Heil Durapack Python Recycle GoPro 

This is one of four Mack LR Heil Pythons in the UWS fleet, all of which are old bodies and were assembled by IGS. In any sort of urban setting the Python proves itself to be a trainwreck in terms of efficiency and practicality, but at the very least I found these IGS rebuilds to be a marked improvement over their factory counterparts. Arm responsiveness was consistent, and speed could be easily controlled with the throttle. On other Pythons I drove the in-gear-at-idle Heil factory system would suffer from severe speed fluctuations to the arm based on hydraulic flow to the packer, all at the mercy of the operator making the outrageously bulky arm even less ideal in obstructed settings. The other notable difference on these rebuilds was the ability to fully extend the packer while on route, a necessity on recycle. The Heil system doesn’t allow you to pack past the hopper with the tailgate closed, which combined with the subpar packer/follower setup they’re just flat out useless on recycle. I did 6.5 tons in this truck, compared to less than 2 the last time I drove a factory Heil one. I’m glad to not be driving Pythons anymore but I actually had a good time driving this rather unique one.