Experience with fuso 4x4

[WantedWolf]

Went to an auto auction, prices are still pretty high to what I guessed with the economy and after christmas. lots of service trucks from a coal mine I guess thats how you kill a truck, 06's 07's all being towed.

Im test driving at ford on tuesday all they have is quad cabs available and I might get to try the 07 with my trailer.

Are there any notable rebuilders of older Dodge rams?,

I also found this, it wont tow a trailer but put a plow on it and think of the possibilitys.

 

[Builder]

Went to an auto auction, prices are still pretty high to what I guessed with the economy and after christmas. lots of service trucks from a coal mine I guess thats how you kill a truck, 06's 07's all being towed.

Im test driving at ford on tuesday all they have is quad cabs available and I might get to try the 07 with my trailer.

Are there any notable rebuilders of older Dodge rams?,

I also found this, it wont tow a trailer but put a plow on it and think of the possibilitys.

I think the possibility is that you'll back into something with that big reefer box blocking your vision!

Also, I'd think twice about buying an '07 Ford since it has the 6L diesel. I think the engine might be OK, since it's a '07 model year and they worked the bugs out, but public perception of the 6L is bad and that will lower your resale value later down the road. It also lacks the HP/TQ that the competitors had in '07 and the torque comes on higher in the RPM band, which increases fuel consumption.

 

[Scooby074]

Im not sure what exactly your doing with the vehicle. You mentioned hunting? And wanting 4x4. If off road is going to be a significant portion of the vehicles use, have you thought about UNIMOG? Used ones are imported from Europe all the time. They have good parts availability. If you get an AG model instead of a military, you can have front and rear pto and 3Pt hitches.Typical prices are under $40k.

Just throwing it out there as an option.

 

[WantedWolf]

I doubt i will need it for hunting, but 4x4 is manditory for versitility, I dont know what Ill run into yet, Im getting prepared for anything.

Ive looked at the Unimogs and there apx the same in specs as the mitfuso FG
Maybe a little more available depending on the model but parts prices are the same. Ive now decided niether is what I need for Towing my trailer. Id just be enginering a week link in my system buy using the small 4cyl. engine. But the truck certainly solves my need for a mobile sea can/ moving truck.

I doubt I could ever bring myself to buy another ford anyway. Im mostly testing for comparisons sake. But thank you for the tip on resale of the ford 6L. That truck would never be a keeper and resale is very important.

Note: Ive requested an older model ram in classifieds.

 

[WantedWolf]

I think the possibility is that you'll back into something with that big reefer box blocking your vision!


QUOTE]

Its only 4x15 box the truck kinda makes it look big .

And I probably already hit it with the trailer

 

[hosejockey2002]

I test drove a Fuso FG140 a few years ago and while it had great visibility and maneuverability, it was slow empty. However, my biggest concern was the brakes. The FG model has drums all the way around, and while these are easy to service they flat out didn't work very well even in an empty truck.

For those guys who commented on the over 26K requiring a CDL, the devil is in the details- he's in Canada under a whole different set of rules regarding truck licensing. I don't know what weight requires a CDL in Canada, and if you don't live there chances are you don't either. Anyway it's a moot point for an FG140 because it's GCWR is only 17000 and I can't imagine towing 12,000 lbs. with one of those trucks.

 

[WantedWolf]

Hey hosejockey2002

Yeah whole different ball game up north regarding transport. But I think its good at least for those that need the big trucks. I can put a KW or PB under my farm policy (class 1 req.), and not be officially commercial, although loaded I do need to hit the scales.

I hear scales are not for public in some states is this true in all states? What of fines for using them?

Every one says the Brakes on the FGs are more than sufficent to stop a proberly loaded rig. I was leary of the 4whl drums at first to.

My concern has now switched to helping the engine breath better. Air intake expansion, free flow exhaust etc.

Like you mentioned this truck would not lend itself to towing 12000# as I had initially hoped. But If you build Up rather then out, your in its zone.

For an offroad welding rig, crane truck, auger truck etc, try to get better fuel economy with the kind of capabilitys the FG has. And for a Snow Plow I think there #1 for many reasons.

 

[dmccarty]

Back in the early 90's I drove an Isuzu cab over rental moving truck when I moved to NC. I was very impressed with the handling and visibility of the truck.

Impressed enough that when it was time in 2001 to buy a new PU I considered these cab overs. They did not quite have what I wanted at the time and insurance was going to be interesting so I passed on the Isuzu and got a F350 with a 7.3L engine. Great truck. I will be driving it for a long long time since the new trucks don't impress me mpg and complexity wise.

A pressure treating company I buy from ran two Isuzu cab over trucks in that time period. I asked them how the like the trucks. They loved them. No quality problems at all. There only recommendation was to stay away from a manual tranny. They could not find a driver that would not burn out a clutch.

In another 10 years when the F350 has to be replaced I will look at the cab overs again. The big three are just to hung up on more power more power more power. I understand the marketing but I dont need more power. I need reliability and decent mpg.

Later,
Dan

 

[WantedWolf]

hey dmccarty

yep More power power power and more $ $ $. and then more $ $ $ when you need to hook up to their super computers.

Were any of the isuzus 4x4. I cant find a single one in Canada

I also cant find Automatics in an FG,

Why were they toasting clutches? Heavy loads on slow starts?

Do you really find good MPG with your F350 with a 7.3L engine.
I have a 97 f350 I can only drive once a month to the dump or when fuel prices are really cheap.

 

[dmccarty]

They were toasting clutches because the drivers they were hiring could not drive a manual tranny correctly.

I can't remember if there were 4x4 Isuzus back then.

I have a 2002 F350 7.3L 6 speed manual tranny, single rear wheel, Crew Cab, long bed, and 4x4. My best mpg is in the summer at 21.2 or 21.3 hand calculated mpg. Winter drops to 19.5 to 20.0 mpg. I just changed over to a 0x40 oil and it seems like I'm getting close to 20.0 mpg which with the cold we have been having is pretty good.

My driving is 72 miles round trip mostly rural 55mph with a touch of interstate driving at 65ish. I don't put my foot into the go peddle at all. On long trips at 70-75 mpg drops to 17.5-18.5 mpg.

The 7.3L have a known issue with the CPS chip. Ford is charging $25/50 for the part these days. I had to replace the origional a few years ago. My hydraulic clutch assembly went south a year or so ago but it did not leave me on the side of the road like my Chevy did at least twice with the same problem. At about 113,000 miles I still have the origional clutch. The Ford has been real good except for those two nits. Just feed in good fuel, oils, filters and tires.

Later,
Dan

 

[farmboy12]

Figure I'll put this in-

We own an A/C and Heat company, and we run 2 Isuzu's-

4500 HD- AUTO, weighs about 12,000# loaded. Not a single problem, 2001 I believe.

5500- Manual, weighs about 13,000# loaded. Only changed the battery 1 once. 1999. This truck, by the way, is the BIGGEST duct cleaning truck on the east coast. Drove to NW Canada from MD to get it.

Both un-breakable.

Can't tell you anything about the Mits, but a very large repo company used to use them. Then they switched to F-450's.


Kyle

 

[Spike-MI]

Wolf-
Info from a 2004 Chevy 2500HD Diesel and Fuso 4X4 owner:
The Fuso is NOT glamorous or comfortable like my leather trimed LT truck, nor is it probably half as fast. However, the Fuso is unstopable! I have towed my 30' tag axle trailer with the backhoe and numerous implements (CGVW approx 27-28000lbs) up hills, off-road in 3-4" of slimy mud. Low 1st gear (the trucks have a two range tranfer case) is about a 1 foot a second wide open throttle. My truck has 112K hard worked miles on it and is has never been in the shop. The brakes are irrelevant because it has a massive engine/exhaust brake that will stop the truck loaded without ever touching the brake pedal. In normal driving I rarely touch the pedal until I am right at a stop light. I had the brakes inspected and they said they looked almost new. The use the sealed drum barkes because they can be submerged. I have seen the Fuso's in 3-4 feet of water pulling loads. For the work it does, it also sips fuel 15-18mpg unloaded, 12-15mpg loaded. I have been pretty impressed for how little it is. It turns on dime too with awesome visiblity.
However, do not think you will jump in it to run the store or take the wife to dinner. Your kidneys will be bounced out of your skelton in about 20 miles. Less on poor roads. I generally find I want at least 1000-1500lbs on my flat bed if I am going any distance. Just FYI.
That all being said, you really have to look at your needs. The Fuso are truly dedicated work trucks built for the most demanding jobs and environments. They are designed to have southern and central americans drive them through nasty mountainous terrain with huge loads and Mitibushi will stand behind them for 5 years/150Kmi no questions asked. Ask the big 3 for that these days, and they will tell you they are waiting on their stimulus check. The Fuso's are not multipurpose like my 3/4 ton is. I can put a 3000lb of shingles in the back and go out to eat in it on the way home. Not the FG. It stays on the farm and the jobsite where it belongs. Hope that helps in your search for a truck.
Spike

 

[WantedWolf]

Thanks for the notes spike. I like to hear about the power up the hills and towing but this is the first good story ive heard. ussually you hear that they were doing 25km by the top of the hill, or the engine overheated.

one thing to correct is the mitsfuso warrenty is 5 years /175000km and even covers rust for 3 years. yep cant get that on an NA truck.

 

[WantedWolf]

And its good to know that the exhaust brakes do thier part,

How "sealed" are the drums really?

 

[wincher]

I have recently seen one of these on an lot but it seemed to be an as is wholesale. I am waiting for a reply from the dealer but in the mean time i was wondering what kind of parts support their is for them and if they are high priced or hard to get. The thing is a 03 with under fifty thousand and was inspected for 08. Looked a little beat but price was right in my range.

 

[WantedWolf]

Hey wincher
It seems that the parts for the FGs are around the same as the newer 1 tons.
$40 brake shoes, 350, clutch kit. But I would recomend picking up a few of the sure to need parts, before you need them. Like oil/air/fuel filters, brakes shoes, u joints, maybe a spare headlight. Dealers are sparse and if the dont find the time to talk to you about a $45000, they likley have less time for a small part. This is just first impressions tho as I havent purchased yet, and havent needed parts. But from what iv gathered im looking for a private sale.
do your reasearch as the dealers Iv spoke to dont seem very knowlegeable and this is a common complaint. good luck and let me know if you find one

 

[Builder]

Wolf-
The brakes are irrelevant because it has a massive engine/exhaust brake that will stop the truck loaded without ever touching the brake pedal. In normal driving I rarely touch the pedal until I am right at a stop light. I had the brakes inspected and they said they looked almost new. The use the sealed drum barkes because they can be submerged.

This has been a real big gripe with me for many years. GM & Dodge are offering an exhaust brake on their 1-ton & bigger chassis (4500 & 5500). Now Dodge has one available on their bigger pickups. Granted, GM started offering a gradient braking automatic 9 years ago, but it doesn't provide as much braking HP as an Ex. brake.

It's about freakin' time, I say. Exhaust brakes are soooo sensible. The way ther big 3 go through brakes and the cost of brake jobs coupled with the American love of towing trailers & RV's makes me wonder what took so long.

Ex brakes should be available, if not standard equipment, on all diesel trucks set up for towing. Come on Big 3, wake up!