# I just saw a dude push-start a freakin' DUMP TRUCK! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 9, 2017, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-a-dude-push-start-a-freakin-dump-truck/781757 "2017-03-09T04:30:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-a-dude-push-start-a-freakin-dump-truck/781757/1 "2017-03-09T04:30:44Z")
I’m outside, splitting wood, feeling all Manly for picking up huge rounds and slamming them down on the steel rail of the 6 hp logsplitter and working the hydraulic lever. Yeah, I’m a bad-ass lumberjack! Then I look across the street. There’s this young guy, trying to get his 5-yard dump, about Nixon-era, started. It’s parked on a flat gravel driveway, hood up. He leaves the cab, walks out behind it, and _pushes it forward!_ :eek: How is this possible? Ignoring the obvious, how did he even get traction? I can tell when the compression stroke comes as the truck kind of stutters, then rolls forward, and POP! It fires up, and slowly chugs forward\*. The guy runs around, jumps into the cab, keeps it running, jumps out and shuts the hood and motors off! :eek: This guy probably has 2 girlfriends, ‘cause he’s too much man for one woman. Un-freakin’-believable. \*I know this can be done, which is why I \*\*hated \*\*that episode of _Breaking Bad_. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-a-dude-push-start-a-freakin-dump-truck/781757/2 "2017-03-09T04:52:40Z")
What was in the bed of the dumptruck? Just his massive ballsack? ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-a-dude-push-start-a-freakin-dump-truck/781757/3 "2017-03-09T13:09:13Z")
And what about the “do not push” sign on the back? ---
**Author:** ![excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-a-dude-push-start-a-freakin-dump-truck/781757/4 "2017-03-09T13:25:00Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > And what about the “do not push” sign on the back? Well, obviously he’s such a badass that he simply ignores such signs. ---
**Author:** ![Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-a-dude-push-start-a-freakin-dump-truck/781757/5 "2017-03-09T13:39:25Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > This guy probably has 2 girlfriends, ‘cause he’s too much man for one woman. Un-freakin’-believable. I’d say he’s too much man for mere women. He and his navy seal boyfriend probably climb grade 6 mountains and fight bears bare handed in their free time. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-a-dude-push-start-a-freakin-dump-truck/781757/6 "2017-03-09T14:19:14Z")
How did he pop the clutch with no one in the cab? Yeah trucks are heavy, but wheels do turn, have you never seen the guys who will pull big old planes with their teeth? Getting it to start moving is the hardest part. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-a-dude-push-start-a-freakin-dump-truck/781757/7 "2017-03-09T16:24:07Z")
And I thought I was cool for starting my 1957 Renault Daphine that way. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-a-dude-push-start-a-freakin-dump-truck/781757/8 "2017-03-09T17:02:15Z")
Did he look like [this](http://www.mrctv.org/sites/default/files/uploads/chucknorris.jpg)? ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-a-dude-push-start-a-freakin-dump-truck/781757/9 "2017-03-09T19:14:57Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Did he look like [this](http://www.mrctv.org/sites/default/files/uploads/chucknorris.jpg)? Somehow, I just _knew_ that would be the image. But it couldn’t be - _that_ person would just glare at the engine and it would tune itself up before starting. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-a-dude-push-start-a-freakin-dump-truck/781757/10 "2017-03-09T19:41:11Z")
What you didn’t see was his gf pushing on the right rear & then once he got it running she jumped in the passenger seat. In fast, she was doing 95% of the pushing. She’s a national champion caber tosser; I wouldn’t eff with her if I were you. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-a-dude-push-start-a-freakin-dump-truck/781757/11 "2017-03-09T19:58:35Z")
I wouldn’t bet against **Spiderman’s** ability to push-start a dump truck. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-a-dude-push-start-a-freakin-dump-truck/781757/12 "2017-03-09T20:57:23Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > What you didn’t see was his gf pushing on the right rear & then once he got it running she jumped in the passenger seat. In fast, she was doing 95% of the pushing. She’s a national champion caber tosser; I wouldn’t eff with her if I were you. His other girlfriend was probably a national champion caber _catcher_. She is meaner… ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-a-dude-push-start-a-freakin-dump-truck/781757/13 "2017-03-09T21:37:18Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > How did he pop the clutch with no one in the cab? Yeah trucks are heavy, but wheels do turn, have you never seen the guys who will pull big old planes with their teeth? Getting it to start moving is the hardest part. Well, sure, but not while the freaking plane is in gear! Seriously, freewheeling is one thing but overcoming weight and engine compression is another entirely. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-a-dude-push-start-a-freakin-dump-truck/781757/14 "2017-03-09T22:34:54Z")
I bet this guy was playing Balzac on the stereo in the cab. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2017, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-a-dude-push-start-a-freakin-dump-truck/781757/15 "2017-03-10T06:50:26Z")
a diesel is super easy to push start since diesel is compression ignition anyway. put the tranny in high gear and give a good solid shove. I’m sure the girlfriends were helping ol’ Chuck with starting the truck though. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2017, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-a-dude-push-start-a-freakin-dump-truck/781757/16 "2017-03-10T12:10:49Z")
presumably his driveway sloped down and he only had to get it started. eg because it had to go up a slight amount over a bump, and then its general download travel kept it going over any small bumps… And he can start it in gear because a truck has a very low low gear… its in the lowest, and so slow you can hear its separate strokes. Even at regular idle speed for the engine, when its in low, he can catch the truck and jump in. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2017, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-a-dude-push-start-a-freakin-dump-truck/781757/17 "2017-03-10T14:55:17Z")
Is he somehow related to Chuck Norris? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2017, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-a-dude-push-start-a-freakin-dump-truck/781757/18 "2017-03-10T15:03:51Z")
> [@Mr.Goob](#): > > Is he somehow related to Chuck Norris? **Chefguy** did the joke in post 8. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2017, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-saw-a-dude-push-start-a-freakin-dump-truck/781757/19 "2017-03-14T03:47:25Z")
> [@Isilder](#): > > presumably his driveway sloped down and he only had to get it started… Nope. Dead level, and _gravel._ Yeah, I can push my e10’s and shit around like that, but a _5-Yard Dump?_ Not even empty, on asphalt, sober. Let alone… _in gear!_