georgewuzheer's video: EZ Pack Hercules Side Loader: City of Ft Myers

The Hercules ASL has some great potential, but there are plenty of flaws to be worked out before it's competitive with other ASLs on the market. Right away you notice the brushes at the hopper opening. Because the arm dumps so close to the hopper wall, the brushes are needed to keep trash from spilling onto the street. Of course they don't always work, leaving a mess behind every other stop. Another problem caused by the location of the cart dump is that the hopper doesn't get evenly filled. At times garbage piles up to the curbside edge of the hopper while the streetside has plenty of space. The arm is adequately quick, what holds things up is a sloooowwwww packer blade powered by cylinders oversized for the application; the same massive cylinders used in the Hercules Front Loader. The huge cylinders are thirsty for fluid, which means either slowing down the arm cycle or pausing to shift into neutral and rev. The basic premise of a heavier duty Rapid Rail type arm is sound, but integration with the body needs work. If you look closely you will notice at stops where the arm needs to be extended less than 18 or so inches, as the arm raises, it automatically slides outward from the truck. This is necessary because of the full width hopper. Compare this to the Curbtender or DuraPack Rapid Rail, where the hopper is smaller in width, allowing the arm to complete it's arc without having to be extended. Then when the arm comes back down it doesn't retract, setting the cart back down about 18 in out from the truck no matter what. In the third clip you can see how the driver has to back up because otherwise the arm would hit the second cart. The Hercules ASL simply wouldn't work on routes with closely spaced carts or in alleys. As for positives, the standard load sensing hydraulic pump is a fantastic feature, saves a good bit of fuel. Basing the body on the Hercules Front Loader is a good call, the FL is proven and well established. The controls are very similar to the Rapid Rail, operating much the same but with the EZ Pack using simpler, easier to service relay logic. The Ft. Myers drivers apparently don't like that this truck doesn't have a joystick, but it's just a matter of getting used to using switches. In any case a joystick is optional. All in all the Hercules ASL is just barely adequate. I would guess it sold here because EZ Pack is already popular in Florida, and probably on price. The basic concept of a heavy duty Rapid Rail type arm mated to a Hercules based body is fantastic, but the execution is lacking. A few changes would makes this body a real contender: 1.) Narrow up the hopper so the arm doesn't have to extend to complete it's arc, the Hercules will be able to be used on lines of carts and in alleys, not an insignificant market. The big hopper is well suited to 300s. 2.) Dump deeper into the hopper. No more dicking around with half-assed hopper brushes. 3.) Optimize packer throughput. The packer is the choke point in the system that really slows the route down. It seems to me EZ Pack made too many compromises in trying to keep commonalty with the Hercules Front Loader. With a bit of improvement the Hercules ASL could be a serious contender. If left as is it won't be much more than a niche product. This Ft. Myers truck is (one of?) the newest in the yard and already used as a spare. Many thanks to the driver for answering all my questions, hugely helpful and very cool. Filmed November 23rd, 29th, and 30th, 2012