Need opinions mon gas powered dump trucks

Jeff244 · Dec 10, 2008

I am planning on buying a dump truck (under 26k gvwr) in the next month or 2. I need to keep the price under 30k. 20k would be better but the truck needs to be dependable. It will be used for pulling a trailer which will be about 14k to 18k lbs. It will also need to haul up to 7 ton loads of material occasionally. The area where I live is very hilly. I am starting a business and I am guessing that I will be putting less than 12k miles on it per year.

I found this one on the net: 2002 GMC TOPKICK C6500 Dump Truck For Sale At TruckPaper.com It seems to be set up with what I need but I am concerned that it is gas instead of diesel. Will this have the power to do what I need, and be dependable compared to a diesel? Trucks set up similarly with diesels seem to be quite a bit more expensive and have more miles on them.

Thanks,
Jeff

Jeff244 · Dec 10, 2008

Oops, I see the mistake in the title, but I don't know how to edit it.

Jeff

Diamondpilot · Dec 10, 2008

You need to talk to Builder. He is a member here I go round a round with but he knows his stuff and I respect his opinion very much on these subjects. That being said I would not want a gas truck that I was driving 12K per year. If it was 1 or 2 that would be different. I use a Ford 700 or 800 gas, can't remember, but it only gets 5 or so mpg and 50 it top speed.

Chris

john_bud · Dec 10, 2008

Are you thinking the the GVW under 26k will keep you out of a CLD? Because you will be required to have a CDL due to the trailer +load added to the truck GVW.

Diamondpilot is correct. A gas engine will really suck ... fuel that is. Probably 50% more fuel per mile. Diesels are generally built heavier and should last longer. but the prior owners habits will dictate condition to a large degree.

Jeff244 · Dec 10, 2008

Thanks for the replies,

I know that the gas engines aren't as good as the diesels, my thinking was, "why would they build the trucks with them if they were no good". I am trying to keep my start up costs as low as possible and like I said it seems that I would get more for my money by going gas. I guess in the long run the diesel would be cheaper.

I have a class A CDL. Initially, I will have no employees other than myself. But at times, I may need my wife or fil to haul some material to or from a jobsite I am working on. If it's a larger job, I would have the material hauled in by the material supplier, but I am trying to fill a niche of generally smaller jobs.

Thanks,
Jeff

Diamondpilot · Dec 10, 2008

If you can live with the gas engine, slow speeds, low power to weight ratio, then go for it. It will do the job, just not as easily or quick as a diesel. Lust like buying a F-350 with a 5.4L gas engine that has no place being there in the first place, they should stay in a F-150 versus say the Powerstroke diesel. The 8.1 is no slouch and should do much better than the old Ford I was talking about above so that does have it in its favor. The 8.1 is out of production but only a year or two so parts should be no problem. One thing a dump truck has going for it is a good gearbox with perhaps a high/low rear end.

Think of resale down the road? What is this truck going to be worth after you use it for a few years? It seems like a nice truck but I would keep looking. With this economy there will be plenty for sale this winter and you should be able to name your price on a good diesel powered truck.

Chris

IllMarty1 · Dec 10, 2008

I think you will fine if you stay within those parameters you listed and DO NOT GO OVER GCVWR! We have 7 GMC TopKicks of 90 - 95 vintage and all haul pretty well, and the motor is smaller than the 8.1L. Our dump is a 95 with gas and 2x 5 speed manual. We legally can put 13500# in it with driver and full fuel. Top speed at that load is 63. We have a trailer mounted dust collector that weighs 20000lb, and we use the dump(empty) to pull it if less than 150 miles. The GCVWR on that truck is 32000#, and it is at max with that trailer.

BarryinMN · Dec 10, 2008

These trucks might be Ryder rentals that are repainted and a dump box put on.They are geared really low and use the gas motor RPM's for speed. These are also hyd brakes so your trailer should not be air braked.

Egon · Dec 10, 2008

Access to the best of your abilities and if that is not sufficient hire a knowledgeable person!

Then do what you figure is right for your situation!

RobS · Dec 10, 2008

BarryinMN said:
These trucks might be Ryder rentals that are repainted and a dump box put on.They are geared really low and use the gas motor RPM's for speed. These are also hyd brakes so your trailer should not be air braked.

I don't know this for sure, but I think I read it on the internet so it must be true!!!

The Ryder truck conversions make poor dump trucks as the frame is thinner/weaker on those trucks.

That part I don't know for sure, but it could be. What I can imagine though, is that a dump truck body puts a whole lot of load on the frame while dumping with all the load on basically three points: The lift cylinder and the two rear pivots. If the dump body has its own frame that just bolts to the truck frame, no biggie but if the dump body is attached to the truck frame at just a few points it could be a problem. We really do need Builder to weigh in on this thread.