Wood Hauler

[nate379]

Thinking of picking this up, what do you all think?

(broken link removed to http://anchorage.craigslist.org/cto/3657228644.html)

I don't have a use for the plow, but the tool bin behind the cab would work great for storage of gas, oils, chainsaws, PPE, etc.

I haven't heard back from the guy but I'm trying to find out how big the box is exactly. Need something that will hold 2-3 cords at a time.

 

[Jags]

Not sure of all your uses, but be aware - that 454 is gonna be mighty thirsty. Like 7-8 mpg thirsty.

Edit: how could you NOT have a use for the plow - ya live in Alaska fer cripes sake.

 

[nate379]

The two driveways I do don't have a place to push snow. Have a 48" snowblower on a tractor that works well.

Use is for hauling wood to customers. Right now I'm using an 18ft 12k trailer. Works fine but it's a PITA to unload by hand. Would save me time (and my back) to just be able to dump.
I looked into dumping trailers but something heavy duty enough to haul a couple cords is going to run me 7-8000

 

[Jags]

I agree that having a dump bed would be as slick as snot on a door knob. The truck looks clean and is low mileage. The price doesn't seem out of line at first blush.

 

[MasterMech]

Not sure of all your uses, but be aware - that 454 is gonna be mighty thirsty. Like 7-8 mpg thirsty.​

Yeah, that sounds about right.

1990 should mean it's a Gen V motor too. The Mark IV's ('89 on back to the 60's) were good but the Gen V's solved the cooling issues and went to priority main oiling. They leak a lot less oil too.

If the trans is a 3 spd without OD, then that's probably the toughest automatic put into a truck of that era. (TH400)

 

[nate379]

4L80

Guy said the box is about 6.5x8.5 ft.... roughly same size as a regular truck box. Probably could fit 2 cords with taller sideboards. Dunno how well it would haul it though, that'd be around 10,000lbs. Said most he had in it was 6000lbs and he made it sound like it didn't like that too much.

One of my friends has a similar truck (not dumping though) and he said it gets around 10-11mpg. Granted that isn't loaded down with 5 tons of wood though.

 

[MasterMech]

4L80 ain't a bad unit either. As tough as they come with OD unless it says Allison on the pan....

Need something that will hold 2-3 cords at a time.​

Unless the wood is dry or exceptionally lightweight, that's going to be a big dump trailer or a medium duty dump truck.

I don't know of any 1 ton dualie pickups that are rated for or even will "like" 5 tons on the back. Max GVWR for the dualie IIRC is somewhere between 11 and 12K lbs. Figure the truck is well over 6K so that leaves you 6K for payload, max. You could however, tow that 10K and then some with that truck.

Cord weight calculator, interesting - http://www.csgnetwork.com/logweight.html

 

[nate379]

Not sure the GVWR on that Chev but the 3500 Ram I had was 14,400lbs. The guy said the truck is about 8000lbs empty.

Right now I tow my car trailer with my 2500 Ram and it does fine. I haven't weighed it, but a good rule if thumb is about 5000 lbs a cord.

I did haul a load of 3 cords with a Chev C60 and it handled fine. Was slow going though, couple hills I was on the low side 0f 2 gear doing 25mph!

 

[lukem]

When I was landscaping, we had a late 80's F350 dumper...it had the naturally aspirated 7.3 and 5 speed manual. It wasn't much for power, but handled OK with a full load of wet mulch. If you tried a full load of gravel it would sway like crazy and make for a downright scary ride home. I think a full load of wood would fall somewhere in the middle. Could be just fine...could be white knuckle...when hauling a couple cord of wood.

 

[Pallet Pete]

We had a 1989 version of that when I worked at the township hall and we filled it about 4ft high with 6 ft long logs soaking wet it didn't do bad at all. In fact it handled better with weight empty and your teeth would fall out and bounce around the cab. It really rode like a brick. It got replaced in 2001 finally and the township clerks husband bought it he still uses the old girl to plow with. They are well made trucks.

Pete

 

[MasterMech]

Not sure the GVWR on that Chev but the 3500 Ram I had was 14,400lbs. The guy said the truck is about 8000lbs empty. Right now I tow my car trailer with my 2500 Ram and it does fine. I haven't weighed it, but a good rule if thumb is about 5000 lbs a cord.

The point was that there isn't a 1-ton dualie built that is/was rated for 10K of payload (2 cord). Towing capacity is a very different story. 3 cord @ 5K lbs a cord is a sure bet for most 1 ton duals. So are you looking or a truck to tow that 2-3 cord (which your Ram 2500 is easily capable of 2 cord+) or are you looking to haul it all on the truck?

FWIW: My '89 C3500 with single rear wheels has a 3700LB payload capacity (give or take). I highly doubt having duals would nearly triple that. Rear GAWR on my truck is 6K.

 

[loadstarken]

Would you ever consider getting a (broken link removed to http://anchorage.craigslist.org/for/3664252372.html)?
If not off of craigslist you can get one or a 5 ton from the govliquidation site.

 

[nate379]

Hual it on the truck. Pull into customers yard, dump, and on to next one.

The point was that there isn't a 1-ton dualie built that is/was rated for 10K of payload (2 cord). Towing capacity is a very different story. 3 cord @ 5K lbs a cord is a sure bet for most 1 ton duals. So are you looking or a truck to tow that 2-3 cord (which your Ram 2500 is easily capable of 2 cord+) or are you looking to haul it all on the truck?

FWIW: My '89 C3500 with single rear wheels has a 3700LB payload capacity (give or take). I highly doubt having duals would nearly triple that. Rear GAWR on my truck is 6K.

Not buying an M35. Loud, slow and big... pretty much all the things I DON'T want!

 

[nate379]

Well I can't edit but I want to also say "rated" and what it really can do are usually far apart. My 2500 is only rated to 8800 lbs. The truck is ~7300 empty. I haul a 275 gal diesel tank in the bed (~2400lbs) and it if sags 2" I'd be surprised.

 

[loadstarken]

Not buying an M35. Loud, slow and big... pretty much all the things I DON'T want!

Yeah i'll give you that!
I have been toying with the idea of getting one to use for going back and forth over the mountains with free loads of applewood. If I was to sell the wood it would take a 3-4 trips to pay the truck off. Buy you're right.........loud, slow and big!

 

[MasterMech]

Not buying an M35. Loud, slow and big... pretty much all the things I DON'T want!

I hear that, but if you're serious about hauling 2 cord+ on the truck, then you need more than a 1 ton has to offer.

 

[nate379]

A pickup dumper is nice cause it's not 4-5ft off the ground to the bed. 14 bolt can handle 10,000lbs... will the frame, springs, brakes, etc... dunno. One thing to haul a big load a few miles at 20mph, but I'm hauling 50-500 miles and would like to do the speed limit!

This is what I really would want but I don't have $30k to dump into it just yet...

(broken link removed to http://anchorage.craigslist.org/cto/3666735086.html)

We have 2 at work that aren't dump beds and they work pretty well. The bed height is stupid tall though, a 2wd version


There is this one but it's pretty rough:
(broken link removed to http://anchorage.craigslist.org/cto/3675202979.html)

Has a big block and 5 speed.

 

[MasterMech]

This is what I really would want but I don't have $30k to dump into it just yet...

(broken link removed to http://anchorage.craigslist.org/cto/3666735086.html)

We have 2 at work that aren't dump beds and they work pretty well.


There is this one but it's pretty rough:
(broken link removed to http://anchorage.craigslist.org/cto/3675202979.html)

Has a big block and 5 speed.

Now yer talkin'. Really like that International (4x4! ) but pricey as you pointed out. The GMC is hard to gauge from photos. Big block and the 5 speed are a good start but there's more than a couple hours there to make it presentable again for sure.

EDIT: Just noticed the air brakes on the International. Do you have a CDL to drive something like that?

 

[nate379]

Air brakes would turn it into commercial. Doesn't bother me as far as driving, I'd just have to do the driving test for a class B. Already have my permit (did all the written tests). Been driving stuff like that and tractor trailers for 10+ years, don't need a CDL with the military.

It does get $$ to keep it on the road. Registration is around $300 a year. I am trying to find out if putting farm tags would help. I cut my wood on a friends horse farm and I talked to him about letting him use the truck if needed if I could put it under his farm.

Now yer talkin'. Really like that International (4x4! ) but pricey as you pointed out. The GMC is hard to gauge from photos. Big block and the 5 speed are a good start but there's more than a couple hours there to make it presentable again for sure.

EDIT: Just noticed the air brakes on the International. Do you have a CDL to drive something like that?

I'm not sure on the GMC if it's a 366 or 427, the guy just told me it was a big block. I know many of them had a 2 speed rear, dunno if this one does. I might go look at it and see if it's worth putting some $$ into it.

 

[jeff_t]

That GMC is kinda loud and slow. We had one fire truck on a similar chassis. It was probably overloaded with the body, pump, and 1000 gallons of water, but it was miserable to drive. The 427 was really slow, and it topped out at 55. I'm not sure of the rear end ratio, but it was a single speed, with a five speed trans, and that motor was screaming. Again, I'm not sure of the weight, but I wouldn't have wanted any taller gearing. Two speed rear would have made a huge difference in that truck.

 

[nate379]

I've run an older version of that truck and that one is pretty slow. Can touch 55mph but the engine is at around 4000rpm! Only has a 350 with 2 barrel carb and 4 speed.

I tried using it to haul 5 cords (3 in the truck, 2 in the trailer) and it pretty much wouldn't do it. ANY slight grade and I was down in 2nd gear and that's all it could do.

 

[salecker]

Hi Nate
If you can,spend the extra for a diesel in the 5 ton.
I saw an International up your way with a firewood box that seemed resonable.
If i see it again i'll let you know.
Thomas

 

[nate379]

Thinking about this now...

 

[Jack Straw]

You may want to check the price on insurance, here in NY a dump truck can be expensive.

 

[fabsroman]

You may want to check the price on insurance, here in NY a dump truck can be expensive.

Yeah, but he is in Alaska. They probably don't even have compulsory insurance laws in parts of Alaska.