One of the trucks we run at work is a 550 with dump box. Its a great truck, lots of power towing a big chipper. The box that got put on it is great lots of storage for rigging gear and saws etc. Only complaint is that is has been in the shop every couple of months getting engine work done, thankfully still under warranty though. Hope this helps??
truck for small tree business
- Thread starter Maui Palm & Tree Care
- Start date
Josh,
i scanned over this thread real fast, you are all over the place.
I don't stick with one make, just who i think is best in those years.
I've been ford for the past 11 years though.
you showed 2008 trucks, I'd stay away from any make of 2008 diesels, emmision standards took a big jump because of the government making them, and I think they all have some problems due to the crap they have on them.
then 2010 is even worse.
I hear of some 2010 ford diesel owners only getting 7 to 8 miles per gallon towing and hauling NOTHING!
Government is ruining our trucks!
They do stuff in the name of cleaner environment, but end up making it worse.
In fords, the old 7.3 liters are dependable, just no tire ripping exeration and the transmissions are a bit sloppy until you have them built with shift kit and better torque converter. Just replace cam position sensor now and then. price has come down a lot, like $27 now, and easy to change.
stay away from the 6.0 liter fords from 2003 to 2005. Some of the 2006's are great. The 2007 6.0 liter are great too, finally got the bugs worked out.
Cummins are dependable too, but recent emission standards have been too big of a jump and all makes are running like crap and costing a lot of money to keep running. small truck or big truck.
Oh, on truck size, NO WAY AN F150! For a small chip truck, f350 might be okay. Better get an f450 or f550. Not much price difference anyway, so go with f550.
good luck,
i scanned over this thread real fast, you are all over the place.
I don't stick with one make, just who i think is best in those years.
I've been ford for the past 11 years though.
you showed 2008 trucks, I'd stay away from any make of 2008 diesels, emmision standards took a big jump because of the government making them, and I think they all have some problems due to the crap they have on them.
then 2010 is even worse.
I hear of some 2010 ford diesel owners only getting 7 to 8 miles per gallon towing and hauling NOTHING!
Government is ruining our trucks!
They do stuff in the name of cleaner environment, but end up making it worse.
In fords, the old 7.3 liters are dependable, just no tire ripping exeration and the transmissions are a bit sloppy until you have them built with shift kit and better torque converter. Just replace cam position sensor now and then. price has come down a lot, like $27 now, and easy to change.
stay away from the 6.0 liter fords from 2003 to 2005. Some of the 2006's are great. The 2007 6.0 liter are great too, finally got the bugs worked out.
Cummins are dependable too, but recent emission standards have been too big of a jump and all makes are running like crap and costing a lot of money to keep running. small truck or big truck.
Oh, on truck size, NO WAY AN F150! For a small chip truck, f350 might be okay. Better get an f450 or f550. Not much price difference anyway, so go with f550.
good luck,
- Location
- Naperville, IL
frashdog
Branched out member
- Location
- Champlain valley, adirondack coast
First off I am a ford diesel enthusiast.
My pick is a 99-00 F-550 crew cab, manual trans,12'-16' wooden floor stake body dump (4x4 if you ever drive off pavement)... this will be my next truck.
F-450 is like a F-250 gonna wish you had the 550 or 350 for weight ratings.
I own an 01 F-350 4x4, reg cab, srw, diesel, auto trans, leveling kit w/35" nitto grapplers and 18" kmc addicts that draws the eyes. I tow a bandit 90 (4500lbs) or a 12K dump trailer right now. Often there is a 2k lbs ramrod mini-skid with a branchmanager hanging out in the bed. I have had a "nice looking" 4yard box built with load handler to chip into. The trans I have is made by BTS, last trans you ever buy; unlimited hp, miles and lifetime support. I have replaced 3 transmissions. Should have bought a BTS first time. Engine produces about 300+wrhp currently with tuner intake and exhaust as apposed to 190+ stock. I have run about 60k miles on veg oil, best diesel truck engine by design to run wvo out there.
this gen of 7.3l diesels are legions in numbers. That means parts are common and well priced if you shop around. Lots of after market performance out there.
the 03-07 6.0l gen is not as bad as some make it out to be. Problems are known and fix kits are available for about $1300 w/out labor to address the heads and egr issues. Because so many are all about the 7.3 and the 6.0 has a bad rap super deals are to be found. Tuner, intake and exhaust yer playing around 450rwhp.
the 08-10 6.4l twin turbos are awesome. Early release regen glitches got solved with tuning. Highest reliable hp gains for any diesel for least amount of coin. Intake, exhaust and tuner yer pushing 550rwhp, sorry cummins. Big boys are making 1,000hp
Yupper F-550 crew cab. I would say manual trans just cause how much time and money it takes to deal with auto problems. If you could find a truck with a trashed auto for a song buy a BTS and be done. Just saw F-550 crew cab landscaping dump on ebay needing a trans, at $5k no reserve going to go for less than $10K. I would say be suspect of mason dumps and trucks with plows, they tend to be used a bit harder. I'm dreaming about a 26' knuckle boom behind the cab(weigh 2klbs and cost $10k new) with a 12' flat bed/6'stake sides dump.
I do not know where your at but in NY I can tow up up to a 16k trailer with my 9990lb gvwr F-350 with out a cdl. A F-550 with a gvwr of 18k can only to a 8k trailer before cdl. A chipper in NY falls into the equipment category so there are no weight issues, although some troopers might not agree.
Engines for the 7.3's are everywhere for about $2k-$3k used, around $5k built. Regularly last to 300k miles. Of the 99-03 7.3's that were made, the best ones are the late 99 to 00 due to forged rods, supporting up to 450-500hp. 01-03 7.3ls had powdered metal rods pmr's known to shatter around 400+hp.
Want to learn more goto powerstrokenation.com
it's like the tree buzz for ford diesels
My pick is a 99-00 F-550 crew cab, manual trans,12'-16' wooden floor stake body dump (4x4 if you ever drive off pavement)... this will be my next truck.
F-450 is like a F-250 gonna wish you had the 550 or 350 for weight ratings.
I own an 01 F-350 4x4, reg cab, srw, diesel, auto trans, leveling kit w/35" nitto grapplers and 18" kmc addicts that draws the eyes. I tow a bandit 90 (4500lbs) or a 12K dump trailer right now. Often there is a 2k lbs ramrod mini-skid with a branchmanager hanging out in the bed. I have had a "nice looking" 4yard box built with load handler to chip into. The trans I have is made by BTS, last trans you ever buy; unlimited hp, miles and lifetime support. I have replaced 3 transmissions. Should have bought a BTS first time. Engine produces about 300+wrhp currently with tuner intake and exhaust as apposed to 190+ stock. I have run about 60k miles on veg oil, best diesel truck engine by design to run wvo out there.
this gen of 7.3l diesels are legions in numbers. That means parts are common and well priced if you shop around. Lots of after market performance out there.
the 03-07 6.0l gen is not as bad as some make it out to be. Problems are known and fix kits are available for about $1300 w/out labor to address the heads and egr issues. Because so many are all about the 7.3 and the 6.0 has a bad rap super deals are to be found. Tuner, intake and exhaust yer playing around 450rwhp.
the 08-10 6.4l twin turbos are awesome. Early release regen glitches got solved with tuning. Highest reliable hp gains for any diesel for least amount of coin. Intake, exhaust and tuner yer pushing 550rwhp, sorry cummins. Big boys are making 1,000hp
Yupper F-550 crew cab. I would say manual trans just cause how much time and money it takes to deal with auto problems. If you could find a truck with a trashed auto for a song buy a BTS and be done. Just saw F-550 crew cab landscaping dump on ebay needing a trans, at $5k no reserve going to go for less than $10K. I would say be suspect of mason dumps and trucks with plows, they tend to be used a bit harder. I'm dreaming about a 26' knuckle boom behind the cab(weigh 2klbs and cost $10k new) with a 12' flat bed/6'stake sides dump.
I do not know where your at but in NY I can tow up up to a 16k trailer with my 9990lb gvwr F-350 with out a cdl. A F-550 with a gvwr of 18k can only to a 8k trailer before cdl. A chipper in NY falls into the equipment category so there are no weight issues, although some troopers might not agree.
Engines for the 7.3's are everywhere for about $2k-$3k used, around $5k built. Regularly last to 300k miles. Of the 99-03 7.3's that were made, the best ones are the late 99 to 00 due to forged rods, supporting up to 450-500hp. 01-03 7.3ls had powdered metal rods pmr's known to shatter around 400+hp.
Want to learn more goto powerstrokenation.com
it's like the tree buzz for ford diesels
- Location
- Pukalani, Hawaii
[ QUOTE ]
This is what works for my three man crew and I wouldn't take anything else. It holds all the gear, not bad on fuel and size is just right.
[/ QUOTE ]
what is that, F-350?
and thanks frashdog, that was the best info i have gotten yet.
This is what works for my three man crew and I wouldn't take anything else. It holds all the gear, not bad on fuel and size is just right.
[/ QUOTE ]
what is that, F-350?
and thanks frashdog, that was the best info i have gotten yet.
- Location
- North Idaho
[ QUOTE ]
This is what works for my three man crew and I wouldn't take anything else. It holds all the gear, not bad on fuel and size is just right.
[/ QUOTE ]
We used to have a truck exactly like that (chip box and tool box anyway). It's a little small for removals. But the real problem was that it could be difficult to be discreet about takin' a leak in the back when it's half full of chips. That's a great size truck for a company just starting out.
This is what works for my three man crew and I wouldn't take anything else. It holds all the gear, not bad on fuel and size is just right.
[/ QUOTE ]
We used to have a truck exactly like that (chip box and tool box anyway). It's a little small for removals. But the real problem was that it could be difficult to be discreet about takin' a leak in the back when it's half full of chips. That's a great size truck for a company just starting out.
- Location
- Naperville, IL
It's a 450. As for removals I only chip smaller brush then I have a Duramax for hauling logs and a trailer.
Raven27
Participating member
- Location
- Pittsfield, Ma
Forgot you were in Hawaii, long way to ship a truck, although I just sold my chipper to A guy on here from Hawaii, shipped it out last Tuesday. But like I said Josh, check out Allmarks' truck.
- Location
- Pukalani, Hawaii
thanks brah. i appreciate all the input here guys thanks.
i think what im gonna do is try to find a dump bed F450-550 and add on removable walls so i can take them off when loading logs with our skid steer.
lets see some more pics of your small chip trucks
i think what im gonna do is try to find a dump bed F450-550 and add on removable walls so i can take them off when loading logs with our skid steer.
lets see some more pics of your small chip trucks
- Location
- Pukalani, Hawaii
yeah thats exactly what i wanna have!!!
we are a landscaping and tree service so i wanna be able to haul compost, soil and plants even small palms to the job site for the times we need it.
we are a landscaping and tree service so i wanna be able to haul compost, soil and plants even small palms to the job site for the times we need it.
Lumberjack
Branched out member
I'd get a 2005+ F550. The 05+ have a different front end that allows for seriously good turning. The F250-F550 all use the same engine, cab, and transmission, so if you're getting a dual rear wheel work truck, you might as well get as heavy duty as you can.
My currenty work truck is a 2006 F550 4wd auto with 6.5klb/13.6klb axle ratings. It turns almost as sharp as my Civic, way sharper than my 2000 F550. The most I've grossed thus far is 35klbs.
2000 F550:
2006 F550:
My currenty work truck is a 2006 F550 4wd auto with 6.5klb/13.6klb axle ratings. It turns almost as sharp as my Civic, way sharper than my 2000 F550. The most I've grossed thus far is 35klbs.
2000 F550:
2006 F550:
- Location
- Pukalani, Hawaii
anyone else got pics they wanna post?
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