Which Chipper truck to buy?

[CT arborist]

Hello everyone,
I hope you are all enjoying your weekend!
Anyway, correct me if I'm wrong but I think I'd love to find an International chipper truck with the dt466 engine. I'm from CT and I have found some good "looking" 466s online for around 20K plus delivery with average of 100k miles or less, but recently two local offers came up that I could consider if I hear good things.

One is a 2000 Freighliner Fl50 with Cat3126 auto trans with 200k miles under CDL for $5K. I went to see it in the coldest day of the year, the batteries are super dead and got it started after being plugged for a long time. When it started it had zero colored smoke which I liked. I drove forward about 300 feet and pulled over to check the singal lights. After I got back on to drive the trans wouldn't go into Drive nor Reverse nor anything out of Park, now this was 5 mins after I was able to start it. Any thoughts on this? My mechanic is going with me this week to check it out but from what I can see that it needs is new batteries, tires and body work, I hope that's it. I do have a cat3126 already on my FL80 altec bucket truck. I know that the cat3126 has no wet liners which makes engine rebuilt expensive.

Second is a 2000 GMC6500 Manual Trans with around 130k miles with the gas engine, this was an asplundh truck for 3K yes $3 thousand. I also tried this truck and saw a leak from the head gasket and no other visible problems. $3,000 is not much but I've read a lot of bad things about their trucks, and it's a small gas engine, I'd rather spend more money and buy something that I will have less problems with.

I do already have a Chiptruck its a Mitsubishi Fuso, it runs great but I'm sure soon I will need a stronger engine to haul woodchips and tow the chipper. Do you guys think the 3126 is a good engine if everything turns out ok with the mechanic for the fl50 for 5k or should I wait to be able to afford a 466? or are there better engines like Cummings on Fords which Ive found some too?

Any info will be greatly appreciated . Thanks!

 

[WmTreeCo.]

I also had a Fuso chip truck. But it rusted out too much and Im also looking for a new cab and chassis as well.
Some freightliners and older ford f800s have cummins.
Most CAT engines dont have a good reputation around here.
Some people like gassers for the cheaper maintainence, but you're going to burn alot of gas in that thing full of chips.
The DT466 or DT360 before computerized injection is what Im looking for.
I would also be open to an F800 with the 5.9.
I prefer the older more mechanical engines because I can work on them myself easier.
Sometimes fixer uppers end up costing you as much as those more expensive trucks by the time you get it on the road.

 

[greengreer]

Stay away from the old Ford's with the Lucas-girling hydraulic brakes. They'll put you in the poor house.

 

[CT arborist]

I also had a Fuso chip truck. But it rusted out too much and Im also looking for a new cab and chassis as well.
Some freightliners and older ford f800s have cummins.
Most CAT engines dont have a good reputation around here.
Some people like gassers for the cheaper maintainence, but you're going to burn alot of gas in that thing full of chips.
The DT466 or DT360 before computerized injection is what Im looking for.
I would also be open to an F800 with the 5.9.
I prefer the older more mechanical engines because I can work on them myself easier.
Sometimes fixer uppers end up costing you as much as those more expensive trucks by the time you get it on the road.

Thanks! Yes I've found some f800 chip trucks online with the 5.9 Cummins I hear only great things about those but it sounds like nothing beats the 466. Again I would only consider this cat3126 because its 5k and some repairs and I've heard ok things about cat too. The 3k truck is super cheap but I've only heard bad about those. I think I will want to try the cat3126 just because I do like freightliner and heard ok things. After this one would retire then I'd like to get a 466. I prefer older trucks too. I have a 1984 international load truck, love it! An 01 fl80 and 01 fuso.

 

[CT arborist]

Stay away from the old Ford's with the Lucas-girling hydraulic brakes. They'll put you in the poor house.

Really? Lol how do I check if they are or they aren't? Thanks!

 

[greengreer]

I'm not sure if all the 80s and 90s hydraulic brake Ford's were Lucas or not, but I know alot of them are.
The have a belt driven booster pump, and an electric pump and the parking brake has big spring cans like air brakes do.

Otherwise the Ford 6.6 and 7.8 diesels are really reliable, simple engines. They dont start well in the cold and the 6.6 is a little low on power but is fine with a 2speed rear.
I live and work in the mountains so the brakes might not be as much of an issue in flatter areas. That being said I wouldn't consider any truck with Lucas brakes thats going to get loaded to gvw and tow a decent sized chipper.

 

[CT arborist]

Thanks for all the answers! I ended up getting the Freightliner. Got it for 5k and spent another 5k on it. Been using for 2 months it has worked great! Now in the process of painting it white so that it can match my freightliner bucket truck. Wohoo!