Landscape body for truck?

[Indiana]

I have thinking of getting rid of my 16' landscape trailer and putting a landscape bed on my one ton. Like the ones on these Isuzu NPR's that are around.

Anybody done this? I know they make landscape bodies for one tons. I got a Trader today. I have a Walker C and a 48" Kees that I would put on it.

I think it would make it easier to get into tight spots w/o the stupid trailer.

[Guido]

Make sure you think about all of the pros and cons before you make the decision. It will be easier to maneuver your truck around, yes but think of these benefits the trailer gives you:

Holds all your equipment so your truck bed can haul debris or planting/landscape material, etc.

It will take longer to get your equipment on and off than it would with a trailer.

But like you said, if you have to get into some tight places it may be better without a trailer.

I think it depends on your focus of work. If your into mostly maintenance and you don't do much hauling or landscape work, than go with the bed, if not the trailer has to stay!

A friend of mine rushed into selling his trailer in the spring and started loading his equipment into his 1 ton rack/dump body, and when it got close to fall he realized he had no way to put his leaf box on and haul his mowers and blowers, etc.

You know your business best though, so you'll make the right call. This was just a couple things to think about.

Hope this heped!

[Vandora Lawn & Landscape]

My suggestion would be to get the landscape body truck and keep the trailer. That way you can always have the trailer to haul stuff or the truck bed to haul stuff. Also, if your truck goes down you still have a trailer to haul your equipment around attached to a rented pick up truck.

[accuratelawn]

What size landscape body would fit on a one ton pickup?

[Indiana]

I have a one ton cab and chasis. My wheelbase is 109" so I have a nine dump on it right now. I think the pick-ups will only take a 9 footer. I guess....

I have done a little checking and looks like 10' is the smallest these come unless you go custom. $$$

I have two trailers a 16' landscape, and a 10 utility. I use the 10' to haul mulch, large surge stone, etc... Also can load my walker and wk behind on that. It's just too small for everything (Trimmers, trim mower, etc...) It serves me well as a second trailer and easier to haul mulch on that. The truck has tool boxes on the dump bed. Like side boxes. One box is 2'x2'x8' and the other is 18"x18"x4'. I have side boards that build all this is and enable me to pick-up leaves, mulch and all.

The past two years though I have had trouble turning around. Tight driveways, steep roads, and vehicles in the way. We are really rural so our roads are real narrow as well.

Anyway, I like the mulch on a trailer 'cause I can get more on the trailer than my truck on account of those boxes. The boxes carry my wenches, blowers, hedgetrimmer, and mixing oil. The small box holds all pesticides and chemicals.

I still have to figure out what to do with leaves in the fall. I have a truck loader that I shoot the leaves in the dump bed. I have a mesh cover to throw over the top to hold it all in. Works good.

I also have a '83 chevy p/u to use if I need it. I know there is no perfect set-up for everything. I have tried lots of alternatives except the landscape body.

[Getmow]

I did it to an 87 ford diesel. I had the frame extended to handle the 12' flat bed and 4' beavertail. I still use trailers but this is the primary truck for the cutting season. I use a dump in the fall for the leaves.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=1248301&a=9224893&p=31134469

[Edited by Getmow on 11-26-2000 at 03:38 AM]

[toddman35]

indiana, thats a nice setup, what all do you have on that, i saw the 2 dixies and the toro wb. What else do you have on that? thanks

[landscaper3]

Getmow is that an old car hauler? looks like the long wheelbase truck like on the car carriers (very nice setup) very professional looking by the way.

[Getmow]

On that day there were 2 D/C's the Toro WB, a 21" toro trim mower, trimmers,blowers,gas,tools,spare tires for mowers etc.
BTW it is an old ambulance chassis that I had the bed installed on.

[toddman35]

oops my bad, looked at the wrong post. Getmow*

[accuratelawn]

Getmow
Great set up!
What is the wheelbase on your truck?
What did it cost to have the bed made?
I am considering a new truck setup, your looks like the way to go.
Thanks

[Lawn Services]

nice setup how long is it DO YOU have a way too tow a trailer

i do notice that that's a long bed
and it looks like that rear on that truck
that the springs look like they are flatend out
what is your G.V.W.R compared to your actual weight

[Getmow]

Thanks for the compliments. I'll have to check the wheel base?? The shop had to lengthen the frame though. The GVWR for the truck is 11K and I am well under that. I know there is plenty of room left on the springs.
I had the body fabricated at Quality Truck Bodies in Wilson NC. The total cost with tool box, frame and drive shaft extension and mounting was around 5500.

[SLSNursery]

I have an NQR with a van body that has been working well with ramps for this season. At the GIE I checked out the crew cab setup (it was the dovetail on a crewcab NQR which will be available in March). I am thinking about getting a couple of those landscaper bodies, and maybe some others, then set up a couple of hooks on the chassis.

I have made this comment before about the Isuzu, but here it is again. The truck is unbeatable, economical, easy to drive, and efficient. It turns on a dime. For touch up fall cleanups, etc, yes we have to manually clean out the truck, but otherwise it can securely get to and from the jobs without stuff flying around (loose leaves, tools, etc.). For the bigger jobs I have a couple of vacuum trucks and trailers set up. Like Guido said, don't limit yourself if you plan on using a dump truck for other work, you'll be out of luck. However, for a maintenance operation I can't really see a down side to adding this onto the fleet.

I am reviewing the income versus expense of each of my trucks, and can clearly see that in my case, replacing an older pickup/trailer with one of these will save me money (i.e. increase profit margin). Take the time to see how your vehicles contribute to your bottom line, and I think you will find the same thing. Remember to think about convenience and function but also fuel economy (1 compact diesel versus a truck pulling a trailer), taxes (you are already paying for the truck and trailer, perhaps a new truck costs more in taxes), insurance (may be higher for a new truck), maintenance (less tires on the ground=less maintenance, for instance, new item=fewer problems).

[JB1]

have been looking at these setups for three years, finally this spring went out and got one , the body is from wil-ro mfg. they do have a website. the chasis is a f-550 diesel . nice not having the trailer to pull around. we can haul whatever we need skid steers , pallets of sod , mowers or whatever. and price is probably less than some of these pickups and trailers.

[Getmow]

I agree 100% with you SLS. I searched hard for a used cab over that was not beat up or had 200k miles in it with no luck. I went with the open body when I found this truck. I will go enclosed on the next truck. For a maintenance crew this is the way to go.

[lawrence stone]

The Isuzu 11k grvw gas job with a 14" rack stake body is going to be my next truck. At $20k including the body you can't go wrong. A new 1/2 ton p/u is $17.

As far as buying a used one forget it. At that price it pays to buy new.

My plans are to order and install a custom made handy ramp end gate to fit that application. I will have it made at the exact same height as the top of the body.

Then I am going to enclosed the stake sides with more lumber to enclose the sides. Then I am going to buy 4 sheets of marine plwood that hinges along the top of the skake sides. The top be will open during the the working day and then lay flat along the outside of the stake sides and locked and enclosed at other times.

[Mowin4cash]

What are your thoughts on having an Isuzu NPR or NQR with a 12' to 14' hydraulically operated dumping stake body, pulling your trailer w/ the mowers and stuff. Seems like it would be the best of both worlds. You'll always have your equipment with you, and you could actually do a few jobs(leaf removals) before going to your dumpsite. I hate having to make 2 trips per yard (average) to the dumpsite in a pickup when doing cleanups.

[Getmow]

Mowin4cash, It'll work just fine. The ultimate in versatility is what a friend of mine did. H had a 14' dump bed mounted on an Isuzu. The bed has a removable beaver tail. He uses it as a landscaper in the summer and a dump in the fall.