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Service truck

pumkinhead

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Oct 20, 2017
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81
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michigan
younger field tech looking to move up to a larger service truck(currently in f550 with imt body and 7500lb crane) wondering what everyones opinion on the ideal truck is, currently looking at a md6 with a knaphide body and steller 12000lb crane does any one have any experience with this setup?I work for an underground company and mostly work on mid to large size cat excavators, loaders and few dozers, any input would be greatly appreciated.
 

Mike L

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Dec 1, 2010
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Texas
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Self employed field mechanic
Everyone has a different opinion on service trucks. For me a 550 size won’t cut it and for the cost of them you may as well have a 25,999 gvw truck. I personally like a 33,000 gvw with a 14’ body. I drool over the big tandem axle trucks but it would be too big for my application. I need something that takes less than 40 acres to turn around. I run a 10k crane which is plenty but sometimes I’m in a weird spot or have a bad angle and wish for a 12-14k crane. Do you have a CDL? That’s another consideration.
 

Junkyard

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Jun 5, 2016
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Claremore, OK
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Field Mechanic
Before you can build a truck or shop for one there needs to be an idea of the budget, like Mike said CDL or not as well as what you plan to carry on it. My truck has a 14’ bed, 10k crane. It holds and lifts 99% of what I need to and we run some big iron. If I ever got to build another one I wouldn’t change much, in fact I’d keep this IMT bed and crane. Going to a 12 or 14k crane would make life easier but won’t raise my ultimate capability as anything over 10k is 20k or heavier.

Things I’d change would be the POS freightliner the bed is on. I’d go 3’ longer cab to axle so I can carry more fuel and have a welder deck plus some additional storage. Midsize engine, 10 liter or so with engine brake, manual trans and an extended cab or small bunk to keep my suitcase, laptop, cooler etc. I might be gone a day or a week.
 

pumkinhead

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Oct 20, 2017
Messages
81
Location
michigan
Thank you for the replies.
Everyone has a different opinion on service trucks. For me a 550 size won’t cut it and for the cost of them you may as well have a 25,999 gvw truck. I personally like a 33,000 gvw with a 14’ body. I drool over the big tandem axle trucks but it would be too big for my application. I need something that takes less than 40 acres to turn around. I run a 10k crane which is plenty but sometimes I’m in a weird spot or have a bad angle and wish for a 12-14k crane. Do you have a CDL? That’s another consideration.
no cdl but would not be problem getting, the 550 i currently run has been a great truck but does not have enough storage and i need a larger capacity crane. my biggest hurdle is if i should stay in the less than 26,000 gvw

Before you can build a truck or shop for one there needs to be an idea of the budget, like Mike said CDL or not as well as what you plan to carry on it. My truck has a 14’ bed, 10k crane. It holds and lifts 99% of what I need to and we run some big iron. If I ever got to build another one I wouldn’t change much, in fact I’d keep this IMT bed and crane. Going to a 12 or 14k crane would make life easier but won’t raise my ultimate capability as anything over 10k is 20k or heavier.

Things I’d change would be the POS freightliner the bed is on. I’d go 3’ longer cab to axle so I can carry more fuel and have a welder deck plus some additional storage. Midsize engine, 10 liter or so with engine brake, manual trans and an extended cab or small bunk to keep my suitcase, laptop, cooler etc. I might be gone a day or a week.
the owners are more concerned with getting the "right truck" than budget.
 
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Mike L

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If you go above the 26k gvw you’ll need that cdl. It’s not a big deal to get it but I believe you now have to go to school to get it.
 

Bluox

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Jun 19, 2010
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1,960
Location
WA state
New class 7 or 8 service trucks are running over 200k and thats before outfitting.
Bob
 

ahart

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Nov 7, 2020
Messages
808
Location
Indiana
I run a 2007 Kenworth T300 with a 13’ IMT body and a 6025 10K crane and is my personal truck. Last truck I had was a 2020 peterbilt 337 with a knapheide 14’ body and a 12k stellar crane. In my opinion, my 10k will do more than my 12k ever thought about. Stellar said theirs was true to the load chart and it may very well have been but my IMT is a lot stronger further out than the stellar was. Worst part about a 25999 GVW truck is you’re limited on the quality of chassis you can put it on in my opinion. I’ve seen more impressive stuff in 26k and up. Another issue with lower GVW is you’ll likely be over weight unless you really watch what you carry. They’re usually the same physical size as a 33k so it’s easy to put the same amount of gear on them. Just my .02, don’t want to be running illegal on day 1 either way.
 

pumkinhead

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Oct 20, 2017
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81
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michigan
I run a 2007 Kenworth T300 with a 13’ IMT body and a 6025 10K crane and is my personal truck. Last truck I had was a 2020 peterbilt 337 with a knapheide 14’ body and a 12k stellar crane. In my opinion, my 10k will do more than my 12k ever thought about. Stellar said theirs was true to the load chart and it may very well have been but my IMT is a lot stronger further out than the stellar was. Worst part about a 25999 GVW truck is you’re limited on the quality of chassis you can put it on in my opinion. I’ve seen more impressive stuff in 26k and up. Another issue with lower GVW is you’ll likely be over weight unless you really watch what you carry. They’re usually the same physical size as a 33k so it’s easy to put the same amount of gear on them. Just my .02, don’t want to be running illegal on day 1 either way.
ive been really happy with the imt boxes and crane on the 2 f550"s ive been in but its all ive known. how was the knapheide box compared to the imt? we've only ever had imt boxes and and it seem they start rusting pretty early in life, and that is one of the big concerns of the owner.
i also live in a suburb off a class b road which would be another benefit of a smaller truck but i agree that a 33k would probally be more ideal and i wouldnt have to worry about being overweight when i have a large cylinder or something in the back.
New class 7 or 8 service trucks are running over 200k and thats before outfitting.
Bob
it doesn't seem that smaller trucks are that much cheaper
If you go above the 26k gvw you’ll need that cdl. It’s not a big deal to get it but I believe you now have to go to school to get it.
ya, not to worried about getting it and will end up getting it either way
 

ahart

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Nov 7, 2020
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808
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Indiana
Knapheide is definitely better about not rusting out. I’ve got 2 new tool body doors for mine ready to be painted and have repaired rust on many others. But it’s 16 years old and doesn’t last forever.
 

Mike L

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Dec 1, 2010
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1,901
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Texas
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Self employed field mechanic
I’m also battling some rust issues but my truck is an 08 and as I’m finding out it has lived in the worst salty road conditions in the state of Maine. This is my second IMT body. I had 3 maintainer bodies before this. If I was going new I’d be torn on what body to get. The maintainer is a Cadillac but the IMT is tried and true and their customer service is top notch. I had a controller problem and gave them a call. He talked me through my issues and we diagnosed a failing remote. It was under warranty so he overnighted me a new one to get me going and all I had to do was promise to overnight the old one back to him. Perfect. My maintainer dealer would barely call you back. Also, I use a place called QT equipment for IMT parts and they are a first class outfit. If I ever buy a new truck I'm going to call them first.
 

pumkinhead

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Oct 20, 2017
Messages
81
Location
michigan
all of are trucks have came from qt and have had no problems with parts or service, it does sound like there pretty well booked through 2023 on new builds from the last time i spoke to them
 

TNB

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Jul 23, 2016
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38
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Over there
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P-on
The IMT bodies are built with common sense, and of quality materials..I can’t believe I’m the first in on here to recommend against the Knapheide/ stellar combos..knapheide bodies are visibly cheaper made and the piano hinge doors do not hold up to salt/ corrosion..the stellar crane and knapheide body control is WAY over complicated for the task..that 12k rating on a stellar crane may be true but like mentioned above, that 6025 IMT will out pick it no matter what position it’s in..I also have a truck from QT and have dealt with them for years on things beyond service trucks, they really are top notch!
 

pumkinhead

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Oct 20, 2017
Messages
81
Location
michigan
thanks for the response, both trucks i have been in are imt bodies and have been really happy with them. they do seem to start rusting pretty early but not nearly as fast as the few autocrane bodies i have been around.
 
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