Focus On Alaska DOT's Granite Snowplow

What kind of a truck does it take to keep Alaska’s Thompson Pass clear of snow in winter? Battling average snowfall of 500 inches per year, this Mack Granite snowplow has earned the respect of the DOT crews that patrol the snow capital of North America. Equipment Editor Jim Park accompanied a film crew to Valdez Alaska for the filming of Mack Trucks’ RoadLife 2.0: Alaska DOT.

[@stephmo371]

I have absolutely no business watching a video about a plow truck but here I am watching a video about a plow truck...

[@thomaswhitten2537]

One has to live vicariously you know... 😁

[@edgartinoco2867]

Hahahaha, I’m now really interested

[@kimyoung1093]

Interesting fact: none of us searched for this

[@exothermal.sprocket]

Pfft. I did. I guess I'm not part of the mainstream.

[@yuliyaavelino5490]

I did.

[@rk2drip406]

facts

[@rhondarosenberg7108]

I did

[@cskillet2003]

I don't even remember what brought me here.

[@adamrichardson6918]

Have no idea how I got here, but was extremely satisfied with the actual details of the truck, you spoke of axle types and the engine, the trans....you don't find this anymore in reviews. Great job!

[@zekiah2]

Agreed

[@imabeapirate]

5:30 He's describing Real-Time Kinematics, or RTK. It's a GPS technique used for a lot of applications; farmers use it to get 1.5cm of accuracy on their tractors. So cool

[@bob15479]

Ooohhh so it uses accelerometers to give better real time?

[@brkbtjunkie]

I think level 5 gps gets pretty close to that

[@CTguy203]

I didn’t search for this but do appreciate a fine truck.

[@SpeedyStone97]

anyone else randomly recommended this?

[@c182SkylaneRG]

Just now (been watching train plowing videos, though). Thought the plow was actually made out of Granite, and I was trying to figure out how THAT worked, and why anyone would do that. Guess it's just the brand-name of the particular truck model. Oh well...

[@michaelstevens652]

The KZbin algorithm giveth and the KZbin algorithm taketh

[@KaiserStormTracking]

Y E S

[@snacksy7754]

Take a shot for every time he says "inch of snow" Hardcore mode: everytime he says "snow"

[@sisenor5854]

🥂

[@drmariopepper4354]

The interior of the truck is amazing

[@jcfilmz509]

DrMario Pepper honestly

[@jcfilmz509]

DrMario Pepper reminds me a little bit of the new Ford super duty F-350 Lariat interior

[@JamesWilliams-kt5qr]

The seats in those granites feel like a hard piece of plastic.

[@hrjr5165]

@@JamesWilliams-kt5qrvery true

[@TWTexasA1]

If your gonna be a snow plow operator…that’s the kind of rig you dream about , incredible 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@blakestone75]

Some say manliness increases by 10 fold just by listening to the description of the truck.

[@ihmesekoilua]

So was I the only one expecting a video about a snow plow made out of granite?

[@HerbertHopkins799]

Yeah I was expecting them to have a granite edge on the plow for some reason us 48 contiguous staters wouldn't understand.

[@ROGER2095]

I bought a "heavy metal" CD - but it was plastic. Come to think of it, I also bought a "rock" CD which was also plastic!

[@ihmesekoilua]

@@HerbertHopkins799 I'm from FINLAND, we know a thing or two about snow, thus my confusion.

[@edtherockhound9944]

Yes I was thinking how do they cut it into a plow and wouldn’t it be super heavy . Boy was I disappointed

[@jm3153]

Yeah, I couldn't wait for the details on how -and why- they made the plow with that insane curve out of granite. I stopped watching when they said the truck was a Mack Granite

[@alaninnh]

It's amazing how quiet it is in the cab.

[@bubbie3533]

Amazing equipment and thanks for taking us along.

[@spockspock]

That’s some fancy progress from when I was poking around in drifts with a Case 580.

[@karenolson4000]

I'm from Minnesota, so I really admire what these guys do.

[@Shasta20112011]

I just watched the entire video at 3am I need to go to bed

[@ethan9605]

It’s 11:05 and I’m watching this in my dark kitchen making mini pizza. This is my life

[@handlebullshit]

Finally a use for beet juice. Schrute will be proud.

[@jays106]

uppstyraren Canada been using it for quite some time now more environmentally friendly and doesn’t rot your vehicles like brine(salt water) or salt

[@stevek4449]

And all the children who don’t like beets rejoice and have high hopes🤪👍

[@jays106]

@@stevek4449 i was one of them now i am an adult that doesn't like beets lmao

[@Mr.WellingtonVonDukeIII]

Ha!

[@axelisackson2635]

I find myself coming back to this video once every 4-6 months

[@toddmaki2959]

Perfect explanation of Real Time Kinematic GPS, which is also used for Land Surveying, Farming, & Road Construction / Earthmoving Projects.

[@ericl8743]

This is DGPS, not RTK

[@indyjons321]

The airfoil thing is SUPER cool!

[@captaintrips2980]

Very imposing plow truck. We have contenders here in New York's Adirondack mountains.

[@oonioomphs9440]

Perfect truck for the job. Great engineering.

[@Kohmuh]

Ahhh yes. This will come in handy when I decide to change careers from Software developer to plow truck driver. Thanks KZbin for recommending this.

[@therealyooper7548]

Should have tried the Upper Peninsula especially the Keweenaw Peninsula. Ben using plows like those shown all my life..

[@heatherbeane3234]

Wow I learn something new.

[@DM-tf6mk]

That's awesome!!

[@bangotesla6796]

ValDEEZ nuts!!!! sweet video

[@nicke1903]

I know a Mack Granite AWD makes a stout Tanker/Tender for the fire service, 3000gal Water Master and it hasn't got no issues on the Mtn Rds other than some driveways and one lane Bridges.

[@mauricelinton5867]

Macks are the king of off road all weather situations. Wish I could have drove one with air bags. I use to get Fd up in the oil field with them leaf springs but dammit. The truck can take a beating

[@Bendigo1]

Kenworth is same especially the older ones... they are built to do the job not just for comfort.

[@justjoe942]

Thank you; I enjoyed that.

[@Usualeclectic]

Awesome... now I’m tired and want to fall asleep-just the video I needed. I’ll have to back track tomorrow and check my notes.

[@stevek4449]

I like that line..”we decided to shoot the truck at sun rise “ Cool truck!

[@ddelewski5181]

well done video, great resolution

[@ronaldmorrissey6065]

Great VIDEO

[@cahg3871]

Plowing snow is not fun when you have greatly reduced visibility.A good truck and plow assembly is helpful,but when you are flying blind,the truck doesn’t matter much.As a retired plow driver,I don’t miss the job much,but I do appreciate a good plow truck.Nice video and commentary.

[@TacoStacks]

I want one. Idk what I will do with it but I want one.

[@bubbie3533]

Wow! Good information. 👍🤘

[@TermiteBenny]

Those Allison’s are really good in dump truck applications. I would love to try one with 505HP

[@nicke1903]

There's a FD with a Water Master Vacum Tanker on a Mack Granit AWD. I don't know the stats other than the Auto Trans but that damn Truck will go down the Rd, and up. We live in the Mountains so there's steep areas, it handles em well with 3000Gal on its back.

[@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power]

nice rig...and a plow with its own wheels...sweeeeeeeet 😂

[@monesee]

Fantastic stuff!

[@TodaystruckingMagazine]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@v8zcar]

The dealer I worked for sold 2 of these to Alaska. They are awesome machines. Oh, the mud I had to wash off one of them 😬 dang cool video dude. Some great memories at that dealership. Mack tough baby🇺🇸

[@blackhawks1870]

How much $$$?

[@v8zcar]

Mechanic here. I don't know solid numbers but I'm guessing 300k. The ones I currently work on locally were 260-275k new in 2013. And these aren't 6x6 like the Mack's in this video.

[@Da__goat]

The algorithm brings us together again, comrades

[@jamespiroli823]

Nothing like a Mack!!!

[@semajniffirg230]

yea it's called a volvo lol

[@calebalt1557]

What a BEAST

[@lotsofthc]

Newfoundland holds the new record for the most snow fall in a day

[@1STGeneral]

It's important to know exactly where you are on the road especially when you're driving with your hands off the wheel

[@tommymorreale4251]

And no seatbelt

[@6milesup]

@@tommymorreale4251 He is wearing a seatbelt. You can see it at the 5:58 mark.

[@MadPutz]

In Hokkaido Japan there are some roads where they have massive 15+ ft snow walls on the sides of the road, since there's barely any days for the snow to melt.

[@narmale]

bruh... they dont even slow down! kickass!

[@raymondp.kotiiesq.5934]

Very cool!

[@Gameforsale]

I love how homie explaining the apparatus has no seat belt Alaska got a sick dot 😂

[@owensweetland342]

Wrong. A different angle showed him belted in.

[@Gameforsale]

@@owensweetland342 my fault didn’t catch it

[@owensweetland342]

@@Gameforsale I thought the same. Then I looked again. No worries. Merry Christmas 🎅

[@Gameforsale]

@@owensweetland342 very wholesome of you partner blessings to you hope you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live 🎄

[@reverendmysticfogg]

Experience: When you can take hands off wheel to explain how GPS works in massive snow plow while filming a documentary.

[@sethb9545]

What I said

[@Hawaiian_Grizzly_Bear]

They are usually flying down the road so as slow as he was driving taking his hands off the wheel isn’t that bad. 😂🤣

[@scottl8793]

Incredible

[@SudoMkdir]

what a BEAST

[@Chris.Davies]

Fine and dandy - but does it have intercoptic marzal vanes?

[@stephenbritton9297]

I know I'm being kinda picky, but your pictures of Valdez were actually the Alyeska Marine Terminal, which is across Valdez Arm (body of water) from the town of Valdez.

[@nightfury8440]

Thank you for this odd yet interesting information

[@stephenbritton9297]

@@nightfury8440 One of the places I've had occasion to visit for work. I can tell you also, that its much more pleasant to visit in the summer than the winter! ;)

[@Rieksfier]

Would this type of plow be overkill for my 4 car driveway?

[@thomaswhitten2537]

I thinking it probably would! 😁

[@ROGER2095]

Yes, but you'd really impress your neighbors!

[@aidencamacho4660]

just maybe........

[@hoagie7859]

Yeah I think what you need is called a shovel XD.

[@florkov6232]

No. I see no problem with it, none whatsoever. But you might have an issue getting out of your drive way with something that big in it

[@Sara-L]

What's an equipment editor? And using GPS must really be fun whenever there's a solar flare. Like there was yesterday.

[@lorenzoboyd6889]

Please tell us about the electrically-heated windshields. Thanx!

[@vpod1]

Wow, great video. But, what does this cost with the equipped plows? Really beautiful truck...

[@jays106]

Almost every highway plow I have ever seen has a snow foil to keep snow in front of it also like here in nh the plow is bigger on one end vs the other so it funnels the snow off the road

[@andyharman3022]

I have a secret desire to be a snowplow driver. It's hard to think of a job that has such a helpful immediate impact on others.

[@mikecapizzi5062]

Nice trucks 👍

[@arguswil]

I plow for Illinois Department of Transportation. That truck is huge.

[@thatsme2182]

All that AND a CD player? L-I-V-I-N.

[@Ryan-yo4dg]

What is the weight of the plow?

[@ATF1985]

City of Detroit , here in Michigan got at least one so far and they r amazing and huge . I think it sits a foot higher then a semi

[@rickslife]

Greetings Detroit!

[@nathan372]

500 inches and 2,700ft above sea level? What is this? The 18th century?

[@soulessshadow5356]

That's not a snow plow..that's a rolling man cave. Damn that things nice inside compared to what we have in the Ohio Valley.

[@miked19831988]

heaven forbid ODOT ever have anything like that for the guys/ladies to do there 12/16's with or provide any training on how to use the stuff rather than just the "you figure it out"

[@darksu6947]

@@miked19831988 I like fingering it out.

[@fadingbeleifs]

... I'm used to only hearing you on the road dog radio headlines... I didn't know you did voice-overs on KZbin videos as well..

[@wurmfutter8974]

Greetings from Germany, where our plows pale in comparison.

[@ELP1125]

They need these in Wisconsin

[@vhp454]

The Mack MP engines have many aftertreatment issues and are a high maintenance issue. Atomization modules fail due to poor air qualities contaminated with moisture.

[@brandyngould5412]

But now they alphabetical a new wave position that is so efficient at combustion that even after two days of idleing it still wasn’t even halfway to being needed to regen

[@jamesgardner395]

I plowed with a 2009 Mack granite, I honestly think Mack is a bit underpowered. The Allison automatic transmission was pretty nice to be honest. The cab in the granite is really roomy and super comfortable. Ny daily driver is a Pete with a fuller 18 speed and 550 horsepower.

[@kevinamstutz6118]

I've worked on all major models and type of plows and underbody scrapers. Monroe surpasses them all. When I see a DOT or airport running Monroe I know they're serious about quality.

[@Connection-Lost]

Granite is actually quite brittle when it's not half a mile thick

[@Flap999]

Last winter I was in Anchorage it had 26 below zero and we had just a little over 17 feet of snow. You picked a good place to show this snowplow.

[@Iwillnotbepushed]

All that is very cool but does the truck have cup holders?😂

[@thefarklenator4518]

62 inches is more snow than I’ve seen my whole life

[@dennisgebo3406]

These would be perfect for protest.

[@Bendigo1]

You mean protester removal?

[@woxineaucrows7355]

Go to anywhere in Canada this year is record snowfall too.

[@sheamatheson560]

The only thing I'd prefer in a snow plow, is a combination box, where the sander/spinner is infront of the drive tires. Personally in my experience I prefer to run an Eaton fuller 18 speed manual transmission. There's my 2 cents

[@haydencasteel635]

Curious how they keep from choking out the engine with that massive plow though

[@Bendigo1]

That would only be a factor if they were driving over 100mph

[@hudsonhawk0016]

Surprised at the light rears.

[@equipment-enthusiast]

That's some weight on a tandem! Our mack is only rated for 56000 gw so I'm guessing that front axle has some beef behind it for the extra weight.

[@JeepCherokeeful]

Front is 23k, rears are twin 26k per Jim

[@jasonmoran7425]

Sure beats the hell out of the weekend warrior F150 plows out there............

[@jeremyhagen7684]

Would be nice if engineers could figure out how to put some controls on the left side of the steering wheel. Maybe the drive selector buttons.

[@dennisn1672]

I drive heavy wrecker. I take it these have to be towed on a lowboy trailer if one breaks down due to their weight and being all wheel drive. Besides the fact there are snow blades all around the vehicle. Awesome rig.

[@edtherockhound9944]

That’s crazy they average around 41’ of snow a year just a rough estimate but that’s a lot of snow

[@honestbinkie7154]

That's really not that much for a snow state

[@TheLittlered1961]

That is not that bad. Paradise Lodge at Mount Rainer averages 53' of snow per year. Record there and the world is 102' in one years time. Record for Mount Baker and the world is 95' in one season. Both in Washington State.

[@spartangamer5850]

ayy I live there

[@KenanIrish]

It took me forever to figure out he was saying valdez every time he said val deez

[@Nderak]

KZbin made me watch this

[@joewoodchuck3824]

Cool machine. Was it an auxiliary fuel tank behind the cab?

[@lowbuckfabrication]

Hydrologic tank for the plow and wing

[@joewoodchuck3824]

@@lowbuckfabrication Did you mean hydraulic, or is this something different?

[@Bendigo1]

@@joewoodchuck3824 pretty sure they meant hydraulic not hydrologic. Stupid auto correct..🤣

[@krasimirmitev6949]

Вот это чудо 3 в 1 )))

[@relentlessmadman]

grainte the name of the truck pushing the snow plow and not what the snow plow is made of!!!!!!!!?????? why is the english language so confuseing, or iis it just me???????

[@zacharygilley2027]

her father: WHAT ARE YOU INTENTIONS WITH MY DAUGHTER?!? me: this video

[@samgarofalo2461]

Air foil also directs air to the radiator when the blade is raised to keep from overheating the engine

[@ShainAndrews]

If you are over heating you have bigger issues.

[@samgarofalo2461]

@@ShainAndrews the cooling system is designed to work in conjunction with on coming air flow, when its blocked / reduced, temps will rise.

[@markg.2501]

EPICLY RANDOM❄

[@jeremyslawson8540]

The rest of the U.S. DOT should have equipment like this

[@Bendigo1]

Most of the U.S. dot doesn't have a need for this much plow.

[@Hookman_909]

Always thought Trimble / GPS would work great on plows and little did I know...