Kodiak/TopKick Trucks

[TheViking]

What's the general census on the Kodiak/TopKick?

How well are the diesel engines built? I know the latter models came with a DuraMax and some with Cat engines if I recall correctly.

Also transmission options the automatic seemed to be popular but what about manual transmissions?

Also how well do these things haul and pull a load.

I got these trucks on my mind today and would like some information on them please.

 

[Steve NW WI]

Hard to get chassis/body parts anymore.

 

[TheViking]

Thanks Steve.

 

[Knobby57]

There are a lot out there . I have no trouble getting parts . Lots of used body parts available . Never had trouble getting chassis parts either . The cat motors are pretty good. Parts easily available from cat. In a 6500 truck you won't be flying but you can pull and stop a pretty good load . These make a great rollback truck . The automatics are slow as a snail compared to the eaton standard trans


Sent from my phone when I should be working

 

[TheViking]

What about the DuraMax and Allison combo do you have any experience with those?

 

[Trx250r180]

I have 2 of them ,one a wrecker ,one a rollback cat with 6 speeds ,the blocks are not sleevable or boreble i found out ,they are like driving a pickup truck inside ,power windows ,tilt etc

 

[TheViking]

That's the Cat diesel engine and the non turbo correct?

 

[Trx250r180]

That's the Cat diesel engine and the non turbo correct?

Mine both have a turbo ,200 hp i think ,maybe 220 ,the marine ones have 100 more hp i think ,or if can get a military one ,they are more hp

 

[Steve NW WI]

Brian, 3208s? Good motors, but throwaway like you said. Seen some with a 3176. My opinion of those is on par with a non running MiniMac.

Never run one with theDmax. Should be good up to about CDL weights tho.

A 6 or 7 speed manual will walk on the Allison performance wise, esp the older 4 speeds. If caveman operators tho, I'd take the Ally any day.

 

[Mowingman]

I have had 4 of them, all 96 and 95 models with the 3116 Cat engines. all have had 8LL transmissions. We still have 2 in our little "fleet". One is a 7500 flatbed dump. The other is an 8500 tandem axle dump. I like the little Cat engine, but they need good maint on a regular basis. They are kind of a light duty diesel and can not stand much abuse. They also are not generally rebuildable, but are throwaway engines.
I would stay away from the suto transmissions. They are real slugs on the highway. The trans. is a good one, but, if it fails, just haul the whole truck to the junkyard. The auto. trans. is VERY expensive to replace, usually more cost in the trans. rebuild, than the whole truck is worth.
Parts are easy to get, either new or used. The Kodiak series used a pickup truck cab, setting on a heavy duty chassis, with a special hood. Used hoods in good shape can be hard to find, as the fiberglass gets weak with age. All chassis parts are available through any good heavy duty truck parts shop. Cab parts are all from 2500/3500 GM trucks, so they are easy to get.
Again, this is all related to the older, mid 90's Kodiaks. I do not have any info on the newer ones with the Duramax engines.
Jeff

 

[TheViking]

Thanks for the info everyone and keep it coming.

 

[ChoppyChoppy]

Your question is kind of hard to answer because the Kodiak/Topkick line is a fairly long running line of trucks with tons of options available.

As with most medium or heavy duty trucks, when you buy new, you go into the dealer and they pretty much build to suit. It could come with several different options of gas or diesel engines, transmissions, axles, gearing, frame length, tire size, etc.
If you get something a bit oddball you may have trouble finding some parts. Either will have to figure out what else used the part you need or sub for something else that will work.

You can get into one that is not a whole lot heavier duty than a 1 ton truck or another that would be close to class 8 truck specs. I have seen medium duty trucks have anything from a straight 6 gas engine to a 10+ liter diesel engine

If you find a truck you think will work out, you need to look at what it has for drivetrain.

The Chevy I used to have did pretty good, though the steeper hills when loaded where 15-20mph at times. (I was hauling 6 cords of firewood) It had a 427 tall deck, 5x4 trans, 7.17 gears in the twin screw rears. I mostly sold it because of the 5mpg and the hydraulic brakes. I upgraded to a similar size truck but with an 855 cu in diesel, engine brake and air brakes.

 

[TheViking]

I'm looking for a late model Kodiak with the Allison and DuraMax. I personally like this body style the best of them all but if I recall right it was killed off around 2007. Also from a maintenance standpoint the DuraMax and Allison combo would be easily maintained from my stand point and also turned up for a bit better performance.

 

[greg storms]

I've read plenty on the Allison automatics
They say the 5th or 6th gears can be programmed in them if you have the hp. I love the Allison autos. Like some1 said, treat it well. I have a 2006 Chevy 5500 with duramax diesel and six speed manual. It's much better than my ford 550 (2001) with the 7.3 power stroke. I just wish I had the allison auto. Good Luck./!!

 

[fordf150]

Good trucks and easy to get most parts. Friend ran them in his towing business for years. Hydraulic brakes and low powered engines are the biggest draw backs. He swapped 5.9 Cummins into his. No clue on the newer dmax/allison combo though. Did anybody mention how expensive the hydraulic brakes are and how much maintenance they require to keep them in shape.

 

[ChoppyChoppy]

The hydraulic brakes aren't too bad if it's a normal hydroboost setup similar to what a 1 ton truck would have. The older hydrovac and electric pump setups are not so fun to deal with and depending on age, the parts might be hard to find.

International makes a great line of MDT trucks as well. Often can be bought for a fair price from auctions, old town/county/fire dept. trucks, etc.

As for what is a good engine and not, it really is going to depend on what you plan on using and hauling with the truck. The Duramax is a good light duty motor, and IMO "meh" in a medium duty. I say this just compared to other options like the 5.9L or 8.3L Cummins, DT466, 7.8L Ford, not to mention several "heavy duty" gas engines.

I don't mean that it's not a bad engine, but it's not well suited for hauling heavy all the time and lasting for darn near forever like most other MDT engines are. Again, this will all depend on your needs.
If you are just in need of something a bit heavier duty than a 1 ton, like what Ford would call an F450 or 550 it would be just fine.

 

[Trx250r180]

Brian, 3208s? Good motors, but throwaway like you said. Seen some with a 3176. My opinion of those is on par with a non running MiniMac.

Never run one with theDmax. Should be good up to about CDL weights tho.

A 6 or 7 speed manual will walk on the Allison performance wise, esp the older 4 speeds. If caveman operators tho, I'd take the Ally any day.

Mine have the in-line 6,3116 I think,I lost an injector last year,bent 2 valves and ruined a piston, lot of transfer,I was able touch stone hones and clean up the cylinder in frame and put a piston in the 1 hole and bought 2 valves and guides from cat and rebuild the head, so the engines can be fixed,that bandaid fix has been going for over a year now,clutches and brakes I buy at Napa easy to get parts

 

[Steve NW WI]

Mine have the in-line 6,3116 I think,I lost an injector last year,bent 2 valves and ruined a piston, lot of transfer,I was able touch stone hones and clean up the cylinder in frame and put a piston in the 1 hole and bought 2 valves and guides from cat and rebuild the head, so the engines can be fixed,that bandaid fix has been going for over a year now,clutches and brakes I buy at Napa easy to get parts

Miss typed in the earlier post, meant 3116 not 3176. Sounds like you got a good one. The one at my last job was in the shop more than on the road. Injectors, turbos, head gaskets, (all plural) in less than 200,000 miles in a 19k gvw truck.

VF, your opinion of the Dmax is awful low, and of course I think youre full of it as usual. It'll out pull and outlast any 366/427 gasser.

 

[TheViking]

Thanks everyone for your input and yes I'm looking for something bigger than a one ton for a business idea of mine.

I think air brakes would be a much better set up than the hydraulic just my opinion though.

 

[Trx250r180]

Thanks everyone for your input and yes I'm looking for something bigger than a one ton for a business idea of mine.

I think air brakes would be a much better set up than the hydraulic just my opinion though.

My gvw weight is 25595 so do not need a cdl licence to run it here ,26001 and up you do though ,have hydro brakes on my trucks also,i am not sure if air brakes would need the cdl or not ,My trucks also have 22.5 wheels ,i think some have 19.5