Kevin Beets Buys A $110,000 Rock Truck From Parker Schnabel! | Gold Rush

Let’s do the thing. Chicken wings. Three miles east at Scribner Creek. After 22 years of working for Tony, Kevin Beats is now his own mine boss. Hi everybody. Today he and partner Faith are calling their first crew meeting with their new recruits. [Music]

So, we’re starting a new mine, and I’m really hoping to run it a little bit different than what we’ve had to deal with in the past. You don’t got to like it, but I really don’t want you to dread it.

We have Brennan, who will be overseeing the cut, and Hunter and Chase, you guys be running the rock truck, and Matt, you’ll be running the excavator, loading the truck. And if you guys do see something that looks off, let me know. We don’t have spares, so it’s not like we can just throw you in different rock trucks, so please take care of your equipment.

Our goal this year is 1,000 ounces. 1,000 ounces. All right. Well, we all got to do and dirt to move. So, let’s go.

I am so excited to get started mining. Get to see our piece of land. Get to do some work. Like, honestly, I got to go. I got to go do some work. Go move some dirt, bros.

Roger that, boss. Exciting. These are the first bits of iron to go down to the cut to get started on stripping. So, at least we’re finally making progress.

On my way. Hopefully I don’t get lost. Joking. [Music] [Music] [Music]

This is what I thought being a mine boss would be like. It’s the exact same as Tony’s. I just don’t have anybody I got to go double check with.

Kevin’s tasked the team with stripping the first 3 acres of his lynx cut down to per equipment he borrowed from dad Tony. I was hoping we’d get a little bit more reliable equipment. We’ve had a lot of delays and we really can’t afford too many more at this point. We really need to get slooing as soon as possible. Then we can see some gold.

Yeah, I’m in the rock truck working my butt off. Trucking the waste overburden out of the cut. Gold mining rookie Hunter Cannon. It was a cool opportunity that landed in my hand.

My truck is having hard time already backing up this. I can’t get up this hill. I’m spinning out like I can’t get up this hill whatsoever. I’m going to burn it. Come on, you dirty me sideways. [Music]

Oh, I think I hear something. Matt, you got a copy? Hey, I hear some air leaking noises from underneath the truck here. My diff lock’s not working. Am I gonna have to call Kevin? Hopefully it’s not a really bad fix. You mother truck.

The diff or differential locks the axles so the truck’s wheels turn at the same speed, improving traction in muddy conditions. Now, a lot of this is just Tony’s not fixing it. So, when it finally gets to me and it grenades, it’s now my problem.

Say it’s Tony sloppy seconds. Not even floppy seconds on the trash.

We have some lines that have busted. So, it’s a nice quick fix. Airlines send pressurized air to the diff lock, switching it on and off.

To engage the diff lock, Kevin replaces the broken hose. Luckily, this one is a quick fix. But this is just Tony’s not doing. So that’s not frustrating in the least.

All right. When you’re ready, Hunter. Put it all the way down. Job is done.

Anito back to moving dirt. Yeah, buddy.

I know Tony didn’t want to give me like his best equipment, but this is a little ridiculous. It’s not a great start to my morning. Not at all. Let’s uh look at some trucks. Come on, let’s go.

Engine’s quite clean in this one. I wonder if it’s new.

Parker’s trucks are old A40s able to haul 40tonon loads. A new model cost $300,000.

I’m looking for anything that will tell me that there is major issues. So like a little bit of leaky stuff like that’s that’s normal. Manufacturing year 2003 for 2024. That makes 21 years. It’s all enough to drink.

Major components look to be in good condition. Yeah. Compared to Tony’s machines, I have a bit more faith in these ones to run without needing aggressive work right off the bat. And since these are a bit older, maybe we can get a better deal.

Hey, Parker. Hello. You here for a rock truck?

Here for a rock truck, hopefully. Yeah, you can definitely buy the E. I have been looking at that one the hardest. Tires might need air and stuff. Price is the same. 100 and 10. 110. [Music]

Go 105. I don’t haggle. Buy it or don’t buy it. I don’t really care. Feel free to fire it up. Go through it. Whatever. I’ll go find you some air.

It’s a little more than I wanted to pay, but it’s here. And it’s hard to negotiate from the position of, well, we really need something.

You should be doing this, not me, Kevin. You’re the mechanic. Don’t blow yourself up.

I definitely won’t.

Do you think there’s some wiggle room in pricing with Parker? He’s kind of got all the bargaining power right now.

Yeah. Then he knows it. [Music]

You got her all aired up.

Got it all aired up.

110 then. What? 110. Are you ready to commit? And were you okay to have a payment later in the season? That good for you?

I don’t need to get paid right away, but I can’t have you back out. That’s the only thing. You’re paying whether it falls apart and is useless or whatever.

It’s all good.

Okay. So, you’re taking it?

Taking it. 110. 110. Congratulations. Hope it works out.

Let’s get it back to camp and find out. [Music]

With the new truck, Kevin has a shot of getting down to pay soon. I’m Par