Time for a new truck

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Mike Lang

Mike Lang

Senior Member
Location
New Jersey
Do any of you guys have a Reading panel body or a Spartan (FRP) fiberglass reinforced plywood body? If so how do they work for you and what length body do you have? Is there anything you'd stay away from in the future?

I'm looking into either a Sierra 3500 DRW with a Reading enclosed panel body 9' long with either a 60" or 72" height. Or a 3500 van cutaway with a spartan 12' long body and a 66" or 78" height. My old boss had a cutaway and it went through brakes every 6 months, and after about 6 years the front end was shot. I'd like to stay with the pick-up cab chasis because it is a stronger truck also easier to work on, although I can get a longer and taller body on a cutaway. The pricing is about the same.
 
Mike Lang

Mike Lang

Senior Member
Location
New Jersey
What do you do when you have to transport alot of large pipe to a job? Do you just keep the back doors open and let the pipe stick out a bit?
 
GUNNING

GUNNING

Senior Member
Location
Gainesville, Florida
Have it delivered...

I like my Econoline E250. Small enough to get into a driveway large enough to carry everything. Even an E350 might do, lots of room and power to spare.

If you are looking to a mid sized job truck go for a box truck and wrap it with your company logo and name.

I made sure 10 feet of pipe would fit inside my van. The salesmen were curious why 10 feet HAD to fit? It was great to look and them and say nope wont do.... they didn't know what to say or how to counter that. It's very satisfying to stymie a car salesman.
Just for fun and giggles on the weekend try it.:roll:
 
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satcom

Senior Member
Mike Lang said:
What do you do when you have to transport alot of large pipe to a job? Do you just keep the back doors open and let the pipe stick out a bit?
Click to expand...

We charge every time we have to move pipe, so it makes us money not cost us money, we use the right truck for the task, it just does not pay to do things that can turn into a liability, I can remember riding down the interstate watching a van drop material on the road, with open doors, and watched people all over the road trying to avoid the mess, an accident waiting to happen, just a few hours ago we watched a truck sail the interstate with ice flying off the roof of the trailer, Some people just have no regard for others
 
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DOA_Kilovolt

Member
Location
Upstate NY
Affordable Solution

Affordable Solution

I got out of the van and into a cutaway back in 97. Was the best bang for the buck. If you want the least expensive, most adaptable and best performance (towing and hauling) I suggest an E450-E550 V10 with the fiberglass 12' Aerocell body by Uni-Cell. Lightweight and aerodynamic. You can get them with exterior access doors now also. The brake/front end issue with the cutaway is due to undersize, overloading. If you have a lot of cargo area you are sure to overload the space beyond its tolerences therefor causing early degradation with the systems. I have the E350 with 14' body, after 13.5 yrs and 139K mine still looks like new. On the cab & chassis style, nothing seems to look good after the 9' box and the pipe/ladder racks are useless. The 11' looks gaudy unless you get the std cab with no extension. If you think attic, dont go there....they are ButtFuuuuUUUUUgly ! I got the 14' so the extension ladder is easily stored inside !
 
renosteinke

renosteinke

Senior Member
Location
NE Arkansas
I had a service-body truck, and here's what I learned ....

First, you can probably do just fine with a 2WD 3/4-ton pick-up as the base vehicle.

Keep it LOW. It's amazing how many buildings have 7-ft. overhangs, etc. It's also difficult to remove ladders from the top.

Keep the bins, etc., below the level of the rear window; this makes driving in traffic much easier.

Get bin sections that also have a compartment on top, that opens from above. On one side, leave this tray for storing long stuff like hot sticks, extension poles, etc. On the other side, the top tray is ideal for hand tools.

Add a ladder rack. On the rack, have a tray / bin for hauling conduit.

Have your truck bed covered. I'd make a frame that would let it hold two levels of "Extend-a-bed." These are like huge trays / drawers that you can slide out. No more climbing up into the bed to look for stuff. The lower one can also serve as a work bench.

Get a back-up camera installed in the rear bumper.

Alarm all bins, so you won't drive off with one open.
 
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