Chip Trucks

[newsawtooth]

Finding used chip trucks in Colorado is difficult to impossible. The green industry isn't big enough here to justify much of a selection. There is one International 1994 4700 flatbed dump with a custom box attached. Before the box modification it was a lumber delivery truck. It has over 300,000 miles on it. Anyone have any experience with chip trucks with that kind of mileage?

 

[gr8scott72]

Finding used chip trucks in Colorado is difficult to impossible. The green industry isn't big enough here to justify much of a selection. There is one International 1994 4700 flatbed dump with a custom box attached. Before the box modification it was a lumber delivery truck. It has over 300,000 miles on it. Anyone have any experience with chip trucks with that kind of mileage?

Why not just expand your search and include a one-way ticket in your price?

 

[newsawtooth]

Trucks

That will likely be what I have to do. There are some nice looking trucks in OR and CA. I was just curious if anyone has seen chip trucks last that long. Long haul trucking is one thing but the city driving with heavy loads is another.

 

[TimberMcPherson]

I dont know about where you are but we beat tar out of our trucks. Lots of cold running, heavily loaded and overloaded, thrashed by a dozen drivers and generally abused.

100,000 on a tree truck here is like 250,000 on a normal courier truck.

Id put a box on a non tree truck if it was economically viable

 

[Bearcreek]

:agree2: Tree work is about the hardest thing you can do to a truck I think. If you're going used I'd get a truck that was used for something else and put a box on it. That way you can put on exactly what you want too.

 

[CalTreeEquip]

300,000 miles is a lot on any truck.
we do have a lot of chiptrucks available here in California.
I usually ignore them because the market is so dead.
But if your serious about buying a truck I can find one for you no problem.
I, in fact, have never seen such good deals as I have seen lately.
But like I said, I and my dealers don't like to buy them because the market is so small and they just sit in the yard to long.
If your interested give me a call.

WWW.CALIFORNIATREEEQUIPMENT.COM

 

[Hoosier]

You can get a 14,200lb GVW Isuzu NPR box truck for well under 10k and put a dump on the box...cheap way out and you still get 14mpg....

 

[gr8scott72]

You can get a 14,200lb GVW Isuzu NPR box truck for well under 10k and put a dump on the box...cheap way out and you still get 14mpg....

I finally drove a NPR a couple of months back. What a dog. I can't imagine having to drive one of those loaded on the interstate.

 

[TimberMcPherson]

I finally drove a NPR a couple of months back. What a dog. I can't imagine having to drive one of those loaded on the interstate.

You just drive it a bit slower and think of the fuel savings...I have a NPS, being 4wd it gives slugs a bad name. But it gets the job done and is a great beast of burden. At least speeding tickets arent a concern.

 

[gr8scott72]

You just drive it a bit slower and think of the fuel savings...I have a NPS, being 4wd it gives slugs a bad name. But it gets the job done and is a great beast of burden. At least speeding tickets arent a concern.

Alot of my driving is from one city to the next on the interstate with 70 mph speed limits. I just personally ruled out the Isuzu after I drove one. It wouldn't get up to 70 mph even empty.

 

[Hoosier]

Alot of my driving is from one city to the next on the interstate with 70 mph speed limits. I just personally ruled out the Isuzu after I drove one. It wouldn't get up to 70 mph even empty.

LOL, what one did you drive? They make them in multiple configurations and weight classes.

Mine is old & slow, but my operating costs are non-existent. IT has the smaller motor, I think it is under 150 HP, but if you get a newer one with a bigger motor you may get more pep.

I am looking around for a 4x4 version now, either a NPR or a UD etc... If anybody knows of one cheap let me know.

 

[gr8scott72]

LOL, what one did you drive? They make them in multiple configurations and weight classes.

Mine is old & slow, but my operating costs are non-existent. IT has the smaller motor, I think it is under 150 HP, but if you get a newer one with a bigger motor you may get more pep.

I am looking around for a 4x4 version now, either a NPR or a UD etc... If anybody knows of one cheap let me know.

I think it was a 2000 model. Probably the small, 150 hp one. Had small dump bed with metal side slats about 4' tall.

I was also recently at the tire shop at which I know all the guys. They had one in working on the brakes and it was a HUGE bill. The rotors were like $250 each. Like I said, I know the guys there and they weren't just taking advantage of the customer. It was like a grand for a front brake job.

I'll just stick with my V10 Excursion for now and probably move up to a F-350 with a diesel as soon as I can afford it.

 

[Hoosier]

These are city trucks mostly, if you want to run over the road and hit 70mph I agree with Scott, you may be in the wrong truck?

I dont know of many chip dumps that try to do the long haul at 70, that would get you huge tickets from the cops or worse, the DOT. The DOT is one thing that many guys in those F-350's tend to ignore, that is until the DOT cop pulls them over and starts the fines rollin. I see many guys running as a commercial truck but they dont even know it, overweight, not strapped down correctly, with no proper brake controller etc.. If you do tow your stumper you may want to get DOT numbers on your truck.

FWIW I have a 93 with 140k, I have had it for about 4 years and I have never spent money on parts? Not even brake pads? The front rotors can get spendy but keep in mind it is a commercial truck and it should only need rotors once in it's life if it is maintained.

Even a small NPR can haul much more dead weight than a f-350, its not even close.

Mine empty weighs in at about 7300 lbs and has hauls and dumps 4-5 tons without much worry, yes it does it slowly...

 

[newsawtooth]

I decided to buy a 97' Topkick with 50,000 miles on it and a forestry package from the orange company. I considered buying a cab and chasis and then ordering a forestry body. To order a forestry body and have it installed was around $13k. I could have gotten a pretty good rig for $20-25K. The timelines were a little long as I need a replacement now, so I bought the Topkick. Can I expect another 50,000 miles out of the truck or is that asking too much?

I like the cost effectiveness of the Isuzus, how does the bigger motor do at altitude? It doesn't seem like much, but being a mile high can sap powerful motors. Not that the Topkick is powerful, but it will be alright for city work.

I'll just throw it out there, what is the best cab/chasis for tree work in terms of power, reliability, operating costs, dealer support, ect?