Rollback/Dovetail?

[rvaitor]

Greetings,

I am looking at some trucks and not sure what size and what I need to be looking at. These are mid-80s GMC 7000s with either rollback or dovetail beds. 8.2L Detroit diesel engines.

Mileage seems moderate. Not sure what they were used for most likely to haul light dozer or equipment.

I need to be able to haul tractor weighing roughly 8000lbs.

Thanks

 

[krickard]

If these are the type you see now towing cars and what ever off the highways,Looks like a good idea don't know the load capacity but we hire a roll back truck to load large feed tanks, milktanks, farm equipment and the concept is good, back into position attach winch cable and drag onto the bed of truck pull bed onto truck and be gone.and truck can maintain highway traffic speed.of course still have to use chains or web bands to keep it from falling off.
To unload the same thing back into area wanted to unload pull load off at ground level less chance to damage things.
These trucks at a Auction or dealier sale?
se'ya ken

 

[rvaitor]

I've done a little more research and it appears these have a 24K GVW so should be able to handle the tractor. The rollback seems to be more useable with the moveable bed. The dovetale would be fine for moving stuff as well. Detroit diesel engine is okay - I think.

It's a public sale coming up in about a week.

 

[krickard]

went through Nashville July 5th to get a load of cattle in Penn. State are they ever going to finish the bebuilding of the I-40 interstate there?Almost a moving parking lot.
The roll back still looks like the best for adverage person to use, and wouldn't have to worry of the trailer length causing problems. se'ya k

 

[rvaitor]

It's finished - for now - on the west side. It'll be nice once they finish from Downtown to the airport - I think they're getting close - maybe before the end of the year.

The rollback seems to have much more interest than the dovetail -- maybe 40% higher price.

 

[tlbuser]

My want to check on the little things like road taxes and insurance before you totally commit yourself to this plan.

 

[krickard]

Here in Arkansas the taxes on a 20 year old vehicle are nothing compared to a new,Insurance about the same and added expense of trailer, add the tires cost,and if going to be used mostly off interstate the shortness of vehicle the roll back would seem better, I have used both.
Agree though to think the cost both ways and check with several users first.
se'ya ken

 

[tlbuser]

Agreed that a rollback would be a much better option than trailering. No doubt. My thinking was mostly along the lines of insurance. Last large truck I had, International 4700 w/ 21' rollback unit, insurance was just over $5,000.00 per year. Sometimes you don't realize these things until after the fact.

 

[Highbeam]

An 8000 lb tracor is going to be pretty tall. The bed of those rollbacks sits at least 4 feet high (guess?) so if you have a cab or a fixed ROPS I would be sure not to get into an overheight condition.

My shipping container was delivered on a rollback. Very nice. The incline of the rollback was not too steep and you could use the whole bed for transit storage. The beavertail setups like they use for a single dozer would be cheaper and less prone to break but the usable length of the storage area is reduced since you can't (?) utilize the ramped area for storage. The dozers on those rigs seem jambed up against the cab of the truck with barely enough room to fit.

If your tractor can negotiate the steep beavertail and then fit on the falt area. I think taht would work. Detroit diesels are a fine engine in general, it's not a cummins but they were used for a long time because they worked.

 

[em14]

tlbuser,
Were you operating as tow truck or as a farm/business truck?
Leo

 

[rvaitor]

Not sure what the difference between Dovetail and beavertail. These trucks look to be either to me.

I'm attaching a picture. They seem to be short wheelbase. Haven't checked on insurance $5K or even $2K kills the deal - just better to hire the hauling job off to someone else.

Thanks again.

 

[Highbeam]

I was using dove/beaver tail interchangably. Hope that's OK.

I've seen the regular long framed, non-sleeper, semi tractors modified with a steeper dovetail setup than that used for dozer transport. Lots of those available after a long life OTR.

 

[tlbuser]

hauling equipment and our jobsite trailer which holds just about everything we would need (except earth moving equipment) picks, shovels, generators, lights, pumps, etc. Another dumba__ thing I did was use the truck to haul a car for a friend. Got stopped for a roadside inspection and couldn't prove the car was mine. Got cited for motor carrier violation, the ticket was something like $250.00. The extra sticker (MCC, I think) for that is like $300.00, so for $50.00 more I could have been legal. My fault, I should have checked or known better, nothings free or easy.

 

[tlbuser]

If my negativity doesn't hold you back, opt for a rollback unit. More maintenance, but oh so more versatile. You can haul restoration projects, lumber, logs, building material, etc. and just "dump it off".

 

[em14]

tlbuser
I guess I could understand the liability if you were hauling others as in operating a tow service, but, hauling your own equipment – no! That’s just too high. Does your company hit you that hard for equipment trailers?
Leo

 

[LBrown59]

Do you have a CDL license .
Better check and see if a CDL is required.

 

[LBrown59]

If you're taking the truck route you definitely want a roll back and not a Dovetail/Beavertail.

The ideal set up would be a truck with a bed that rolls back like a roll back and dumps like a dump truck.

 

[JerryG]

Those trucks look like they might have been foresty dept. fireplow trucks.

 

[pekabu]

A rollback is much more versatile, but a ramp truck would be more simple and cheaper (my guess).

Also, maybe a not for hire tag on the truck would have helped? Maybe not, I often wondered why I have seen trucks labeled like that.

 

[rvaitor]

Yes, they are forest service trucks - used to haul track equipment. Somehwhat reasonable miles, Diesel, short wheelbase /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif, one either had inop powersteering or none, no air

The rollback they said the bed alone was worth 7-10K. That has me thinking the beavertail will take care of what I need. We'll see where they end up. There was a fellow there that had bought a couple already and he was trashing the beds and setting them up as chicken coupe crap haulers.

Still looking like I may just hire someone to move my tractor(if I ever get one).

This thread has some excellent info - thanks.