Hey there... OK... I can answer these but please don't be insulted if I am telling you stuff you already know. I will just give answers assuming you have a limited knowledge of Class 8 trucks. I don't want to assume anything but I don't want to throw around a bunch of terminology that is useless to you either.
NebClimber said:
I am looking for a loader to mount behind the cab of a dump truck. I will use it for residential removals. I am sure I need a twin-screw (double-axle) rear-end to carry a reasonable size payload.
Assuming you have a CDL, the optimal set up here is 18 - 20,000 lb front axle and 40, 44 or 46,000 lb rears (the drive axles, ie. 'tandems'). Most of the time, we also add a 20,000 lb air axle to bring the Gross Weight Rating up - increasing your payload... this is standard in NY/VT - we call it a "tri-axle <a href="log%20truck" onmouseover="window.status='log truck'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">log truck</a>".
Of course, if you don't have a commercial license, then the options become more limited because you're working with a limited Gross Weight (GVW) - the weight of every component: empty weight of truck, weight of loader, weight of body, etc. decreases the amount of payload you're able to legally carry.
What I am learning is that the cost for a $45,000 to $55,000 truck like this is mostly in the cost of the truck, the cost to mount, and the cost to fabricate the box. The loader is the least expensive item.
For the most part. However, sometimes it is easier to find a good, cheap, dependable truck and put a later model loader in better condition on it.
Our 'yard truck', for example, is a 1987 Mack MR (cab forward, big windowed thing - you see a lot of MR <a href="garbage%20trucks" onmouseover="window.status='garbage trucks'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">garbage trucks</a>) - she's not very pretty but it'll probably run forever and has the structural components we need - heavy front and rears, double frame, etc... bought it for $7,500 and put a Prentice Telstik on it to do our loading and unloading in the yard.
New boxes are tricky right now thanks to the price of steel. Anything fabricated using steel is going to cost.
I know the Prentice 110 was discontinued in about 1982, but there are still some in operation. If I found one that was in good condition, would I have trouble getting parts, etc?
Seal kits and things like that should be easy enough to locate (but they're pricey - I have a few customers who still have 110's in operation) but the larger items (for example a swing motor or a gear) would be difficult and costly, at best.