Medium duty dump truck

Rowski · Feb 8, 2005

Our '84 k35 dump truck has just about had it, rust has gotten the better of it (frame). It still works but I don't think its road worthy with a full load on it, makes a good woods truck.

I'm looking for something more in the medium duty line. It has to be under CDL (26K lbs??). I'm thinking around the 20K lbs GVWR. Short wheel base, CA84ish. I'm not looking to spend a fortune, so something like from the 70's or 80's. I'm not to familiar with the models names or numbers of the 20K lbs trucks. Mechanical trouble, welding etc. I can take care of
myself.

The primary use with be to trailer my TN70DA around locally. Move material gravel, topsoil, etc. locally. Anything more than local I can have delivered by tandem truck. Needs to be low geared. Gas or diesel doesn't matter. This is for part-time work. My main concern is something phisically small, turns sharp, and can carry a good load.

Any thoughs on what is good?

Thanks.

Birdhunter1 · Feb 9, 2005

Look to see if your county or any townhips are going to be auctioning anythign they have. Sometimes you can find some stuf cheap that is in relatively good shape. Other than that look at a trader or something to find one I would say.

Rowski · Feb 9, 2005

I have checked with the local townships and nothing under CDL. I have checked some on-line sources.

My question is what's a good model, what ones to avoid?

JDgreen227 · Feb 9, 2005

I drove medium duty box trucks and flatbeds for my employer for nearly 32 years, most were owned and some were rented or leased. As I knew many other fellows who did the same trade I got a pretty good idea of what was reliable and what wasn't. My pick would be an early 80's IHC S-Series with the DT-466 diesel, one of my work trucks was an '84 S-1900 LWB with a 26000 lb GVWR. They were way overbuilt and dead reliable, many of the lighter models (S-1600 and S-1700) were used as single axle dump trucks.

Do a search in the Construction Equipment forum and see if that gives you any ideas.

cowboydoc · Feb 9, 2005

What's your budget? Gas or diesel? Grain box or rock box? Single axle? Cheater axle? What transmission?

These medium duty trucks are higher right now than I have ever seen them. What was $1500 a year ago for a 15 year old grain truck is now $5000 or more. What was a $5k dump truck is now $10k. It's not a good time to be buying at auction or used for sure. I'm not sure why the explosion in equipment but it's higher now than it ever has been.

Bob_Skurka · Feb 9, 2005

Derek, I run a fleet of medium duty trucks (not dump trucks). Most of ours are GMC Top Kicks. For what it is worth, I'd go up to a GVW of 23,000 or 25,995. The 20,000# GVW vehicle is typically using lighter shocks, lesser tires, lighter springs. However, the difference between the 23,000 and 25,995 GVW trucks is pretty blurry. Most of the actual difference is simply changing the tires! The cost to go up in size is typically minimal. Unless your budget is already stressed, give it some consideration to go up in size to the 23,000# GVW. If you have that, you can go up to 25,995 by swapping the tires at some point in the future (like when your original tires wear out).

Will_C · Feb 9, 2005

Derek, It sounds like you are looking for a C-50 or 60 Chevy truck from that era. You also might look at a Ford F-500 ot 600. Gearing should not be a problem as a majority of these trucks came with 5 speed transmissions and a 2 speed rear axle. Sorry that I don't have any specific directions to point you toward.
Will

BarryinMN · Feb 9, 2005

One item to check on...

Hitching a trailer over 10 lbs to a 25990 GVW truck instantly puts you into CDL territory.

You need to keep the gross combined truck + trailer under 26K to avoid a CDL.

Had this issue with a friend who owns a junk yard. He was showing off his shiny new 25990 tow truck & said he did not have to pay for CDL's on his employees. I asked how a lawyer would account for a 8600 gvw suburban on the back during the wreck...

Now if he bought a 25990 rollback version instead.

Durbob · Feb 10, 2005

( One item to check on...

Hitching a trailer over 10 lbs to a 25990 GVW truck instantly puts you into CDL territory.

You need to keep the gross combined truck + trailer under 26K to avoid a CDL.

Had this issue with a friend who owns a junk yard. He was showing off his shiny new 25990 tow truck & said he did not have to pay for CDL's on his employees. I asked how a lawyer would account for a 8600 gvw suburban on the back during the wreck...

Now if he bought a 25990 rollback version instead. )

I believe you will find that hauling a trailer for commercial business requires a cdl regardless of gvw. I have heard of people with pickups hauling trailers and finding that out.
Something to check into.

Rowski · Feb 13, 2005

Seems like I'm looking at:

International--> 1500 1600 1700

GMC--> C50 C60 C70

Ford----> F500 F600

Are the internationals better in the mid 80's than the GMC or Ford? Or does not really matter?

I've looked on-line at truckpaper.com and have found some but the are a few thousand miles away /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif. The problem is where I'm located they are old farm trucks that are beat and not really road worthy. The ones that are road worthy are rust buckets (heavy salt area here).

Thanks for everyone input.

JDgreen227 · Feb 13, 2005

We had a gas motor (370 4 barrel) Ford F600 in the mid-80's and it was nothing but problems with the engine. Another model we used was the Chevy C65 with the 366 gas engine, they were a smaller version of the 427 big block and extremely durable. Our IH trucks used all diesels but you would pay a BIG premium for an oil burner engine.

Check out this site...www.autorv.com

They have a big trucks and buses section in the printed newspaper version.

Rowski · Jun 2, 2005

I've got my eye on a locally owned 1977ish F600. Its got a straight six gas engine, single speed rear, standard shift gear box. In the last 10 years its supposed to have had new dump body, brake gone through including new master cylinder and vacuum booster, front end rebuilt. Has some rust but inspectable. Its supposed to have a taller tire option. I haven't had a chance to inspect it close up only from about 75 yards away. Its tied up with family right now. They finally decided to sell but price is still an issue. I Think they are asking (as of yesterday) $2k.

Seems like a fair price??

I'll keep you posted

GeneD14 · Jun 2, 2005

I found this one in mint condition. Under CDL, 1971 so I can use an antique plate ($108 for 10 years), it used to be a farm truck and was always shedded and has low miles.

EddieWalker · Jun 2, 2005

I spent quite a few months looking for a small dump truck also. Brand wasn't important to me, just price and something in decent shape. I decided I wanted gas over diesel due to the gas trucks being much, much cheaper. I also wanted hydraulic brakes. I'm not gonna tow anything, and getting the air brake endorsement is something I wanted to avoid on a non-CDL truck.

I ended up buying an 83 F-650 for $3,250. GVW is just under 24,000 lbs. No complaints, it's a nice truck that will haul 6 yards of dirt with 10 inch sideboards around my land. Napa has all the parts I've needed for it, which they have in stock.

I looked in the truckpaper, traderonline and ebay for anything that would meet my requirements, but not be so far away it would cost thousands of dollars to get it here. I also did just what your doing on this webstite, I asked around. Just about everyone I came into contact with, I asked if they new of a dump truck for sale. I got some good leads, but just not what I wanted.

Ebay was probably the most bizarre for trying to get a fix on prices and finding something fairly close. People would get into a bidding war five days before the auction was to end driving the price way up. Then the last second bidders would also come in with crazy bids. If you watch the site for awhile, you'll also notice that some of those trucks come right back on again with the crazy bidders not paying for the truck.

Of course, buying a truck unseen is crazy from the beginning, but I found it helpful in feeling out the market.

American Classified, or the free local classifieds ads are a really good source for fair priced items found locally. I called on quite a few in my area, only to be too late.

There really is a huge demand for small dump trucks right now.

In the end, I was coming home from looking at a dump truck in the Dallas area and decided to take the scenic route. About half an hour from my place I spotted my truck sitting on the side of the road with a for sale sign.

Hambone · Jun 2, 2005

"Are the internationals better?"

My experience is yes. I have worked on trucks for 20 years. I have worked for some pretty big companies, and the small guy. I think they are the best bang for the buck.
Air brakes are lots better if you can get away without the license. It seems foggy in this area. I am told as long as you are plated under the 26,000 you can have air brakes with no CDL.

DKinWA · Jun 2, 2005

( I am told as long as you are plated under the 26,000 you can have air brakes with no CDL. )

I asked the question of our local commercial vehicle enforcement officer earlier this year. His response was, "you don't need an air brake endorsement for trucks rated less than 26,001".

Rowski · Jun 26, 2005

I got to start it up this week. Runs very well engine is very quite. Over all the truck is in good shape. Running gear, frame, and dump body are in very good shape. The body is in o.k. shape. There is rust but nothing to serious. All the body mounts are very solid. Truck will pass a safety inspection.

1977 Ford F600 2wd
300 cid straight 6 cylinder
4 speed manual trans
single speed rear end
22.5" wheels non split rim

So the man who owns it is on vacation for a week. Hopefully when he gets back we can close the deal.

Some questions:

Where can you get parts that NAPA has no listing for? Dealer?

Where can you get body parts, inner fenders, radiator supports, etc?

Is it possible to swap engine, like put a diesel in?

Switch rear ends, like put a 2 speed rear?

Thanks for your input!

Durbob · Jun 26, 2005

(
I am told as long as you are plated under the 26,000 you can have air brakes with no CDL. )

I drive an under 26,000gvw box truck with air brakes. I have been thru inspections and have been told that i don't need an air brake endorsement or cdl for under 26,000 gvw. I have been driving this same truck for 6 years now.

Dur

Jagmandave · Jun 26, 2005

Why would you buy an old truck like this then spend thousands of dollars and hours modifying it? It is supposed to be a work truck, right? If you want a diesel with a 2 spd diff, seems like it would be smarter and cheaper as well as faster to just go buy one..........also, I can't see spending a bunch of money on body parts, fix what needs to be fixed for structural support, and don't worry about the rest.
Unless you bought this to be a fix up project, and you derive pleasure from resurrecting it.........if so, go for it!

Hambone · Jun 28, 2005

I agree with Jagman.
But if you insist, here is a decent source for used parts
Truck Parts of Ohio800-488-8886
They have a web site but could not find it right now. I will look it up if interested. They send me a flyer monthly.