A tale of two 5yd dump trucks....

[GManBart]

Okay, maybe it's not exactly a tale so much as looking for advice/comments.

I'm looking for a 5yd dump truck that will primarily be used to move fill and asphalt millings on my property. I may use it to run to the local quarry (l10mi or so), but that would be about the farthest I can see going with it. Since it's mostly going to be a site truck I'm looking for something inexpensive.

I've found two trucks on Craigslist that are in my price range (within $100 of each other), and sound reasonably solid (waiting on pics of one). One is a 1977 Chevy C65 with a 366 gas engine, 5spd trans and a 2 speed rear axle. The other is a 1977 International 1600 Loadstar, gas engine (waiting on confirmation, but likely a 345) , 5spd trans with a 2 speed rear axle.

Anything in particular that might sway you to one or the other assuming they're in similar conditon?

 

[bcp]

Compare prices of the same wear parts: brakes, clutch, tires, u-joints, etc.

Parts availability in your area.

How it feels to drive.

Bruce

 

[Fawken]

How much? I've always wanted one.

 

[SimS]

^^^^ Parts are going to be easier to source on the Chevy. Of course the overall shape of each truck would be #1. It's probably a toss up as far a functionality. Have Fun.


SimS

 

[Diamondpilot]

Okay, maybe it's not exactly a tale so much as looking for advice/comments. I'm looking for a 5yd dump truck that will primarily be used to move fill and asphalt millings on my property. I may use it to run to the local quarry (l10mi or so), but that would be about the farthest I can see going with it. Since it's mostly going to be a site truck I'm looking for something inexpensive. I've found two trucks on Craigslist that are in my price range (within $100 of each other), and sound reasonably solid (waiting on pics of one). One is a 1977 Chevy C65 with a 366 gas engine, 5spd trans and a 2 speed rear axle. The other is a 1977 International 1600 Loadstar, gas engine (waiting on confirmation, but likely a 345) , 5spd trans with a 2 speed rear axle. Anything in particular that might sway you to one or the other assuming they're in similar conditon?

The C65 will be much easier to get parts for. We have a 76 C60. It's a pig! 50 mph is optimistic and gets about 3 mpg and with a 25 gallon single saddle tank you really have to plan accordingly. With that said we paid $1600 for it and it's been solid.

I will tell you that if I need more than 2 loads I can hire a quad axle truck for $75 per hour. He can haul 3 times the C60 so when you factor in fuel its cheap to let him make the run.

Tires and brakes are the big expenses on these. You can wrap up $3000 in each or $6000 in both.

Chris

 

[AGRIMAN]

I have 1977 Loadstar with 32k miles. It has a 16" foot grain body with a dump. I still use it every year to put oats in the bin. I'm not afraid to load with soybeans/corn and head to the elevator.

I have never had any problems finding parts. I went through the entire brake system 2 years ago and the local NAPA store had everything I needed.

 

[GManBart]

Compare prices of the same wear parts: brakes, clutch, tires, u-joints, etc.

Parts availability in your area.

How it feels to drive.

Bruce

I think general condition and how they feel will be my biggest factor. I'm not terribly worried about parts availability for either, but I expect the Chevy would be a bit easier.

 

[GManBart]

How much? I've always wanted one.

They're asking just under $3K, which isn't all that unusual. I'm just worried I'll get there and find a badly cracked frame or significant frame rust (I expect cab/body rust).

 

[GManBart]

The C65 will be much easier to get parts for. We have a 76 C60. It's a pig! 50 mph is optimistic and gets about 3 mpg and with a 25 gallon single saddle tank you really have to plan accordingly. With that said we paid $1600 for it and it's been solid.

I will tell you that if I need more than 2 loads I can hire a quad axle truck for $75 per hour. He can haul 3 times the C60 so when you factor in fuel its cheap to let him make the run.

Tires and brakes are the big expenses on these. You can wrap up $3000 in each or $6000 in both.

Chris

I actually have a lot of miles behind the wheel of tandem dumps, transfer trucks and mixer trucks, so I know exactly what you mean about brakes and tires. The International says it comes with extra wheels/tires and the tires on it are decent...but haven't seen pics yet. The Chevy seems to have good tires, but the pics aren't closeups. The kicker is that neither truck is that far from me, but they are in opposite directions, so it wouldn't be easy going from one to the other.

I have a neighbor who has a connection with a local excavating company, and they've brought in thousands of yards of good fill for free the last couple of years. When it rains a lot and they can't get into their normal yard (I'm not 100% sure why, but I think they do it to be a good neighbor), they bring the fill here. It's not on any sort of schedule, but it's free. I have a lot they can dump in that's only a couple hundred yards from where I want to start adding the fill. So, they'd drop it off in bulk, and then I'd move it to exactly where I want. With the backhoe and a dump truck, I shouldn't have a problem moving it as I get the time. Still, even if I paid someone to bring in the fill they wouldn't be able to get where I want it, so I'd wind up moving it myself anyway.

 

[GManBart]

I have 1977 Loadstar with 32k miles. It has a 16" foot grain body with a dump. I still use it every year to put oats in the bin. I'm not afraid to load with soybeans/corn and head to the elevator.

I have never had any problems finding parts. I went through the entire brake system 2 years ago and the local NAPA store had everything I needed.

Which engine and trans does yours have?