Gas verses Diesel

Freightliner FL60 has been a good find for me, under CDL but has a 3126 Caterpillar motor, strong and handles the weight really well. Bought this one used for $16K 120k miles 2000 model, using it to pull stump grinder and dingo and haul wood- dump bed-- a little cold blooded in winter but these will be our new chip trucks in the future. On medium and heavy duty diesels I try to buy pre 2007... that is the year the emission controls went into effect everything built after that is problematic. or you could do a Mercedes Benz Sprinter Cab and chasis- $38k new with a 100,000 mile warranty financed at 2.8 %, they are almost giving these away- $771 per month--our spray guy produces $800 to $1000/day with it-no brainer, has towing capacity too. Buy gas or smaller diesel and use it a while and trade up. We sold 2 1992 Dodge 350 diesels for 5 and $6K to pay these new trucks down.
 

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ROYCE said:
I am not against a CDL, I have one. I have a real hard time getting employees that have one
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X2! If anybody knows someplace in the country where you can find reliable employees with a CDL, let me know - I'll drive out there and convince a few of them to move back here.
 
Couldn't agree more on the CDL issue........although I had 2 guys drop out of the sky and come here to work that had Certified arborist and CDL combos, one was here for a minute (6 weeks ) and the other is still here. It is amazing because i offer a $2/hour raise if they get it....I pay for all of it....I hand them the study guide and say " here is your $4000 raise....what?....yeah, you work 2000 hours per year $2 X 2000 is $4000 ( according to the perochial school system) and they still drag their feet. Honestly, one day, after years of employee driven frustration, I shook my fist at the big man upstairs and said " from now on everyone who works here will have a valid drivers license and be sober and semi-interested in CARING for trees..got it?" He hasn't let me down since then.
 
treevet said:
Royce,,,I am not clear on why when I know you have a Dingo you need that trailer with the loader? Seems to me if you had a nice 14' dump trailer you'd direct load onto it with the Dingo and you save time and also get the advantage of being to dump the load and wave bye bye when you'd be picking and placing with your loader/trailer.
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Because it was a good deal. I also wanted the option of sending this to the job and not the dingo. I am planning on running two crews next year to keep up with the work load. I also was thinking that this might come in handy should we have a atom roll through and trees are fallen all over the place. I will admit it was an impulse buy. It was a good deal, we had a killer month and I went and bought it. Once I find a rig to tow it, I think it will be great for my company.
Also, my dad is retired and I was thinking it would give him something to do. We could do the first job and stack the logs in a pile and he could come and grab them while we are at the second job with the dingo.
We will see how it works out.
 
Yup, not so sure the log loader is going to work for me. I loaded it today and I could't pull it with any of my trucks. I even tried a f350 and it was just too heavy. Too many hills around here. One really big hill too. Anyone want to buy this log trailer off me? I would also trade for a good newer chip truck, I wold even throw some cash in:envidioso:envidioso;)
 
ROYCE said:
Yup, not so sure the log loader is going to work for me. I loaded it today and I could't pull it with any of my trucks. I even tried a f350 and it was just too heavy. Too many hills around here. One really big hill too. Anyone want to buy this log trailer off me? I would also trade for a good newer chip truck, I wold even throw some cash in:envidioso:envidioso;)
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Well that sucks.
 
Yeah, I was really looking forward to making this thing work out. I just can't see buying a huge truck to haul it. If I am going to do that I mine as well just buy a log truck.
 
NO, just loaded it with logs and tried to pull it home. It was just too slow on the hills. Like 15-20 mph on the hills. The trailer wasn't even fully loaded. It was loaded with large sugar maple, but still.
 
22,ooo. I would be willing to drive it half way if someone was a reasonable distance. I accept credit cards:)
 
sorry to hear bout the trailer, i didn't think it was going to work but was cheering. storms all you need is a 1590 big chip truck n log truck to follow.

x2 on the freight liners. I've been looking for a fl80 to possible put a hook lift on it. 3126 are reliable motors but too low on hp, chip n flash computers n you'll get another 80 hp
 
RIVIEZZO TREE EXPERTS said:
sorry to hear bout the trailer, i didn't think it was going to work but was cheering. storms all you need is a 1590 big chip truck n log truck to follow.

x2 on the freight liners. I've been looking for a fl80 to possible put a hook lift on it. 3126 are reliable motors but too low on hp, chip n flash computers n you'll get another 80 hp
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Hrmmmm. Tell me more about these so called "chip n flash computers"...
 
you can get a simple programmer for the truck and get some hp there, if you want to get more then exhaust intake and get a bigger set of injectors problem is if you do any thing more then just the programmer then you compromise reliability. to me not worth it cuz the down time is worth more then an extra 45 mins a day of slower travel times.

royce what about finding a used tandem chassis and mounting the bed and loader onto it, cheap log truck?
 
And Royce what year F350 did you try pulling your trailer with? The newer ones will have a lot more power than the ol 7.3 powerstrokes have. In my opionion a good diesel dually pickup with airbags will handle your trailer fine. Anything that will double as a chip truck for you will put you into cdl territory. You should probably just talk your old man into getting his cdl and all your problems will be solved.
 
Well I tried to pull the trailer with a GMC 3500 6.0 gas. It was not having it. My dads truck is a newer f 250 with a 6.0 and it pulled it with no problem, just was a little squatted down.
I am looking into a newer chip truck like a 4500. I have my eyes on a 04 4500 with 30,000 miles with a Duramak Diesel. I would think that wouldn't have a problem pulling it. But I am also leaning towards a dump trailer as well.
All I know is I am just so busy right now. I came home today to find that I just got three more big jobs. I need to get this equipment thing figured out so I can get back to slamming out work.
 
you will be very happy if you get the 4500, change the fuel filter set up to a nictane style (smaller micron) and add a leaf in front and rear. if its 4x4 that will be a beast. sell the trailer get a dump trailer and use rest of money towards truck
 
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