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General Forestry => Firewood and Wood Heating => Topic started by: glassman_48 on June 26, 2012, 06:53:56 AM

Title: 2 w.d. or 4 w.d. delivering firewood in northern michigan
Post by: glassman_48 on June 26, 2012, 06:53:56 AM
I had a post earlier this month (what type of dump truck) and got a lot of good advice.  I have found a 2000 F/550 2 w.d. 7.3 diesel for sale with 50,000 miles and a 16' dump bed.  My concern is getting around in the winter time delivering firewood especially when the truck is empty.  Ironwood had a 2 and 4 w.d. truck in this range.  Just wanted opinions, nervous about getting a 2 w.d. I am in northern lower michigan and I am in a snow belt.  Thanks in advance, Ed
Title: Re: 2 w.d. or 4 w.d. delivering firewood in northern michigan
Post by: chevytaHOE5674 on June 26, 2012, 08:32:38 AM
Loaded up shouldn't be to bad, but empty might be another problem. We get a lot of snow UP here and you couldn't give me a 2wd truck as I couldn't make it out of my driveway when empty. Once on the roads I can usually manage in 2wd but slow speed maneuvering around the farm and stuff is nearly impossible. Also with 4wd comes Low range which really helps with slow speed maneuvering with lots of weight in the truck.
Title: Re: 2 w.d. or 4 w.d. delivering firewood in northern michigan
Post by: thecfarm on June 26, 2012, 08:52:34 AM
Duel wheels on the back? If so would be hard in  snow to get around I would think.
Title: Re: 2 w.d. or 4 w.d. delivering firewood in northern michigan
Post by: NWP on June 26, 2012, 08:56:15 AM
I had a 2 wd truck in high school.  I swore I would never have another one.  A little extra cost looks pretty cheap when you're stuck.
Title: Re: 2 w.d. or 4 w.d. delivering firewood in northern michigan
Post by: snowstorm on June 26, 2012, 10:36:15 AM
i plow roads with a f550. 10' plow 9' wing i very seldom use 4wheel drive. it gets around very well
Title: Re: 2 w.d. or 4 w.d. delivering firewood in northern michigan
Post by: glassman_48 on June 26, 2012, 03:52:42 PM
snowstorm, your truck has regular wheels in back not duallies am I correct?  I almost always had to put my toyota tundra into 4 w.d. when pulling my  12 foot dump trailer loaded with one pulp cord when pulling into a driveway to deliver.  thanks for your input everyone,,Ed
Title: Re: 2 w.d. or 4 w.d. delivering firewood in northern michigan
Post by: snowstorm on June 26, 2012, 06:02:24 PM
all f550's are dual wheel. a no spin rear was available. tires make a difference i run winter deep bandag caps on the rear. you can always buy a set of chains. with a long wheelbase it may have a double frame........thats good. is it auto or 6 sp?
Title: Re: 2 w.d. or 4 w.d. delivering firewood in northern michigan
Post by: glassman_48 on June 26, 2012, 07:35:12 PM
snowstorm, he just said a manual trans.  cell phone could barely hear him.  He got out his registration, and said gross weight was 18,000 lbs.  My b- in law said with a 16' bed the overall weight of the truck might be to much to haul 2 cords of firewood.  I figured 8,000 lbs for the wood.  I am trying to get him to a scale to weigh it. 
Title: Re: 2 w.d. or 4 w.d. delivering firewood in northern michigan
Post by: snowstorm on June 26, 2012, 08:22:24 PM
the reg can be any amount you want to pay for. depending on springs it could be 17500 to 19500 gvw that makes it a class 5 truck. i would not worry about hauling 2 cd on it
Title: Re: 2 w.d. or 4 w.d. delivering firewood in northern michigan
Post by: glassman_48 on June 26, 2012, 08:46:53 PM
snowstorm,
I want to make sure I understand this, if the truck is rated at 18,000 lbs.  And the truck with a 16' box weighs say 12,000 lbs. then I could not legally carry 8,000 lbs is that correct?  I just started reading the cdl manual to get a cdl license.  This stuff is kind of foreign to me.  Could I put heavier springs on then, the part where I could get the truck registration at a higher weight doesnt make sense to me.  I understand that the higher the weight rating you have to pay more money every year.  Sorry to be so naive, I can answer almost any glass question, but this still isnt quite making sense.   Thanks Ed 
Title: Re: 2 w.d. or 4 w.d. delivering firewood in northern michigan
Post by: bill m on June 26, 2012, 08:57:44 PM
I just sold my f450 2 w.d. chip truck. I think it was stuck almost as much time as it was moving. Spend the money and get a 4wd. It is better to have it and not need it than be stuck and have to call a tow truck.
Title: Re: 2 w.d. or 4 w.d. delivering firewood in northern michigan
Post by: Ironwood on June 26, 2012, 11:41:00 PM
Nearly IMPOSSIBLE to find a 7.3 550 4x4. They are a premium. Get the 2wd, get chains, and a posi rear (I have one if you want it, and a set of 3:91's instead of the 4:88's from the factory) a 550 4x4 7.3 will cost twice as much as a 2WD. The 3:91's will tach at 2000 RPM at 70 and save the engine from winding out if you do any highway. Also, grab a local UPS guy and ask to see his "quickie chains" for when they get in a tight spot/ get stuck. They simply hook through the outer budd rim holes on three of the four (skip the one with the air valve unless you wanna rip it out ) and will usually get you out of a tight spot without fully chaining up (takes about an hour), quickies take about 5-10 minutes. Trust me, unless you can settle for a V10 gasser, get the 2WD.  The 4x4 7.3  are "hen's teeth" I have only seen a few and they are usually 8-10' beds. One local guy has one it is rough looking, low miles 90k, and he wants $17,000. Most were township salt plow trucks (read: Rough life laid up wet and salted)




Ironwood
Title: Re: 2 w.d. or 4 w.d. delivering firewood in northern michigan
Post by: Ironwood on June 26, 2012, 11:47:39 PM
I was going to put the posi and 3:91's in my V10 550, but the truck tachs well with 4:88's (gears more suited to the gas engine) and my"gear shop" broke open the Dana 136 and said "you got Tru-Track" you dont want the Detroit posi in here" this is almost as good. So, I told them to seal her back up and call it a day.  So, the Tru-track must be the no slip the guy talked about, and I gotta say it never has spun when I have been in a yard, or plowing. This was a propane delivery truck, so it had the special order Tru-Track  for going into yards and also an output plate on the auto tranny for a PTO (that's another story, only Muncie made the custom kit and it was $3200 retail, gear box and pump). Also, the standard trans is the way to go, I miss mine nearly everyday I haul a BIG load.
Title: Re: 2 w.d. or 4 w.d. delivering firewood in northern michigan
Post by: chevytaHOE5674 on June 27, 2012, 12:42:07 AM
Our local UPS and FedEx people have switched from the usual rwd vehicles to f450 and f550 4x4 trucks with boxes for the winter. According to my local UPS driver he was getting stuck and having to call a wrecker so often it was cheaper to buy 2 smaller 4x4 trucks and hire another seasonal driver for the winter months so they could stop paying for unstucks and paying for the downtime and lost production.

Not sure how some of you guys do it but even with a full load of firewood in my pickup with a locked rear axle I can sometimes hardly make it out of my driveway without 4x4. Drag any sort of trailer behind and 4x4 is mandatory to get moving unless you happen to be on a flat or downhill paved road.

Edit: and before UPS and FedEx went to 4x4's they would park on the road all winter and walk packages to the door so that they didn't risk getting stuck in somebody's driveway.
Title: Re: 2 w.d. or 4 w.d. delivering firewood in northern michigan
Post by: snowstorm on June 27, 2012, 06:59:56 AM
Quote from: glassman_48 on June 26, 2012, 08:46:53 PM
snowstorm,
I want to make sure I understand this, if the truck is rated at 18,000 lbs.  And the truck with a 16' box weighs say 12,000 lbs. then I could not legally carry 8,000 lbs is that correct?  I just started reading the cdl manual to get a cdl license.  This stuff is kind of foreign to me.  Could I put heavier springs on then, the part where I could get the truck registration at a higher weight doesnt make sense to me.  I understand that the higher the weight rating you have to pay more money every year.  Sorry to be so naive, I can answer almost any glass question, but this still isnt quite making sense.   Thanks Ed
i dont know how the registration works where you are. here you can put whatever you want on it for reg. mine is at 20,000 lbs plus the 10% equals 22,000. here they dont use the gvw tag as saying thats all it can haul. the state is more concerned with the number of axles tire size and tire with. i dont know how heavy mine is. with all the plow gear and the combo dump sander body. 15000 maybe plus 5yds of winter sand around 25000 loaded.dosent seem to bother it any. the 6sp trans is good a 4x4 would be better also for the lower gear in low range.
Title: Re: 2 w.d. or 4 w.d. delivering firewood in northern michigan
Post by: Corley5 on June 27, 2012, 11:16:36 AM
Get a 4wd.  The reduced stress level is worth every penny  :)
Title: Re: 2 w.d. or 4 w.d. delivering firewood in northern michigan
Post by: John_Haylow on June 27, 2012, 12:45:15 PM
You will never regret having 4wd.
John
Title: Re: 2 w.d. or 4 w.d. delivering firewood in northern michigan
Post by: Ironwood on June 27, 2012, 10:11:13 PM
Just another "learn by anothers mistake". I have seen highway/ sub highway speeds disinegrate the front driveshaft on several 99-03 Ford 4x4 F-250-550 trucks, when this happens it breaks the tranny and transfer case all up. About a 6,000+ repair, IF you can find the parts. It never happened to me but have seen it twice on others trucks and heard about it from others. My two current trucks (2000 F-550 4x4 gasser. and Shinnlinger's old 2002 F-350  4x4 CC/CC 7.3) I have had both front driveshafts completely rebuilt just in case. For $300 each it is cheap insurance.  FYI

Just another thought, if you are in "snow country" I might lean toward the V-10 4x4. I LOVE my 7.3, but in the dead of winter I can just go out and throw the key, no plug-in, no worry and go plow or whatever. Combine that with increasing disparity of high test gas vs. diesel (and lubricity additive for the older diesels), and the math is not as good for the diesel, ESP given the 2x's the cost of the used 550 7.3 4x4.

I love my V-10 and have had no issues with it (has 190K, bought it at 170K), but the 99-03 (or 04) had issues with spitting spark plugs out of the heads (thin aluminum) solved I believe in 05'. I have NOT had any issues, mine might have a few helicoils in it (I dont know) but has been great and purrs like kitten, just thirsty. I get about 7 MPG around town and best was 10-11 empty on highway "testing" with my foot OFF the pedal. My engine is really clean, as it was run on propane (propane delivery truck) most of it's life. they switched it to gasoline about 6 months before I bought it after the propaner induction computer went out. It is for work so it is just a variable cost, I drive, it works, I feed it. Fact of life. An unmodified F-550 7.3 might get 11-12, and not much more (possibly less with the 4;88's). Best I ever did was 15.5 on highway with the 3;91's foot out of it. usually averaged around 11-12 loaded OR empty, truck never cared. Do the math on your miles driven and the intial outlay for a diesel. It might surprise you and make the V-10 look VERY good financially.

Ironwood
Title: Re: 2 w.d. or 4 w.d. delivering firewood in northern michigan
Post by: Ironwood on June 27, 2012, 10:34:26 PM
Also, for tires I usually run an Oliver Blizztrack http://www.oliverrubber.com/blizzard_track.html on the rear, this is whats on my 550 currently. I would buy new steers and then save them when worn for one iteration as a retread on the rear.
These are GREAT for snow and are deep and wear well. One FYI, I try to get them on early, like late sumer to wear them down a bit and get the compound to "harden up" a bit before winter as the tread is so deep it squirms a little for a few months. You dont want that during snow periods as it wil lfeel like you are starting to spin out on ice when it is just the tire squirm. I have NEVER had one delam on me and I ran them on long hauls heavily loaded.

Ironwood
Title: Re: 2 w.d. or 4 w.d. delivering firewood in northern michigan
Post by: RobertJoseph on June 28, 2012, 02:17:34 PM
I used to have a 2wd dually plow truck and it worked fine in northern VT....granted I usually wouldn't let the sander get completely empty between fills. It can be done, but it's definitely not ideal.

However, a 7.3l with 50k has alotta life left in it. My current 2003 7.3 has 200k on it and starts dead of winter no problem. Synthetic oil, good batteries and glows and you're good to -20. Still on the original injectors, HPOP, turbo, waterpump and auto trans and runs like a top. My glows were starting to give up some hard starts late this past winter, but they have over 100k on them.
Title: Re: 2 w.d. or 4 w.d. delivering firewood in northern michigan
Post by: Reddog on June 29, 2012, 09:42:54 PM
http://www.insta-chain.com/

http://www.onspot.com/
Title: Re: 2 w.d. or 4 w.d. delivering firewood in northern michigan
Post by: glassman_48 on June 30, 2012, 12:15:18 PM
well apparently I forgot to leave on the notify button again.  Ironwood what exactly is it that you have that I could get from you if I need it?  Is it a kit for the transmission like a posi traction kit?  My other thought is to just keep my toyota and 12' dump trailer for the heavy snow days delivering firewood and make 2 trips.  And purchase an old grain truck with a 15' bed so I can haul my tractor and firewood processor around spring to fall, and I could use the grain truck to deliver 2 pulp cords until the snow gets to deep to use it.  They have some real nice grain trucks 1975 to 1985 for 3 to 5 grand.  I dont like having an extra vehicle and insurance.  Your right it is nearly impossible to find a 4 by 4 with a bed big enough to haul 2 pulp cords.  My processor is nearly done, and I have a bunch of semi loads of wood to process so for now I will make 2 trips transporting the tractor and processor.  I look every day in ebay and craiglist, down in north carolina I have relatives I havent seen in many years so that would be a good reason to travel there.  Thank you all again for your input.  Still leaning towards 4 wd if I can find one that will haul my 2 pulp cords. 
Title: Re: 2 w.d. or 4 w.d. delivering firewood in northern michigan
Post by: glassman_48 on June 30, 2012, 12:17:02 PM
I just noticed there is not a notify button down below my new post, only unnotify.  Was not getting any notifications through my e mail.  Thanks again for everyones input.
Title: Re: 2 w.d. or 4 w.d. delivering firewood in northern michigan
Post by: Ironwood on July 01, 2012, 10:43:37 AM
I have a Detroit Locker posi for a 550 that has the Dana 136 rear. Also a set of 3:91 gears for it. The gears I would only use in the 7.3 as the V10 seems to "tach" fine with the 4:88's, otherwise they would already be in my V10.

One other FYI, I love the automatic for arouund town driving and hauling up to spec'ed trailer weight, BUT if yo uare hauling heavy, and on back roads (read slow speeds under load) the tranny cooler will have hardtime keeping things cool. TRY to find a manual trans. I can pull OK to about 12K on the hilly back roads around here, anything more and you either need to be highway driving with tranny converter locked and 45+ MPH to keep things cool. My old manual trans 550 was CRAZY, I could pull a house up a hill with it :o Guys also put the 6.0 trans cooler onto the 7.3 and that helps ALOT. I havent done that YET........

I think there is a guy locally with a 2001 550 4x4 7.3 12'bed (not sure of tranny) tucked into his warehouse, low miles 40-50K and has a gear splitter on the rear saft for highway driving in 2wd. I think he said he wanted 21-22K for it. Quite frankly it is worth it to the right person who knows what it is and the currrent state of diesels (urea, EPA, etc.....) I saw it and thought there is a cream puff. He has LOTS of $ and it will probably be there for a long time.

Ironwood
Title: Re: 2 w.d. or 4 w.d. delivering firewood in northern michigan
Post by: glassman_48 on July 01, 2012, 05:28:03 PM
ironwood,
Our biggest logger in the area just purchased 3 new topkick/5500 or 550 (cant remember) all 4 w.d. with 14 or 15 foot dump beds.  He sells a ton of wood in 2 pulp cord loads.  I will just keep my eyes open and probably just keep using my 12' dump and make 2 trips unless something ideal pops up.  I am not paying myself a wage with the firewood business yet so I can stick that money eventually into a nice truck.  I was hoping to be able to haul 2 pulp cords in one trip so I am guessing the 15' bed is minimum if I go that way.  The only way I could afford the nicer end truck is to sell my dump and toyota 4 w.d.  I can go another year and wait for a deal.  Thanks again for everyones input in here,,,,Ed
Title: Re: 2 w.d. or 4 w.d. delivering firewood in northern michigan
Post by: Ironwood on July 10, 2012, 07:20:29 AM
Sounds liike you are doing it right (squirreling away $$, and waiting). Try t onetwork with some local fleet operations with the trucks you want. I got my 00' V10 550 4x4 that way. THey all roll their units at sooem point. I got my truck for very little compared to it's actual value. In time it may need some work, but with my low upfront outlay, I dont mind. Even if it needed a new short block, I would not mind, but it seems fine.......

It's all about the network. I got to know the western Pa. regional operations manager at the company (he has moved on now). I will pm you another local fleet contact that get trucks like you want.

Ironwod
Title: Re: 2 w.d. or 4 w.d. delivering firewood in northern michigan
Post by: glassman_48 on July 10, 2012, 06:48:06 PM
thanks ironwood, I got the personal message.  My b-in-law is looking currently and I am going to our large local waste management company and talk to their maintenance guy.  I have soooo much mobile processing to get done too.  My machine is nearly done, if I can ever figure out how to take a picture and get it on here I will do that too.  Thanks for everyones help
Title: Re: 2 w.d. or 4 w.d. delivering firewood in northern michigan
Post by: s grinder on July 21, 2012, 07:55:34 PM
Ironwood,the 6.0 trans cooler should take care of your problems,had the same problem towing my fifth wheel on back roads with my F350,now have a hard time getting it to 180 degrees trans temps
Title: Re: 2 w.d. or 4 w.d. delivering firewood in northern michigan
Post by: Ironwood on July 21, 2012, 10:34:08 PM
Thanks, yeah I am about to order the 6.0 cooler from Ford guys locally. Any recommendations on another source"?. I think they want 400-500. I was talking to my buddy the "mechanic" and he said "yeah that's it there", and I thought, "holy crap, I thought that was for the power steering fluid cooling", tiny little thing.

Ironwood
Title: Re: 2 w.d. or 4 w.d. delivering firewood in northern michigan
Post by: s grinder on July 23, 2012, 10:22:25 PM
Ironwood,The trans oil cooler you need is Ford #5C3Z-7A095-B,lists for around $427.00,is around twice as large as a V-10 one,the best way to change it out is to remove bumper and grill.There's two in Ebay right now their asking list,i payed around $350.00 5 years ago,if you know anybody thats get a discount you should be able to buy it for less than list. 
Title: Re: 2 w.d. or 4 w.d. delivering firewood in northern michigan
Post by: Ironwood on July 24, 2012, 08:05:45 AM
S grinder,

thanks!!!! Was looking at several 6.0's yesterday wondering why the 2004-5 was small, I looked at an 06' and it was the bigger one. There was some concern on my part about which one I needed, so this was a GREAT help.

Thanks again, Ironwood
Title: Re: 2 w.d. or 4 w.d. delivering firewood in northern michigan
Post by: Ironwood on August 09, 2012, 11:08:25 PM
Well, got my new 6.0 tranny cooler in, they are now $530. Well hooked it to what I was told was the tranny cooler, nope,...lost my power steering and brakes, DUH, so redid everything and got it right. The previous owner (not Shinnlinger, before him) must have disconnected the OEM auxillary and tucked the lines into the end of the frame rails :o No wonder I heated it up!.. I test drove it to Long Island over the last two days :-X All is good. Also put an inline spin on filter on it, dropped and cleaned the pan.

Ironwood