Dump Truck Crackdown

[Kranky 1]

....by the WI State Patrol.

Here's the vid:

http://www.wbay.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?ClipID1=2744976&h1=Dump%20Truck%20Crashes%20Increase&vt1=v&at1=News&d1=86200&LaunchPageAdTag=News&activePane=info&rnd=77034549

[Kranky 1]

And another:

http://www.wfrv.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=77b62e68-c46a-458f-a313-496608b9f3a6

[Rockjockey]

Okay, Kranky, I waited to get back to ask this question just in case things have changed. They haven't, so here's the question. Why does Wisconsin let all those dump trucks run around without mudflaps on?

[Big_Dave]

Why does Wisconsin let all those dump trucks run around without mudflaps on?
C'mon now! They have mudflaps..................just not behind the wheels. :wtf:

WI dump trucks are only required to have a 'mudflap' hanging down BETWEEN the rear tires. :confused:

What's the logic behind this? :wtf: :noclue:

[Kranky 1]

On most dump trucks that are set up "Wisconsin Style" the rear of the dump box is just about even with the rear tires. If you try to put mudflaps on in this scenario, the flaps rub on the tire, and the forward rotation of the tires pulls the flap up over the tires where it continues to ride and get chewed up in short order, not to mention that the flap is also inneffective when this happens.

Evidently at some point there was legislation passed in WI making it legal to not have mud flaps behind the rear tires on dump trucks.

Those rubber flaps between the rear duals on dump trucks are to prevent rocks or other large objects from damaging the air lines, Q/R valves, brake canisters etc. while dumping, again due to the fact that usually on a WI style dump truck there is no "overhang" of the dump box past the rear tires, and the dumped material is right against the rear of the truck.

Not all WI dump trucks go "flapless"

Here are some photos of 2 of my former trucks which did have enough dump body overhang to allow for satisfactory performance of mudflaps:

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j188/HKJr23/06_12_3.jpg

http://inlinethumb26.webshots.com/42969/1274040004065739904S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1274040004065739904dsGjBN)

[Rockjockey]

That's funny...we have dumps with the same set-up in Illinois, and have found that a stiffer mudflap takes care of the flap on tires problem. It seems odd that Wisconsin lawmakers feel that the trucks most likely to drag rocks onto the road and spit them out at other vehicles don't need mudflaps.

[Kranky 1]

It seems odd that Wisconsin lawmakers feel that the trucks most likely to drag rocks onto the road and spit them out at other vehicles don't need mudflaps.

Hey, it's Wisconsin dontcha know.

Does anything make sense here?

[Rockjockey]

Well, I've always found the attitude towards drinking in Wisconsin to make sense...