Would you dump 8 grand into a fifteen year old truck?

[ccstrebe]

After getting a severe brow beating last year from you all for pulling my CTL's with an F150 (which I admitted was too small of a truck to pull that big of a load with) I took to heart the error of my ways and bought a one ton for a good price.

It is going to take 8 grand to fix it up the way I want and was wondering if you guys think I'm crazy spending that much money on a truck that old?

[CAT powered]

It doesn't make the most sense in the world to me, but if it works for you then go for it.

In my area I could find a DRW 7.3 PowerStroke for 10-12,000 that wouldn't need any work and it wouldn't be any older than 10 years.

[fool32696]

You're crazy, it's a complete waste of money. You can find a newer truck that doesn't need work for around $10k.

[RockSet N' Grade]

I personally like the older trucks, so for me it would be a balance of what I like and what makes financial sense. AND, as we all know right now, financial sense of any sort is questionable. So, if ya like it.......do it!

[Scag48]

Not a bad looking truck, what kind of improvements are we talking about? If it tows and runs properly as is, run it!

[stuvecorp]

The problem you'll have even after you spend eight large is a fifteen year old truck. I would think you could get a nice 450 with a dump in the mid teens and would be very useful at your track.

[CAT powered]

Oh. I forgot one thing

3 cheers for ccstrebe and his finally getting the proper truck to pull his machine!

[AWJ Services]

Those trucks have terrible transmissions and the brakes are horrible.
Maybe 4 grand.

You can get a 99-02 Ford Powerstroke for that money and have a real truck or put a few thousand with it and get a Duramax.

[Junior M]

If the truck is worth it to you and you are happy with the powertrain and you think it'll be able to do everything you want it to do, then yeah..

And I would put $8k in it cause I like that bodystyle of truck..

[AI Inc]

When all is said and done and the 8k is speant you still have a 15 yo truck.

[all ferris]

What are you going to do to the truck that cost $8k?

[ksss]

What are you going to do to the truck that cost $8k?


I had an 93 CC 3500 4x4. I sold it at just under 250K had the 6.5TD. I really cant complain too much about the truck. I replaced the turbo charger, and scattered the 5 speed (that was really something as I was pulling a skid steer and the rear wheels locked up at 55 mph, lucky I watch NASCAR and sleeped at a Holiday Inn Express the night before). Other than odds and ends it was decent truck. My machines got heavier and the truck did not have the go to pull the machines up and down the Mns. The 3500 have better brakes. I had a 98 3/4 ton that went through brakes, but my 3500 was not an issue.

Unless you were really hooked on the truck you could find a Duramax/Allision now for under 20K in 3500 trim, but I if this one makes you happy spend the 8K make it how you want and keep it forever as you will not get your money out, sometimes thats an issue and other times it is not.

[Junior M]

I had an 93 CC 3500 4x4. I sold it at just under 250K had the 6.5TD. I really cant complain too much about the truck. I replaced the turbo charger, and scattered the 5 speed (that was really something as I was pulling a skid steer and the rear wheels locked up at 55 mph, lucky I watch NASCAR and sleeped at a Holiday Inn Express the night before). Other than odds and ends it was decent truck. My machines got heavier and the truck did not have the go to pull the machines up and down the Mns. The 3500 have better brakes. I had a 98 3/4 ton that went through brakes, but my 3500 was not an issue.

Unless you were really hooked on the truck you could find a Duramax/Allision now for under 20K in 3500 trim, but I if this one makes you happy spend the 8K make it how you want and keep it forever as you will not get your money out, sometimes thats an issue and other times it is not.
Dad had a 94 6.5 dually regular cab 4x4 with an awesome body on it and it couldnt get out of its own way with the 331 and gooseneck on hills. And it ate breaks for freakin breakfast..

He must've got a lemon because you dont see many complaints about that truck..


and I am glad you slept at the holiday inn, we wouldnt want your precious Powercrap to be damaged.. :laugh:

[nnj18]

Go buy a 2-3 year old F450/F550 for $20k

[ccstrebe]

Go buy a 2-3 year old F450/F550 for $20k

I would love to have a newer truck but it is not an option, too much money for something that is going to be used so little. As it is I will have 12 grand into this truck.

This truck is only going to be used a handful of times per year to pull the Cat and will be used as my backup vehicle when my F150 is being serviced or detailed.

[Junior M]

I would love to have a newer truck but it is not an option, too much money for something that is going to be used so little.

This truck is only going to be used a handful of times per year to pull the Cat and will be used as my backup vehicle when my F150 is being serviced or detailed.
or your F150 is broke from pulling the CAT.. :laugh:

[YellowDogSVC]

CC-- I did exactly what you did a few years back and regretted it. Hopefully, your truck won't become a money pit but I put a lot of money into fixing up a 10 year old truck when I first started out. Because I had so much in it, I kept putting money in it because of my initial investment into fixing it up to haul (flatbed, toolboxes, engine work, etc.). I ended up needing a new engine, new tranny, new rear end, etc. That truck nickle and dimed me to death! I hope you don't have the same experience but when I saw the Chevy, I had a flashback.

Hopefully it will work out better for you. I had to haul everyday and that was part of the problem.

[YellowDogSVC]

I would love to have a newer truck but it is not an option, too much money for something that is going to be used so little. As it is I will have 12 grand into this truck.

This truck is only going to be used a handful of times per year to pull the Cat and will be used as my backup vehicle when my F150 is being serviced or detailed.

CC after reading how much you plan to use the truck, I think you are on the right track. I kept my nightmare as a backup truck for almost 10 years. I hated driving it because I was afraid it would break down but it was a backup and it served that purpose well after moving off the front line.

[YellowDogSVC]

Oh, and after tons of money into the truck, it finally worked pretty good before I sold it. --so it's possible to get it the way you want.

[Junior M]

all the crap you just went through Yellow, makes me doubt my plan.... ;)

[ccstrebe]

Well, I thought some one would pickup on my little hint and I'm just busting out at the seams to show you my latest project and can't wait any longer to see if anyone is going to catch the hint so here goes.

I didn't want another pickup to pull this Cat with, I already got a truck. I looked around for awhile for a small inexpensive dump but they are not to be had and the ones that were are wasted or very old.

So I started looking for one tons that were in good shape for a good price and finally found one. This truck seems to be in great mechanical shape and the interior is in excellent condition and very comfortable.

This is a brand new dump bed with fold down sides and I had a nice custom hitch made. I was very fortunate to find some factory mirrors with the factory block off covers where the regular mirrors go at the auto wreckers.

The hood was pretty beat up so the wrecking yard traded me the hood and mirrors and a couple of other small items for the old bed.

[Junior M]

Nice, one thing, get a freakin pintle combo, much heavier than that thing you got..

[ksss]

Nice, one thing, get a freakin pintle combo, much heavier than that thing you got..



I would take that CAT license plate off the front before you contaminate the whole truck. It might already be too late.:laugh:

454?

[Junior M]

I would take that CAT license plate off the front before you contaminate the whole truck. It might already be too late.:laugh:

454?
and put a Bobcat plate on it and a huge freakin Case decal like Kaisers on the side.. :laugh:

[stuvecorp]

CC-- I did exactly what you did a few years back and regretted it. Hopefully, your truck won't become a money pit but I put a lot of money into fixing up a 10 year old truck when I first started out. Because I had so much in it, I kept putting money in it because of my initial investment into fixing it up to haul (flatbed, toolboxes, engine work, etc.). I ended up needing a new engine, new tranny, new rear end, etc. That truck nickle and dimed me to death! I hope you don't have the same experience but when I saw the Chevy, I had a flashback.

Hopefully it will work out better for you. I had to haul everyday and that was part of the problem.

That sounds like what I went through on my 94 F450. It just wore me down, not knowing how much the next repair was going to be. The best thing I could have done is go and bought a new 450/550, I would still be using it and it likely would have prevented me from buying the Kodiak and the 350 I have now.

[stuvecorp]

Well, I thought some one would pickup on my little hint and I'm just busting out at the seams to show you my latest project and can't wait any longer to see if anyone is going to catch the hint so here goes.

I didn't want another pickup to pull this Cat with, I already got a truck. I looked around for awhile for a small inexpensive dump but they are not to be had and the ones that were are wasted or very old.

So I started looking for one tons that were in good shape for a good price and finally found one. This truck seems to be in great mechanical shape and the interior is in excellent condition and very comfortable.

This is a brand new dump bed with fold down sides and I had a nice custom hitch made. I was very fortunate to find some factory mirrors with the factory block off covers where the regular mirrors go at the auto wreckers.

The hood was pretty beat up so the wrecking yard traded me the hood and mirrors and a couple of other small items for the old bed.

So, this is a done deal? That dump box looks real heavy and on a 3500 isn't going to be able to haul much.

[ccstrebe]

454?

Yes, with a Banks Power kit

[ccstrebe]

So, this is a done deal? That dump box looks real heavy and on a 3500 isn't going to be able to haul much.

I'm not going to be doing much more than pulling the Cat around once in a while and cleaning debris off other properties that I have and maybe the occasional couple yards of ab rock or sand.

[Gravel Rat]

Sometimes its not worth dealing with old trucks and sometimes its not worth dealing with new trucks. I would be checking that Chevy frame for cracks after a year with that box on there. Its not a true cab and chassis and chevy p/u frames in that era were never that heavly built.

Amazing the people that keep dumping money into dead horses thinking they are saving money. If its a diesel truck and the engine is in the need of replacing time to get rid of the truck. Looking at 12,000 dollars minimum that could pay a good chunk of a new truck.

[YellowDogSVC]

That sounds like what I went through on my 94 F450. It just wore me down, not knowing how much the next repair was going to be. The best thing I could have done is go and bought a new 450/550, I would still be using it and it likely would have prevented me from buying the Kodiak and the 350 I have now.

exactly. I figured, with cost of truck and repairs, new engine, tranny, rear end, flatbed, downtime, and such that I had more than $25k into a 10yr + truck. Yeah, I should have cut my losses early on but after a few years, it had so many new parts that only the frame and remained! I even put new seats, new hood, paint job, and stereo in it! It was a pride thing so I kept it until a relative said they could use it.

I finally broke down and bought another 2nd truck but this time it was an '08 F350 CC dually 4x4 with 11k miles. I'm going to put an aluminum flatbed on it and make it my front line truck some time in the summer.

[stuvecorp]

Here for $5-8,000 you could get a nice International county truck. Most are DT's with an Allison and a 5-6 yard box.

[ccstrebe]

Sometimes its not worth dealing with old trucks and sometimes its not worth dealing with new trucks. I would be checking that Chevy frame for cracks after a year with that box on there. Its not a true cab and chassis and chevy p/u frames in that era were never that heavily built.

Amazing the people that keep dumping money into dead horses thinking they are saving money. If its a diesel truck and the engine is in the need of replacing time to get rid of the truck. Looking at 12,000 dollars minimum that could pay a good chunk of a new truck.

exactly. I figured, with cost of truck and repairs, new engine, tranny, rear end, flatbed, downtime, and such that I had more than $25k into a 10yr + truck. Yeah, I should have cut my losses early on but after a few years, it had so many new parts that only the frame and remained! I even put new seats, new hood, paint job, and stereo in it! It was a pride thing so I kept it until a relative said they could use it.

I finally broke down and bought another 2nd truck but this time it was an '08 F350 CC dually 4x4 with 11k miles. I'm going to put an aluminum flatbed on it and make it my front line truck some time in the summer.

Yes, that was my dilemma all along, I'm not going to be using this truck day in and day out so I couldn't justify spending more money on a newer truck. Belive me I'm all about the latest and greatest. I didn't even want to have this much into this truck but it was the cheapest way I could figure out to do it.

If this truck was going to be used every day I would have found something a couple years old for a good price.

The way I look at it, if the truck gives me too much trouble (which I don't think it will) the bed and hoist are brand new and can be reinstalled on a newer truck down the road.

As little I'll be using this truck I look forward to it serving me well for many years.

[ccstrebe]

Here for $5-8,000 you could get a nice International county truck. Most are DT's with an Allison and a 5-6 yard box.

I know, I saw them in the truck trader but they are way bigger than I needed or wanted. I wanted a truck small enough that I could drive around town on small errands and also be able to hit the freeway in comfort. Plus I don't want the hassle with needing a CDL for the larger trucks.

[stuvecorp]

I know, I saw them in the truck trader but they are way bigger than I needed or wanted. I wanted a truck small enough that I could drive around town on small errands and also be able to hit the freeway in comfort. Plus I don't want the hassle with needing a CDL for the larger trucks.

I agree, it just is frustrating how cheap they are compared to the smaller trucks. I used that 450 and the 350 as my personal truck. The bad thing is the DOT is really starting to pay as much attention to the small trucks as the big ones. My 350 weighs 9800 and is tagged for 12,000, so it can't haul hardly anything but the box is nice for attachments or trips to the lumber yard.:)

That is true you can move the box, I'm thinking of that route too. I found a wrecked 450 that is pimped out and could switch my old contractors box to the new one and not have a payment. Still going back and forth on that as the 6.0 is just not inspiring but having a n 05 truck would be good for may years.

[ccstrebe]

The bad thing is the DOT is really starting to pay as much attention to the small trucks as the big ones. My 350 weighs 9800 and is tagged for 12,000, so it can't haul hardly anything, but the box is nice for attachments or trips to the lumber yard.

I worrying a little about that. DOT isn't even going to pay attention to an overloaded pick-up, but put an empty dump box on the exact same truck and how many red flags will I be flying?

[Gravel Rat]

What the CVSE (DOT) are looking at is people pulling trailers being overloaded or not having the right class license etc. Usually if the truck looks clean your not going to get picked on. If you have a ugly load or something catches their eye your caught.

I stopped using 1 ton trucks years ago they don't have any payload and the older trucks had no braking power.

Years ago 3 tons used to be a heavy load when I ran 1 ton trucks now 3 tons on a F-450 is nothing. I never pull a trailer because what I do a trailer can't go where I go. I don't own any equipment like a skid steer.

Some jobsites I can't put a full load in the truck or you run the risk of not having enough braking power or enough engine power.

[bobbyr]

nice truck i bet it will be great for you

[ccstrebe]

I would take that CAT license plate off the front before you contaminate the whole truck. It might already be too late.:laugh:


:laugh: They gave that to me when they delivered the Cat. I want to replace it with one that doesn't have the dealers name on it, it has a bigger Cat emblem.

[stuvecorp]

What the CVSE (DOT) are looking at is people pulling trailers being overloaded or not having the right class license etc. Usually if the truck looks clean your not going to get picked on. If you have a ugly load or something catches their eye your caught.

I stopped using 1 ton trucks years ago they don't have any payload and the older trucks had no braking power.

Years ago 3 tons used to be a heavy load when I ran 1 ton trucks now 3 tons on a F-450 is nothing. I never pull a trailer because what I do a trailer can't go where I go. I don't own any equipment like a skid steer.

Some jobsites I can't put a full load in the truck or you run the risk of not having enough braking power or enough engine power.

I'm not buying that, if you don't have your numbers and sticker they will get you eventually.

[SiteSolutions]

I know, I saw them in the truck trader but they are way bigger than I needed or wanted. I wanted a truck small enough that I could drive around town on small errands and also be able to hit the freeway in comfort. Plus I don't want the hassle with needing a CDL for the larger trucks.

You said you won't be using it all the time. If it's a work truck, and you already have a F-150, I would think a single axle dump would be great. I sold mine last year when I needed money and I cry myself to sleep at night wishing I had it back. Well, maybe not quite but there are times it would be nice to have more truck. A solid single axle medium duty truck will pull two ctls or a ctl plus mini ex or a full sized backhoe, something that is a little iffy with just a one ton...

[Gravel Rat]

I'm not buying that, if you don't have your numbers and sticker they will get you eventually.


Here the DOT goes by your license plate if it has the insurance sticker on the front plate your commercial. The only think that needs to see on the truck is your name it has to be O/op ******. No posted gvw required.

All the DOT needs to see is your license plate. If they pull your plate number and see the registered gvw of the truck is 5600kgs or greater and your license plate sticker is on your back plate boy are you in chit. Its a license to steal for the DOT now they will go through your truck like a fine tooth comb.

You could walk away 400 dollars poorer with violation fines.

Here anything 12,000lb gvw and greater is a commercial truck you need a motorcarrier number etc. If your pulling a trailer you need a CDL.

[ccstrebe]

Here is a picture of the whole rig. Don't bust my chops on not being tied down, I just put it on the trailer to take the picture.

[Junior M]

Here is a picture of the whole rig. Don't bust my chops on not being tied down, I just put it on the trailer to take the picture.
nice, I was going to ask for picture..

It looks like the fender is rubbing the tire..

[ccstrebe]

nice, I was going to ask for picture..

It looks like the fender is rubbing the tire..

Must be an optical illusion, it's five or six inches away.

[Gravel Rat]

Well that looks safer than a F-150 pulling the same load. I imagine the 454 is a little thirsty pulling that. Can you hear the gas tank turning inside out from the excessive vacuum :laugh:

Its drinking gas as fast as Junior drinks his crown royal.

[Junior M]

Well that looks safer than a F-150 pulling the same load. I imagine the 454 is a little thirsty pulling that. Can you hear the gas tank turning inside out from the excessive vacuum :laugh:

Its drinking gas as fast as Junior drinks his crown royal.
Crown Royal? Come on, give me something good, dam!