@eapls2708 These will be fully insulated with spray in urethane foam as part of the build out so they should hold the heat quite well. Sort of a necessity here since winter here is half the year and I work in temps down to -30F at times. Without that insulation these would be rolling ice boxes, impossible to heat.
Took a while but we finally got a couple AWD Transit 250s. Nearly done with the build out. 2000W inverter, PVC pipe on the floor up against the cage to hold a spud bar which btw, fits the width of the van with the door closed to the mm. Bench to hold equipment cases and batteries and place to sit to change boots with the lid shut. Given the massive volume of work we have for this season at least I won't be shoe horning everything into our survey buggy.
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Still working on how to hang the hammock for a lunch time siesta, but I'll figure it out.
Our companies newest truck a 2018 Ford f150 is currently out of commission at less than 50k miles (70,000kms) for a new transmission. It is the newer 10 speed model. It may or may not be under warranty still, but if not it will be over $10,000. Fuel efficiency is important but a lot of people end up paying more in the end because of early adoption of newer technologies that can help fuel mileage (like direct infected turbocharged engines, CVT transmissions, dual clutch transmissions etc).
The second newest truck a 2015 or 2016 f150 is drinking coolant (no visible external leaks) so it could be a major engine problem, but it's not going in until the transmission is replaced on the 2018. The trucks these replaced were 2003-2005 Chevy Silverados like the one I'm driving, with over 400,000kms. They apparently had their issues but were still good reliable trucks and had no major failures before being sold and still driven by someone else.?ÿ
The 2010 Tacoma and 2013 Silverado and my 2005 Silverado have had zero major issues so far despite some major abuse by 1 or 2 drivers.?ÿ
@350rocketmike How well these vehicles are going to hold up I have no idea, but I think this is the first new?ÿvehicle I've ever surveyed out of. I pretty much drive like an old lady (at least while anyone's looking and these will have GPS transponders installed) so the abuse should be minimal. Fingers crossed I get a few trouble free years out of these and after that, it'll be someone else's problem. The F150 I'm currently working out of has been a good truck, just not much in the way of spare room for much of anything. I think it had something like 5000 miles on it when I got it and I usually like to take any vehicle and get a feel for it by maybe doing a few brodies with it, just to get a feel for the CG and how it handles. When I was talking to the company fleet manager and told him the F150 does great brodies, he just stared at me and I'm pretty sure he couldn't figure out if I was kidding or not. Of course I was kidding. ?????ÿ
I'm actually not sure what brodies are? Lol. If it's donuts, I do donuts in my 84 cutlass but the truck is so heavy I only do it when there is enough snow I can be sure it won't get traction partway through it. Lol. The rear axle started doing funny things, locker getting stuck fully locked until I changed the fluid.?ÿ
I don't know much about the transit's. Hopefully they are solid.?ÿ
2003-2005 Chevy Silverados like the one I'm driving, with over 400,000kms
I miss that era of Suburban. Our F-150 work truck has the twin turbo and 10 speed transmission. Who wants so much to go wrong on a work truck? My Explorer has the normally aspirated V-6 and it has more than enough power for a work truck. The lifters or something are basically a time bomb on the twin turbos, from what I gather so I am just waiting that boom.
It might be worth considering F250s if the F150s aren't holding up. Either that or take a long look at what they are packing around. It sounds like they may be overloaded.?ÿ Remember that those limit loads are expected to be intermittent, not constant.?ÿ
I think the f150s are actually somewhat under the payload, they have no racking in the back unlike the other 3 trucks. The Tacoma is definitely overloaded and still holding up. The 2013 and my 2005 Silverado are probably after the max payload also. They've had half tons all these years, it will be difficult to convince them especially with gas almost $2/liter.?ÿ
The proof is in the results, not the brochure.
I have always thought that a cab n chassis 4x4 single rear wheel would be nice. Do a custom box sort of like the omaha or service bodies. The reason is all cab n chassis have the straight rear flat beams. So once you where out the truck. Doesn??t matter ford Chevy dodge etc. ?ÿyou just unbolt your custom service body and lift it and place on the new truck. I know mechanics for heavy construction that have gone through several trucks but same service body. Seems like the up front cost would out weigh all the wooden boxes and silver shields i used years ago. I would think something like the highpack survey box but on a chassis frame instead of in bed. ?ÿ Have the pull out drawer slider in back. Atleast a 3/4 ton . With all the upfitter switches now days you could easily use a side box to do all of your charging. Now i am sure the vans are nice. In cold winters with a hammock and propane heater lol. I have a 350 for my farm love it just hate crawling up in the bed to unload feed etc. ?ÿ
There place where I work uses mostly F250s with the larger (crew) cab.?ÿ I think the bigger cab is more useful than the bigger engine actually, but I've definitely used some half tons and suburbans that seemed sluggish to get around.
Be sure to post pictures once you get them all kitted out.?ÿ?ÿ
technically, doing brodies shouldn't tick off the over speed alarm in GPS, and can be usually explained as an attempted parking engagement, that closed up so you had to try again...
or so I've been told anyway....???????
