New cab and chassis truck recommendations?

[cockeyedMFer]

Looking in to truck options for business use, and it seems like a 4dr chassis cab would do the trick. Add some type of flatbed with side rails and a removable tarp, and I've got a semi-enclosed box truck that's still manueverable and multi-purpose. Plus it allows me to have 4x4, which isn't cost effective on larger trucks.

Still not sure how to get around the dock-height issue I posted about earlier, but am working on it.

Problem is I don't really want the diesel, but seems to be a necessity. Looking at the new Ram 3500HD C&C, the Cummins gives almost double the payload and towing, and the only way to get a manual trans.
I guess the extra money is mitigated somewhat at resale but man that gets expensive quick. It takes the price from about 36k to 48k for the base trim level.

Otherwise, with the Hemi, I'm just spending money to upgrade my old GMC to a flashier truck that does about the same thing. But the color options are pretty cool

Over the years every time I think about a new truck, I get to this point, quit and go buy something for a few thousand that lasts a couple years longer LOL.



and it matches my van!

 

[Scooby074]

C+C is likely the way Ill go in the future. You can buy or build a more usefull (and tougher) box than factory.

Id probably do something like a Aussie "Ute" tray that has a flat floor and fold down sides for loading. Id also likely add a dump cylinder. It wouldnt be as good as a pure dump because of its depth, but for a lot of things it would work fine. Sort of like those 3/4 tons you can rent from HD but with a dump and crew cab.

 

[cockeyedMFer]

Funny you mention a drop side bed, that's exactly what I want, but a little larger for bulky items. Just last week I was looking closely at one of those in the Home Depot parking lot for ideas.

But it needs to be covered somehow, because it always rains when I buy something Thinking about removable bows and a rubberized tarp of some sort.

 

[cockeyedMFer]

So here's the Ford option. The 6.2 gasser with a 4.30 rear allows about 14,500 lbs towing, which is better than the hemi by about 2 tons.
A bit higher in price, much fewer color options.

For not much more, the f450 offers more options for wheelbase which would allow me to run a 10' flatbed, and you can get the V10. About 1k lbs more capacity and lower fuel economy. Probably higher insurance too.

GMC doesn't appear to offer a build online feature

 

[tcartwri]

GM UPFITTER - Home

 

[two_bit_score]

C+C is likely the way Ill go in the future. You can buy or build a more usefull (and tougher) box than factory.

Id probably do something like a Aussie "Ute" tray that has a flat floor and fold down sides for loading. Id also likely add a dump cylinder. It wouldnt be as good as a pure dump because of its depth, but for a lot of things it would work fine. Sort of like those 3/4 tons you can rent from HD but with a dump and crew cab.

View attachment 331124

Wonder where HD sells their used units?

 

[cockeyedMFer]

From what I've seen they sell the trucks and refit the beds to the new model

Have you priced building a bed yourself? I can't believe a basic flatbed is about the price of a good car trailer, and there's 1/2 the materials, no axles, wheels, etc. Would like to do it myself also if its cost effective.

 

[Scooby074]

Wonder where HD sells their used units?

Auction maybe?

We dont have those particular trucks available here for rent. All our HD has are vans. They have turned up in Central Canada for sale though. Im not sure if they are US vehicles or Canadian ones.

Maybe look on Auto Trader, that's where I saw the ones in Ontraio.

 

[Scooby074]

From what I've seen they sell the trucks and refit the beds to the new model

Have you priced building a bed yourself? I can't believe a basic flatbed is about the price of a good car trailer, and there's 1/2 the materials, no axles, wheels, etc. Would like to do it myself also if its cost effective.

The HD ones?

If so, I saw them for sale complete, just like they were at the store, minus the decals.

Flat decks / dumps arent cheap. They are hand fabbed. When you figure that a typical pickup bed is stamped out of sheet metal and then robot welded, something hand made out of structural stock and hand welded has to be more money.

If/when the day comes, I'd like to do mine out of aluminum. Yup $$$$$. But it should last for several vehicles with no maintenance. Steel decks tend to get real heavy, real fast ; particularity home built ones.

 

[tcartwri]

Flat decks / dumps arent cheap. They are hand fabbed. When you figure that a typical pickup bed is stamped out of sheet metal and then robot welded, something hand made out of structural stock and hand welded has to be more money.

They sell them by the pallet load at the local farm'n feed. Not that expensive.