John V
Well-Known Member
Hey all, I could use some advice on buying a medium duty (under 26k) truck for occasionally hauling logs for my sawmill business, as well as occasionally hauling fill dirt for a property I'm developing. Ideal find would be a ~16' flatbed dump with cab-behind knuckleboom. with a set of ramps, I could also use this to haul my skid steer and tow my sawmill to jobs as well. Not the easiest to come by on my shoestring budget.
An ebay listing accepted my offer on a 1991 International, single axle 26k gvwr with a 5 speed manual with air brakes. Cab behind knuckleboom and 16ft flatbed (no dump). I'd have to drive 10 hrs out of state to get it. Seems to be in good running shape, knuckleboom works, etc.
Issues I'm foreseeing with it: it's a 5 speed and I live in the Western NC mountains. Since I'd be hauling 26k and under, do you think the dt466+5 speed will handle this? Is it feasible/cost effective to swap rearends to a 2 speed rear?
Second: what would be expected cost be to add a scissor hoist to the flatbed? I wouldn't need a pump as I could plumb it off the PTO already on the truck. Attached is a picture of the flatbed... hopefully it's already rigid enough to handle being a dump.
The other option would be to pursue a more local 1985-1995 F700 flatbed dump, those seem to go for about $5-8k around here, with 2 speed rears. Then I'd need to find a knuckleboom, cut the bed shorter, and mount the flatbed. Not sure which is more feasible to end up with the ideal truck.
An ebay listing accepted my offer on a 1991 International, single axle 26k gvwr with a 5 speed manual with air brakes. Cab behind knuckleboom and 16ft flatbed (no dump). I'd have to drive 10 hrs out of state to get it. Seems to be in good running shape, knuckleboom works, etc.
Issues I'm foreseeing with it: it's a 5 speed and I live in the Western NC mountains. Since I'd be hauling 26k and under, do you think the dt466+5 speed will handle this? Is it feasible/cost effective to swap rearends to a 2 speed rear?
Second: what would be expected cost be to add a scissor hoist to the flatbed? I wouldn't need a pump as I could plumb it off the PTO already on the truck. Attached is a picture of the flatbed... hopefully it's already rigid enough to handle being a dump.
The other option would be to pursue a more local 1985-1995 F700 flatbed dump, those seem to go for about $5-8k around here, with 2 speed rears. Then I'd need to find a knuckleboom, cut the bed shorter, and mount the flatbed. Not sure which is more feasible to end up with the ideal truck.
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