4500/5500 series Gmc/Chevy

Robbie Hegwood · Jan 4, 2007

Hey Rutwad. I think Rback is right, you can take the written air brakes and get that endorsment also. I'm not sure about the inspection. When you do take the test and you do your pretrip inspection just go over every inch of your truck touching what your checking and saying it outloud. They got the guy ahead of me for that. Do yourself a favor and call to confurm being able to use your truck. Robbie

rback33 · Jan 8, 2007

Robbie Hegwood said:
Hey Rutwad. I think Rback is right, you can take the written air brakes and get that endorsment also. I'm not sure about the inspection. When you do take the test and you do your pretrip inspection just go over every inch of your truck touching what your checking and saying it outloud. They got the guy ahead of me for that. Do yourself a favor and call to confurm being able to use your truck. Robbie

I doubt they would tear you up TOO bad, but I would make sure it had a current DOT inspection if it requires one. You would not be the first person to get there to take the test, and never get to due to the vehicle not passing the inspection itself. On the other hand... not having the annual inspection done is NOT an out-of-service violation... so they may let you go anyway... I would not take my chances though....

DavesTractor · Jan 8, 2007

Robbie Hegwood said:
Hey Rutwad. I think Rback is right, you can take the written air brakes and get that endorsment also. I'm not sure about the inspection. When you do take the test and you do your pretrip inspection just go over every inch of your truck touching what your checking and saying it outloud. They got the guy ahead of me for that. Do yourself a favor and call to confurm being able to use your truck. Robbie

Good point, the pre-trip is easier to fail than the driving portion. When I took my test I had an old truck, so I borrowed a friends almost new rig to take the test.

rback33 · Jan 9, 2007

Hey Robbie...
What did you end up finding out about your trailer brakes? The shop get you fixed up? If not, I want to stay out of your area..

Robbie Hegwood · Jan 9, 2007

Hey rback, be nice.

Went today, took them less than 20 min., he put a couple rounds on the adjusters but said nothing abnormal. All six brakes grabbing so were good. He also checked the controller and all good. I'll probably get a digital on soon anyway to ease setting. I really couldn't tell any difference on the way home for I had to unload my tractor at home so they could jack up the trailer. I have a job in the morning so I'll think I be set. The shop wouldn't even let me pay them said we'll worry about it later. A good, capable shop.

I also could get in trouble there, out front they had a freightliner crew cab decked out that could pull 27,000lbs. Now were talking, until I heard the price, about 100k. My F-350 is working just fine!!!! Robbie

wroughtn_harv · Jan 10, 2007

The best price I could get on a Freightliner toter chassis four door was thirty grand more than I could get on a 5500 four door, again, cab and chassis.

The difference of course is the Freightliner is a detuned big truck and the 5500 is a medium duty.

Schwalbe Trucks Here's what a toter truck is supposed to be. Peterbuilt, 430 horse C12 Cat, 12 speed direct shift computer controled clutch and transmission (not an automatic but no clutch pedal) and the interior that would make a pimp sell his whip for a real ride. They also gave me the best price on a Freightliner toter. We made the mistake of driving one. Had the wants real bad ever since.

wushaw · Jan 10, 2007

Harvey, their gallery is only showing the Pete 335s that are the 8.3 cummins and Allison autos. Very good trucks that are very capable....still not a C13 and 12spd Freedomline or Eaton ultrashift now in the 385s.

wroughtn_harv · Jan 10, 2007

I've worked on two of them that belong to friends. Both of them had the freedom shift and the 430 Cats. This one had a Noonan bed I think he said, needed a slight adjustment. Cosmetic Surgery

Robbie Hegwood · Jan 10, 2007

Hey Harv.

Boy what a truck!!! Do I even want to know how much? What the saying, If you have to ask you can't afford it? I'm couldn't ask myself them.

I knew better than to even think about test driving the freightliner. I window shop alot but that would be hard to get out of and back into my F-350.

For the money and it going to be strickly a work truck the 5500 will work fine and give me the extra towing I need. I wouldn't even mind a flatbed with goose hitch vs. a hauler body. Those seem to be more reasonable.

I've started to stop and look several times at the 5500's but trying to be smart and wait for better timing.

Pulled the trailer with tractor today and the brakes are 200% better. Now I know about keeping them adjusted.

I've lived in Texas some and my mom and stepdad still do and hauler truck are the minivans of Texas. If really was going that route I'd let them check around for me on prices. Here there fairly rare and at a premium.

Robbie

wroughtn_harv · Jan 11, 2007

The truck I did the surgery on cost about a hundred grand two years ago. Schwalbe quoted me about eighty for the Freightliner with a hauler bed, Mercedes 300 hp, pimped interior, 6 speed Allison, sweetheart to drive. The biggest difference between the Freightliner and the 5500 was the pimp interior and three hundred foot of torque in the motor.

In November I was quoted mid forties for a 5500 cab and chassis four door and four wheel drive. My truck is a two door and just fine for now plus when I buy the next one I want the six speed Allision, supposedly coming in the 4500/5500 this spring.

The biggest difference between the 5500 and a one ton comes in when you have a backhoe on a trailer behind you. You still feel like there's an 800 lb gorilla back there. But it's in the trunk instead of in the back seat and not belted in.