Isuzu NRR Chip Truck

cedar

cedar

I am looking to purchase a new chip truck and am thinking of going with an Isuzu NRR. I've seen a few posts on cabovers but none on this model truck. Anyone have experience with the NRR. Also, any recommendations for a manufacturer of chip bodies for a cabover? Thanks
 
We love ours! Have had it since last spring, no major issues. It's a 2013 with an Aisin transmission. I did read that changing the fuel filter often is good practice, we do it every oil change. Love the turning radius and decent fuel consumption, but it is a rough ride on bumpy roads.
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On flat land there is no issue at all. If we are real loaded, let's say the setup in the photo with a load of chips, then the truck will slow down goind up bigger hills, but nothing crazy. What are you planning on pulling?
 
I had a 2004 nqr for about a year...it wasn't cutting it. I loved the turning radius, but I hated the ride and no power. Bought it used...and by end of the year I needed a new transmission, it would over heat a lot for me.
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The npr, nqr, and nrr all have the same engine and transmission...least from what I seen. So yes you can haul more weight, but no extra power to do so.

I switched to a international 4300, and don't regret it at all.
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__________________________
Associate degree in forestry from PSU Mont Alto
"Kiss My Axe"
Certified Arborist
Owner/operator of Climb High Tree Service established in 2002
www.climbhightree.com
https://m.facebook.com/ClimbHighTreeService
https://www.youtube.com/user/climbhightree
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I am looking into buying an NRR with a hooklift. If it all works out, I will start with a 12 foot dump body and then add a chip box later next year. It will have a tow hitch so can pull a dump trailer or chipper.
 
cedar said:
I am looking into buying an NRR with a hooklift. If it all works out, I will start with a 12 foot dump body and then add a chip box later next year. It will have a tow hitch so can pull a dump trailer or chipper.
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There too light weight for tree work. look for something more heavy duty. You will regret buying it.
 
Royce, you may be right. But I've done pretty well with smaller trucks like an F550 and the NRR seems comparable.
 
On a quick look, most f550 have a hp of around 300. The nrr is only 215hp.

I had a 7.3l f550 before my nqr...for many years. It hand down had more power and torque then the Isuzu.

Your talking a v8 (f550) vs a v4 (nrr)

cedar said:
Royce, you may be right. But I've done pretty well with smaller trucks like an F550 and the NRR seems comparable.
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__________________________
Associate degree in forestry from PSU Mont Alto
"Kiss My Axe"
Certified Arborist
Owner/operator of Climb High Tree Service established in 2002
www.climbhightree.com
https://m.facebook.com/ClimbHighTreeService
https://www.youtube.com/user/climbhightree
https://www.youtube.com/user/2treekiller2
 
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cedar said:
I am looking to purchase a new chip truck and am thinking of going with an Isuzu NRR. I've seen a few posts on cabovers but none on this model truck. Anyone have experience with the NRR. Also, any recommendations for a manufacturer of chip bodies for a cabover? Thanks
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Not sure where your out of .. Godwin out of N.c. makes a 14 foot landscape dump high sides like 48inch maybe. I put a custom aluminum top on that for my nqr. Love it. Don't know if a chip body would be less expensive ,just figured I'd throw that idea out there.
 
I think it really depends on your area as to how you go about your business . we have multiple smaller rigs and trailers it works for us ..don't go far to dump .. Low mph roads most the time. Jobs right around the corner so not much travel time most the time. Everywhere different obviously. I don't deal with hills so my 0 to 60 mph ...never.. rig Isuzu is awesome for flipping a bitch down the tight coldy sack when I'm working for the millionaires on they're private drive.
 
heavyr said:
I am looking into buying an NRR with a hooklift. If it all works out, I will start with a 12 foot dump body and then add a chip box later next year. It will have a tow hitch so can pull a dump trailer or chipper.
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Sounds heavy. Our dump body is all aluminium, fairly light. We have an older 550 with 7.3 and a manual tranny. Id put the NRR up against it any day, but we dont haul real heavy on a regular basis. Mostly a 90 xp with a load of chips. But as I said, the Isuzu pulls the trailer with tracked lift and mini plus a load of chips no problemo.
 
matdand said:
Sounds heavy. Our dump body is all aluminium, fairly light. We have an older 550 with 7.3 and a manual tranny. Id put the NRR up against it any day, but we dont haul real heavy on a regular basis. Mostly a 90 xp with a load of chips. But as I said, the Isuzu pulls the trailer with tracked lift and mini plus a load of chips no problemo.
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Do you have the standard 4HK1-TCN engine in yours? Or something bigger?

My nqr had pep, but not power and torque. When I switched from the 550 yo the nqr, there where certain hills in my area I avoided...and backing the truck and chipper up hilly driveways became a issue

__________________________
Associate degree in forestry from PSU Mont Alto
"Kiss My Axe"
Certified Arborist
Owner/operator of Climb High Tree Service established in 2002
www.climbhightree.com
https://m.facebook.com/ClimbHighTreeService
https://www.youtube.com/user/climbhightree
https://www.youtube.com/user/2treekiller2
 
5.2 turbo diesel , 4 cylinder, not sure of the exact model. Keep in mind, our ford is a 2000 with 350k and the Isuzu is a 2013 with 35k.
 
It wont compete with the bigger badass trucks, that's for sure. But for us here,it's pretty much thw biggest truck you can get without a CDL, something none of my six employees are close to having. It was a no brainer for me, and we love it for what it does !
 
I'm on my second Isuzu (2007 NRR with switch-n-go body) and am a big fan of Isuzus. They fit the work I do, but aren't the right choice for everyone. If you want to tug around a 8-10k lb chipper going highway speeds over large hills than this isn't the truck for you. If you do a lot of work in tight urban areas, do mostly city driving, and want a super reliable compact, hard working truck then they fit the bill.

Personally, I don't think a 5.2l 215hp diesel engine is small. Keep in mind, the cummins 5.9 was put into buses and class 6&7 trucks for a long time. Early 7.3l fords made only 210 hp and the same torque as the Isuzu. The transmission used (Aisin A465) is identical to the one used by Dodge in their commercial trucks (Aisin AS68RC), which is bolted to a 6.7 l cummins. I think too often people see a cab over and think it can't be a heavy duty truck. Mine has plenty of power and the same suspension and frame as a Ford 550 or Dodge 5500. If I wanted more truck I would step up to a class 6 truck--not a different class 5.

The switch-n-go system could be a good option for you. It will cost and weigh less than a hook lift. Some days I wish I had the truck built with an aluminum chip box; some days I love the versatility of the switch-n-go; not a day goes by that I wish I had a conventional steel arborist body (i.e. Arbortech, Southco). If you're going to be filling it with wood on a daily basis you might want to step up to a heavier truck. With really big loads (like the first picture below) I have to put a chunk of wood under the rear bumper to keep the front wheels on the ground.

Photo Dec 11, 9 20 25 AM.webp Photo Jan 22, 10 13 35 AM.webp Photo Jan 16, 12 44 22 PM.webp
 
Evan_WI said:
I'm on my second Isuzu (2007 NRR with switch-n-go body) and am a big fan of Isuzus. They fit the work I do, but aren't the right choice for everyone. If you want to tug around a 8-10k lb chipper going highway speeds over large hills than this isn't the truck for you. If you do a lot of work in tight urban areas, do mostly city driving, and want a super reliable compact, hard working truck then they fit the bill.

Personally, I don't think a 5.2l 215hp diesel engine is small. Keep in mind, the cummins 5.9 was put into buses and class 6&7 trucks for a long time. Early 7.3l fords made only 210 hp and the same torque as the Isuzu. The transmission used (Aisin A465) is identical to the one used by Dodge in their commercial trucks (Aisin AS68RC), which is bolted to a 6.7 l cummins. I think too often people see a cab over and think it can't be a heavy duty truck. Mine has plenty of power and the same suspension and frame as a Ford 550 or Dodge 5500. If I wanted more truck I would step up to a class 6 truck--not a different class 5.

The switch-n-go system could be a good option for you. It will cost and weigh less than a hook lift. Some days I wish I had the truck built with an aluminum chip box; some days I love the versatility of the switch-n-go; not a day goes by that I wish I had a conventional steel arborist body (i.e. Arbortech, Southco). If you're going to be filling it with wood on a daily basis you might want to step up to a heavier truck. With really big loads (like the first picture below) I have to put a chunk of wood under the rear bumper to keep the front wheels on the ground.

View attachment 35095 View attachment 35096 View attachment 35097
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Great post. My opinion on the cab-over truck is just that, is it right for you? When I worked in Boston we had a cab-over that was a spray rig. I wished that we had all chip trucks that were cab-over back then. They are excellent for getting into tight driveway and working on tight streets with a lot of parked cars.
I was talking with another Buzz member here who has run his company for many years. He is very successful. He brought up a very good point. It's import to buy the right piece of equipment ONCE. When you buy they right piece of equipment you can get 10 maybe 15 years out of it with out having to keep up-grading a long the way. Just this year I have purchased two pieces of equipment because I convinced myself that they would work for our business, only to realize that I was wrong. I then had to sell them...at a loss... and then buy what we really needed, and what should have been bought in the first place.
You could buy a traditional truck only to find out that it will not work, or the other way around...buy the cab-over to find that it will not work for you. You must figure out what will work best for you in your market, and what will work for a number of years after the purchase.
I am fan of the FG's. They seam to be real beefy, have a fair amount of power and can take a beating. JMO
 
Evan, thanks for posting the pictures of your truck. What is the empty weight of your truck with the switch-n-go and chipper body. I think a higher GVW cabover with a 6-cylinder diesel would work better with the hills and steep driveways in my area. But Isuzu, Fuso, and Hino no longer make a class 6 cabover truck. And it looks like the Nissan UD is no longer available.
 
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