would you recommend a military vehicle for a small hauling business?

[maddawg308]

May have the opportunity to help out a small business with getting a vehicle(s) for hauling small loads locally. Most, if not all of their stuff gets moved on pallets, so loading/unloading would primarily be by forklift. The owner wants to move as much as possible, without getting a semi-truck and trailers. He currently runs a small box van, an old U-haul truck, and wants to upgrade.

One option: I recommended the 5-ton M927 or M928 trucks, with the 20-foot beds, but those beds are pretty high - if he did have to unload a few things without the use of a forklift, it would suck for whoever had to do it by hand. The plus side is they are cheap, and rugged, will last him a long time. Down side is it will drink fuel by the barrel.

The other option: a standard pickup truck (or dually pickup), with a gooseneck trailer. It's more expensive of a proposition, as the owner would have to buy a pickup (preferably a diesel) AND a gooseneck trailer. Probably about $8-$10K at least. The pluses is that a gooseneck is lower to the ground, easier loading whether by forklift or hand, also he can take the trailer off and use the pickup by itself when he needs to.

Wanted some opinions from the peanut gallery, see what you think I should recommend to him.

 

[doghead]

Does he need reliability and the ability to get work done locally and fast? then no.

 

[GHall]

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?103028-LOOKING-FOR-A-M925-Need-advice!

Good info here..

 

[wreckerman893]

Having had to schlep stuff in and out of the M927 (no dropside) I can tell you that unless he got a dropside or replaced the standard bed with a flatbed he will be sucking wind. I own a Dodge Dually and a gooseneck and I have done far more recoveries with it than with the military trucks. It gets better fuel milage and is easy to load/unload. Unless cost is his only factor I'd go the civy rig route.

 

[swbradley1]

I don't even like loading and unloading my Deuce or 813, I can't imagine a 939 series. A pickup with gooseneck gives you far more versatility and good luck with the whole commercial insurance thing because for once in a blue moon it is actually a thread where it would have to be commercial insurance for an MV.

 

[rickf]

In any business reliability and parts availability is everything. I don't think you have either with the military truck plus the parts, when you find them, will be expensive. I second the pick-up and trailer. Does not really have to be diesel, when you compare the price of gas to diesel and then compare loaded mileage it works out about even considering the large markup on diesel vehicle prices. The newer vehicles have an even better advantage with the 6 and 8 speed automatics.

Rick

 

[rickf]

I don't even like loading and unloading my Deuce or 813, I can't imagine a 939 series. A pickup with gooseneck gives you far more versatility and good luck with the whole commercial insurance thing because for once in a blue moon it is actually a thread where it would have to be commercial insurance for an MV.

Good point, You will need commercial insurance no matter what because you are hauling for profit. I get the feeling that was what he might be trying to avoid.

 

[seano11]

I have commercial insurance on both trucks pretty easy to get

 

[porkysplace]

I have commercial insurance on both trucks pretty easy to get

The laws in Canada and the U.S. make a big difference . It gets difficult from state to state here.

 

[patracy]

I couldn't recommend a MV for this either. Unless the delivery location was for construction sites or something like oil fields where 6x6 is needed. A single axle straight truck would best suit the bill for what you're after.

 

[Hooper]

May have the opportunity to help out a small business with getting a vehicle(s) for hauling small loads locally. Most, if not all of their stuff gets moved on pallets, so loading/unloading would primarily be by forklift. The owner wants to move as much as possible, without getting a semi-truck and trailers. He currently runs a small box van, an old U-haul truck, and wants to upgrade.

One option: I recommended the 5-ton M927 or M928 trucks, with the 20-foot beds, but those beds are pretty high - if he did have to unload a few things without the use of a forklift, it would suck for whoever had to do it by hand. The plus side is they are cheap, and rugged, will last him a long time. Down side is it will drink fuel by the barrel.

The other option: a standard pickup truck (or dually pickup), with a gooseneck trailer. It's more expensive of a proposition, as the owner would have to buy a pickup (preferably a diesel) AND a gooseneck trailer. Probably about $8-$10K at least. The pluses is that a gooseneck is lower to the ground, easier loading whether by forklift or hand, also he can take the trailer off and use the pickup by itself when he needs to.

Wanted some opinions from the peanut gallery, see what you think I should recommend to him.

Just tell the old lady that you need the truck for work reasons. It will fly. Just make sure to get the drop side. If it doesn't pan out.... well I guess you will get stuck with a sweet truck. One thing about a 6x6 is the ability to get in and out of a construction site. The guy who bought my 71 A2 laid tile for a living and the truck was perfect for him.

 

[maddawg308]

Okay, thanks for all the good info, guys. I'll re-recommend to him that he shouldn't buy a military vehicle for his work, but should instead spend the extra $$$ on a pickup and gooseneck trailer. He will only need it for street use (no offroad) so straight axles are all that are needed.

 

[EMD567]

I would check GSA, and see if they have a 1 ton stake body,like a chevy 3500 with a flat bed. Then you could use the stake body for smaller loads, and it will also pull a trl for the larger loads.
Or, something like Ferro just purchased. Small IH straight truck, flatbed, maybe 3 ton.

 

[wreckerman893]

On occasion GL will have some civy trucks that would fit the bill......he may or may not be able to get it cheap but it's worth a shot.