Medium Duty Truck

[Charlie175]

Been wanting to get a medium duty truck for a while now and can't decide. For those with experience:
I currently use a 2008 Ram 2500 6.7 for pulling a gooseneck (14k). It does perfectly fine, but I want something that is a bit different to drive (Like a small big rig). Maybe I am being naive as to what this truck rides and drives like. I feel a medium duty would be safer.
I pull a lot (Well, 30 or so times a year is a lot for me) with 10k on the trailer. Our area is hilly. Trips can be 10 miles or 100 miles.

IH S1900 (80's trucks) or IH 47/4900 series single axles with DT466 (Most of these are the 190 to 210 HP)
Ford L8000 (7.8 Ford or 8.3 Cummins) Single Axle

I would like to have a 10' bed with bed ball. Seems like I could haul stuff with it better than if was just a semi.
I see many of the IH's have either Hydraulic or Air brakes. All of the Fords I see are Air. I assume Air would be better but does this cause issue with electric brakes on my trailer?
Some are Autos but I prefer a stick. Any transmissions to stay away from?
Would love a Jake, but most do not have this feature.
I was hoping to have a 1995 or older so I could use Antique tags. I know there are limitations to this but I see a lot of trucks out there with them.
Called insurance and they said liability was very reasonable.

Any opinions on this?

 

[4570Man]

I don’t think you can use an antique auto tag on a truck your working. I use a medium duty for towing and hauling. The power isn’t good but I like towing with them. Sway is a non existent concern, and they blow a pickup out of the water when it comes to stopping and putting a load on the bed.

 

[Charlie175]

In Virginia it states you can tow/haul vehicles to shows/events, which I would be doing.

Wording:
Registering your vehicle either of these ways limits your use of the vehicle to:

Participation in antique car club activities, exhibits, tours, parades, and similar events.
Testing its operation, obtaining repairs or maintenance, selling the vehicle or trailer, transportation to and from events as described in number 1 above and for the occasional pleasure driving not to exceed 250 miles from your residence.
Carrying or transporting passengers, personal effects or other antique motor vehicles being transported for show purposes.

 

[Charlie175]

I would also check in on regular tags and see what they are a year for personal use. Not business

 

[Charlie175]

Sounds good on the braking, had a few uh-oh moments when someone pulls out in front of me.

 

[Farmer495]

I'd go the "antique" route, but I take it you will still keep and own the 6.7 Ram. $$$ wise I'd just keep the Ram. Fun and style wise for shows, I like your idea.

I saw a 5.9 mechanical pump cummins powered Freightliner FL70 with 9 speed Road Rangers and air brakes. I talked myself out of that towing dream.

You can get an air to electric brake box from what I've read.

 

[om21braz]

Here is a new option to the table for you:

Photos: Mack Trucks announces new manufacturing plant in Roanoke County | Gallery | roanoke.com

 

[Hay Dude]

Been wanting to get a medium duty truck for a while now and can't decide. For those with experience:
I currently use a 2008 Ram 2500 6.7 for pulling a gooseneck (14k). It does perfectly fine, but I want something that is a bit different to drive (Like a small big rig). Maybe I am being naive as to what this truck rides and drives like. I feel a medium duty would be safer.
I pull a lot (Well, 30 or so times a year is a lot for me) with 10k on the trailer. Our area is hilly. Trips can be 10 miles or 100 miles.

IH S1900 (80's trucks) or IH 47/4900 series single axles with DT466 (Most of these are the 190 to 210 HP)
Ford L8000 (7.8 Ford or 8.3 Cummins) Single Axle

I would like to have a 10' bed with bed ball. Seems like I could haul stuff with it better than if was just a semi.
I see many of the IH's have either Hydraulic or Air brakes. All of the Fords I see are Air. I assume Air would be better but does this cause issue with electric brakes on my trailer?
Some are Autos but I prefer a stick. Any transmissions to stay away from?
Would love a Jake, but most do not have this feature.
I was hoping to have a 1995 or older so I could use Antique tags. I know there are limitations to this but I see a lot of trucks out there with them.
Called insurance and they said liability was very reasonable.

Any opinions on this?

Have owned and run many medium and heavy duty trucks. If you want my opinion, those trucks are built way heavier than a pickup, both structurally and on the scale. The truck you described will weigh about 12-15k, about twice as much as a diesel pickup. They are also underwhelming on power. Late 90’s and newer trucks like that are sometimes only 210Hp, sometimes a little less or a little more. They are a slug to drive. They will tow heavier weight and they will stop it much better, too. They will last longer under high stress loads. Other thing is you’re going to need a CDL to take full advantage of its capabilities, or you’re limited in the size trailer and combo weights.
Better choice would be a 4500/5500 smaller medium duty truck. More comfortable to drive day in and day out and usually north of 250HP and sometimes much higher depending on the model year you buy. They do very well pulling a 30’ gooseneck full of hay or equipment, but you can drive it around for smaller tasks easily. Heavier built than a pickup, but not a slow uncomfortable ride of a true MD truck.
Bigger trucks also attract cops like flys on poop. You’ll have to be on top of all the commercial truck paperwork and have the truck maintained perfectly. We are constantly harassed towing hay with bigger truck and they won’t even look twice at same trailer towed by smaller truck.
Just my .02....30 years of experience in farming and construction driving them. Seen pretty much everything.

 

[Paystar]

Be grateful you are not in Ontario Canada. I just had my insurance company call me and say they are cancelling the insurance on my F550. I said "I thought we went through this already, it is plated as personal use 4500 KG for non CVOR use.

They said "well when we put the VIN number in the computer it comes up as a commercial vehicle."

So I said "well I have a trucking business, insure it as commercial then, I don't care."

To which they replied "well we can't insure it as commercial because you are using it for personal use."

?????????????????????????????? LOL I'm currently changing insurance companies and brokers.

[to clarify, I am using it basically as a pickup truck. I don't carry anything on it, just got a good deal on it and use it a couple times a year to pull my antique tractor to the local fairs and tractor pulls.}

 

[4570Man]

Better choice would be a 4500/5500 smaller medium duty truck. More comfortable to drive day in and day out and usually north of 250HP and sometimes much higher depending on the model year you buy. They do very well pulling a 30’ gooseneck full of hay or equipment, but you can drive it around for smaller tasks easily. Heavier built than a pickup, but not a slow uncomfortable ride of a true MD truck.
Bigger trucks also attract cops like flys on poop. You’ll have to be on top of all the commercial truck paperwork and have the truck maintained perfectly. We are constantly harassed towing hay with bigger truck and they won’t even look twice at same trailer towed by smaller truck.
Just my .02....30 years of experience in farming and construction driving them. Seen pretty much everything.

I’d like to have a 4500/5500 truck and they’d work fine for the op. A 4500 is a huge step up from a 2500. But they’re expensive. A full size MD is a lot better value. If you were driving or enough for fuel consumption to be a concern the 4500 would start to gain ground. I’ve never had any trouble with the police and my 6500.

 

[Hay Dude]

I’d like to have a 4500/5500 truck and they’d work fine for the op. A 4500 is a huge step up from a 2500. But they’re expensive. A full size MD is a lot better value. If you were driving or enough for fuel consumption to be a concern the 4500 would start to gain ground. I’ve never had any trouble with the police and my 6500.

Very much depends on where you live. As I drive across the counties and states, I see “trucker friendly” municipalities and ones not so friendly.
We have 2 municipalities near me that literally fund their budgets by pulling over truckers and finding anything and everything wrong they can and fining them to the max limits. Everyone avoids and goes around those areas.
I agree that you can get an International 4xxx for peanuts and make a decent hauler out of it. It’ll be slower and it will probably involve a CDL for any decent sized trailer. Nice thing is the tail doesn’t wag the dog. In a small truck, the tail wags the dog.
I got my class A CDL air brakes endorsements a long long time ago and made a better living from it, but there is a lot of moving parts when it comes to owning large trucks.
“4500-5500” trucks have been around for 20 years now and they can be had pretty cheap.
I guess I’d have to know the OPs budget, willingness to get a CDL, duties for the truck, miles to be driven, etc. to really know if it would work out. He said “30 times a year”, which seems pretty minimal. That’s once every 12 days. We will pull that many trips in a month. So I don’t think the number of trips warrants the need.
I also realize life isn’t all about necessities. Some people get joy out of owning equipment-it’s a hobby/job, etc and that’s perfectly understandable. I use a F550 up to 38,000lbs and it handles it fine. You just have to take it easy and not cowboy the truck.
Anything bigger and we’re in our bigger trucks.

 

[fried1765]

Be grateful you are not in Ontario Canada. I just had my insurance company call me and say they are cancelling the insurance on my F550. I said "I thought we went through this already, it is plated as personal use 4500 KG for non CVOR use.

They said "well when we put the VIN number in the computer it comes up as a commercial vehicle."

So I said "well I have a trucking business, insure it as commercial then, I don't care."

To which they replied "well we can't insure it as commercial because you are using it for personal use."

?????????????????????????????? LOL I'm currently changing insurance companies and brokers.

[to clarify, I am using it basically as a pickup truck. I don't carry anything on it, just got a good deal on it and use it a couple times a year to pull my antique tractor to the local fairs and tractor pulls.}

It is Socialist Canada!!!!
Very easy to understand!
A requirement/rule/law/limitation/inspection/duty/tax, for ...EVERYTHING!!!

 

[Hay Dude]

Love our Canadian brothers. They are great people and they made many sacrifices in WWII
They also brought us Bombardier, Arctic Snowplows, Molson beer, Pam Andersen, William Shatner and the Guess Who.

 

[fried1765]

Love our Canadian brothers. They are great people and they made many sacrifices in WWII
They also brought us Bombardier, Arctic Snowplows, Molson beer, Pam Andersen, William Shatner and the Guess Who.

I trust that I "love our Canadian brothers" more that most.

I have lived in Canada, and owned property there for years.
I have many forever friends there.

It remains a fact though, that they are bound by so MANY government regulations.

 

[QRTRHRS]

When 5th gear went on my 97' Dodge 12v again at 250k I sold it and bought an FL70, 3126 250hp CAT, 9 speed with air brakes. The Dodge was also in need of brakes and a clutch again so it was time. I just tapped into the brake light wire for my Tekonsha P3. The truck pulled my dually dump trailer like it was not even there. What it did not have was a locking rear so it would get stuck on snot.

I have a Class A so no license issues for me. I plated it with farm tags at 26k rather than the 36k that I would have gone with had I needed to venture out of my area which is somewhat laid back DOT wise. Insurance through the Kentucky Farm Bureau was reasonable.

While a medium duty may handle some tasks safer than a smaller truck along with that come maintenance issues that may end up costing you if you are not up to the task.

Money is an issue so I sold it when I decided I no longer needed that much truck/trailer.

 

[4570Man]

The medium duty’s with a non locker diff and hard highway tires off-road like a ship. But a 3500 pulling a 10 ton load isn’t much for off-roading either. I’ve never liked off off road with a heavy load on a ton truck either. It’s beyond hard on them.

 

[Farmer495]

Be grateful you are not in Ontario Canada. I just had my insurance company call me and say they are cancelling the insurance on my F550. I said "I thought we went through this already, it is plated as personal use 4500 KG for non CVOR use.

They said "well when we put the VIN number in the computer it comes up as a commercial vehicle."

So I said "well I have a trucking business, insure it as commercial then, I don't care."

To which they replied "well we can't insure it as commercial because you are using it for personal use."

?????????????????????????????? LOL I'm currently changing insurance companies and brokers.

[to clarify, I am using it basically as a pickup truck. I don't carry anything on it, just got a good deal on it and use it a couple times a year to pull my antique tractor to the local fairs and tractor pulls.}

The insurance and other "paperwork" might make it cost more than it's worth for sure.

I looked at getting a 1 ton dually flatbed for around the farm and hauling supplies and equipment, could of had a nice 2wd manual trans reg cab in any of the big 3 brands for $3000 or less. Would have cost about $600 a year to keep in it insured and farm plated + having to maintain 6 tires, brakes, body work to tip top shape to keep it passing our local vehicle inspection and road legal.

All lot of effort for a few hundred clicks a year.

Short hauls farm tractor & trailer is slower on the road, but no extra expense. 1/2 ton works fine for everything else. Longer hauls usually cheaper to pay someone to deliver.

 

[4570Man]

My 6500 truck insurance isn’t that bad. It’s listed as commercial use but they hold my ton truck to the same standards. The insurance guy said they put anything with a flat/dump bed as commercial truck. Both trucks cost me about $500 total a year. And tractors being exempt is foolish. A medium duty truck is far safer.

 

[Paystar]

When 5th gear went on my 97' Dodge 12v again at 250k I sold it and bought an FL70, 3126 250hp CAT, 9 speed with air brakes. The Dodge was also in need of brakes and a clutch again so it was time. I just tapped into the brake light wire for my Tekonsha P3. The truck pulled my dually dump trailer like it was not even there. What it did not have was a locking rear so it would get stuck on snot.

I have a Class A so no license issues for me. I plated it with farm tags at 26k rather than the 36k that I would have gone with had I needed to venture out of my area which is somewhat laid back DOT wise. Insurance through the Kentucky Farm Bureau was reasonable.

While a medium duty may handle some tasks safer than a smaller truck along with that come maintenance issues that may end up costing you if you are not up to the task.

Money is an issue so I sold it when I decided I no longer needed that much truck/trailer.

View attachment 639650

Nice looking truck.

 

[Paystar]

My 6500 truck insurance isn’t that bad. It’s listed as commercial use but they hold my ton truck to the same standards. The insurance guy said they put anything with a flat/dump bed as commercial truck. Both trucks cost me about $500 total a year. And tractors being exempt is foolish. A medium duty truck is far safer.

That's what I wish I could tell the insurance companies directly......."you should be giving me a discount because I'm driving a safer truck with better brakes and more stability."

I have a couple friends that are using class 8 big rigs to pull their travel trailers. They said to register those as RV's in Ontario here they have to carry a porta potti in the sleeper because it has to have a bed, running water and a toilet to be classed as an RV.

I haven't looked into the rules governing antique trucks, because I have a 1962 Chev C60 I was going to put on the road before I decided to buy this F550 4X4. Not sure if it would be any easier?