GMC C6500 Vs FL 70 Freightliner

[John White]

I have narrowed my search down to two trucks. Good clean older trucks are really hard to find. Almost non existent. I found a 1999 GMC C6500. 185k miles. Alinson trans. Very clean. For around $7,500. I found a 2002 FL 70 Std trans. With air brakes. Very clean, except for the crappy peeling of the dash board on Freight liners. 280k miles. $6500. I think it was a rider truck. Both are under CDL. Fl 70 has air ride seat and air bag. (any problems on that?) I think the FL 70 is a little heavier than the GMC. Does any one have any idea of the weight, just the cab and chassis of these trucks would be. I know what the weight of the bed I am going to put on it and just trying to figure out how much payload I can carry without going over 26K lbs. Both have the 3126 cat engine. Every one I talk to says go with the one with air brakes. I like the way the GMC are made and look as I have one. (brakes weak when loaded) But getting any service help from GM is non exitstant. C6500 is lower to ground, making it easeyier to get into and out. I've heard that with a air bag they tend to rock a lot and not as stable as springs. ??? Which one would go with and why?

 

[mitch504]

What are you going to do with it?

 

[Dad5]

My preference would be the Freightliner. Parts and service for a GMC in my experience has been horrible. I work on a mine site that has both a 6500 and a FL70 set up as lube trucks. The 6500 is falling apart on a daily basis. That's not to say we don't have problems with the FL70 because we do but not nearly as much as the 6500. Both of these units are equipped with Cat engines as well. The 6500 has had a lot of problems with the GM side of the engine wiring. Air brakes are my preference both for performance and servicabilty.

 

[powerjoke]

How can it be under cdl and still be an airbrake truck ?

 

[John White]

The sticker on the door says 25995 GVW. I have talked to different people who have trucks like this and they say as long as you do not exceed 26k you are legal. Air brakes or not. Over 26k and you have to have a CDL with air brake endorsement. Now get this, I got a call from a fellow who owns a Kennworth 300 and it has a sticker on the door Max GVW 25900, with air brakes. I don't understand how they come up with the GVW rating. He says they don't need a cdl to drive it but being a Kennworth and the truck weighing so much, about all they can haul is 5K. The FL 70 was a Ryder truck with a box on it that they rented out. So I am sure it would be legal or it would not be practical to put air brakes on one rated under 26k if they couldn't rent it out.

 

[ValleyFirewood]

My Chevy C70 with a 427 weighs about 17,500 empty if that helps you any. That is with a 30 yard dump box.

Id guess just can and chassis and a single rear axle would be in the 8000-9000 lb area

 

[Cretebaby]

Over 26k and you have to have a CDL with air brake endorsement.

No such thing.

 

[Cretebaby]

How can it be under cdl and still be an airbrake truck ?

What difference does air make?

 

[powerjoke]

What difference does air make?

I always understood it that ANY airbrake with the exception of an "RV" required a CDL hence the name "commercial drivers liscense" although I am sure it varies from state to state and I am not I ohio i was simply asking a question Crete........ Btw don't you have some beans you have to go rotohoe ? Lol

The way I read it is that if you are paid to set in the seat of a vehicle you are a commercial driver regardless if it's an s-10 or a peterbilt 13axle rig the only difference is the Class of CDL's ......... Every auto parts delivery drivers around here have a class E CDL, also states that if it is a company owned truck you are required to have a CDL...... Basically my wife can't hop in my 4dr pickup to go to the grocery store, CDL laws are pretty cut and dry but it's just finding them that's a real pita sometimes, and you can't argue with a cop whether he thinks he knows the laws or not

Pj

 

[redneckchevy9]

I know that if you are under 26,000 & have air ASSIST, you don't need a CDL, but anything with air brakes you need that endorsement, I can only speak for IL. laws though.