i have a sort of odd idea..

johnwayne360 · Aug 16, 2015

I run a small 140 acre grain and cattle farm. Have been looking at options for hauling grain to market. I have a 2010 regular cab chevy half ton with 28k miles on it. I bought it 4 years ago with 20k miles on it. Just don't use it as much as I thought I would. Seems to be a waste of resources just sitting in the garage. But I need a truck to pull cattle trailer 5-6 times a year and for general hauling at times. So I see an old c70 chevy sitting for sale. Was a fire dept truck so well cared for and low miles. Saw you could put a truck box on one of these. So I thought maybe I could sell the half ton, buy the c70. Use the c70 to pull 400 bu corn wagons 10 miles to market. I realize the c70 will only get 6 mpg. But at 5k or less miles it wouldn't cost much more for gas. I haven't called about the c70 yet. don't know any specifics other than it is a single axle and currently has no box or flatbed of any kind on it. Looks like around an 80 model. Good idea or bad? I kind of like old trucks, kind of dreaming and trying to find a reason to own one..

gene bender · Aug 16, 2015

Just remember you talk about pulling a 30,000 load 10 mi what kind of brakes on the wagon

fixerupper · Aug 16, 2015

So you are going to put a box on it but you plan to pull a 400 bushel wagon? Around here some guys used to put a center dump gravity box on a straight truck and pull another gravity wagon behind it. The grain on the truck gave it the traction to pull the wagon. Without any weight on the truck you will be spinning your wheels pulling that loaded wagon on the slightest incline, like going up to the pits at the elevator. Is it a gas or diesel? A diesel might get 6 MPG but a gasser will be in the 2-4 MPG range if you are pulling a load short haul. A single axle truck might haul 350 bushels legally. Just some random thoughts.

T in NE · Aug 16, 2015

You will have to weight the rear end pretty well. Put a 5 yard dump box on it with a coal chute and load it before the wagon.
Or look for something like a tandem 1900 or 4900 international and put a grain or dump box on it.
One thing to think about with a firetruck. It may have low miles, top maintenance, but it fires up cold, runs balls to the wall to the fire, then sits there idling running the pumps. Then it gets put away til next time.

Dick2 · Aug 16, 2015

You need to determine the rear axle ratio. Being a fire truck, it may have the wrong ratio to be hauling or pulling heavy loads, like trying to convert a U-Haul truck to haul a heavy load - they were geared for light loads and that is all that they will handle.

I seriously doubt that the truck has enough braking ability to stop a 400 bushel load in an emergency stop.

flying belgian · Aug 16, 2015

Put a box and hoist on the truck and forget about the wagon.

johnwayne360 · Aug 16, 2015

I need to pull gooseneck trailers from time to time. So I would have a flatbed on the truck. Unless you can easily switch between a flatbed and a grain box, sounds like it wont work well. Wagon would have surge brakes on it. I hadn't thought about the gearing. Thanks. Another idea put on the shelf I think.

donjr · Aug 16, 2015

If it was me, I'd look at buying the fire engine, and put a flat bed dump body on it, and keep the pickup. The old engine will not be that pricey, and a flat bed isn't bad. A hoist may cost a few bucks, and can be done later. But, the minute you get rid of your pick-m-up, you'll truely regret it. And, over a few years, that 140 acres will be 200, or 300, and you'll need a bigger truck anyway.

Sprint 6 · Aug 16, 2015

Fire trucks lead a rough life. Low miles, but sky high engine hours, probably a 366 or 427. While very rugged, they are not a high mile engine in heavy truck applications, most need overhauled in the 60K range, if a rod does not come out first. They are usually driven by less than skilled drivers, so test the clutch and make sure the trans stays in each gear without holding while accellerating and coasting. That said, I would love to have a C70 of that style, grew up in one with my dad driving.

johnwayne360 · Aug 16, 2015

I already have 4 vehicles. the wifes car gets 1500 miles/month. My work car gets 1000/month, and the truck and back up work car(I work at the post office) get a couple hundred miles a month max. Adding a 5th vehicle to just rot away doesn't make a lot of sense right now. I was kind of hoping to get a heavier truck to use for more stuff, but I cant seem to work out the economics behind it right now.

caterpillar guy · Aug 17, 2015

Forget the chevy and the gasser idea. Never stay running and always a pain in the. Either go with a dump box on a trailer for the pickup or find an old road tractor they are cheap and durable. They also have the brakes for the wagon if you want to pull it.
My brother bought one of those cheap chevy things. Hauled on load of beans and one load of corn and has set since. Will be pulling it outside to set soon. Has a box and hoist on it. Holds 500 bu. could probably buy it.

i have a sort of odd idea..

johnwayne360

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gene bender

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fixerupper

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T in NE

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Dick2

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flying belgian

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johnwayne360

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Sprint 6

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