Transporting Wind Generator Towers

Top section of wind generator tower at truck stop in Junction, Texas

While eating at Cooper's Bar-B-Q in Junction, we watched as these monster trucks with way oversize loads pulled off I-10 and made their way to the truck stop next door to Coopers.

Top section of wind generator tower at truck stop in Junction, Texas

A man sitting at the next table to us explained that these trucks were hauling sections of the tower for those giant wind generators. This is the longest section and it is the top section (the smallest diameter). The driver of this rig can steer those back wheels. They were only moving around 2 to 3 MPH in this parking area and were so big that they required a large dirt lot adjacent to the truck stop in order to manuver.

Base section of wind generator tower at truck stop in Junction, Texas

This is the base to the wind generator tower. It has the largest diameter but it is also the shortest.

The man at the next table told us he was working on a project west of Junction that had ordered 500 of these wind generator units.

One of the truck drivers said they were delivering these to Sterling City between San Angelo and Big Spring. They were stopping in Junction for the night because Junction had motel rooms for all the escort drivers.

Base section & top section of wind generator towers at truck stop in Junction, Texas

This is a picture of the base and the top section of the tower. The top section was 6-feet longer than the middle section. Each section had a special jig or fixture that attached it to those rolling platforms at the front and rear. The middle section is out of sight on the far side of that long piece.

Transporting Wind Generator Towers

If you wonder who drives these monster rigs here is the answer. No it wasn't the lady. It was the man. I talked with him a bit. I think he was an Native American ---- a hard driving man. One thing about it --------- he had the moxie to drive this rig. The lady was the escort in the follow-up vehicle. I think that she had to talk him around corners. This thing took several minutes to negotiate the corner at the off ramp then even more time as they turned into the truck stop. Traffic is blocked in both directions while the rig creaps around the turn. Somehow the driver is able to steer the back wheels. Even looking at it I do not see how but I do see that the weight is on a distribution point in between those two banks of axles.

The next day we were back at coopers eating lunch when we spotted another group of these monster trucks stopping in the truck stop again. This time I had my camera ready and ran out of the restaurant to get these pictures.

Middle section of wind generator turning off I-10 exit ramp in Junction, Texas

This time I got a picture of this huge rig as it made the turn off the interstate ramp onto the 4-lane highway. Even taking up the entire 4-lanes of the highway the back wheels had to be guided/steered to stay on the exit ramp until the entire tower is aligned with that 4-lane highway they are turning onto.

Pivoting ability of tow vehicle as driver negotiates getting into truck stop in Junction, Texas

This picture shows the pivoting ability of the truck and the front pivot mount. The truck is turning into the truckstop from the highway while his entire load remains in the highway.

Pivoting ability of tow vehicle as driver negotiates getting into truck stop in Junction, Texas

Look closely at the rear pivot assembly. The driver is steering that portion of wheels (on a pivot) down the highway. It is totally awesome how the drivers of these rigs can steer those rear wheel assemblies.

Rear wheel pivot assembly on those wind generator transportation vehicles

This is a closeup of the rear wheel pivot assembly. The steering assembly consist of that huge arm you see bolted with the extremely large bold in the center of the picture. The other end of that arm is connected to the center pivot assembly.

Top section of wind generator tower at truck stop in Junction, Texas

This driver was able to jockey his rig around to the parking lot side of the truck stop where they plan to stop for the night. Then he saw an opportunity to pull his entire rig forward into the fueling area. Once he fueled he backed out of the fueling area to the spot he parked in for the night. That, in my opinion was one totally macho maneuver. The drivers on these rigs are modern day cowboys.

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