even tho i don't know you, i only wish there were more like you
Hi, I follow your channel on TikTok. Thank you for making videos, I enjoy watching them. Have you ever thought about getting an ice maker for your business if you go through a large amount of ice for your cooler ?
For your truck tools / supplies you store in the back of the truck. Instead of everything just on the floor under the seat. Maybe custom build (if you can) some type of drawer that can be installed in the floor of the truck so you can organize it better. This can include a hole for your yeti cooler to fit in so it doesn't take up leg space while traveling. My last idea is you can also maybe add some hooks to hold in place all the tools that are stored between the tank and back truck window. This will prevent them from moving around while driving or the possible risk of them sliding off the truck.
I adore your use of smaller 550s and the like. When I worked for one of these companies all we ran were Kenworth/Sterling/Mack vac trucks with 3000gal tanks. Up here in the bush roads of Ontario I'd have far rather backed a half tonne up a donkey trail to get to some cabin.
Beautiful, absolutely beautiful. Well thought out and you adapted to all the problems. Well almost all of them Honda makes the best engines hands-down but we have had trouble with the batteries to. We have gotten around it by using a trickle charger when parked just works better that way, as far as the water freezing in the air valve, me,? I just put a plastic bag over the whole thing and duck tape it in place.
Freeze up problems Maybe look into a block heater or heated cables. They usually require some decent power. Maybe enough to run off a good inverter, or just a magnetic block heater for back bottom of tank to keep warm or thawed out while truck is off duty.On pump selector handle a cap over it or silicone the gap so water won’t build up. I appreciate the money you spend to make life easier for your crew and the forethought on things saving money in the long run!
1. the Yeti cooler: have you considered a 12v fridge? implementing a second battery dedicated to it is a very simple task using a voltage sensitive relay and would save you the time and cost of ice over a period of time. 2. reverse camera. I live in mine. The higher it is the better and for easier implementation try a wireless unit. 3. fuel to pump. in our trucks we run a line from the vehicle tank to the pump and use a simple momentary switch to transfer to the pump tank. this requires a valve at the tank. happy to talk to you more about it. 4. freezing water over that valve. at the end of every day I'd suggest covering it in a wafer dispersant like wd40 to prevent any build up. it can't freeze if it's not there.
@@mikecrompton481 copy. Wasnt sure about fuel type. Over here there's very few petrol vehicles over there but I know you guys are fond of them. We run diesel powered pumps at our workplace. Yanmar do some great products.
Absolutely no idea how I ended up watching your channel but I love it. I’m usually watching true crime or similar so god knows what’s up with the algorithm! 🇦🇺 🇺🇸
Very cool it looks like you've tailored it using your experiences thru the years and it's probably always evolving. It's even tailored to the terrain you encounter there having tanks so far from road access and with such drastic elevation changes. Your story about getting the trucks so stuck so far from a road and the cost getting them out tells me it's beautiful country there.
I spent 7 years as a truck driver and pump operator for an industrial cleaning company. Used tons of camlock fittings , fire hoses and 12k psi blast hoses . we ussually used stainless fittings for high and low pressure. last longer.
Here from TikTok and the only recommendations I could think of would be to use oil dry instead of kitty litter, it’s usually cheaper and works better. The second thing would be that you could run the key start for the Honda motor to the battery’s in the truck itself or put a battery tender/ charger on the existing battery at night, that would let them last longer than the year you are getting now and save you a lot of money in batteries every year.
Here from TikTok. First off, great setup! I’ve seen some sketchy trucks over the years. My first suggestion is to add a winch to the front bumper and keep tow straps/tree savers/shackles etc in the truck so when you find yourself in a questionable situation you can either recover yourself or use the winch to stabilize the truck. Next for the frozen valves, I believe I’ve seen someone comment with something similar but maybe try the heated blankets/covers intended to keep snow/ice off windshields and just wrap them around the valves. Might be a total fail but who knows. Lastly, and yes this is borrowed, but you should add custom graphics to the tank that say “You Dump It, We Pump it”🤣
Saw your tiktok, watched the whole video. I'm sure if this stuff is just super simple and therefore have thought about them and you have reasons for not doing them, or just never thought of it. If you're doing night work, some lights in the front and rear of the bed, hung high, pointed down i think would be nice. To be clear, lights on either end of the front of the bed pointing back to light up the sides, lights at the very rear pointing front to light up the back of the tank. reflective tape on the end of the bed under the dump wire the pump motor starter to the trucks battery, not its own so you wont have that extra cost of an extra battery that i assume also isnt re-charged while the honda motor is running. a simple cover or enclosed box for the pump with room to operate it still to prevent water damage. could also get a boot from a ball joint, unbolt that handle, put the boot on, bolt on the handle and that will probably prevent water from entering. I dont want the $100, but would like to know the outcome of these ideas! PS: I'm interested in what fleet management software you use. I work in software and briefly worked at a septic company here in Arizona so i know there is a lot that goes with managing a fleet and the software behind it.
Only things that I can think of. Maxtrax are great for getting unstuck in a bad situation or a driveway that shouldn’t be a driveway. They are super sturdy and you lay them under the tires to assist in getting out of ruts or up steep gravel. Also the tank sits above the cab and having a fiberglass “bump pole” that’s the same height as the tank attached to the bumper would allow operators to check clearance under a low hanging branch or a Hardee’s drive through before accidentally ruining thousands of dollars of equipment, or stopping to get out which is time and a huge pain. Lastly pelican makes these indestructible waterproof reflective flashlights that are super bright and not very expensive. They are crush and shock proof and I’ve found them to be great whenever I’m working on pipes under a house. They also have a arm loop attachment point to keep you from dropping them in septic tanks and down long pipes. Hope I can help.
Nice trucks. I work for a company that specializes in land application of biosolids in North Carolina we have many machines running vac/press pump using very similar equipment both on and off road. Some ideas are as other have mentioned 1 backup cameras 2 hard wire the Hondas to the truck and eliminate battery issues. Best thing I have done with all out truck mounted equipment very happy results. 3 I cringe at the fittings sticking past the rear of the truck. In a collision or backing accident it could send the valve through the tank. We have had it happen very expensive and time consuming repair. We were lucky the tank was empty at the time. 4 with your pump I saw a pressure blow off but not a vacuum relief valve. If there is not one I highly recommend installing one between the pump and tank. I have seen the tank suck in on a pull behind tank system. 5 look at installing heaters on the valves they come in both 12v and engine coolant styles that I know of. 6 look at installing grease fitting in the top of the pump valve for greasing to keep water out. We have not had problems with the pump valve freezing but ours are greased.
I have a couple possible improvements. First, A trunk organizer or something similar to keep all the loose stuff on the truck together will make it a little cleaner in the back and make it easier to keep an accurate inventory. Next, To help "winterize" the vacuum lever could wrapping it loosely with some hydroponic cloth. Lastly, On the storage side you can get some 5 gallon buckets and a battery powered sprayer or pump to clean off the tools and such. Only thing else I can think of is a fire extinguisher, get the employees trained in it's use if you get one that could mean some fire damage or a ton of fire damage. Wish more bosses and business owners were as cool as you.
I used to live in the country. I started with a septic tank and drain field and ended up with an aerobic system. I am quite familiar with septic pumping and had always been fascinated by sewage treatment in general. If I had to choose another career this would be it. It is so necessary you can go to bed at night and sleep well knowing that you have performed a very necessary service.
I was a service tech on hot tubs. we used minivans, and in that minivan, after 1 year of service, in your off time you were allowed to build a wooden setup to hold EVERYTHING. that was my favorite part of working with that company. plus easy to Uninstall or modify being wood
You should build a slide out hopper for kitty litter or even grass seed to fill into buckets/shovels. Stores more, gets it out of the cab, and super convenient. Have seen a few on fire trucks for dispensing quick dry on auto accidents.
Saw you post on tik tok. One thing I use on my work truck is a z-flash. Plug and play OBDII accessory that turns your factory lights into strobing caution lights. I programed mine to flash colors in accordance with local laws. Very useful for when working on or near a public roadway
Great truck set up. I didn't see a fire extinguisher. Also the valve that freezes up. I would fashion a piece of rubber inner tube to go under the handle to cover the sealing area to keep moisture out.
Never in a million years would I think that I'd be so fascinated by a tour of a working man's truck from front to back top to bottom but there you go you did it buddy. Better than any Netflix documentary!
You might look at the tool tank by Essential Craftsman. Same feeling. Fascinating tour of a man's work truck.
th-cam.com/video/y2GmmvL-MPo/w-d-xo.html
I watched the whole thing. Dunno why. I've never had a truck. I'm retired.. But we do have our septic system and yeah, it's time for our "every three years inspection". That was actually really interesting.
Definitely agree this much more interesting and informative than Netflix, network TV
I was just wondering the same thing lol I’m a 60 year old Single White Woman who lives in an Apt! I’ve listened to many of his videos and I’m sincerely and genuinely engaged! I have nothing in common with James, nothing! Yet between the subject matter and the tone of Jane’s voice (it’s very VERY Soothing) I find I’m more relaxed after listening! I have extremely high Anxiety! My BP will Double and I’ll end up in the E.R. ☠️ So lately I chill out while listening to these Videos!
Having a WHMIS sticker on the copper sulphate so it’s identifiable. First aide info attached would also increase safety for everyone. Awesome video James. Love the detail.
Actually required and I'm surprised James didn't have labeled back then.
Didn’t see it but they make fire extinguishers that mount to the back rack of a truck. An ABC type extinguisher would be super helpful since you mentioned that your gas can almost melted. Second a small roof would help with your water issues in the valve/ a possible box around the entire pump with doors that can fully open to allow air flow during operation. Third you can always have heat trace installed along the bottom of the tank and around the valves that freeze during the winter months. It would only keep it warm while the truck was running but it would help to thaw out the valves.
Idt they can seems how they have winter there. May freeze the latches etc etc or gum the nozzle up possibly.
11:34 They could fix that water intrusion fairly easily. Simply drill a center hole in a bowl or cup, place the cup on (upside-down) and then the handle. Could first try with open clearance, but if water keeps getting in due to wind, then can adjust to a tighter seal. Could even go so far as something machined with an o-ring. Otherwise, simply ample grease on that horizontal moving joint.
Love the color coded tools by truck. You could add at the end of the handles color coded stripes in duct tape or reflective tape. That way no matter what truck you are on, if you are staring at the ends of all the tools and want a specific shovel (or whatever), look at the color coded stripes and you will pull it everytime.
Nice walk threw on your truck. It’s nice seeing a owner like yourself know the ins and outs of their equipment. Need more people like yourself.
As a fleet mechanic I wish my bosses cared more about the trucks and drivers like you do.
I quit my last job, because we were driving and working with garbage tools. Even people in the deepest Kosovo region are working with better tools than we did. And that is not acceptable!
I am so impressed by your knowledge and passion. You have great equipment and it’s inspiring to see you talk about it. I’m thinking of auto inflating kits on your tires like military vehicles have to prevent flats. Also, reflective tape on your vehicle to increase your visibility to other vehicles and people while working in remote dark environments. The last thing I was thinking was a modular Molle organizer that goes in the back of the driver and passenger seats. This will help organize all of the extra gear you have back there like your duct tape, pens, flashlights, first aid etc. It will give everything a place and clear up a lot of room.
As a woman and a quality Supply engineer I found your tour of your trucks so fascinating I was glued to the video screen thank you so much for taking the time and job so well done with your building of your truck I love all your stories
-A small cordless impact is handy to keep on hand for the lid screws
-for all the stuff under the seat (duct tape and stuff) would be handy to have in a soft tool bag
-On my friends truck he has a small water tank mounted under for clean water and a hose just in case you need to spray crap off :)
One recommendation I would have is for the electric start on the Honda motor to wire it to the truck batteries with one of the built in auxiliary switches being a battery shut off to prevent the truck battery from dying. At my work we did something similar for our air compressor for the service truck
I did this on our work trucks and also ran all auxiliary lights and flashers off of it to keep from having to burn fuel while parked. Just make sure to have a deep cycle battery and a good battery isolator. Also added an override switch to be able to start the truck from the aux if the primary is dead
Came here to say this! Also not sure if the truck is gas or diesel, but if gas just use the vehicles tank and install a transfer pump (or just lift straight from the tank). If diesel, consider a diesel pump OR go electric motor/PTO from the truck gearbox.
Such an incredible difference between this truck and the truck you cleaned. I can't believe that I watched a truck tour. I wish you and your folks all the best.
I've been involved in several trades over the years but never plumbing or related. I do love a well thought out service truck. I am truly impressed.
Thank you for the tour. Very informative. I’m glad to see that you go above and beyond when buying tools and hardware. Not going for the cheapest and keep replacing it. I wish more companies did that. To keep water from getting into the handle and freezing, have you thought about a frost bib for a water faucet? They are water proof and look big enough to cover the housing.
I'm also glad to hear that there is still another company out there that says they're gonna do something and they do it.
The level and amount of equipment you keep on your trucks is so fascinating to me. And sure, I don't look into getting into this line of trade work, but people like you and your company make everyone's lives able to be lived in this way. I personally do all my own auto maintenance and enjoy doing such, even on my older 1980s F-150.
Probably something I missed but a fire extingusher? 5lb minimum due to the remote locations. Also idk how lit it is at night but an LED remote spotlight mounted on top of the cab is always nice.
Work lighting round the pump & rear connections on the tank too.
It's there, you just didn't see it. If he has a high tier first aid kit, he has a 5lb extinguisher
@@LegendStormcrow How do we know that its their then? No markings indicating this like other DOT approved vehicles. If it is the one that came with the truck then those are junk out of the box.
The only thing I could think of that I'd like to have if I was working for you, which I didn't see or hear mentioned, would be a separate small water tank with a pump to spray off tools and ppe to keep the inside of the truck sanitary. I'm sure it's not really needed as you probably have one back at the shop for the end of the day but I'd like the ability to clean myself in some way before getting into the truck and spreading whatever I have on me around the truck. Doesn't have to be anything fancy either, maybe a 5 or 10 gallon tank. The other thing, which idk what works better or is more cost effective but I've always been taught to use sawdust for cleaning spillages and never once thought about kitty litter. It's a great idea and makes alot of sense but where I am kitty litter is expensive as hell so just thought I'd throw that out there.
He could also use oil absorbent that you by at a auto parts store and that is a lot cheaper
That kitty litter he had around us is $10 for a 50 lb bag that's hard to beat plus there is not a whole lot better then kitty litter for sucking up liquids it holds 10x what sawdust or oil dry does.
Thanks for taking the time to show us the ins and outs of your truck. ✌️👍
In our area the trucks are much larger running off of PTO. You did an excellent job of explaining how the basic operation of any sewage truck works.
That's a badass rig, sir.
I can tell safety and efficiency are important. I would recommend a fire extinguisher. We bolt ours to the floor inside the cab. I would also move the first aid kit next to the fire extinguisher or place it behind the seat. You want these to be easily accessible and easy to find. During situations, you can easily forget it is hiding under rain jackets. I didn’t see a flashlight, would include the brightest ones if you don’t for those night jobs. Rear back up alarms are also helpful to prevent backing accidents. I’d make a magnetic clip for the tools in the back. Hanging them horizontally would make it easier to grab the tool you need instead of looking for it. And if placed back to the proper location, easy to see what is missing. I’d attach it to the “headboard” of the trailer. Get a guy to 3D print a protective handle for the pump. You can customize it however you want to really get the job done; prevent water from getting in there. I can’t give specifics without seeing where the water comes from. Love the GFC sticker and your content. Let me know if any of these ideas were beneficial and we can gift it to a local charity. Support the Carolinas!
Do you know who created the GFC stickers originally? i have a idea but im not sure.
This was fascinating, James. I now feel that if I had ANY problem with my sewage system, I am COMPLETELY QUALIFIED to get on my phone and call a Professional.
Many decades ago, I assisted a friend run a Rodding machine to cut some roots out of his sewage line. Yes, it was a shitty job that I never want to do again.
A couple things. I'm pretty sure your rear bumper needs to be extended to the end of your overhang on the bed. Also the dash center has a piece you can buy that allows a ram mount for easier eye line and access for gps or cell phone holding. Built right industries makes this dash mount. I'd also recommend flood lights on the side of the vehicle for truck work and to see the property. For the batteries look into lithium batteries. They last much longer than a year. Something I saw before was running exhaust along the tank to keep the tank heated to keep it from freezing. Switch to super single semi rims and tires in the rear dulles? Longer life and Good weight rating. Handle on the rigid pipe for tank cleaning would be more convenient. Good luck. Truck looks great.
If you're running super singles, you can't get a flat.. it'll cripple the truck. On a dually setup,you still have 3 good tires in the rear. Plus, have you ever priced the conversion wheels and a pair of 22.5" tires?? Definitely not going to pay for itself. Ever..
Hey !! Great video. Those seals are not glued in to those caps because over time depending on the application those gaskets stop sealing and need to be replaced as well as the hoses that connect to them. There are different companies that make those caps and the ones I used had a pretty thick ridge that the gasket sits in. and rarely had to pop them back in. Oh yea, That rigid pipe you showed that clamped on the end of the hose - We called a dip leg.
I have a few suggestions that could be helpful, for your small engine battery not lasting a year, it doesn’t look like it has a recharge system on it so you could be a kit that will run off the alternator you’re truck already has and you can run wires to that battery to keep it charged and running longer. The next thing is you could make a shovel rack that goes right on the headache rack on your flat beds and it can keep the shovels up off the bed so you could store more if needed and all around just keep the back looking neater. Finally a backup camera would be extremely beneficial for you guys backing down long and narrow driveways, I used to run plow trucks with salters in the bed and the backup cameras make things so much easier since you don’t have to worry about anything being in your massive blind spot behind the truck
The honda 390 absolutely does have a charging system. As often as it gets used, im surprised they get a whole year. Not bad
Batteries are crappy if you are not a big company, as an "civilian" you get lower quality batteries, so they break sooner.
With cars your factory set can last 5-7 years, the replacements usual 4 ish years. (in my and people i talked to about it experience)
So i would be not surprised if the smaller batteries who are usual for motorbikes and lawnmowers keep one year, they are build to last max 3 years but not for high frequent use.
Because, hey, battery manufacturers want more income too!
@@pouncepounce7417freezing over the winter also shortens the life of batteries. I wonder if a battery warming system would eventually pay for itself by making those little batteries last for a few years, rather than just one.
@@bastarddoggy you can buy batteries for arctic use, they are inside an foam box and have heater elements that heat the battery as soon it gets cold.
That costs power but less than the battery would loose degrading due to cold.
So if you have less than -15C regular it is an option to consider.
@@pouncepounce7417 Just get rid of the small battery and wire the small engine to the truck battery
I haul water for a living and face many of the same problems. However, the 6,000 gallon tanker I haul has a couple more accessibility issues due to its length and weight. I wish the truck I drive was set up as well as yours are. Awesome content.
I pump petroleum. I’ve learned to keep a lot of 3” and 4”’ hose seals with me. I keep them on a carabiner, and out of the sunlight to prevent degradation.
Another thing that is an easy help is having the hoses male on one end and female on the other, so no more barrel connectors or female to female connectors. Also, a short 5’ extension hose for when you’re just short of reaching your pump out target. I too use coated cable to attach the plugs and caps to the trailer and each to the hoses.
Wilson Electronics makes a cell phone amplifier that will boost your ability to hit the cell towers. It’s hard wired to the truck, but not to your phone. Very handy when servicing customers that live so far out of cell service.
Thanks for the leadership videos. It’s great material you’re putting out, and refreshing to hear
I commented on another video that I've done body recover/clean-up and a few nasty things, your job is where I draw the line. When you grabbed the turd-sucker-pipe thing, my mind started with "I don't think that's mud" then shifted to "please wash your hands...several times" I was also morbidly curious with every step.
Thank you for the tour, stay safe.
Hi there James, your TikTok got me interested in this video and I have to say it gives a good impression of the trucks you use.
As of the suggestions you asked about, many things I can come up with have been mentioned before me like : crates for the loose stuff in the car a camera for backing up more easily and maybe a rack between the tank and the cab for the tools there. The last can be cheap from 1/2 PVC pipes with straps and this will also lead to less mess and damage in the back.
About the valves you can maybe look at electrical heat tracing, this is used widely in the petro/chemical industry for their lines, the one you want is specifically for winterizing. Of course it works best when insulated but doesn’t have to be a lot.
The pump assembly could be enclosed with some lightweight aluminium plates ( also used in the chemical industry) to keep it out of the elements and prolong its life, these enclosures can be opened of lifted away very easy. ( even by one man )
With this cover the valve will not get the water or ice around the stem and will work for longer. Even the battery will last longer is my best guess.
Like some others commented , why no water tank for cleaning and just handsanitiser ? I would put a simple camping tank with a drain on the opposite site from the pump assembly for cleaning tools and hands there.
Overall like I your content and you seem to know what you’re doing, keep it up 👍🏻
I dropped a few things on TicTok.
First, if you aren’t using the backseat for seating, remove it and have custom storage made. You can keep stuff like the caps with the seals preglued in the cab so you don’t have to mess with it on a job.
Next, move the tank back another 6” and hang shovels and other tools on the headache rack so you don’t have to dig for the right tool and easy to make sure you have all your tools before you leave a job.
Also, put the pump and motor in a box with louvers on the sides and a door you can open when in use, that would keep both out of the elements and water from getting to your pump and freezing it up.
Side note, and I’m sure you already have something, but hang a water cooler with soapy water on the bed somewhere to wash your hands before getting into the truck.
Love the content, and the way you treat your employees
For your freezing issues you can run heat tape. Plug in or even run off an inverter while driving to deter the freezing.
Run coolant lines from the engine instead... Less of a failure point. That's how it's done up in Alberta.
I never thought I would find a video about septic truck so fascinating, thanks for sharing.
Also, run the wires from the starter of the for the small engine for the pump directly to the truck batteries. This will eliminate needed a separate battery. We do this for our air compressors on work trucks.
Never go direct, always have batteries separated by an isolator or solenoid. If that little battery shorts out it can kill both truck batteries over night.
@@theredneckman001 good point, I did miss that part. We do have a solenoid for our work truck compressor with a fusible link that trips if something shorts out.
@@theredneckman001 no need for the second battery!
No nonsense. Quality expected and given. Top notch equipment. Very professional. I would work for your company in a heartbeat.
Why not just use heat tape on those Italian valves to precent freezing in the winter?. Very cool learning about how these trucks get setup!
That was fascinating. Going to add some of these ideas to my pickup. When I was a kid I heard my neighbor refer to these trucks as a "ca-ca sucka" (with Boston accent) I am enjoying the heck out of this channel. Thanks!
Hi
Honestly, I can only think of two things. A portable winch that can be coupled to the front of the truck if needed or on a frame to help lift the lids. Second is to ask in advance for people to send pictures of the access drives or videos, you can setup an WhatsApp account or telegram account so people can send those pictures/videos. Maybe include a water kettle that connects to the car 12V so you can heat water and use to clean, and even drop on top of the ice that freezes those connections that you mention.
Being someone that lives in Canada and deals with stuff freezing for half the year if not more. I would recommended looking at if your can buy or have someone make a heated/insulated system for the valves. I would recommend having it be able to run off of the 12V battery from the truck when it's running and/or have it be able to be plugged in to an outlet while the truck is parked.
Hey James, love the tik tok, couple things, 1. Maybe a little box to put the hand tools in, going around corners the tools have the potential to come off the bed, also, maybe some lights to illuminate the bed for those after hour calls, something on the pump so you could see it if anything was to happen to it, so you could see it to do minor repairs in the field, being able to see when putting up hoses and those hand tools
I would also try to see if any dust seals or gaskets would work with the vacuum pump lever
I don't see a rack for the fishing poles
That was 100% thorough. Fantastic walkthrough.
I would honestly love to see you and your crew put one of those harbor freight predator motors in place of the Honda and see just how long it lasts. Great video and love seeing all the equipment!
Thank you for this video. It is always cool to learn something new whenever I can. Plus I love your content.
You didn’t mention anything about having a back up camera anymore they’re so affordable if it prevents one accident it’ll pay for your entire fleet of trucks to have them
All new vehicles have factory back up cameras in the US since about 2014.
@@andykokes5690 isn’t that just on consumer vehicles?
On cab and chassis they are wired for backup camera but since there’s nowhere to mount it to it’s an option but you can buy the camera and prep kit directly from Ford even if the truck wasn’t bought with the option
@@andykokes5690 that is not true
@@kawiet830 CM beds also do not have a location for a backup camera. It would need to be custom mounted. Typically I use the Ford camera it comes with because it has a housing and mounts, making it easy to just find a spot to drill a few holes. (I build service trucks for a living)
So this is in response to your Tik Tok account, I did this cause I enjoy it not to get money out of you. You were humble enough to know your limits and I respect that. I hope something here with be of some help to you down the road.
In the cab of the truck above your head in the center right behind the 12 volt outlets you can have a mesh net pined on all 4 corners for storage. Keep your clip board up there so it's not rolling around everywhere and it's easy to get to.
There are special chair mounted elastic, compartmentalized storage systems you can get to put over your driver and passenger seats as well as your rear seats as well to get everything off the floor of your trucks and to organize everything better. It would also help eliminate confusion among your employees as everything would have a place to be put and any employee can get into any truck and immediately know where everything is.
For the bad of the truck first and foremost, get some large sized square piping and weld that shit to the front of the bed where you've been "throwing your tool". This will allow you to stand your tools upright so they can't move around on you and open up that space right behind the headache rack for more of whatever you may need.
For your freezing pipes issue, I work in injection molding and there is a thing called a nozzle or tip heater. It's just a small ring you can get in various sizes that goes around the pipe your need to heat(or barrel in my case) and can heat up extremely quickly. It just has 2 wires coming off of it but it might be useful to help you with the freezing issue. I will warm you now though, the ones we use can get up to 600 degrees and over so I'd look for one with a regulator or something similar to keep it from melting your pipes. Steel shouldn't be too much of a problem but it might boil the contents inside... Just fyi. Use this as well for any other water freezes.
For the seals pooping out, I'd suggest looking into how monster( the energy drink) seals thier cans and see if there is something similar that you can get.
I would suggest looking into semi-trick truck tires and or to replace the ones that you're currently going through they are standard going to be more reliable and should help you out longer than the typical City highway tires that you can get somewhere else and with the vehicle as big as it is you can probably get the right tire size and get away with it
For the "mucking sucker"(?)(the pipe you use) consider taking the diameter of that pipe and buying a 4 or 6 inch piece of square tubing, cut it in half long ways and then weld that to the bed so that thing doesn't slide around everywhere.
Good luck! Keep up the tik-toks!
I’d get that first aid kit mounted on the back of the front passenger seat and not let the guys hang jackets on it. That way it’s accessible from the drivers seat and there is no question of where it is if it’s an emergency and someone isn’t thinking straight.
Never thougth it would be so complicated!.very nice truck!👌
Would highly recommend having we call them drip trays to lay the ends of the suction hose in to keep all the dirt from running all over the bed
Sure do wish you weren't so far away. A business owner with your intellect, knowledge, fairness and thoroughness is so incredibly rare. Also, the way you care for your employees is extrordinary. Kudos to you. Your videos are fascinating, something that I never thought I would say about a septic company.
What is the furthest distance you'll go for a job?
Tire chains, tire puncture repair kit, a winch maybe, emergency lights front and back, side and back facing lights on the headache rack, fire extinguisher, nice flashlights and headlamps, zip ties,
I enjoy watching your posts. Even this one about your work trucks! 😂. I’m a retired woman who helped build Subarus in Lafayette IN!
So I like all this extra info although it doesn’t affect me anymore! ❤
1. A 12v fridge like in semis/rvs.
2. A small 5-10 gallon tank with clean water for washing hands and tools. Pressurizing the tank would help as well.
3. They make flexible pipe heaters which are basically a 120v wire you wrap around a pipe. In your case you would wrap the valves. This would require a generator/invertor or be set and plugged in at night like an engine heater
James, love your content, not interested in working your field but your pragmatism is infectious. You like solutions... correct? I have one for you. The Masport pump control handle winter freeze has a very cheap simple solution. Take a water bottle, one that is about the same outer diameter as the bearing housing (right in there), cut the bottle in half, cut a slot in each half (on the cut side) the width of the control handle and deep enough so that once inverted and placed over the handle so the cut edge of the bottle overlaps the tapered bearing housing creating an umbrella that sheds water away from the handle and bearing race. Hot glue (neatly) the slot in the former bottle to the handle so it doesn't blow off in transit, you now have a very inexpensive, fairly invisible modification that probably only needs to be installed for three months in the year, insuring annual replacement so it won't get too raggedy.
My guess would be, if water can infiltrate and freeze, it probably isn't good for the mechanism during any season, water and metal don't really get along.
Drop me a line if this helps at all.
P
Only things I can think of: alternator for the pump battery, backup camera, and maybe some more off-road style tires for those rough driveways. The alternator probably won’t save you a ton of money, but it would help with the hassle of getting batteries. Someone already said backup cameras but I thought I’d mention it anyway. The more “off-road” style tire would have deeper tread and won’t need to be replaced as frequently while also aiding in the rougher driveways, but also cost a little bit more. Some smaller mounted lights or even just magnetic lights for around the more frequently used areas of the truck would probably help a lot an night too.
Offroad tires are not going to last long on the road.. gravel isn't off road, just not smooth sailing. The honda pump motor has a complete charging system, I don't know how you could think it doesn't..
Porta potty/various other septic needs truck driver here, we use amthor tank setups but I have to say having a 50% fill bubble along with the 100% full bubble helps me out a great deal when I have a lot of stops with lots of sewage, gives me a better idea where exactly I'm at so I don't get somewhere and can't finish a job because I got filled up. Also I'd suggest instead of running a bunch of hoses the same length, get a few hoses like a 60' or two, a 30' and a 20'. Whichever combination would give you the range you need in the least amount of hoses possible. Then instead of the guys needing to connect 3 20' hoses they just use one 60', or instead of 2 20' hoses use one 30' hose to go the 25 feet they need, the less hose you use the more pulling power you get, overall results in jobs getting done faster. In my experience clogs are easier to deal with in one hose than two or more connected hoses.
Some simple things I would say to have, spare spark plugs and other miscellaneous parts for the pump, a tool rack of some kind to improve inventory, and as a machinist I would highly recommend getting a custom handle made for the pump control, you the dead centres on CNC tail stocks have a sealed off bearing as well as a design near the bottom to deflect coolant and I feel if that was incorporated into the handle it would help with some freezing issues in the winter
My FIL runs a single axle 2,500 gallon truck in NYS and with the freezing temps that we see, we use a heated valve that uses the engines coolant to unfreeze the valves on the way to the jobs; we keep both valves open with a bucket at the valve when the truck is not running in the winter.
You didn't discuss hand tools in this video, but we stay away from carrying battery powered drills and saws as everyday carries and instead carry hand saws (hacksaw and wood saw) as well as a ratcheting brace with a quarter inch socket drive head and 1/4 inch sockets and screw bits that fit into a 1/4 inch socket.
These items guarantee that we can complete most jobs with the least amount of headaches since we are not dependent on batteries, and also aren't injuring wrists using screw and nut drivers when unscrewing lids or tightening ferncos. We will bring battery powered tools if we know we need them, but not as everyday carry.
My father in law also created a better way to deal with clogged inlet pipes. He took a 3" 90* elbow and added a fernco on one end that allows the 3" hoses to easily be added to it and a short piece of pipe 3" I.d. to the other. This allows us to use the truck's vaccum to remove clogs instead of having to snake them multiple times.
We also use the truck's outlet valve to backwash the tank allowing more of the muck to be easier to remove on tanks that aren't pumped regularly.
Can you convert the honda engine to run off the diesel tank in the truck? Would save you from packing that can around. I would put a coned pipe with a slot for the handle that goes past where water gets in over your valve on the pump. Might take a few iterations. Maby a converter of some type to get charge the honda battery when the truck is running. Also could take some pipe and weld it on the headache rack to organize your tools there. Could have a secondary pipe come from your exhaust in the winter to unfreeze that bottom valve. I would have it on a butterfly valve that can be tured on in the winter. Or insulate it and plug it in when you plug the blockheater in.
I would say the diesel is a slower engine so it would not have a effective pump so gas would be a better speed for the pump
Btw love your tiktoks just recently moved to South Carolina and yours instantly came up. Being someone is a special trade it's good to see others promoting them!
That extended platform in the rear, should have reflective tape on it. Just the face of it and both sides. Better visibility at night/dusk
3 suggestions. I drive a non has met tanker truck so I deal with those quick connects and 3" rubber gaskets. 1. Try wrapping gasket with electrical tape. Tighter fit. 2. You did not mention it but wondering if you had drain holes in the front and middle of your truck bed so water does not collect. 3. Might want to get a small Rubbermaid container to put the small items that you have behind the passenger seat in so they are not laying all over the floor. Thanks for your videos enjoy your content
a good idea the company I work for does is add a first aid sticker to help everyone quickly locate the kit in an emergency situation. also we use 2 inch pvc pipe strapped on a slant to organize shovels and what not.
You have a great attention to detail. When I ran a septic truck our company always had steel traction mats, to lay on the ground to help you from getting stuck, or to lay over areas that may have crushable lines , or shallow power lines. They do make heated valves, for the tanks heated by truck coolant, our truck had the exhaust focused towards the tank, to help from freezing. The same could be done to the flow valve from your Honda pump , with a flexible exhaust pipe. If you like my ideas or would like pictures of what I could make, I like money lol
Another idea is to get license plate backup camera. It replaces the frame of the back license plate and will give the driver a view of what’s behind him on a screen that you can put on the dash
Damn you guys really set your employees up for success. I’ve worked for people whos goal was to force you to make as much profit as possible while spending as little as they can to help you reach the goals they set .
For the pump control handle try putting a line of silicone sealant around where the water collects. If you need to disassemble it soak the silicone in mineral oil, alcohol or vinegar. Then scrape it off with a pull scraper or sharp knife.
The pump control handle is clearly badly designed. Rotate thru 90 degrees so it's on its side. Will reduce water ingress.
We use the same model and have "overloaded" it for years. It has been great with really no issues
Mechanical designer here - machining or even 3d printing some sort of cover to keep water out of the stem on that vacuum pump would be pretty straightforward. I could design & 3d print you a sample with a few measurements...
Just use grease
Grease or find an umbrella seal
I have inadvertently learnt a lot about our Vacex machines at work watching this video. Great stuff 👍
I would get some toolboxes to organize everything in the back. This would protect the drivers from getting hit with any loss and flying objects in an accident
I love the preparedness of it all. Worked for a place that had no vehicle / fleet / safety policy and comprehensive on-board equipment/tools. Made me angry for some of the staff (the ones who I didn't hate, anyway) to be driving a janky/older vehicle to jobs, sometimes in the middle of the night, and not have a fall back for a breakdown or accident other than to call someone (who may or may not have their phone on).
There was maybe 1 florescent orange triangle that I wasn't even aware about till way later.
Have you ever though of having an inverter installed in the trucks, so that your guys can use anything that requires a regular 110v including a jump box?
You look at the details like they are the most important 🤔 definitely one of the best bosses I've seen, damn man, thank you for being yourself, it's not like you only care about yourself or only the business, you care about every piece of the puzzle. I thank you and appreciate you even tho i don't know you, i only wish there were more like you
Hi, I follow your channel on TikTok. Thank you for making videos, I enjoy watching them. Have you ever thought about getting an ice maker for your business if you go through a large amount of ice for your cooler ?
For your truck tools / supplies you store in the back of the truck. Instead of everything just on the floor under the seat. Maybe custom build (if you can) some type of drawer that can be installed in the floor of the truck so you can organize it better. This can include a hole for your yeti cooler to fit in so it doesn't take up leg space while traveling. My last idea is you can also maybe add some hooks to hold in place all the tools that are stored between the tank and back truck window. This will prevent them from moving around while driving or the possible risk of them sliding off the truck.
I adore your use of smaller 550s and the like. When I worked for one of these companies all we ran were Kenworth/Sterling/Mack vac trucks with 3000gal tanks. Up here in the bush roads of Ontario I'd have far rather backed a half tonne up a donkey trail to get to some cabin.
You should get the under seat storage box for the back seat smaller items they can really help
Beautiful, absolutely beautiful. Well thought out and you adapted to all the problems. Well almost all of them Honda makes the best engines hands-down but we have had trouble with the batteries to. We have gotten around it by using a trickle charger when parked just works better that way, as far as the water freezing in the air valve, me,? I just put a plastic bag over the whole thing and duck tape it in place.
I’ve got a few random magnetic strips fastened inside my cab just a little miscellaneous bits or bolts or screws that I might need often
Really enjoyed this thorough look into this aspect of your world. I think the biggest surprise to me was how little life you get out of the tires.
I forgot to mention but love the sticker on the clip board
GFC gotta love it!
Freeze up problems
Maybe look into a block heater or heated cables. They usually require some decent power. Maybe enough to run off a good inverter, or just a magnetic block heater for back bottom of tank to keep warm or thawed out while truck is off duty.On pump selector handle a cap over it or silicone the gap so water won’t build
up. I appreciate the money you spend to make life easier for your crew and the forethought on things saving money in the long run!
1. the Yeti cooler: have you considered a 12v fridge? implementing a second battery dedicated to it is a very simple task using a voltage sensitive relay and would save you the time and cost of ice over a period of time.
2. reverse camera. I live in mine. The higher it is the better and for easier implementation try a wireless unit.
3. fuel to pump. in our trucks we run a line from the vehicle tank to the pump and use a simple momentary switch to transfer to the pump tank. this requires a valve at the tank. happy to talk to you more about it.
4. freezing water over that valve. at the end of every day I'd suggest covering it in a wafer dispersant like wd40 to prevent any build up. it can't freeze if it's not there.
#3 truck is a diesel. Pump is gas. Good idea for a gaser!
@@mikecrompton481 copy. Wasnt sure about fuel type. Over here there's very few petrol vehicles over there but I know you guys are fond of them.
We run diesel powered pumps at our workplace. Yanmar do some great products.
@@emptycoffin I'm firmly against communal coolers they're cesspools. But I can go for a fridge.
Absolutely no idea how I ended up watching your channel but I love it. I’m usually watching true crime or similar so god knows what’s up with the algorithm!
🇦🇺 🇺🇸
I have not interest in a job in septic, I just have an interest in understanding what work people do for some reason
Very cool it looks like you've tailored it using your experiences thru the years and it's probably always evolving. It's even tailored to the terrain you encounter there having tanks so far from road access and with such drastic elevation changes. Your story about getting the trucks so stuck so far from a road and the cost getting them out tells me it's beautiful country there.
What about having a cover made for your pump motor. A simple metal cover would prevent water from getting on your handle and freezing.
I was thinking of a plastic or metal cover over. To over the handle that deals with the pump.
@@deang5009 I wouldn’t want to make it out of plastic due to the heat from the engine
I spent 7 years as a truck driver and pump operator for an industrial cleaning company. Used tons of camlock fittings , fire hoses and 12k psi blast hoses . we ussually used stainless fittings for high and low pressure. last longer.
You don’t say what’s in the bed boxes on each side.
Here from TikTok and the only recommendations I could think of would be to use oil dry instead of kitty litter, it’s usually cheaper and works better. The second thing would be that you could run the key start for the Honda motor to the battery’s in the truck itself or put a battery tender/ charger on the existing battery at night, that would let them last longer than the year you are getting now and save you a lot of money in batteries every year.
Here from TikTok. First off, great setup! I’ve seen some sketchy trucks over the years. My first suggestion is to add a winch to the front bumper and keep tow straps/tree savers/shackles etc in the truck so when you find yourself in a questionable situation you can either recover yourself or use the winch to stabilize the truck. Next for the frozen valves, I believe I’ve seen someone comment with something similar but maybe try the heated blankets/covers intended to keep snow/ice off windshields and just wrap them around the valves. Might be a total fail but who knows. Lastly, and yes this is borrowed, but you should add custom graphics to the tank that say “You Dump It, We Pump it”🤣
Saw your tiktok, watched the whole video. I'm sure if this stuff is just super simple and therefore have thought about them and you have reasons for not doing them, or just never thought of it.
If you're doing night work, some lights in the front and rear of the bed, hung high, pointed down i think would be nice. To be clear, lights on either end of the front of the bed pointing back to light up the sides, lights at the very rear pointing front to light up the back of the tank.
reflective tape on the end of the bed under the dump
wire the pump motor starter to the trucks battery, not its own so you wont have that extra cost of an extra battery that i assume also isnt re-charged while the honda motor is running.
a simple cover or enclosed box for the pump with room to operate it still to prevent water damage. could also get a boot from a ball joint, unbolt that handle, put the boot on, bolt on the handle and that will probably prevent water from entering.
I dont want the $100, but would like to know the outcome of these ideas!
PS: I'm interested in what fleet management software you use. I work in software and briefly worked at a septic company here in Arizona so i know there is a lot that goes with managing a fleet and the software behind it.
Only things that I can think of. Maxtrax are great for getting unstuck in a bad situation or a driveway that shouldn’t be a driveway. They are super sturdy and you lay them under the tires to assist in getting out of ruts or up steep gravel. Also the tank sits above the cab and having a fiberglass “bump pole” that’s the same height as the tank attached to the bumper would allow operators to check clearance under a low hanging branch or a Hardee’s drive through before accidentally ruining thousands of dollars of equipment, or stopping to get out which is time and a huge pain. Lastly pelican makes these indestructible waterproof reflective flashlights that are super bright and not very expensive. They are crush and shock proof and I’ve found them to be great whenever I’m working on pipes under a house. They also have a arm loop attachment point to keep you from dropping them in septic tanks and down long pipes. Hope I can help.
Nice trucks. I work for a company that specializes in land application of biosolids in North Carolina we have many machines running vac/press pump using very similar equipment both on and off road. Some ideas are as other have mentioned
1 backup cameras
2 hard wire the Hondas to the truck and eliminate battery issues. Best thing I have done with all out truck mounted equipment very happy results.
3 I cringe at the fittings sticking past the rear of the truck. In a collision or backing accident it could send the valve through the tank. We have had it happen very expensive and time consuming repair. We were lucky the tank was empty at the time.
4 with your pump I saw a pressure blow off but not a vacuum relief valve. If there is not one I highly recommend installing one between the pump and tank. I have seen the tank suck in on a pull behind tank system.
5 look at installing heaters on the valves they come in both 12v and engine coolant styles that I know of.
6 look at installing grease fitting in the top of the pump valve for greasing to keep water out. We have not had problems with the pump valve freezing but ours are greased.
I have a couple possible improvements. First, A trunk organizer or something similar to keep all the loose stuff on the truck together will make it a little cleaner in the back and make it easier to keep an accurate inventory. Next, To help "winterize" the vacuum lever could wrapping it loosely with some hydroponic cloth. Lastly, On the storage side you can get some 5 gallon buckets and a battery powered sprayer or pump to clean off the tools and such. Only thing else I can think of is a fire extinguisher, get the employees trained in it's use if you get one that could mean some fire damage or a ton of fire damage. Wish more bosses and business owners were as cool as you.
I used to live in the country. I started with a septic tank and drain field and ended up with an aerobic system. I am quite familiar with septic pumping and had always been fascinated by sewage treatment in general. If I had to choose another career this would be it. It is so necessary you can go to bed at night and sleep well knowing that you have performed a very necessary service.
I was a service tech on hot tubs. we used minivans, and in that minivan, after 1 year of service, in your off time you were allowed to build a wooden setup to hold EVERYTHING. that was my favorite part of working with that company. plus easy to Uninstall or modify being wood
Wish I lived in North Carolina would love to work for you . I bet you're a awesome boss . Plus you care about your employees.
You should build a slide out hopper for kitty litter or even grass seed to fill into buckets/shovels. Stores more, gets it out of the cab, and super convenient. Have seen a few on fire trucks for dispensing quick dry on auto accidents.
I didnt know you had a stutter. You've done a great job working on that, id never have known if i didnt see this video.
Saw you post on tik tok. One thing I use on my work truck is a z-flash. Plug and play OBDII accessory that turns your factory lights into strobing caution lights. I programed mine to flash colors in accordance with local laws. Very useful for when working on or near a public roadway
Great tour. Wish I could give you some advice but I don’t have enough knowledge to do so. Keep the recordings coming.
Great truck set up. I didn't see a fire extinguisher. Also the valve that freezes up. I would fashion a piece of rubber inner tube to go under the handle to cover the sealing area to keep moisture out.
You are so smart, I think your employees have an awesome boss