Grain Truck Semi/Straight questions

The old brown racer is really showing it's age.

The State DOT is having a auction on the 27th and I am going anyway because my pickup needs replacement also. There are several Navistar 4900's a some Ford LN8000's. Most have gravel type bodies.

If I try to replace the Brown Racer (Ford C700 single axle with 300 bu box) I will need to refit either as a Semi or lengthen the frame and get a box or trailer as appropiate.

My main question is what needs to be done to make a straight truck with airbrakes but no trailer hookup into a semi tractor? If I am able to get a decent one bought will I be better off fitting it up as a semi or fitting it out as a straight truck?

I have done some looking and got ideas of $7000 for a 24' Trailer and $5500 for a 20' box. I only want to haul about 500 to 600 BU to match my other straight truck. License and Insurance don't seem to be a problem as I can put a Farm Special on them in IA. One other question along those lines is can you get a trip permit for a vehicle that is licensed as a farm special, I may want to do this if I go the semi route and might want to use it to haul tractors or stuff to a swap meet once in a blue moon.

Thanks for your replies.

jt

The last Ford I did offered 3 different steering arms Depending on the length of the wheel base.
The reason for this is Shortening or lengthening a wheelbase Changes the Ackerman Angle and can cause poor steering and bad tire scrubbing if the steering arms are not correct.

You will also have to have a Tractor protection and a hand valve plumbed into your air system to be a tractor.

I am of the opinion if you already own the truck and convert it. It may be worth The cost to have it done. Or if you just cannot find a tractor and need to change one.

But If there are tractors available go with a factory built tractor to avoid the Wheelbase Change. You probably will be money ahead.

Don't think I will need to do major frame work but want to gather all the info I can to make a informed decision.

Thanks

jt

Thanks for the comment. I was at the DOT auction lot today and looked at some of the trucks. Most are short enough wheel base but not too short so that I think they could go either way without a WB modification.

Are the protection valves and johnny bar a major project or just a little more complicated than other trailer hookups?

I didn"t look the trucks over real close but from what I have seen at these sales over the years I think there may be some better at another sale. The main reason I want to go this route is my dad and I have had real good luck with the pickups we have bought there. The one I am driving now is the third and I am pretty sure the fourth will be purchased at this sale. The one I am driving has nearlly 200k on it and mechanically I would be comfortable driving it anywhere in the nation. The body not so much. These trucks are fleet maintained and since they are using taxpayer dollars if something needs fixing it is fixed even if it is going on the block soon and if it isn"t fixed they tell you what is up. That mostly goes for the State trucks. The stuff on the sale from other entities is another story.

There is always the possibility that when sale time comes I may very well be blown out of the water on the bigger stuff but I at least expect to come home with a 1/2 t pickup.

jt

I would suggest that you look for a tractor though if you're seriously thinking of going that route. I'd look at the dealers lots too, and don't be afraid to look for something up to 15 grand. I found my 9400 that way. They wanted 15 for it. I offered 10. They said no, but what about this Kenworth.... I say, sounds nice.... time elapses while I round up the money.... Call back and it's gone. I ask if the Eagle's still around... 'Yep, out back'. How much? '15'.... Offer 10 again.... 'Tell ya what... you give me 10 minutes and I'll call ya back'.
Calls back.... 'It's there, another guy is looking at it, and whoever cuts the first check for 10 takes it'.

DON'T be afraid to try that on them. If times are tight, they'll take it because that's what those trucks are worth for scrap, and if some local jobber or farmer doesn't take them for a float truck or whatever, SCRAP is where they're going.
Winter is he best ime to ind them like that if you can wait, but around here right now the forestry business is about screwed so there's any number of HEAVY SPEC, good trucks with big wetlines for sale for next to nothing. Many many 'Star's with 460+ Cat's and N14's, 13 and 18 speeds, 46000# Rockwell's and 14-16 # fronts. Nice heavy trucks that will take a pounding.
No need to limit yourself to the auctions. Look around.

Rod

If I was to not pull the GN with the ford We would have another vehicle leave the farm. We have 2-3/4t 4wds and the main reason I keep the red ford is all I do with it is pull the trailer. The 79 chevy would go and the ford would fill it's place as a water hauler.

Most of what there is in Navistar's have DT466's like I mentioned and I think the Fords have kittys. The fords looked tougher as I drove by today.

Thanks Jim

jt

Alot of what the state has is DT466 navistar's.

I know real similiar to one person's rig running around our territory but seems like it would work for me.

Only thing I wonder about pulling the Fifth wheel is getting a trip permit on a truck that is licensed as a farm special.

jt

There was no comparison hauling-wise to Dad's C65 Chevy tandem axle with a 22' foot bed.

I might have just really hit a bad consignment sale to take some of my stuff to (it was the local annual sale that has been going on ever since I can remember), but my point is, you can find semi equipment pretty cheap...

Probably cheaper than you can rig one out of your current truck.

Howard

I think I'd just be on the lookout for a tractor if that's what you want. Those DOT truck you're looking at are very likely to have small bore engines, very small power and be plum worn out. The DOT here doesn't cut them loose until the expenses start mounting or they really start to think they're cheating the junk man. Both those trucks will also have steel cabs.... Most tractors will have an aliminum cab that won't rot... Something to think about.

Rod