The yellow thing on the cal trans truck

[mkeguyver]

What is that called or what is it used for.. its that large yellow thing that is attached to the back of the of a caltrans truck...

Thanks!

 

[RobKB1FJR]

Its an impact bumper

 

[mkewman]

as stated before it's an impact bumper. it's for when some jackass isn't paying attention and rear ends the truck. i believe it's filled with water. it reduces the risk of injury, death and damage.

 

[Radio_Lady]

Its an impact bumper

Also known as TMAs, "truck-mounted attenuators." Caltrans gets most of theirs, like the Alpha 70K, from Energy Absorption Systems, Inc and some Trinity MPS-350s.

They've got an experimental barrier that's more or less a semi-trailer affair called the Balsi Beam, named after a Caltrans worker who lost his legs in a construction zone crash.

 

[mkewman]

they work too. I've seen videos. It's actually quite spectacular. Thanks for the links radio lady!

 

[wolter]

As stated already, they are attenuators. Caltrans also refers to them as "truck mounted crash cushion."

They are honey-combed, air-filled aluminum surrounded by an outer skin of thin aluminum. They are controlled by a hydraulic lever inside the cab that otherwise raises and lowers the dump bed.

 

[oregontreehugger]

Heh. I read the first post and thought, "What, the gatorade cooler?"



All joking aside, people do need to slow up around construction zones.

 

[mkewman]

As stated already, they are attenuators. Caltrans also refers to them as "truck mounted crash cushion."

They are honey-combed, air-filled aluminum surrounded by an outer skin of thin aluminum. They are controlled by a hydraulic lever inside the cab that otherwise raises and lowers the dump bed.

air huh? i thought it was water. shows how much i know

 

[landonjensen]

Heh. I read the first post and thought, "What, the gatorade cooler?"



All joking aside, people do need to slow up around construction zones.

:lol: :lol: Same here!

 

[gryeyes911]

them yeller CalTRANs whats-its

air huh? i thought it was water. shows how much i know

Just like the ones on the highways (attenuators at gore points), being filled with water would be HEAVY - 7 lbs or so for each gallon - and the release of water can create further hazards. That's a chunk o' weight to truck around.

Additionally, water freezes, ya know.

Gore point attenuators on the highways are filled with sand. Sand absorbs impact energy really well, gets spread around and can be used for minor spillage if the container bursts, and doesn't freeze or contribute to black ice conditions in really cold weather.