Jump to content

Why are most work trucks out there F350/450/550?

Minimization

Recommended Posts

Minimization Enthusiast

Minimization

Posted
Posted

Or is it because GM has only gotten serious about Diesels in the last 5-6 years with the Duramax? I am talking about wreckers, dump trucks, flat beds, etc.

 

Recreational towers and contractors seem to use Ford and Chevy equally. Dodges are almost non-existant.

 

This is just my observation in the New England area.

mmmikkke Senior Enthusiast

mmmikkke

Posted
Posted

Mechanics order wreckers. Around Michigan, it's about 40% Ford, 60% GM. I've never seen a mopar wrecker. Hmm, could it be that a mechanic is not fooled by Dodge's saturation advertising?

 

In situations where low bid is king, and quality doesn't matter, that's when you see the stripped down mopars.

HillHound Senior Enthusiast

HillHound

Posted
Posted

Just a guess, but I'd say it has more to do with the fact that hsitorically Fords heavy-duty truuks have been available in a larger number of combinations; cabs, chassis wheelbases, several different diesels (CAT, PSD and a few different Cummins), axle ratios,4x4/2wds etc.

 

GM may be catching up but you know how brand loyalty goes-unless the outfits have a ton of problems they have no reason to switch. And like it or not, Ford definitely has the edge nationally in fleet sales support and service. Heck-there are a few few dealers around here that are pretty much solely dedicated to fleet sales.

 

But I do agree with mmmike-I am starting to see more and more GM wreckers with D-maxes around here too. Almost no Dodges although threre are a few old Ram 3500s with dump bodies on them owned but small companies-probably bought used for cheap $$ and ran until they fall apart.

Truckman031 Senior Enthusiast

Truckman031

Posted
Posted

I think it mostly has to do with price. I know this is how large companies order their trucks. A buddy of mine works for Georgia Power which is owned by Southern Company. Both are huge companies. 99% of their trucks are Ford. Are they a better truck? No, Ford just gives them a better deal than GM, which is a shame, b/c they order lineman new trucks every 5 years and foreman get new trucks every 2 years. That equals a decent amount of lost sales.

Nick2000Gmc Enthusiast

Nick2000Gmc

Posted
Posted

Actually Truckman I work for a power company too ( Lineman ) and your actually right on the ball when it comes to the 5 year deal thing on our bigger trucks. Supposedly that is the optimum time for replacement ( thats when the boom manufacturer will buy it back at the right price and resell it to another contractor or whatever ). I know all our smaller boom trucks are Ford f450 I believe ( they work nice, except they blow turbos ). Our bigger trucks are all freightliners ( turn on a dime which is good in a city enviroment ). Anyways Just thought I would add my 2 cents on it again

2004GMC2500HD Enthusiast

2004GMC2500HD

Posted
Posted

I own a company that buys a decent amount of trucks. We sell them off after 5 years because thats how long (in most cases) to write off the entire cost of the truck. Thats the only reason we do it every 5 years. Unless one is wrecked or just not useable. A couple of our trucks run over 100,000 miles a year, so they are gone sooner if maitenance cost get out of control. At 500,000 miles almost any truck is worn out.

 

I'm a truck nut and I have always ordered brand new F550 4x4's with the PSD, but I personally drove a GMC 2500 HD 4x4 until recently.

 

Ford's are about $5,000 cheaper then a comparable GM or Dodge. At $5,000 a pop for a work truck, I will take junk (Ford) that will mechanically last just as long as something nicer (GM).

 

Just my opinion coming from a dollar and cents perspective.

Elwood 2000 Senior Enthusiast

Elwood 2000

Posted
Posted

You are right, business is about making MONEY, not driving a nice ride. If it pencils out for the checkbook for a tricycle to be the best bang for the buck, then a fleet of tricycles it is!!

Mark_in_Tulsa Senior Enthusiast

Mark_in_Tulsa

Posted
Posted
Mechanics order wreckers.  Around Michigan, it's about 40% Ford, 60% GM.  I've never seen a mopar wrecker.  Hmm, could it be that a mechanic is not fooled by Dodge's saturation advertising?

 

In situations where low bid is king, and quality doesn't matter, that's when you see the stripped down mopars.

 

 

 

 

 

Dodge hasn't been in the 3500 chassis cab business for quite a while now. That's why you don't see them around. But starting this year they will be getting in to it with the new 6.7 Cummins and Aisin auto transmission

lesmore49 Enthusiast

lesmore49

Posted
Posted

I used to see more F350/450 trucks around my city, but in the last year or two, this seems to be changing, as I'm starting to see more 4500/5500s.

 

I think it is due to a number of factors:

 

-more GM dealers are selling the MDT, around here, than before. I heard that GM was pretty tight when allowing dealerships to carry the MDT line

 

-The Ford PSD Diesel (6 liter) has a horrible reputation for reliability Muncipalities and private companies can't afford down times and expensive fixes once the PSD is off warranty

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Latest Articles

  • Posts

    • asilverblazer
      Intermittent no-code issues on 2022.5+ V8 trucks — what did the shop fail to capture?

      By asilverblazer · Posted

      Length/amount of data capture will be important to consider, sifting through 5 minutes of a data log can be enormous when it is stored in milliseconds. Being able to find the 'event' let alone decipher it.   Presumably the driver would notice something and hit a button to capture the 'window' of data. That window has to be large enough for the operator to recognize the event and react accordingly.    The data has to be able to be retrieved easily.   The data has to be able to be understood. Which is the biggest challenge, dealer techs won't even know what most of it is and would likely not even look at it if an owner brought it to them. Meaning the owner, the least educated/qualified, trying to understand it.    How will the data be presented? Could specific PIDs be selected and a timelapse graph be watched? How will a specific value be noted as abnormal? Additionally, a good data logger would be able to 'learn' normal values for a specific vehicle and flag abnormalities automatically. It could in theory watch parameters degrade over time and suggest maintenance as needed. (If the MAF reading begins tapering off for a given set of other readings - MAP, throttle position, Ambient, etc.. a flag to check air filter.) With the amount of data available, a device (really the vehicle rather than an additional accessory) should be able to do more than issue a DTC. It should be able to run the full diagnostic suite automatically and present a solution rather than a code. (It's not the 90's anymore). The technology is available for the vehicle to not just say "P0087", it should know low fuel pressure, check other PIDs to narrow down the problem itself, and determine if it is a lift pump, high pressure pump, regulator, leak in the fuel line, clogged filter, etc. Even if it can't narrow it down, it should be able to guide the user to the likely problems.   This would be a major problem for dealer service departments, which are the manufacturers customers it is in their collective best interest to NOT have this available to the consumer.   Further, if the owner is going to be the primary consumer of the data, it's got to be at a consumer price point vs. dealer only specialty tool price.   This group is more 'involved' in their vehicle than general public/consumer and will have knowledge, experience, needs and desires that are quite different from the market at large.   
    • KARNUT
      OCI, not when but why?

      By KARNUT · Posted

      I put the prof up. If you read what I posted. You can see that housing, cars and income are in line with the era we were talking about. It’s harder in some places easier in others. Let’s agree to disagree and put this back on track, OK? We both are pretty stubborn and hard headed. But I bring receipts. If you wish I will not respond to you in the future. 
    • Grumpy Bear
      OCI, not when but why?

      By Grumpy Bear · Posted

      Lets see if I can sum up two pages of nothing useful.    You want to refute your own governments data of the "Purchasing Power" Index FOR THE ENTIRE USA and its territories replacing it with the experience of a single family and its business and label that reality?  Then pound on that for a week hoping it will find traction?    Stan, I've told you several times. I don't do irrational. There are more people in the USA than your family.    I'm pretty sure this tread is so blown up. I'll give you a few days or months if need be to post yourself silent then I'll see if I can find enough parts of the train to reassemble it. 
    • asilverblazer
      VSE CCV Bypass - Anyone have this installed in their L5P?

      By asilverblazer · Posted

      Facebook groups hate VSE, poor customer service; their responses to criticisms are pretty poor for a reputable company. I'm not a customer, haven't bought anything from them, but how they handle themselves on social media is a definite "No" for me. 
    • asilverblazer
      Transmission Woes :-(

      By asilverblazer · Posted

      $10,000 for a transmission?   Pretty sure I could buy all the parts, tools, and education to rebuild it myself for a quarter of that amount.   or swap it out with a new one...

  • GM-Trucks.com Clubs

  • Popular Contributors

×
×
  • Create New...