Question about 5 yard dumptruck to tow my hoe with

[Anonymous Poster]

I am thinking about buying a 5 yard dump truck with equipment trailer to tow my fullsize 7 ton backhoe with.

I have seen a 1980 GMC 7000 with 454 engine, 5 speed tranny and a single rear axle for sale with 11 ton 3 axle equipment trailer (DOT has inspected everything and it runs/looks good)

First off is this a good year,make,model truck or will it break down all the time?

Being that it has a gas rather than diesel engine, will this truck have enough power to tow my backhoe?

Will I need a CDL license to drive this truck with a load of gravel or even empty while towing the backhoe?

What kind of insurance or permits are required to tow a backhoe with a 5 yd dump?

Any other advice/insight is appreciated /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Will_C]

1. That is a good truck. My father bought a Chevy C70 in 1979 and the truck lasted until my brother traded it 16 years later. It was used full time in their excavating business. I am not sure about the 454 engine. The commercial gas engines were either a 366 or a 427.
2. You will have enough power to do your trailering. You can expect to use your gearbox more than with a diesel, but my dad made his living for 30 years with that size truck.
3. Yes, you will need a CDL for anything to do with that truck. I suppose if you licensed it for 18,000 lbs., you could drive it with 3 tons or so, but why would you have a truck like that?
Of course, anything with your trailer would need a CDL.
4. Your license and insurance would be the normal requirements, but tags are not cheap for that size equipment.
Hope this helps,
Will

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I would prefer to have a diesel engine, but the 454 should get you around. I haven't run a commercial vehicle with a gas engine before, but I think your fuel economy and power would be pretty poor with the 454. Even though it's been checked by the DOT, I'd take a mechanic along with you to check out the rig before you commit to buying it. DOT only checks to see if the truck meets the minimum safety requirements. You will need a Class A CDL to pull your Backhoe with this unit. It's no big deal, you can get a study guide from the DOL, then you just take a written/computerized test, and then a driving test. You can get the minimum insurance requirements and tonnage rates from Wa DOT. When you do buy a dump keep her washed up and looking good, it may help when you get pulled onto the jump scales by the WADOT! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Taylortractornut]

You could get the doors off a lighter model and DOwnsize its rating. I m not saying do this but theres a pile of doors behind my shop that are from this reason. Is the rearend a single or 2 spd. I haul my hoe with a 76 F600 Ford and my older brothers 455 Ford hoe. Its only got a 361 Industrial and does a good Sixty miles an hour loaded or empty. I also have a farm tag to that helps alot with tags and insurane and the DOT leave me alone. Chevy Ford and International are pretty good trucks in that range. Theres a fella here that sells trucks bought a fleet of Kentucky highway dept. trucks and has some good deals on them.