a friend of mine told me that when his salt load gets low he tilts his dump up1/3 of the way up. He made tie downs out of chains. Is doing this ok? Or will it come slidn out of the back of the truck. I told him it is a bad idea, `what do u all say?<br>Nck<br>
Well it's ok untill ya tilt the body up so high that it bends the spinner on the v-box. Anyways my v-boxed have a bar that connects into the body where the tailgate was. Then i have chain tie downs in the front to tie the v-box in the truck. I think it's ok as long as ya don't bend the spinner or have the v-box fall out of the body.<p>Geoff
Ok why does he have to raise the body? I need to do that at time swhen the material tunnels out. I use the HD 3" ratchet tie downs, and only raise the body about 6" and then drop it to shake the material loose. If that is why he does it, then I dont see a problem, just watch the spinner like Geoff mentioned.<br>Dino <p>----------<br> Professional Ice and Snow Management <br>Products:Services:Equipment www.sima.org
Dino,does your spreader tunnel out a lot?Mine had the last 3 storms,I'm using the same material,and it never used to to do it.I dont have a dump body so its a pain to get out and dig through with a shovel,especially when its heaped.I keep the spreader spotless and load within hours of using it.I guess its time to buy that P/U dump setup I seen in Northern.It would be worth it for that alone.<p>----------<br>John D<br>
john- im not sure but your load mignt be getting wet. Do you cover it with a tarp?<br>Dont hold me to the wet load part(just a quess)I heard heard the p/u dump setup is great. Im think about getting one for my landscape, than i can sell my own mulch and fire wood. Hope this helps.<br>-Nick<p><p>
Nick,I store mine inside and on a concrete pad,but When it was delivered it was moist from the water they spray on it to keep the dust down.I think it is just wet to,but it has never ever froze up.It has only happened the last 2 times-that is what gets me I used to zip through lots-now I have to bring a friend or stop every other pass to smack it down into the hopper.I'm almost out of this stuff anyway,next year I will go with real sand/salt and a straight salt pile.Hopefully magic coated,this was my first year with V-box now I know.BTW I already picked up about 10 new accounts for next year-all needing a V-box.Its time to buy another one,and maybe a (gulp) F550 (I hate that 4 letter word).But there is no one making a better truck that'll hold 4 ton.If I could buy one engine-less and swap in a 6BTA 5.9 cummins I could do it.<p>----------<br>John D<br>
John Go for the 7.3, you know you want to. Haa hee<p>The F 550 has been a great truck for us. It will be a good plow truck if you want to go that way.<p>Geoff
I would buy a 7.3,its better than the V10 and the fuel efficiency is great.It just sounds wimpy and lacks the character of a cummins along with ithe low end torque.I believe it is a great plow truck and your use and luck with them only reinforces that.<p>----------<br>John D<br>
I only have a problem with tunneling when the sand is on the truck for a long time. By that I mean during a snow storm when we only spread the hills and main drags at accounts. The vibration from driving seams to compack the sand. <br>But fortunatly the dump just loosens it up. I keep my load covered at all times when precip is falling and the stockpile is covered up.<br>John If you step up to the 650 you can get the cummins engine. It will hold more than 4 tons and with all that weight you wont need 4wd. <br>Or a top kick with a cat engine. GM and cat. Now that sounds good.<br>Dino <br><p>----------<br> Professional Ice and Snow Management <br>Products:Services:Equipment www.sima.org
I think he wants the 550 for it's turning radius and size. Thats the thing about the F 650 it's great for roads (the main reason i bought it) big lots ( only there it is only used when doing the roads around the lot, when it is snowing during the day, or two many cars to plow the whole place. This is one of those few times ya can cast snow to the side and block in the cars.), sanding. The F 550 will run circles around the 650, and you can still do residental with the F 500, don't try it with the F 650 take my word for it.<p>Also i know a guy who has the cummings in the F 650 he said it's underpowered unless you are using it to haul something light and bulky all the time. <p><br>If ya get the 650 get the cat power for it.<p>Geoff
I know geoff, I was just trying to keep him from having to buy a ford. I think the top kick is definatly the way to, yeah defitnatly.<br>Dino
I have got to stop this indirect ford/chevy debate. haa hee. <br>They are good trucks either way.<p>Geoff
If you want to see debates, read the lawn care forum. People there have NO sense of humor.<br>Dino<p>----------<br> Professional Ice and Snow Management <br>Products:Services:Equipment www.sima.org
I think their line of work has something to do with it. Too much stress, they need trucks, mowers, new employees every year, accounts. Then somone is always undecutting the other guy at least in maine.<p>Ok to all you landscaper don't take this the wrong way, but this is how i see it.<p>A plumber has like 40K +- in equipment including the truck and van. They charge like 40 to 50 bucks and hour, people pay because they need their plumbing to work ( i pay when i can't fix it myself, i want running water). A landscaper needs a 30K truck 2K trailer 8K mower and other stuff. More than the plumber at 30K +-, that makes 40 to 50 an hour, only the landscaper wants the same 40 to 50 an hour ( seams fair to me, only i am not the rest of maine). Anyways you have to have running water so you pay for the plumber, but if people want to save on the lawn they either do it themselves or find someone that charges less. Only because grounds maintmance doesn't require the education ( i know there are landscaping majors, and licenses, and cerifications, so you need some training. Only the general public doesn't know that like they do for a plumber. Would you hire and unlicened plumber? I wouldn't. Unlicened lawn care guy that didn't spread weed and feed? yes.) and experiences of a plumber or something like that.<p>For all you landscapers, i don't mean anything negative, thats just how i see it.<p>Geoff<br>
Geoff you should post that at the lawn care forum. I posted the same type of thoughts and got blasted. I agree entirely with you. I used to mow full time, and trust me it isnt rocket science. Do they deserve the same money, of course. Will they ever get it? I dont see how, certain things only will garner a certain price, and unfortunately cutting lawns is one of the,.<br>Dino
Geoff-you hit it on the head,a friend if mine bought a 550 and it can do everything.Not great at driveways,but itll do em.I dont want a huge truck with big turning cicle.I need P/u size truck with good payload,and easy to drive.I dont want to be blowing out 16" tires on an overloaded,swaying 1 ton when a 550 will handle it with ease.Dino-you know me better than to want a Ford,I just see no other choice,I will wait til summer and buy then,maybe GM's3600HD's will be out,although I doubt it.If I could I would buy a Chevy 1st choice,dodge second,and yes Chevy/CAT sounds wonderful.I love those 3126 and 3116's they have a raspy sound and run great.Topkicks and Kodiacs are just to big and dont make sense for my little business at this time.It seems like all the private roads around here get taken over by the state,so there isnt much big work here.If there is a 16-20 foot box plow on a 3 yd loader is the hot setup for big lots. <p>----------<br>John D<br>
Geoff, Dino,<br>You are so right about landscapers just wait ten minutes and a cheaper one will give you a bid, the skill required is not great. Too many guys want to put it in the realm of rocket science. people remember when the kid down the street would mow their lawn for 5 bucks they think that its still the same. I am a landscaper but I don't work for home owners or housing developers. I own 2 lawn mowers just because I need to mow a park for the first 60 or 90 days (two or three mowings) You couldn't get me in that rat race it's bad enough with just the installs but here at least you know your not going to run into a pickup truck operator type,(they would have a hard time with the bonding and such. <p>----------<br>paul<br>
John <p>Try a ford, i think ya will like it. Anyways if ya hate the thing that much after a year ya can trade it in for a new chevy 3500hd. That Ford 7.3 had never really had a problem moving anything ya but behind it.<p>Geoff
John you will have to go for the ford if you want a above 15000# gvw 4x4. I have read that GM will not have a model like that till at least 2003. All the new HD P/Us and cab chassis will have no more than 12000# gvw and will still have IFS.<br>Dino<p>----------<br> Professional Ice and Snow Management <br>Products:Services:Equipment www.sima.org<br>
