Ford LCF L55 Truck

[CrewCutEnterprises]

Ok I made the mistake of going to ford today to look at 550's.

BUT I test drove a L55 Cab over and wow, drove like no other. 19,500 GVW, 8000 lb chassis, so gosh whats that about 10,000 lb payload. O and get this combo weight rating is 26,000 lbs which means I could tow a 10 or 14k trailer behind it if the truck empty.

I got a quote for a new LCF L55 with dump body and 2 24x24x6 storage boxes on the side for about 42,000 dollars.

Anyone looked at other cab overs??

Mitsu 14500
NPR NQR... 14500 gvw to 17,500 gvw
Ford LCF L55 19,500 gvw

The 19,500 gvw Ford could tow a small 12 ft trailer or a leaf vac or chipper and still be under 26,000 lbs( no cdl needed)


So any pros or cons on these trucks?? Im pretty particular about how I want it built if I get it custom made.

[CrewCutEnterprises]

This will be a maintenance truck and it will need to carry these at all times.

3 Jackson wheelbarrows
3 rakes
3 flat spades
1 regular shovel
1 flat long handled shovel
2 back pack blowers
17 ft gorrilla a frame folding ladder
4 tarps
stihl 250 chain saw
chain saw tool box with extra chains and sharpener.
echo hc 150 hedge clippers
PAS 260 with articulating hedger
5 gallon gas
2.5 gallon mix

[LindblomRJ]

The Ford LCF is new to the market. I believe they come with a powerstroke (might be an option). Ford has been building cab overs in various forms since the 1960s.

I have no idea how good the new models are. But they seem like they would be a good option.

[Dirty Water]

They come with a 4.5L Power Stroke® V6 Turbo Diesel engine with 200 hp and 440 lb.-ft. of torque.

Has anyone heard of this engine before?

[mag360]

My understanding of the 4.5 is that it's a v-6 (not inline) version of the 6.0 Think 6.0 with the last 2 cylinders chopped off.

I fear this engine, however, others have had good luck with the 6.0's.

[Travel'n Trees]

I fear all ford products my ford I am about to sell 3000 miles 7 dealers and no warranty because I hauled 1 load of rock and 1 load of mulch and 1 load of dirt. Which any could void my warranty. Look at the 1997 and 2006 f-150 frames that bend in the parking lot of factory and doors don't open, what would happen in accident??

[LindblomRJ]

They come with a 4.5L Power Stroke® V6 Turbo Diesel engine with 200 hp and 440 lb.-ft. of torque.

Has anyone heard of this engine before?
There have been rumors of a 4.5 diesel in f150s and such, has anyone heard about this?

I would think that they would do things differently considering the 6.0 will no longer be produced.

[Scag48]

I fear all ford products my ford I am about to sell 3000 miles 7 dealers and no warranty because I hauled 1 load of rock and 1 load of mulch and 1 load of dirt. Which any could void my warranty. Look at the 1997 and 2006 f-150 frames that bend in the parking lot of factory and doors don't open, what would happen in accident??

Again, your posts are not relevant to the conversation. Go somewhere else dude.

I looked at LCF's earlier this spring, was quoted $39,000 for an L55 chassis. I'm unsure of where I stand with this truck, I'd rather have a Hino or Mitsu, but the payload of the L55 is much greater than its competitors at 19,500.

But, you said this a maintenance truck and the items it's supposed to carry isn't any more than a pickup could easily haul. You have to ask yourself if this truck is overkill for your operation. Do you really need a truck that will tow 26,000 combined? If so, it might be in your best interest to take a look at this truck. But if you're not towing and just hauling the items you've listed, I'd buy a Hino or Mitsu.

[CrewCutEnterprises]

I fear all ford products my ford I am about to sell 3000 miles 7 dealers and no warranty because I hauled 1 load of rock and 1 load of mulch and 1 load of dirt. Which any could void my warranty. Look at the 1997 and 2006 f-150 frames that bend in the parking lot of factory and doors don't open, what would happen in accident??


Again. Ive seen you bash ford here more than once. Blah Blah Blah. I dident ask about anything you've replied with. PERIOD. O and your dealer must suck.

Ford has like 60% of the truck market... why? they stand behind a product. Does chevy even make a 2 ton or 3 or 4 ton truck comparable. maybe.. no, they make their 3500.

So back to my thought.

Isuzu NQR crew cab ... or
LCF......

Ideas comments

[CrewCutEnterprises]

Thanks for a decent reply. We run a F350 with dump insert and work it HARD. This time of year we will fill it up 2 times a day and weigh into the dump at 12,000 lbs, truck is 8000 lbs dry. That is full of leaves

During mulching season we will make 2 or 4 trips for mulch as the truck will only hold 5 maybe pushing 6 yards of mulch. I know its a lot of things to think of.


Again, your posts are not relevant to the conversation. Go somewhere else dude.

I looked at LCF's earlier this spring, was quoted $39,000 for an L55 chassis. I'm unsure of where I stand with this truck, I'd rather have a Hino or Mitsu, but the payload of the L55 is much greater than its competitors at 19,500.

But, you said this a maintenance truck and the items it's supposed to carry isn't any more than a pickup could easily haul. You have to ask yourself if this truck is overkill for your operation. Do you really need a truck that will tow 26,000 combined? If so, it might be in your best interest to take a look at this truck. But if you're not towing and just hauling the items you've listed, I'd buy a Hino or Mitsu.

[Az Gardener]

But, you said this a maintenance truck and the items it's supposed to carry isn't any more than a pickup could easily haul. You have to ask yourself if this truck is overkill for your operation. Do you really need a truck that will tow 26,000 combined? If so, it might be in your best interest to take a look at this truck. But if you're not towing and just hauling the items you've listed, I'd buy a Hino or Mitsu.

I agree unless dumping is a long way or you generate a lot of debris daily you could buy two slightly used 3/4 tons for 42-K. I too see the cab overs and want to buy but when I look at the bottom line and do the comparisons it would be strictly an ego purchase.

I picked up a 04 Dodge 3/4 ton crew cab turbo diesel with the Larime package an 19-k miles for 24-k in June, great truck. I like fords but the newer Ford Diesels scare me a bit.

[CrewCutEnterprises]

I happen to agree also. But Then I would have to have 2 drivers. 2 sets of insurance. 2 sets of trucks to maintain. 2 sets of trucks to put gas in, doesnt that seem like double the work????

The objective is to hold 20 yards of mulch, 4 tons of gravel or 5 yards of topsoil and all the tools. Right now the truck holds one yard of topsoil. yes the dump is 25 miles away. I think that is far.

I do agree about the ego purchase but I wouldent be driving it, My forman would be, Im not solo. Any comments are helpful, thanks

Also we currently carry the chainsaw shovels rakes tarps and hedge pruners mix etc no blowers under the dump. Problem is, we are ALWAYS OVERWEIGHTED...

I agree unless dumping is a long way or you generate a lot of debris daily you could buy two slightly used 3/4 tons for 42-K. I too see the cab overs and want to buy but when I look at the bottom line and do the comparisons it would be strictly an ego purchase.

I picked up a 04 Dodge 3/4 ton crew cab turbo diesel with the Larime package an 19-k miles for 24-k in June, great truck. I like fords but the newer Ford Diesels scare me a bit.

[Az Gardener]

I can't believe I am still surprised in the differences from one part of the country to another. What you are describing I would call improvement work or landscaping. Not maintenance, here maintenance is mowing trimming checking lights fertilizing watering pots and the like.

My last company we had over 50 employees and many trucks and much heavy equipment but we still never had dump trucks because it just did not pencil out. It was always cheaper to have those big quantities of mulch/granite what ever delivered. We could always get whatever we wanted delivered within 48 hours max so as long as you could schedule at least 3 days ahead of time it was no problem.

Yes you would need two drivers but presumably you could do twice the work because you could run two crews. That would pencil out.

In the end you know your market and your business and unfortunately none of us can read each others minds. We can only go by the typed word. Sorry I didn't make myself more clear in my first post.

[qualitylawnmanagement]

I happen to agree also. But Then I would have to have 2 drivers. 2 sets of insurance. 2 sets of trucks to maintain. 2 sets of trucks to put gas in, doesnt that seem like double the work????

The objective is to hold 20 yards of mulch, 4 tons of gravel or 5 yards of topsoil and all the tools. Right now the truck holds one yard of topsoil. yes the dump is 25 miles away. I think that is far.

I do agree about the ego purchase but I wouldent be driving it, My forman would be, Im not solo. Any comments are helpful, thanks

Also we currently carry the chainsaw shovels rakes tarps and hedge pruners mix etc no blowers under the dump. Problem is, we are ALWAYS OVERWEIGHTED...


Man I love that F-350. Its hard to find one like that one. Let me know if you ever want to sell, I may be able to take it off your hands. I want to get one of them ford LCF for mowing. I think it would be the perfect truck for mowing 18ft deck hauling around a 60in Dixie chopper, 48in Wright stander and a 36in hydro floating deck walk behind.

[CrewCutEnterprises]

Ok Yes it may be called landscaping and the crew will do some of that. But Its mostly what I call Maintenance. mulching, weeding, tree pruning, shrub pruning, tree removal shrub removal and leaf removal. These are all maintenance services right.

It would be more of a Design Install / Landscape Maintenance crew.

I already have a Lawn Maintenance Crew that does lawn maint, fert, aeration, overseed and mowing 5 days a week.



I can't believe I am still surprised in the differences from one part of the country to another. What you are describing I would call improvement work or landscaping. Not maintenance, here maintenance is mowing trimming checking lights fertilizing watering pots and the like.

My last company we had over 50 employees and many trucks and much heavy equipment but we still never had dump trucks because it just did not pencil out. It was always cheaper to have those big quantities of mulch/granite what ever delivered. We could always get whatever we wanted delivered within 48 hours max so as long as you could schedule at least 3 days ahead of time it was no problem.

Yes you would need two drivers but presumably you could do twice the work because you could run two crews. That would pencil out.

In the end you know your market and your business and unfortunately none of us can read each others minds. We can only go by the typed word. Sorry I didn't make myself more clear in my first post.

[CrewCutEnterprises]

Im thinking something like this....

[hosejockey2002]

I'd rather have a Hino or Mitsu, but the payload of the L55 is much greater than its competitors at 19,500.

Hino and Mitsu both have models- the Fuso FE180 and the Hino 180 that have GVWRs of 18,000 in the same cab configurations as the 14K models. That's not quite up with the Ford LCF, but at least in the same league. Isuzu's NRR (same cab as the NPR) has a GVWR of 19,500 which puts it as a direct competitor to the LCF. Powerplant is comparable too, with slightly less HP and torque but a bigger 5.2 liter engine. The LCF seems like a really nice truck, but the other competitors have the option of a manual or automatic transmission and an exhaust brake. The LCF is available with automatic only and has no exhaust brake option.

[Scag48]

Thanks for the info on Hino and Mitsu, I for sure didn't think they had something in the 18K range. I was disappointed as well with the lack of a manual transmission option on the LCF, I can't stand automatics anymore.

[Marek]

The fit and finish on the LCF seems alot better than the Isuzu not that they arent nice trucks but the Ford seems to be built a little heavier.Go see Mike at Koons, he has a bunch of them and he is not one of those pain in the ass salesman.
traveling trees put up or shut up ! Show us some proof that they voided your warranty. There is 2 sides to every story and your just dosnt add up!

[CrewCutEnterprises]

The fit and finish on the LCF seems alot better than the Isuzu not that they arent nice trucks but the Ford seems to be built a little heavier.Go see Mike at Koons, he has a bunch of them and he is not one of those pain in the ass salesman.
traveling trees put up or shut up ! Show us some proof that they voided your warranty. There is 2 sides to every story and your just dosnt add up!


Mike Wolin or whatever. yea hes working on the quote. And He is great, he sits down and askes, what are you going to be doing, hauling, etc with this truck? Then we design it from there. He is a very nice guy and the main reason for me to stay with ford...... Its 3 mins away. Thats nice. No Mit or isuzu dealer for 25 miles or so.

O and they are a commercial dealer so they stay open till 8 pm working on commercial trucks...

[CrewCutEnterprises]

They come with a 4.5L Power Stroke® V6 Turbo Diesel engine with 200 hp and 440 lb.-ft. of torque.

Has anyone heard of this engine before?


No they built it for the international cab over / ford lcf.

And it has plenty of power.

[Marek]

Mike Allen is who I deal with, there is also a isuzu dealer in GB called Dovell and Williams , they are also good people to deal with.Mike and I have built a few trucks from the ground up.I have to go there in the am , I will get some numbers on the LCF.

[CrewCutEnterprises]

Mike Allen is who I deal with, there is also a isuzu dealer in GB called Dovell and Williams , they are also good people to deal with.Mike and I have built a few trucks from the ground up.I have to go there in the am , I will get some numbers on the LCF.


Yea dovell is on 2 in glen burnie, and they are nice but they are not open sat and sunday so triing to get there to look at trucks is hard, they are only open 8-5 mon - fri

[Marek]

A loaded up LCF is going to run 30 - 32k for the cab and chassis then you add your body costs.From what I hear they are really nice trucks and are holding up really well.

[FANS]

designed and marketed, back in the early 80's. Sure it was built in Brazil and shipped here, but it was a house design. Not only did they build it for years, but when they sold the heavy truck division to Freightliner they sold the design as well. Was still being sold the last couple of years. Not being sold now though simply because of the general lack of medium cab over models. The cabover model before that originated in 1955.

Does Hino even build a cabover anymore? Mitsu does, but I don't think Hino even lists a cabover model in the US this year.

On the Ford, isn't the 4.5 just 3/4 of the 6.0 diesel? Mostly the same moving parts just less of them?

[mpottspeoria]

I have a 2006 Ford Lcf with a 16 ft stake bed on it. I love it. I will put my truck up against any other cabover out there. With the twin turbo, I get moving fasted and stay moving with ease. I live in Phoenix which in my opinion is the cabover capitol. I have stopped at a light and have had a rookey driver in a Japanese truck try to get up to speed befor me. I just leave them in the dust. When the truck is empty, it drives like a hotrod. It has a ton of power. The turning radius is amazing. I normally pull a 30 ft trailer with 3 Hustlers on it. 2 60s and a 72. I will never buy a Japanese truck. Im not bias on American products tho. I drive a Infiniti I30 in my free time. I just want the best vehicle for the job and the LCF is it. My feul milage is 9mpg even towing the trailer and the cruise control is a lifesaver on the freeway.