Looking at buying a new truck and need help

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Tree Guy's Wife

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Hey guys (and girls)

I know I haven't been around in ages. I do check in now and then. My little guy and working keep me way to busy - my computer time is seriously limited from what it was before.

Anyways, I have a question I knew you could help me with.

We currently have a 1999 Ford F450 that we use for a chipper truck. It's been okay, but it's a little small. The torque convertor went last year and took the transmission with it, and that was a huge bill. It seems to be going again. It's just not heavy duty enough for us I think.

We have been checking out a few trucks and keep coming across some of the old Asplundh trucks. Specifically we are looking at 1997 & 1998 trucks. There is a GMC C5500, GMC C6500, GMC 7500. We know very little about them other then they are cheap! :) They are gas, not diesel. Does anyone know if they are good trucks? Any know problems? We'd being looking at paying around $4500 US for one. Is that good?

Thanks for any input - it's appreciated.

:D


Natalie
 
Natalie, I have a former Wright Tree Service truck. Mine is diesel.... which helps immensely on fuel but adds even m ore expense to getting it worked on. FWIW, most of the old forestry body trucks are somewhat underpowered and are more expensive to license compared to your 450. They really don't haul many more chips either. The Medium duty trucks DO make a great billboard for you to advertise with. My personal advice would be to take care of your Pick-up body type truck. My hope is to replace my Intn'l with a forestry body bucket in a couple of years. Failing that I'll probably be looking at a 1 ton dump.
 
After problems with auto trans trucks, I only buy stick shift unless it has an Allison trans bigger than the 1000. I have friends with GM, Dodge and Ford auto trannys that all failed when pulling heavy loads.
 
Hey Nat! I was thinking of you the other day, I hope someone chimes in with some info on these trucks for you. Good luck with finding the right one. How was Mexico?
 
Both my bucket trucks have had the Allison automatics and neither have had any transmission problems. I've had other issues, but not transmissions.

I think that most any 10 year old truck you buy is going to have some issues. You just have to use it for a few months to figure out what they are. If you need a bigger truck thern buy a bigger truck, but don't kid yourself into believing that it will be cheaper than fixing the tranny on your current truck.

Good to see you again, Natalie. :)
 
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Thanks for the replies.

The problem is that I think we got a bit of a lemon in the Ford. We have taken good care of it maintenance wise. It is a diesel. The fuel economy is ridiculously bad - about half what it is supposed to be on a diesel.

Our thoughts are this - it needs toolboxes which are a good $1500 to $2000 to get done properly. It looks like it's going to need another $4000 - $6000 in engine work. We just put out $7000 last year on it. The chip box is small -about 9' I think? We can't keep putting a new tranny in it every year - because that's what it is at. And to top it off we are still paying $500/month for the loan on it until 2012. It's costing us nothing but money.

Also, it wasn't the truck we wanted to begin with. We were forced into buying it when our previous truck died. There was just nothing in the market to buy at that time as it was the week after we had that massive windstorm in BC & Washington that took at thousands of trees. Tree trucks were at a premium. It was always a temporary truck and we are sick and tired of sinking money into it. I mean - the tranny lasted not even one year! It's insane.

Okay.....small rant over....

We realize any truck will need good maintenance - just trying to get out from under payments for a couple of years - we figure a new to us truck can't cost more then $500 a month in maintenance, and definitely not more then the $1200 a month in maintenance and loan payments it did last year.

:)
 
Natalie, I agree with most of the above posts. If the truck is truly not suited to you then by all means look for one that is. I also would stayaway from the gas engines, especially the 427. Otherwise they are built for the weight better than the 450.
As far as your current truck, like eric said, get some extra oil coolers for the tranny, you can even get deep pans or replacement covers for the PTO ports that allow more oil capacity in the tranny. Heat is your biggest enemy in an auto tranny. A shift kit will also help "slam" it into gears which is better than easing in an auto. You milage always goes down with a big wind catcher chip box, add the loaded weight and chipper and it's even worse
 
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  • #10
Thanks for the input.

I'll tell Tree Guy what you said about the gas engines. Also the transmission on the Ford - I'm sure he'll be interested in that.

We're going to be in Oregon this weekend - that's where the trucks are located. We leave Thursday. Mind you, I don't know if we will really have saved any money by the time I'm done at the outlets down there! :lol:
 
If its a mid 90's Ford with the 7.3 get a Jasper rebuilt tranny.

I went thru 4 or 5 local rebuilds before I went to the Jasper, they have updated the clutch packs in the transmission, something the local tranny guys missed.
 
E-4OD in that Ford is junk, expect to keep replacing them like you are if you don't upgrade to a bigger tranny cooler and guage. You say 6-8k into the engine? Thats a lot of money, who does your mechanic work? Unless it's internal problems, I can't see, and never heard of spending 6-8k on the other stuff. Your not going to see good MPG's in that truck anywho, the 7.3 isn't known for mileage.

I almost think it's kinda silly to be figuring MPG's on a work truck,unless you haul for hire, your always loaded, unloaded, loaded, idling, creeping, climbing, reving, 4x4, you get the point.

Good luck with what you decide.

Just my .02.
 
And from the sounds of things it would be cheaper to boot!

I am also amazed at the price for engine repair? The 7.3 was one of the better engines and unless it is a catasrophic failure, I can't see needing that much cash?

Jasper makes a great tranny! But it sounds like a LARGE cooler is needed as well. I would also recomend synthetic tranny fluid and change it more than needed. Like every six months or so. It might not be waranted with the Jasper, but I doubt it will hurt either!
 
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  • #17
Sorry - the money was for the transmission replacement and the torque convertor. Yes - it seemed to be a bit. I think they did a little bit of other work too, you know, the "while we're there".

One of the reason Tree Guy wants to go to a gas engine over a diesel is he knows how to work on gas and can do the vast majority of work himself. He knows he can learn on the diesel, but with 60 - 70 hour work weeks already doesn't know when.
 
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  • #18
sotc said:
Haha, where is it?
Click to expand...

We're staying in Beaverton, will go to Sandy, Wilsonville & Portland to look at trucks and my mom and I will go pretty much anywhere for the best outlets. :D
 
Oh, well then if he wants one to work on get the 427 :lol:
Thats 5 hour north of me unfortunatly but I do beleive there are many outlets in the area!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #22
sotc said:
Oh, well then if he wants one to work on get the 427 :lol:
Thats 5 hour north of me unfortunatly but I do beleive there are many outlets in the area!
Click to expand...

:lol::lol:

Too bad it's so far - it would have been nice to meet you.
 
I get 12 mpg with my 2001 Dodge Cummins 4x4, 6 spd. when towing. 17 mpg when not towing.
 
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