My next truck. Help me decide.

[chew]

Since you buy these vehicles as cab and chassis and you decide on the bed you can get what ever you want so get creative. You can go with a flatbed dump with optional sides both low and high. Bolt on Rack and or tool boxes if you need them, or took boxes under the bed so the boxes rise even in the dump position.

With ramps you can drive the tractor right on the truck and transport it that way depending on the weight bed length etc.

But certainly you can get one truck to handle all your needs. Find a great body builder and you will be in great shape.

And that's what I'm thinking Cat_Driver. I'd love to be able to put the tractor on the back and forgo the trailer all together. But what kind of bed length am I looking at? 14' - 18' starting to loose it's driveability then isn't it? Turning, Parking, Maneuvering on a service road for wood.

 

[farmboy12]

Thanks everyone for your input so far. Good point about a dump trailer being easier to load CurlyDave. As for the Isuzu getting stuck well that's just another reason for the tractor isn't it

The worst part so far has been finding them in a manual transmission 99% out there are autos. I've thought about the Mitsubishi but I think there are more Isuzus / GMC w3500-4500 on the road so easier to find parts when the need arises.

I'm looking into what insurance may cost at the moment So well see how big a difference that is. Oh and driving to work. Well I'm an electrician in the trades so it shouldn't be too out of place at a job site or at the shop. I'm assuming I wont be using it for work because if I do that's all the more reason for more truck. So I figure best to plan for not using it there.

We have one of each. We have an Isuzu 4500HD with an auto, and an Isuzu 5500 (non HD) with a manual. I think the miles on the 4500HD are probably 100k plus, and the 5500 with about 10k. I think the 5500 is a '99 and the 4500HD an '01. I'll find out for sure, that way you can see the longevity. I do prefer manuals, but I think the autos the past 5-10 years or so have been just as able as manuals.


Kyle

 

[chew]

How about the millage between the two farmboy12? There built for hauling so at cursing speed say 100km or 60 mph the RPM is high to keep you at speed with a load. My use however could have it seeing lots of time unloaded or light.

I was looking at 99'-05' I think most autos those years are a 4 speed and not sure on overdrive my guess is no. Where as the 5spds do have overdrive.

 

[farmboy12]

I checked with my dad, who knows the facts on them for sure. We are in the AC/Heat business, Compton Air Conditioning and Heating to be exact. The 4500HD is our main installation truck. It's less used partner is a '96 GMC 3500 cutaway van with an installation body, just like this one, and a 6.5l diesel. The 5500 is our duct cleaning truck. We also have 3 service vans, a 2004 Dodge Sprinter, a 2007 Dodge Sprinter, and a 2000(?) Ford E250. Our extra truck is a '94 Ford F250. Just some backround if anyone wants some comparison between any others, as we have other trucks around the farm.

The Isuzu 4500HD is a 2002. It has about 60,000 on it. Yes, it has the four speed auto. It is geared extremely low.

The Isuzu 5500 (non HD) is a 1999. It has 6500 miles on it. It has the 5 speed manual, and is geared low, but not quite as low as the 4500HD. He said this one gets about 13mpg. With the other, he thinks about 10mpg. Just bragging, this truck is THE largest duct cleaning truck on the east coast. At least it was a few years ago.

Let me know if you want any more info!


Kyle

 

[Egon]

Consider what is to hauled, its weight and length. This may influence your decision.

 

[gregsons]

I would vote for a Ford F-350 0r F- 450 with a dump. They are good trucks that will be around a long time as long as you take care of it. great plow trucks in you live in a area where that will be needed. i own a dump truck Co. i started out with a Ford 350 W/ dump. i sold it for almost what i bought it for after i made alot of $$$$ with it. resale on these are good. The dump trailers are good if its something you are not going to use much. but the truck are much more convenient. you can get the truck anywhere the trailers you need a lot of room and i find that they bottom out alot. another problem with the trailers are they are not hight enough to dump a large load you need to raise the bed and then drive forward and let the load fall out you will not have that problem with the F-350. you will only however be able to fit 3 yards (with sideboards) or 3 face cord stacked on the truck. trailer, well that depends on the trailer. I drove isuzu trucks like that years ago the Co. i worked for went from Internationals to those, they seemed to have transmission issues but that was a long time ago i would hope that they had that fixed by now. I dont know where you live but i have a Ford F - 700 for sale.

 

[horsinaround]

I have looked at the Isuzu's before. My impression is that they are underpowered. If you compare the engine torque/HP to the standard Chevy, Ford, or Dodge Pick up power, it is dramatically less. My thought has been that if I bought the Isuzu, I would spend much more time than I want in the slow lane. As a delivery truck around town at less than 50 MPH it is probably fine. Hook onto a trailer and try to go 400 miles and you will see why noone else tows a trailer wiht them.

 

[crbr]

I have looked at the Isuzu's before. My impression is that they are underpowered. If you compare the engine torque/HP to the standard Chevy, Ford, or Dodge Pick up power, it is dramatically less. My thought has been that if I bought the Isuzu, I would spend much more time than I want in the slow lane. As a delivery truck around town at less than 50 MPH it is probably fine. Hook onto a trailer and try to go 400 miles and you will see why noone else tows a trailer wiht them.

GM's Duramax is an Isuzu based engine...underpowered as well (IMHO) regardless of the specs (as a relative comparison). A foot on the accelerator tells the truth. I'm on my third and last Duramax.....

 

[Heywood Jannockitov]

Showing up at work in an empty dump truck is edgy enough, showing up in one half full of garbage is way out of the ordinary...

If I showed up at work with an empty dump truck, it would be half full of SOMEBODY ELSE'S garbage by the time I left. :laughing:

 

[horsinaround]

If I showed up at work with an empty dump truck, it would be half full of SOMEBODY ELSE'S garbage by the time I left. :laughing:

One person's garbage is another person's treasure.