Just a starting point, I wanted 4X4, but something more HD then a 550, I work out of a 2011 ford 550 of the company now but they are not standing up in the mud of the oil sands.
So picked up a 2001 IH 4800 bucket truck to get the 4x4, southern US truck with air brakes and wet kit, Braden hydraulic front winch. Figure I can use the body with some mods for drawers, vented gas bottle storage crane mount etc.
I'm going to remove the boom and install a 5005h auto crane ( a friend has on hand) and set my 27 cfm gas compressor and 280 Trailblazer on it (both I already had). Also going to hook the air tank to the truck so I won't need to fire the compressor for small jobs.
Enclose the welder and compressor area and install a 20k btu heater in there and the tool drawer area for those -25 mornings
Graco 1050 evac with 100 gals storage. Also 100 gals fuel.
Espar engine and cab heaters to reduce idle time.
I'm thinking I'd like to install a cow town rear window sleeper for the occasional night on the road and to gain some cab space. Any thoughts?
I would have liked a crew or extended cab but it was hard enough to find a pre dpf 4x4 already.
My 550 has had an engine, complete front end rebuild and brakes in 21000 km and 2300 hours, 1800 of them are idle time so I'm trying to reduce idle time. Ford denied warranty based on the high idle hours. So I figure I'm better off with a older solid southern truck with a tilt front end and a engine I can in frame if ever need be.
Company truck