Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[woodchuckcanuck]

Diesel is not the be all end all of trucks.

Im looking around to replace my Yukon XL, and while I want to stay with the covered locking storage, I have looked briefly at Pick ups, and just today, started looking at MB Sprinter vans. -which I will likely say I dont need to look at the anymore, Not liking the lack of trailering capacity.

My Yuk spends half the week pulling a trailer of some sort for my CTL or my Ag tractor, or my Gator utv's.

Diesel is not even being considered. The cost to purchase, the cost of fuel, doesn't make a smart business decision for me. I dont buy new, but real low mileage, and I pay cash. I keep something 8 to 10 years, and get rid of it, usually due to rust and general mileage I have put on it. I REAllY can't take the smell of the new Diesels and DPF, goes right to my brain. I've owned a few 1 tons, and a few were diesels, and my last box truck was a Cummins, but I had like ten trucks then too, so I know what works for me?

I probably should have a 1.5 ton, or maybe a Isuzu Cabover, just for my equipment hauling. I've had multiple vehicles for my own use at at the same time, many times in the past, but now just using the Yukon. Been seeing some Off lease low mileage I can buy outright, and maybe think about a Isuzu or W4500 with the savings, just to haul my machines and tool boxes. Perhaps find a flat bed and fab it to dump for me..... Sure would reduce the wear and tear on a Yukon. (I alos have to find a high mileage Toyota 2wd for my wife to drive on the beach to get to the Inlet, she drives her Tacoma too often, and I hate to see it rust out, but that beach truck will be under 2k)

Look into a CV515. I got one last year. Money well spent in my opinion. GCWR of 37000lbs. Cab and chassis with a flat deck and 5th wheel hitch setup, put you at about 10-11000lbs. You be good for 26-27000lbs of hauling weight. I put a hook lift on our and a 14yd bin to haul 2 cord firewood. Comes in just about 22,000lbs. The GVWR is 22,500lbs. I can drive an hour for a delivery at 80-100km/hr (50-60 mph) and arrive back with an average 18L/100km (16mpg (Imperial) ). Pretty good I figure for a Duramax 6.6L and a 2700 series Allison.

 

[sean donato]

No. They say fill just to the bottom of the fill tube.

The oil expands as it gets hot, and needs room to do so. Whoever wrote the manual doesn't know much about hydraulics.

 

[sean donato]

Diesel is not the be all end all of trucks.

Im looking around to replace my Yukon XL, and while I want to stay with the covered locking storage, I have looked briefly at Pick ups, and just today, started looking at MB Sprinter vans. -which I will likely say I dont need to look at the anymore, Not liking the lack of trailering capacity.

My Yuk spends half the week pulling a trailer of some sort for my CTL or my Ag tractor, or my Gator utv's.

Diesel is not even being considered. The cost to purchase, the cost of fuel, doesn't make a smart business decision for me. I dont buy new, but real low mileage, and I pay cash. I keep something 8 to 10 years, and get rid of it, usually due to rust and general mileage I have put on it. I REAllY can't take the smell of the new Diesels and DPF, goes right to my brain. I've owned a few 1 tons, and a few were diesels, and my last box truck was a Cummins, but I had like ten trucks then too, so I know what works for me?

I probably should have a 1.5 ton, or maybe a Isuzu Cabover, just for my equipment hauling. I've had multiple vehicles for my own use at at the same time, many times in the past, but now just using the Yukon. Been seeing some Off lease low mileage I can buy outright, and maybe think about a Isuzu or W4500 with the savings, just to haul my machines and tool boxes. Perhaps find a flat bed and fab it to dump for me..... Sure would reduce the wear and tear on a Yukon. (I alos have to find a high mileage Toyota 2wd for my wife to drive on the beach to get to the Inlet, she drives her Tacoma too often, and I hate to see it rust out, but that beach truck will be under 2k)

That's the never ending conundrum these days. Especially when the price is taken into consideration. Then factor in you'll be lucky if it lasts much more 10-12 years without rotting apart. Love my diesel, but it's just been sitting. Fire it up and run it around a bit just to keep it going. The big block does just fine towing and doesn't get bad enough mpg to justify the extra cost of fuel. Everything else maintenance wise is about the same. Save a little bit cheaper on an oil change.

 

[Lee192233]

I'd take 200 cord of ash tomorrow if it showed up at our door. Lobster trap fishermen use ash for the slats when making lobster traps. Can't find enough ash around here.

And it stands and rots here.

Look into a CV515. I got one last year. Money well spent in my opinion. GCWR of 37000lbs. Cab and chassis with a flat deck and 5th wheel hitch setup, put you at about 10-11000lbs. You be good for 26-27000lbs of hauling weight. I put a hook lift on our and a 14yd bin to haul 2 cord firewood. Comes in just about 22,000lbs. The GVWR is 22,500lbs. I can drive an hour for a delivery at 80-100km/hr (50-60 mph) and arrive back with an average 18L/100km (16mpg (Imperial) ). Pretty good I figure for a Duramax 6.6L and a 2700 series Allison.

View attachment 1060180

Is that a rebadged Chevy? I didn't realize International did that.

 

[woodchuckcanuck]

No. They say fill just to the bottom of the fill tube.

Use it for a couple hours to get the hydraulics hot. Shove a stick down the filler tube (assuming its a straight tube), pull it out and mark the level on the stick. Let it cool over night. Measure with the stick again and mark the spot. Mark the stick for its purpose and hang it in your shop.

 

[woodchuckcanuck]

And it stands and rots here.

Is that a rebadged Chevy? I didn't realize International did that.

Yep. Chevy was slow out of the gate while Ford and Dodge started getting back into the mid size commercial trucks. Quick solution was to use what's proven to work, that being the Silverado platform. People smarter than me could say otherwise, that's just my take on it.

 

[Lee192233]

That's the never ending conundrum these days. Especially when the price is taken into consideration. Then factor in you'll be lucky if it lasts much more 10-12 years without rotting apart. Love my diesel, but it's just been sitting. Fire it up and run it around a bit just to keep it going. The big block does just fine towing and doesn't get bad enough mpg to justify the extra cost of fuel. Everything else maintenance wise is about the same. Save a little bit cheaper on an oil change.

If you're looking at newer clean diesels then maintenance is definitely cheaper on a gas truck. If anything emissions related fails you can almost be guaranteed a 1k bill. The gas trucks simply don't have those problems. That being said, a fleet of F-550s that we work on has about half 6.7s and the other half are gas trucks, 6.8s and 7.3s. The average fuel mileage on the 6.7s is about 9.5 and the gassers are 4-5 mpg. That's very significant.

 

[GeeVee]

Look into a CV515. I got one last year. Money well spent in my opinion. GCWR of 37000lbs. Cab and chassis with a flat deck and 5th wheel hitch setup, put you at about 10-11000lbs. You be good for 26-27000lbs of hauling weight. I put a hook lift on our and a 14yd bin to haul 2 cord firewood. Comes in just about 22,000lbs. The GVWR is 22,500lbs. I can drive an hour for a delivery at 80-100km/hr (50-60 mph) and arrive back with an average 18L/100km (16mpg (Imperial) ). Pretty good I figure for a Duramax 6.6L and a 2700 series Allison.

View attachment 1060180

Thats a nice truck, but kindy spendy? I need the Yukon for locking storage for surfboards, A W4500 used like I want to spend on are plentiful around here, and pretty dang cheap, just for a short hauler. I have a mine 4 miles away I can buy fill, and plans for my Ranch that it might make more sense to get a small WORK truck to buy/haul fill rather than cut it out of my own land and haul it over acres of deep woods...... A beach truck for the wifey just extends the life of her primary, same for me and a work truck/trailer hauler. I should see a tax return this year, compared to the last four we owed, thats not spoken for- so if the beach truck comes, then the work truck comes- But I gotta get myself a new Yukon regardless, and she has the cash saved for that. Thanks for thinking of me Woodchuck, you helped me rationalize it. With a few bucks loose change, I can get the beach truck she needs ( I spent two years finding her Tacoma, with Utra low Miles on it- the exact one she wanted) no problem. I can focus on the Yukon I want, and with a tax refund- and the sale of my current Yukon between $7-10k, I can get a work truck- for my hobbies?

 

[sean donato]

Yep. Chevy was slow out of the gate while Ford and Dodge started getting back into the mid size commercial trucks. Quick solution was to use what's proven to work, that being the Silverado platform. People smarter than me could say otherwise, that's just my take on it.

They still don't compare to the old c4500-8500 trucks. I'm not a chevy fan to begin with but put a lot of miles on a few c8500's. Good trucks. Best part was the cat and Allison, even if they were a little gutless. Drove like a big pickup truck. Creature comforts are better in these new trucks, but time will see how they hold up. Hopefully better then the top kick trucks with more or less the same driveline. Guy down the road has one in the 4500 flavor, it's been a nightmare for him. Looks like a big truck built like a pickup. Allison transmission is the only thing he hasn't had issues with. Had the erg cooler leak and take out the head gaskets, then had a bunch of fuel system issues. Turbo went most recently, he was lucky started pumping oil out the exhaust side. Lucky he noticed the oil light on and decided to pull over and check it.

 

[sean donato]

If you're looking at newer clean diesels then maintenance is definitely cheaper on a gas truck. If anything emissions related fails you can almost be guaranteed a 1k bill. The gas trucks simply don't have those problems. That being said, a fleet of F-550s that we work on has about half 6.7s and the other half are gas trucks, 6.8s and 7.3s. The average fuel mileage on the 6.7s is about 9.5 and the gassers are 4-5 mpg. That's very significant.

Heck we didn't do that bad with the 6.0l 550 we had at the township or the 14 f250 w 6.8l gasser. Must have them.loaded up pretty heavy.

 

[Lee192233]

Heck we didn't do that bad with the 6.0l 550 we had at the township or the 14 f250 w 6.8l gasser. Must have them.loaded up pretty heavy.

Plow/salting trucks. They plow big parking lots and residential driveways.

Edit: They probably get much better mileage in summer doing the normal landscaping stuff.

 

[sean donato]

Interesting, we plowed with them at the township too. 65 miles of roads plus developments. Few of the roads were 4 passes. The diesels were in the 10mpg range. The 19 dodge 5500 did better then the old 6.0, but not by much. The gassers did better, but they were 250/350 pickups and no salters on them. They got ballast in the beds. Normally it was 2, 22.5 tires filled with concrete. Don't know what the weighed, but not super heavy in the greater scheme of things.

 

[Lee192233]

Interesting, we plowed with them at the township too. 65 miles of roads plus developments. Few of the roads were 4 passes. The diesels were in the 10mpg range. The 19 dodge 5500 did better then the old 6.0, but not by much. The gassers did better, but they were 250/350 pickups and no salters on them. They got ballast in the beds. Normally it was 2, 22.5 tires filled with concrete. Don't know what the weighed, but not super heavy in the greater scheme of things.

Interesting, maybe it's the drivers. I have gotten behind them and they seem to accelerate pretty hard and they cruise at 60-65 going between jobs with the plows on. I was just looking at the lie-ometer mpg so probably not completely accurate. The 7.3s seem like some real gas drinkers, they have good power though.

 

[Philbert]

Is anybody else waiting for @Philbert to stick his yard with his yard stick? Hope it hasn't warped from the last time.

Fortunately, the historical blizzard is expected to hit Minneapolis (according to national news coverage), but I live in Saint Paul, so I’m probably OK?



Philbert

 

[Sawyer Rob]

1/2 ton toys, just like 3/4 and 1 tons with spark plugs.

AND the 1 tons with glow-plugs too! lol

SR

 

[The Shooters Apprentice]

Diesel is not the be all end all of trucks.

Im looking around to replace my Yukon XL, and while I want to stay with the covered locking storage, I have looked briefly at Pick ups, and just today, started looking at MB Sprinter vans. -which I will likely say I dont need to look at the anymore, Not liking the lack of trailering capacity.

My Yuk spends half the week pulling a trailer of some sort for my CTL or my Ag tractor, or my Gator utv's.

Diesel is not even being considered. The cost to purchase, the cost of fuel, doesn't make a smart business decision for me. I dont buy new, but real low mileage, and I pay cash. I keep something 8 to 10 years, and get rid of it, usually due to rust and general mileage I have put on it. I REAllY can't take the smell of the new Diesels and DPF, goes right to my brain. I've owned a few 1 tons, and a few were diesels, and my last box truck was a Cummins, but I had like ten trucks then too, so I know what works for me?

I probably should have a 1.5 ton, or maybe a Isuzu Cabover, just for my equipment hauling. I've had multiple vehicles for my own use at at the same time, many times in the past, but now just using the Yukon. Been seeing some Off lease low mileage I can buy outright, and maybe think about a Isuzu or W4500 with the savings, just to haul my machines and tool boxes. Perhaps find a flat bed and fab it to dump for me..... Sure would reduce the wear and tear on a Yukon. (I alos have to find a high mileage Toyota 2wd for my wife to drive on the beach to get to the Inlet, she drives her Tacoma too often, and I hate to see it rust out, but that beach truck will be under 2k)

We have the 1/2 ton suburban because my wife doesn’t want a pickup, but I am disappointed with its towing capability even after the engine upgrades and tuning. Probably need to regear the differentials but I just try to use the truck when I need to tow heavy.

The cam upgrade and tunes did make a big difference for how it pulls though.

 

[Lee192233]

Can’t run my new Xmas gift to myself much lol , just to dang muddy, View attachment 1060026

Nice looking tractor. Is that the Kubota roof?

Have I mentioned that winter sux? 9.5" so far. Still snowin. Will need lots more minus the smile.

How many inches of snow do you have so far? Hard to tell because of the wind but I think we have 8-10". They're calling for 7-10 more! Glad I filled the tractor up.

I have been to one in southern Iowa 3 times. Great bunch of guys.

I'd like to get to that one. It's in April, correct?

We have the 1/2 ton suburban because my wife doesn’t want a pickup, but I am disappointed with its towing capability even after the engine upgrades and tuning. Probably need to regear the differentials but I just try to use the truck when I need to tow heavy.

The cam upgrade and tunes did make a big difference for how it pulls though.

My brother had a Silverado 1500 with a 5.3 and he hated the way it pulled his camper. The trans got hot and the engine was always screaming to climb hills. He put trans coolers in it to fix the overheating trans fluid. He installed a Mishimoto radiator to keep the engine cool. He then swapped in 6.0 with a TPIS camshaft and topped with ported heads. It then had plenty of power but it still was a 1500. He ended up selling it and getting a 04 Silverado 2500HD with a Duramax and hasn't looked back.

 

[bob kern]

You funny! You verwy funny.
View attachment 1059975
Life is even shorter when one takes everything someone on the internet says seriously. Especially when they are simply expressing their opinion and being sarcastic most of the time.

Yep it's all in fun fellers!! I'm probably nuts, but I think my hand filed chains are sharper than ground chains. But then after so many hand filings there is much benefit to a " reset" from a grinder to regain consistency.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

And it stands and rots here.

Is that a rebadged Chevy? I didn't realize International did that.

What I read is it was a collaboration between IH and GM to make a truck, then they both would sell it badged as their own.

SR

 

[bob kern]

Thank you. I Appreciate that!

Any track updates kk???