truck suggestions?

rabb11d

rabb11d

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2009
Location
Statesville,NC
We haul molds at the shop i work for. Currently we have an F350 (3k) / F550 (9k) / Sterling (13k) - (what we can haul).
The sterling is big and older and we don't run it too often, the F550 is a turd wagon and has something wrong all the time.
The idea is to replace the sterling and 550 with 1 truck.
Is there something along the F550 line of trucks that can haul around 13k?
I've looked and ram 5500 gets to around 11k but it isn't quite enough.
Needs to be a non CDL truck.
Regular cab 2wd is fine. Needs to be diesel.
Any ideas?
 
Chassis cab 6500HD? Highest options for axles, etc., put it at almost 16k for payload for the 2020 model and 15k for the 2019 (just looking at specs), so should be rated for 13k depending on upfit if I'm understanding the specs correctly. I just got curious and looked at specs, I'm no truck expert. Fun to learn about.

Looks to be 23,500 GVWR (22,900 for the 2019 model), so shouldn't need a CDL because under the 26k CDL threshold? (I had to look that up, I know absolutely nothing about CDL stuff). I don't really know how all that works.
 
Last edited:
Fabrik8 said:
Chassis cab 6500HD? Highest options for axles, etc., put it at almost 16k for payload for the 2020 model and 15k for the 2019 (just looking at specs), so should be rated for 13k depending on upfit if I'm understanding the specs correctly. I just got curious and looked at specs, I'm no truck expert. Fun to learn about.

Looks to be 23,500 GVWR (22,900 for the 2019 model), so shouldn't need a CDL because under the 26k CDL threshold? (I had to look that up, I know absolutely nothing about CDL stuff). I don't really know how all that works.
Click to expand...
i did look at the 6500hd, could work, I just couldn't figure out what the truck weight is?
 
rabb11d said:
i did look at the 6500hd, could work, I just couldn't figure out what the truck weight is?
Click to expand...

Going strictly by definition, it is GVWR - payload = curb weight, so 23500 - 15950 = 7550 for the 2020 model.

So your curb weight would go up after upfit (obviously) and your payload would go down the same amount.
 
tlucier said:
How big are these molds? You must be molding some big stuff.
Click to expand...

All kind of random stuff. We build and repair molds, most aren't that big though.

Fabrik8 said:
Going strictly by definition, it is GVWR - payload = curb weight, so 23500 - 15950 = 7550.

So your curb weight would go up after upfit (obviously) and your payload would go down the same amount.
Click to expand...

I hadn't found the curb weight, I'm surprised it doesn't weigh more. That would deff work though.
 
rabb11d said:
All kind of random stuff. We build and repair molds, most aren't that big though.



I hadn't found the curb weight, I'm surprised it doesn't weigh more. That would deff work though.
Click to expand...

I hadn't found the curb weight anywhere either, I just knew what the math was. It's an odd spec to leave out, but that's probably related to it being a chassis cab before bed upfit and therefore not actually a complete vehicle (curb weight probably doesn't exist as a defined spec until complete). Just guessing, don't really know.


So assuming the bed is less than 2000 pounds, either the 22,900 or 23,500 lb GVWR options for 2020 would work for you (both would be over 13k payload), so the 2019 model is an option as well (22,900 is the highest for 2019).
 
Last edited:
I'm super curious now: How do you weigh a 13k mold? Is that actually being physically weighed in the shop with a crane scale (or some other method), or is that a calculated weight if everything is designed in CAD and has a calculated volume? Or is that a "take the truck to the scales" type of deal...?

That's like 26.5 cubic feet of steel. Damn.
 
Last edited:
Fabrik8 said:
I'm super curious now: How do you weigh a 13k mold? Is that actually being physically weighed in the shop, or is that a calculated weight if everything is designed in CAD and has a calculated volume? Or is that a "take it to the scales" type of deal...?
Click to expand...
It isn't actually weighed, so it's a combination of the others. They probably lean on the heavy side, to be safe. 13k isn't a big mold though, I have seen some that are huge. Probably in the 60k range, mold for mac truck hood. We dont play in that game, it gets really expensive real fast.

We design in solid works, I think it does an ok job figuring the weight. I guess? [emoji848]

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 
The weight isnt too hard to figure as pretty much the only airspace in the mold is the part cavity itself plus the cooling that was gun drilled out. It is an estimate and it would be on the heavy side but I'd bet it is still done the way we used to do it, cubic inches of steel. Closed the mold is pretty much a "square" piece of steel.
I miss working there and Delta. Now Delta had some big molds, i remeber being part of the freightliner weight reduction program. Plus the roll out garbage cans and the old big tube TV backs were pretty big.

Sorry didn't intend to derail the thread, just reminiscing a little.
Lol
I was actually thinking about our next truck for the Drywall business, and was considering jumping up beyond a Furd or Chevy, to freightliner, Isuzu mack whatever that is more suited for higher miles and probably over built for the weight. We just need to make sure to stay under the 26k mark.
Subscribed to see what you guys choose.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk
 
Thats what I'm thinking too, is a duramax or powerstroke really made for the mileage and abuse, it is a LDT. (light duty truck lol)
We've had our share of problems and haven't hit 100K yet with a 2500. And they are stupid shit like DEF and other sensors. I think a MDT would be better as most businesses wouldn't put up with the problems.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk
 
No fries said:
Thats what I'm thinking too, is a duramax or powerstroke really made for the mileage and abuse, it is a LDT. (light duty truck lol)
We've had our share of problems and haven't hit 100K yet with a 2500. And they are stupid shit like DEF and other sensors. I think a MDT would be better as most businesses wouldn't put up with the problems.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
We don't typically run that many miles. The def and sensors are going to be an issue on any truck. The 6500 is a medium duty truck, other than the grill it's the same as an international CV series. For us the draw to something like this is its smaller and easier to drive than our sterling, also has airbags and other safety stuff.

In my opinion any diesel after 06 has too many sensors and runs the risk of issue. Not much we can do about that though.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 
Thats true, our truck is on the road, 8hrs a day 5 days a week. You maybe run your truck 1 or two days a week, don't you? Our mechanic says the fords and chevy diesel all have "equal" problems. I understand the smaller easier to get around and safer, truck. We had considered a SRW flatbed, for our lighter deliveries, but figured they would over load it thinking a flat bed has more capacity, our driver is just that a driver not paid to think.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk
 
No fries said:
Thats true, our truck is on the road, 8hrs a day 5 days a week. You maybe run your truck 1 or two days a week, don't you? Our mechanic says the fords and chevy diesel all have "equal" problems. I understand the smaller easier to get around and safer, truck. We had considered a SRW flatbed, for our lighter deliveries, but figured they would over load it thinking a flat bed has more capacity, our driver is just that a driver not paid to think.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Our 350 runs a fair amount but the bigger trucks I would say 1 time a week tops. Would be nice if we could get by with out it. Just one more reason not to keep 2 trucks up.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 
rabb11d said:
For us the draw to something like this is its smaller and easier to drive than our sterling, also has airbags and other safety stuff.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Don't be a Nancy. Lunch ladies drive 45ft school busses every day, to be sure a bunch of grown men can drive a 30ft truck once a week without hitting something.
 
No fries said:
We had considered a SRW flatbed, for our lighter deliveries, but figured they would over load it thinking a flat bed has more capacity, our driver is just that a driver not paid to think.
Click to expand...

Can confirm. Once witnessed a driver put 26k of material on a 26k truck. He thought the max GVWR number was the load capacity, and didn't realize it included the tare weight.

The good news is that it was actually a 30k truck that was derated for non-CDL drivers, but that's small consolation.
 
Back
Top