New Addition

[cgland]

Just picked it up yesterday. 1999 GMC C-6500, 14' bed w/ drop down sides. 165,000 miles. Interior looks brand new. Truck is super clean and going in for lettering next week.

[mckeeland]

you suck! PH must be doing pretty well. LOL :pound:

Very nice truck though.Did you buy it put together or did you send it out?

[lawnkid]

I thought you ordered a new c4500 instead with a plow and salter package? Since it's not a switch-n-go it's definitely not gonna make you any money at all Chris. :pound: Nice truck. Any reason you went with a GMC rather than a freightliner, international, or sterling?

[cgland]

After much consideration, I couldn't justify spending $75,000 on a truck. A SNG would have been nice, but the prices have really jumped as of late and I just couldn't pull the trigger on it. I wanted to buy WalterO's truck, (it would have been perfect) but he had to put a new engine in it which put me out of my range. :( One of the main reasons I went w/ the GMC is that we have a GMC dealer 3 blocks from our shop. So, I did a bunch of searching on the internet and found this truck. When we looked at it the body was grey, so we had it painted, coal chute put in, 5' tool box, and a tarp put on. I think it's going to work out great.

[NewHorizon's Land]

Looks good.

[mckeeland]

chris what kind of number where u getting on the SNG?

[cgland]

I believe the total system w/ (3) 14' bodies was around $23K

[paponte]

Good old Royal Trucks. We have 2 trucks from them. Good luck with it. I am picking up a 14' mason for the hooklift with the fold down sides in about 3 weeks. Can't beat fold down sides. Good luck with it! :car:

[cgland]

Yeah, since I couldn't get the SNG, fold down sides was a must.

[HRLand]

Good old Royal Trucks. :

Nice truck, I hope you have better luck than I did. We bought a truck from them a few years ago with a SNG and it had a lot of problems.

[cgland]

Nice truck, I hope you have better luck than I did. We bought a truck from them a few years ago with a SNG and it had a lot of problems.
:scared::Cry::spit::tinfoil3: God i hope not

[Andrew Hardscape]

Ok 2 things:

1) Nice freakin drive tires!!!! Don't go off the pavement!!

2) You don't apply your own lettering?!


Looks nice though!

[Evening Star Lighting]

You'll love that tailgate. Thats the same one we have. I laugh when I see trucks that still use pins and a hammer!

[cgland]

I don't take any of my non 4 wheel drive trucks "off road" I usually do my own lettering, but we have a 2004 truck that was lettered w/ a bad batch of vinyl so my guy is going to reletter it for free so I am just going to let him do both. Not to mention it's only a $75 difference to have him do it. Thanks Andrew
You can't beat having a coal chute on your trucks, especially when doing detail work.

[CaptainsLS]

Is the coal chute really functional? I've never had one, but I always pictured materials binding up trying to pour out. I don’t picture sand or road base flowing out of it real easy? The fold down sides I like. And I hate white. Everyone has white! I'll post my trucks tomorrow, nothing special but they look classy.

[MuirView Design]

What a beaut! Man that thing is clean as a whistle. Must've been treated with a lot of love to look that good after that many miles! Congrats!

[Meanix]

Coal shoot is a must. Smaller jobs without a machine you either make a mess dumping in driveway and have to shovel into wbarrows. With the shoot you can load directly into barrows.

[mrusk]

Why would a hardscaper letter their own trucks??? Makes no sense to me?

[cgland]

Matt, I don't understand your question

[Andrew Hardscape]

Why would a hardscaper letter their own trucks??? Makes no sense to me?



Matty, I was being a smart ass, Just to give Christmasfur something to respond to!


Not sure what being a hardscaper has to do with anything. or being a doctor for all that matters!!


But.......In terms of trucks and equipment, I am one of these guys that does everything himself. About the only thing I allow others to do to our stuff is: 1) Mount and install tires 2) Factory warranty work. Everything else is done by me! By the time I drive a truck into town just to drop it off, I could have had one side complete. Thats just me! Most people do not apply their lettering. Although, it is very easy. Easier than setting pavers in place.


PS - we don't go off road either! But our mulch supplier and top soil supplier sure is a mucky mess!

[mckeeland]

when we can i install my own lettering, most of the time they want the truck for a entire day during the week. i can do it on my own in an hour or two and it comes out much better. i have even thought about buying my own vinyl die cutter, a good one can be bought for around $900 bucks. i spent that last year in sign work.

[mrusk]

I must be the worst mechanic on PH. I even take my trucks in to get the oil changed.

So doing something like lettering on my own just seems crazy! My lettering guy does a good job though. I think i payed around $450 to letter my pickup truck.

[cgland]

$450 for a p/u!!!! Now that is crazy!

[mrusk]

$450 for a p/u!!!! Now that is crazy!

NJ MONEY!!

Maybe it was 365? I do not remember.

[kootoomootoo]

I Don't need a truck that size but....coming from someone who has had 3 bales of straw delivered.

1. Just curious why you need a truck that size.
2. I thought we had a thread about matt and why he shouldnt buy a big truck or similar.

[cgland]

There are many reasons why I need a truck that big. Being able to bring my own stone/pavers to smaller jobs, but the most important is transporting of spoils. This is an area that we spend alot of time on, so.........big truck! What does Mrusk not needing atruck have to do w/ me?

[kootoomootoo]

I thought you were one of the guys that said ....hold on i will check the videotape.

I pay a guy $60 an hour to move spoils or anything. Compared to insurance, payments, interest, labor, etc etc unless I was using that truck all the time (ie I owned a wholesale delivery yard) I couldnt justify it. Just my 2 cents.

[mckeeland]

a truck that big will cost the same as a F550 and last twice as long. many times we cannot get our hauler's tri axles into the lot we are working on. we have had to rent a 33k dump to haul our own fill. to me if u are in hardscaping u need a bigger truck. ur machines are bigger, ur materials are heavier. how many times at the end of a job have u loaded ur machine a pallet or 2 of left over paver, the remainder of the modified stone from the street and anything else left on the job onto ur truck. i know we have and thats what killed are F450. i would rather have a truck that is slightly over kill some of the times than a truck that is under rated anytime.

[JZap]

We've moved towards getting more and more delivered, right down to the edging and spikes. Our next truck hopefully, will be something of size like this. We have 2 4500's and they are oversized mulch carriers at best. Huge truck and can only carry 4.5 tons "legally." If you ever worked in the city, even these trucks are too big. We have to have these various sizes sometimes. BTW Jason, there's no such thing as overkill when it comes to a truck! Even though I apparently drive a "wimpy" foreign truck. haha

[mckeeland]

overkill when u run and get 1 ton of sand to screed with, but its there when u needed. my buddy's new 550 is only getting 8mpg right now, so i dont see those bigger truck getting any worse, plus they will do better when they are loaded.

some day John u will up grade to a big boy truck. LOL

[GreenMonster]

There are many reasons why I need a truck that big. Being able to bring my own stone/pavers to smaller jobs, but the most important is transporting of spoils.

Bingo on both. That's why I'll never again get anything smaller than a F-550 sized gvw for hardscaping.

Chris, you mind sharing the price tag on that?

[mrusk]

How did i get thrown into this?

[JZap]

You guys obviously haven't driven a Tundra! just like the commercial
"A Tundra?? Get In!!!"

[cgland]

$26,000 out the door

[paponte]

If you do hardscaping or any type of excavating you need at least one 26k truck IMO. There are times I wish I had something bigger, but will most likely be holding out a while longer before taking that plunge.

[-EGLC-]

Nice truck!!!! Not to rain on your party but I've also heard some bad of Royal Truck Equipment.

[mrusk]

[QUOTE=paponte;8568]If you do hardscaping or any type of excavating you need at least one 26k truck IMO. QUOTE]



Thats a bold statement.

[cgland]

I don't think its bold.......its what works for some company's

[paponte]

Thats a bold statement.

It's like wearing work boots and jeans to gym class... if you don't have your shorts and sneakers, you get marked unprepared. :noidea:

[mrusk]

I don't think its bold.......its what works for some company's

Then the statement should reAD "For some companies a 26kgvw truck...."

[GreenMonster]

Then the statement should reAD "For some companies a 26kgvw truck...."

hey lookie! someone got grammar check and learned about passive voice!

[paponte]

Then the statement should reAD "For some companies a 26kgvw truck...."

Wow, I'm having flashbacks on here of another site. No sense in posting, good luck with the truck Chris. :yield::boink:

[mrusk]

Wow, I'm having flashbacks on here of another site. No sense in posting, good luck with the truck Chris. :yield::boink:


Come on! I am just sitting here passing the time waiting for the snow to start flying! I just discovered spell check and I need some entertainment!!!!!!:dance::dance:

[paponte]

Haha, aren't we all. We need a chat room on here to just hang out in. I got to spend the day with Paver Pete today. Said he's gonna start hanging out on here . :humble:

[mrusk]

Haha, aren't we all. We need a chat room on here to just hang out in. I got to spend the day with Paver Pete today. Said he's gonna start hanging out on here . :humble:


Different business, in different markets, doing different jobs, with more workers with DL, all have different truck needs! If i was doing 1-3 day jobs there is no way i'd beable to make it.

A couple weeks ago when i was doing my taxes i added up how much material i moved in/out for the entire season. I belive it was something like 170 triaxle/tandem loads and 12 f550 or smaller size loads. The smaller loads where mostly mason sand and concrete sand and dump runs.

[tnmtn]

nice looking truck. does it have the 8.1?, let me know how it does towing. i suspect with the gear ratio it will do fine. what kind of tranny?
good luck with it.

[Andrew Hardscape]

If you do hardscaping or any type of excavating you need at least one 26k truck IMO.


Ya, but you gotta be aware of what the payload is.

See, We have a 26,000 GVW truck. (extended cab, 15' dump) and the payload is only 5 tons. In terms of carrying material, that ain't squat.

The biggest benefit is that the truck does not have to work hard, like a 1 ton or a 1 and a half ton does.

The engine barely breaks a sweat carrying 6 tons. And the brakes are sized appropriately. My truck has almost 80,000 miles. Last July I checked the brake pads and they still have 50%.

So if you're looking for capacity.....be aware of the payload. If you lookin for a truck that can is up to the task, then 26,000 and up is the way to go.

[Mbella]

Truck looks clean Chris. I hope it's everything you want it to be. Are you doing anything different with your lettering? Post some pics after it's complete.

As far as size of truck for hardscape contractors....different strokes for different folks.

I use two 550's. They have a 4.5 ton payload, can go everywhere I need them to go and are no more difficult to drive than a regular pickup. I have almost everything delivered, so a 550 is borderline overkill, which is a good thing.

Also, they are easier than a larger truck to implement into my snow business.

[-EGLC-]

It's like wearing work boots and jeans to gym class... if you don't have your shorts and sneakers, you get marked unprepared. :noidea:

I know a hardscaper that doesn't own a single dump truck; I think he's :loco:. lol j/k Matt

[CaptainsLS]

Also, they are easier than a larger truck to implement into my snow business.

Mike needs smaller trucks for smaller snow accumulation.:smow:

[Andrew Hardscape]

....... I have almost everything delivered, so a 550 is borderline overkill, which is a good thing......


Owning a large dinosaur, errr....I mean TRUCK.....I can attest that is so true.

We're gonna roll offon a different subject, but I can not for the life of me understand WHY contractors are picking up / hauling any materials!!

I get damn near everything delivered. Even our plants. The only time we really get full use out of our big truck is at the end of a job when we're 100% finished. We roll away from there with skiddy-bopper on trailer and the bed of truck full of tools, spoils, left over pavers/block, etc - usually weighing in around 30,000 - 36,000 pounds, gross. Other than that.....it gets used to haul wheel-burrs!!

Now as I look back, I could probably admit that it was my ego that told me to buy our truck. I'll always have a medium duty. I have no doubts that we can operate just fine without one. I really want a medium duty Isuzu with a 12' dump body. I think they are tough looking when configured with the right bed!

Also, used (as Chris did) is the best way to go. Very smart thinking!

[mrusk]

Not to beat a dead horse anymore, but i agree with DVS. BUTTT not owning trucks only pencils out if you can absoultly get what you need when you need it! Loosing just one day waiting for delivery trucks to come will cost you alot of money!!!

[lawnkid]

One of the main reasons I went w/ the GMC is that we have a GMC dealer 3 blocks from our shop.

And you're gonna need it with that cat engine. We plow with a Dt-466 in one of our Internationals and a 8.1 Cummins in our Sterling and I must say, I don't think I'd buy anything else. The fire department my partner works for runs a Kenworth Heavy Rescue and a Chevy 6500 squad, both with Cat engines, and both that are in the shop about once a month getting the motors worked on. The cat in the 6500 blew the piston rods through the block at 130,000. Another buddy of mine has a Ford F-750 dump with the Cat 3127 in it and he always bitches about problems with that truck. I don't have anything against your truck but I think you could have gotten a better truck for that kinda money.

And here we go with the my pencil is sharper than yours again guys. We all know someones gonna poke their eye out and this is gonna turn into a big argument like it did on LS.

[lawnkid]

On a sidenote:

Adam how about some pics of the new Ford addition :D

[zedosix]

Nice truck Chris, you will love it, I have the same one but an 02 with only 30,000 miles on it, no problems with anything other than the pto cable seizing up a couple of times.

[cgland]

lawnkid - No arguments here, I am just hoping that with a good maintenance program and the fact that we only put around 8-9K on our trucks per year the truck will pay for itself. Like I said, I just could not justify spending a ton of money on a truck right now.

[Andrew Hardscape]

Nice truck Chris, you will love it, I have the same one but an 02 with only 30,000 miles on it, no problems with anything other than the pto cable seizing up a couple of times.



PTO cable?? You have one of those?!?

Mine froze up and I took it apart to fix it. I had some pieces in my pants pocket. And my woman put them in the wash. Needless to say, I lost the parts. that was a year ago.

To this day......I use a roll of shrink wrap to depress the clutch, then I get out and use a long stick to engage to PTO.

One of these days I'll order new parts.........





PS - if anyone is waiting for supplier to be delivered, that turn out to be a no show......then you need to go have a face to face talk with the owner of your supplier. Thats pathetic.

[lawnkid]

Chris,
Understood. I hope you can share only good experiences with the truck and condmen my statements. And it looks real good with that dump body. As for lighter duty trucks I personally think it's a tossup. I'd say whatever you can get a deal with a warranty on, go for it. My Ford and GMC trucks both have good days and bad days. Can't wait to see the lettering too.

[mckeeland]

To this day......I use a roll of shrink wrap to depress the clutch, then I get out and use a long stick to engage to PTO.

One of these days I'll order new parts..........

I did that for about a year or so, except i would just shut the truck off and craw underneath. when i did replace it, the second time, i bought a sealed unit built to length. that is the way to go. the universal cables let water and salt into the end of them and rust out. that's what took so long was remembering to get under the truck and measure the darn thing. i got mine here, but u can get hem anywhere that sells truck parts. http://www.awdirect.com/finditem.cfm?itemid=7412

[cgland]

Here are the pics of the truck post lettering!

[sancraig]

Niicccceee you did that yourself?

[cgland]

I didn't do this one, but I have done all of my other trucks. It's easy.

[sancraig]

What do the decals usually cost?

[GreenMonster]

Chris, where did you get the all white NCMA, ICPI, etc decals on the tailgate?

Looks nice.

[cgland]

I gave the logos to my vinyl guy and he recreated them

[jreiff]

Truck looks sharp!

[Terraventure]

Mark,

Where is the picture of your new addition?

[GreenMonster]

Mark,

Where is the picture of your new addition?

Oh, you mean this?

[GreenMonster]

It's getting lettered monday.

This here wasn't some of my better work.

[cgland]

Stop hijacking my thread!

[CaptainsLS]

I'm hijacking it too, this is my newest. Its an XL with 40/20/40 seats and the chrome package to match the other trucks that are XLT. Soooo much more comfortable when plowing when you have the 40/20/40! I noticed most of us are Ford guys.

[GreenMonster]

Stop hijacking my thread!

he he. Terraventure started it!

btw, Chris. I may ask you to have some of those icpi, ncma and techo-pro decals for me. My guy doesn't sound too optimistic about being able to do it.

[mrusk]

Great to see people spending money in a time where the economy is uncertain!!! Like i tell every customer i met with "The more you spend with me, the better the economy will get!"

[cgland]

Mark - let me know, cause I am re-lettering 2 more trucks next week and I can have him cut the vinyl then

[mckeeland]

chris,

if you don't mind sharing how much does a body like the one on your truck run new? i am thinking about just going with one of those instead of the SNG for now, jsut cant justify spending the extra money right now.

[GreenMonster]

Mark - let me know, cause I am re-lettering 2 more trucks next week and I can have him cut the vinyl then

I'm saying yes, but let me get a count for each. I have two dump bodies to do.

[4seasons]

Chris
should've saved some money for stone on the drive lol!

[CaptainsLS]

I still have my stone, I just pushed it into the neighbors yard, thats where I store it over the winter! :sorry: LOL

[cgland]

Chris
should've saved some money for stone on the drive lol!

Actually I am digging out the one side of the lot to add additional parking and will be re stoning the whole area.

[CaptainsLS]

Actually I am digging out the one side of the lot to add additional parking and will be re stoning the whole area.

On that subject, have you ever considered paving it? I would love to, but I'm afraid I would ruin it so quick with the weight of the trucks?

[Meanix]

If looks aren't a big issue its a good place to get rid of left overs. I have a section of my drive that I extended and continuously add stone and slivers from cuts. I didn't dig it out because it was not going to be a patio and was already low. Probably 10 tons in a 300 sf area this year. Keeps getting wider. (More parking)

[-EGLC-]

Nice trucks!!

[lawnkid]

That's the first Boss plow I think I've ever seen a northeasterner use. Everyone I see uses Fisher. Nice trucks guys.

[Ground effects NH]

Oh, you mean this?

Oh Mark, I sure can see my LOGO on the side of that "BAD BOY":first:
Nice, Very Nice

[GreenMonster]

That's the first Boss plow I think I've ever seen a northeasterner use. Everyone I see uses Fisher. Nice trucks guys.

more and more of them around here. I like th 8.5' Fisher EZ-V on the F350, but I'm hearing too many complaints lately (especially on the F550) and a lot of good things about Boss. So, I figured we'd give it a try. we'll see.

Bill my man, you take the payment and I'll plaster your name all over it!

[Andrew Hardscape]

looks nice!

especially the "www" in the web addy! :)

[Ground effects NH]

Mark - let me know, cause I am re-lettering 2 more trucks next week and I can have him cut the vinyl then

Chris
Would it be possible to get a few for my trucks?
Looking at 3 ncma and 3 icpi. If so let me know the price.

[lawnkid]

more and more of them around here. I like th 8.5' Fisher EZ-V on the F350, but I'm hearing too many complaints lately (especially on the F550) and a lot of good things about Boss. So, I figured we'd give it a try. we'll see.



Yeah we got 5 Boss V-plows. Three 8.2's, one 9.2', and one 10'. So far I've ran Meyer, Western, Curtis, Hiniker, Boss, and Blizzard. Honestly I like the Boss and Blizzard best. Boss's have really fast hydraulics, the quickest mounting system, and yes I mean in under 20 seconds without running, and they are built well. We have done some welding over the years on A-frames and on the center hinges but we just replaced an A-frame about a month ago with the newer one and they are beefed up in the areas where we were having problems so you should be good. If you got any questions just shoot me a PM. As far as the Blizzards, we have two 810's and for the 4 years we've ran them both, knock on wood we have yet to do any welding whatsoever on the plows. They're almost bulletproof and our drivers give them a good workout. Those plow are so damn heavy that it kinda creates a downpressure system to scrape pretty thick hardpack down to pavement. Sorry for the novel Mark, I got carried away.

[ZX12R]

Chris,I thought you bought that Sterling? In any case,that C6500 sure looks nice and clean. Much luck with it!!!!!!!

[cgland]

No, It didn't work out :(

[mpickel]

What do you mean it didn't work out?

[cgland]

Well, I was set to buy the truck and we found it had some issues w/ the engine. Walter put a new engine in it, but it threw it out of my price range........sucks, cause it was a real nice truck.

[rake eye]

Wowee! That's a purty truck ya got there. I'll trade you a scooter for it!

[cgland]

Not on your life!.....unless your scooter is a 26,000 gvw! LOL!