Anyone here have any experience with big rigs?

[vetteman9368]

Last year was pretty decent on the metal building side of our business, and after reviewing last year's records we spent $14,000 on equipment rental (lull forklift and scissor lift man lifts). This year looks like we will do even better, which will of course mean we will spend even more on equipment. We've already acquired a scissor lift but that was a minor part of the rental bills. The all terrain extendable boom forklifts are the bulk of that. It looks like it might be in our best interest to buy one. A good, well maintained Lull can be had for $30k. When spread out over a few years its not a bad investment, even including maintenance. Here's the kicker, it's going to require a big rig to move it. Trailers are cheap, tractors aren't that bad either. Both can be financed. But the operating costs at first blush are rediculous. I'm finding that $5k a year is the norm for insurance, not counting IFTA and other DOT bs. Are there ny co-ops of owners and or leasing options that reduce the insurance costs ?

[7125]

i think renting is best to own is nice but it has to keep making money renting it breaks call the rental company they bring another lost time maybe but no cash out of pocket for repair

[C5SilverBullet]

Aren't they in the 20,000lbs range? Why not get an F450, 25,000lbs towing capacity.

[vetteman9368]

Aren't they in the 20,000lbs range? Why not get an F450, 25,000lbs towing capacity.

A) 24,000 lbs
B) without trailer
C) no fords

[C5SilverBullet]

A) 24,000 lbs
B) without trailer
C) no fords

Ram HD will tow 30,000.

[vetteman9368]

Ram HD will tow 30,000.

I'd buy the ford first. We have a duramax dually, but I don't feel like stressing over running at max weight capacity. If I can't safely pull it with the dually, freightliner/Volvo it is.

[C5SilverBullet]

I'd buy the ford first. We have a duramax dually, but I don't feel like stressing over running at max weight capacity. If I can't safely pull it with the dually, freightliner/Volvo it is.
How about a Kodiak then instead?

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?endYear=2014&zip=77510&listingType=used&listingTypes=used&sellerTypes=b&mmt=%5BCHEV%5BKODC4500%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&modelCode1=KODC4500&sortBy=derivedpriceASC&makeCode1=CHEV&startYear=1981&showcaseOwnerId=0&firstRecord=51&searchRadius=0&bodyStyleCodes=TRUCKS&listingId=335958385&listingIndex=10&Log=0

[vetteman9368]

How about a Kodiak then instead?

That may be a possibility

[C5SilverBullet]

That may be a possibility

I think you run into a lot less DOT issues with medium duty, rather than heavy duty trucks.

Kodiak with the Cat diesel would be more than enough.

[Bill]

I think you run into a lot less DOT issues with medium duty, rather than heavy duty trucks.

Kodiak with the Cat diesel would be more than enough.

Don't kid yourself. I pull equipment trailers frequently. Those ****ers stop any kind of trailer, any time they feel like it, for any reason or no reason at all.

I usually like to do my hauling to stage equipment on the weekends, at night, on holidays, etc. to avoid the DOT shakedown. Every little policing burg has them, it isn't just the state boys at the weigh stations anymore.

Try driving that Kodiak through Pasadena, for example. They will **** your world. We don't even pull trailers in Pasadena anymore. When we want to move a tractor from one plant to another, we just drive that mother****er there, with the slow moving triangle on it, going 20 mph.

[vetteman9368]

How about a Kodiak then instead?

Cars for Sale: 2006 Chevrolet Kodiak C4500 4x4 Crew Cab in Lima, OH 45801: Truck Details - 335958385 - AutoTrader.com (http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?endYear=2014&zip=77510&listingType=used&listingTypes=used&sellerTypes=b&mmt=%5BCHEV%5BKODC4500%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&modelCode1=KODC4500&sortBy=derivedpriceASC&makeCode1=CHEV&startYear=1981&showcaseOwnerId=0&firstRecord=51&searchRadius=0&bodyStyleCodes=TRUCKS&listingId=335958385&listingIndex=10&Log=0)

The irony of that is that I can buy an 06 Volvo dead loaded with low miles for way less

[JRD77VET]

What about buying your equipment & the correct trailers for hauling and subcontracting the actual moves?

[vetteman9368]

What about buying your equipment & the correct trailers for hauling and subcontracting the actual moves?

That has crossed my mind as well

[RED-85-Z51]

Didnt GM stop making the Top Kick/Kodiak line?

[vetteman9368]

Didnt GM stop making the Top Kick/Kodiak line?

They dropped the name

[bsmith]

Talk to Erb...

[xXBUDXx]

The first question is how often are you moving the Lull? Weekly, monthly, quarterly?

How far are you moving it? 10 miles, 50 miles, 100 miles?


The listed factors would dictate whether to lease, buy or sub the equipment.

[kylebuck]

Chad, my pops is in the oil field heavy hauling biz. He would be able to answer some questions.

[vetteman9368]

The first question is how often are you moving the Lull? Weekly, monthly, quarterly?

How far are you moving it? 10 miles, 50 miles, 100 miles?


The listed factors would dictate whether to lease, buy or sub the equipment.

On a normal job, the lull would be on site 2-3 weeks, just long enough for a monthly rental to be cheaper than weekly. As for moving it, most often it's within 50 mile radius.

[xXBUDXx]

On a normal job, the lull would be on site 2-3 weeks, just long enough for a monthly rental to be cheaper than weekly. As for moving it, most often it's within 50 mile radius.

With that much lead time, I would look closely at simply hiring someone to move it each time. Just my $.02