Jon.... I kinda like what you said and agree with you on average.... but
like Howard said lots of folks don't have the space in thier life for a TOW
truck and daily driver....
I own a straight Truck as well... it's an OLD international..... We call it
ODI..... "old dead international "
Lately I have been having a fascination with a 1948 Ford RV called the "Tour
Wagon" I keep thinking one of these with a Powerstoke drivetrain would be a
BLAST to have as a tow vehicle.... I don't see me acting on this thank
God.... I just think it would be Cool....
I DON'T CAMP..... I would still stay in Motel's.... but what a cool way to
get there.....
Keith ( 20 yrs of camping.... NO THANKS give me the keys to the Holiday Inn
anyday )
----- Original Message -----
From: "Nafzger" <nafzger@vtc.net>
To: "Jon Wennerberg" <jonw@up.net>; "LSR list (E-mail)"
<land-speed@autox.team.net>
Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2001 7:31 PM
Subject: Re: Back to trucks, please
> Jon,
> Thanks for the input. I'm sure for heavy hauling what you say is correct
> but most of us use our pickups all year (50 weeks) for general
> transportation and haul the race trailer for two weeks. I really don't
think
> I could justify or would want to drive an F-650 or F-750 with a CAT diesel
> for daily transportation. You are absolutely correct about SOME
> applications.
> Howard
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jon Wennerberg" <jonw@up.net>
> To: "LSR list (E-mail)" <land-speed@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2001 1:32 PM
> Subject: Back to trucks, please
>
>
> > Okay, boys and girls. I've been reading, I've been observing - and the
> > recent question about trucks for hauling hits a point where maybe I can
> > offer some input.
> >
> > My company runs a pair of medium-duty trucks (26,000 # GVW) about
125,000
> > miles/year each. Take a look at them at www.infodestruction.com if
you'd
> > like. We haul medical waste, confidential documents, and an occasional
> > motorcycle. What I've learned is: DO NOT BUY A PICKUP TRUCK, no matter
> how
> > carefully you spec it, if you're going to haul anything bigger than 4x8
> > plywood! You'll waste money if you do!!
> >
> > That is: we drive all over our territory in a pair of "medium-duty"
> > trucks - a '93 F-700 and a '99 C6500. The Ford has a Cummins 5.9L "B"
> > turbo, the Chevy a Cat 7.2L 3126Bs. Both, in case you're not familiar
> with
> > their nomenclature, are diesel motors. The Ford has about 450,000 miles
> on
> > it (I say about 'cuz the odometer has broken several times - the hour
> meter
> > shows around 11,000 hrs, which at 40 mph/average is about where I think
it
> > is); the Chevy has 125k miles on the clock. The Ford has never been
> opened,
> > save for one front head gasket at about 350k miles. The Chevy is still
> > untouched.
> >
> > Both were intended to haul cargo around Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and
> were
> > ordered with 18k-26k gross loads in mind. Each has a straight
six-speed,
> > but the Ford has 4.33 gears, the Chevy 3.73's. Both run 10R22.5 radial
> > Group IV tires. Both trucks have delivered about 11 mpg since new, as
> > expected for the way I've got them set.
> >
> > Keeping all of this (and 'way more) data in mind, I would certainly
> suggest
> > buying a trailer-hauling vehicle in the MID-size range, such as these,
> > rather than a pickup that's pushed to the max. Here's why:
> >
> > These trucks can be built specifically for the job. When spec'ing the
> Chevy
> > I talked to the Caterpillar engineers to let them know what body I'd be
> > using, which engine rating, which tires, and so on - and they told me,
> after
> > checking with their computer program, what my fuel mileage would be. So
I
> > could therefore re-design the truck to maximize the economy (or, as it
> > turned out, other parameters which were of interest to me).
> >
> > How could this be of help to a race team? Well, imagine that you could,
> > first of all, build a hauling truck that you knew would do your job for
> > years and years - not just one or two seasons? Second, think of being
> able
> > to spec a hauler truck that had the air-suspension seats that you've
> always
> > wanted - at a cost that's less than "Captain
> > Chair's" in a custom pickup? Or a crew cab with enough room. Think
> about
> > ordering with gearing that'd let scoot down the highway and still tug
out
> of
> > the glop when it has rained.
> >
> > Then there's the thought of a "real" truck engine. No "indirect"
> > combustion, there are low revs to save wear and tear, and there's the
idea
> > of not having to trade in every couple of years.
> >
> > How about ordering a "low-profile" mid-size truck with the engine,
gears,
> > cab, and everything else you want? Exactly - - no compromises!! The
cost
> > will be darn near the same as a "fancy" pickup; the life expectancy will
> be
> > at least a handful of years or longer, and you'll be able to design your
> own
> > truck without padding the pockets of the "pickup truck" factories.
You'll
> > save money over the long run -- and your truck will do the job 'way
> better.
> >
> > I'll defend my statements at your request.
> >
> > Jon
>
> ///
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