Why not more cab chassis?

[GreatWhitehunter]

In my situation I'd be trading in my current 1 ton for a new cab chassis and adding the bed myself. I for sure would add sides via stake pockets. A gooseneck would absolutely be on the list as it just makes sense to add before throwing the bed on. My reason for posing this question was more from a versatility stand point. It seems most of you guys here use your trucks the same way that I do. So it stands to reason there would be more cab chassis around the forum.

Matt

 

[Rustyiron]

….. and it totally impossible to reach in from the side of today's pick up bed's. A friend just got a new truck, pulled the bed and got an aluminum with stake pockets & g/n hitch. Very versatile and a simple 2x8 side board is all you need. His bed does lack stake pockets on the back side, not that you'd need a back board all the time, but if you had a load of pumpkins…….:laughing:

 

[QRTRHRS]

The insurance issue can go either way in my experiance. When I was operating a horse boarding operation, I had farm insurance through Farm Family out of Albany, NY. Full coverage on my dually was 275. I would have to dig up papers to see if that was six months or a year. On the other hand, my wife's Explorer had to go through a standard policy with a regular carrier. Farm Family also covered my trailers.

Here in KY, I have insurance through Farm Bureau. When I still had my 3500 dually, they covered it as well as my wife's car. My E-450 box truck has to be on a seperate commercial policy though it is pretty reasonable again through Farm Bureau.

 

[dieselcrawler]

My dually is a cab n chassis truck... bought with no bed as I had 2 beds for it already, both of which have been on it at one point or another. Had a flatbed for a few years, and utility box bed for the past few years. Both have their advantage, missed the storage space with only the flat bed.

 

[Mikeeemo]

We replaced a dually bed on an F350 with a CM truck bed. I wish I had gotten one long before. Much easier to access the bed.
We do not have special rules requiring commercial insurance.

 

[ShowroomShine]

If your talking 3/4 - 1 ton srw, I'd suggest just getting the factory bed and save or sell it. My experience has been the dealer credit for bed delete is squat. (price out just a replacement tailgate). Now if you order a c/c, you should be able to get a 60" c/a (cab to axle) and have a 9' bed. Pickups are 56" c/a. Just a little info. for your decision making.

Spoken like a guy who has owned a bunch or has sold beds. I was a Knapheide rep for years, its hard keeping up with all the numbers.

And yes, just buy a DRW factory truck and sell the bed. You'll end up with a nicer truck with the maximum power from the engine (some of the cab/chassis trucks come with engines that have less power than the normal trucks). A good Knapheide bed installed is less than $10K.

 

[jenkinsph]

I have had a multitude of cab and chassis trucks over the years and find them much easier to work out of than a pickup. At 5'7" I am short enough that the new pickup are irritating to reach into.

Here are some pictures of the last three C/C trucks I have built up. I have had the Knapheide and Koenig service bodies and while well made they are extremely limited in design, no thinking outside the box. I built the tan truck in the fall of 1998 for the F550 4x4 and it is working today and still getting compliments. The two red trucks are newer with less time and money in these builds but have worked out well too. All three trucks are 84" cab to axle 4x4 diesel with automatics.

Next year I will build a new "ranch truck" body for the red 550 tailored to my tractor work needs. I will refurbish the existing tool bed at that time. My new ranch body and the older tool bed will be set up where I can swap out the beds. Using jacks with sockets built into the frames means I can swap out the beds quickly and have two different set ups using one truck. Consider the savings in truck expenses with this possibility. This will have quick mountings to secure the beds in place and should allow changing beds in 10 minutes or less. I have spent more time than that cross loading tools for a days work.

 

[Piston]

I think instead of trading your 1 ton in, you should sell it to me instead. I remember when I saw your truck I thought it was a REALLY nice looking truck.
Just the family vehicle I could use

 

[gsganzer]

I've been looking at new trucks and have also considered a CC with an aftermarket body. The main issue I have with the new pickups is the height of the beds and the bed side top rails. Truck beds are getting ridiculously high in height. It's especially an issue if you have a gooseneck horse trailer. Starting to seem like a flatbed is the only way to go if you have a gooseneck.

 

[jenkinsph]

I've been looking at new trucks and have also considered a CC with an aftermarket body. The main issue I have with the new pickups is the height of the beds and the bed side top rails. Truck beds are getting ridiculously high in height. It's especially an issue if you have a gooseneck horse trailer. Starting to seem like a flatbed is the only way to go if you have a gooseneck.

Big difference in reaching across the bed of an old Jeep Comanche pick up and a modern day pick up. I too find this very irritating. The new trucks sit higher off the ground (about a foot) and have more travel for the suspension. This enables a smoother ride than the older trucks. I can only suspect that raising the height is also an attempt to make them feel bigger.