truck suggestions?

[treeman82]

Last year I was running a 90 F350 rack body with a 350? gasser and an auto tranny... it had a 12' chip box on it, and probably held close to 15 yards when full. I liked the capacity, because most jobs could be put into 1 truckload. However it didn't have the power to tow the chipper (250XP) very far and the braking ability wasn't too great either.

I'm looking to get something better this year, and I have about 7 - 8K to spend.
Most of my work is within about a 20 mile radius of the yard, and normally I stay within 5 - 10. Jobs farther than that come up a few times a year. My work is pretty much all residential, I'd say 40:60 pruning / removals. I don't get into firewood, but I have friends with backhoes and loaders to help move wood out when the time comes.... just need a truck capable of moving some weight.

With my budget, I am wondering if I should stick to the F350's, or if I should look at something like an F700 or Topkick.???

Any thoughts on the subject would be appreciated.

 

[STLfirewood]

I have a f-550 it hauls a load a lot better them my 1-ton dodge did. I have the power stroke in mine. I'm not a fan of the engine 10mpg. My dodge was 8 years older and had a ton more miles. I got 13mpg pulling the same loads and it pulled better. I wish I had the ford body and springs and the cummins engine. I would check out the f-550 if I were you. It hauls great and you can buy auto parts at a local store if you want.

Scott

 

[groundsmgr]

4300 international . dt 466 with 6 speed tranny. You can get it inder cdlif needed.

 

[ridgerunner97]

:agree2: Friend of mine has an international dt466 with a 6spd, great truck got a dump body on it. Hauls full load of dirt and a big mustang skid loader no problem.

 

[johninky]

Nephew has a dumpster service and probably 5 trucks. His favorite is a Mack. Don't know year or model but whatever it is, it made him a Mack believer.

 

[ridgerunner97]

Only problem with a mack is that they only take mack parts, engine, transmission, etc. etc., have to go to a mack only dealer for parts, at least the older trucks mid 90s and back, probably in the price range that is being looked at. The newer ones however i don't know. I'd steer clear of the mack if there is not a good dealer near by. You get anything else it is much easier to source parts for. Just my 2 cents.

 

[johninky]

All true. One of his employees somehow cracked the bellhousing. Probably did some other damage also. Anyways, when I was in Ohio this spring, Anthony told me the bill to replace the housing came to $6500. Not cheap. He didn't seem to mind that cost but while the truck was in the shop, he asked that a nonworking gauge be repaired. Was discovered the fix required nothing more than reattaching the sender wire. Cost for this was $125. He didn't appreciate that charge.

Granted Mack parts aren't cheap and nothing for a Mack can be purchased at your local AutoZone but the same applies to John Deere and Caterpillar. A cousin back in the early 70s had this D4 loader that was really old. Had to have some part so we went to the local Cat dealer believing there was little to no chance of getting that part because of the age. Talked to the parts guy and was told no problem. I asked him just how old a machine would have to be not to be able to get parts for it. Parts guy told me age didn't matter.
If Cat manufactured it, Cat has the parts for it.

Earlier this summer someone a few miles out of town had for sale a small Mack COE with 145K miles. For Sale sign in the window stated $4500. I was really tempted but way too old to own a truck anymore. But she was a beauty. Someone got a great deal.

 

[ridgerunner97]

:agree2: I just wanted to let the op know and if you have a good dealer network etc. you like the truck, go for it. Speaking of old trucks, there was an old Brockway for sale down the street from me. Had a detroit diesel in it and an automatic transmission with a pto, just a cab and chassis, it was an ex city of pittsburgh fire truck, it only had 30k miles on it guy wanted 10k for it. Me and my buddy were trying to find a deal on a truck to stick a flatbed on it for hauling logs but that was too rich for our blood. Awesome machine though.