You don't need steel? It definitely makes sense not to have more truck than you need but all of our crews have to carry around a lot of weight in steel bars, 8lb sledgehammer plus a backup sledgehammer, plus a bunch of other stuff you didn't list and it has to go inside a heavy wooden box with dividers.?ÿ
This is true for my boss and he pays my gas for work but I have to put my own gas in the same truck, enough to cover about 75kms of commute depending on where the days jobs are. When I lived in town I would leave the truck at the office and drive my car there to get it, but it's no longer an option now that I'm out of town. Gas is also a tax write off for him but not for me. I can write off every single repair, parts, car washes etc but not gas.?ÿ
The Tacoma is rated 1mpg less than my truck so not really worthwhile, but when I drove my friends 2002 gm 3/4 ton with the 6.0 (pictures above - when he was doing the bodywork to my truck), I had torque pro hooked up to the computer and it was getting about 16mpg at steady cruise speed vs 22mpg (imperial gallons) in my truck with the 4.8.?ÿ
Also our gas is usually significantly higher here than in the states. However, a half ton is IMO the best compromise between having enough truck and gas mileage. I just have to he careful about the weight.?ÿ
It was a 2010 that had a box that covered the full bed and was about a foot tall. ?ÿI had one of those thick 3/4? rubber horse stall mats on top of it to keep things from sliding around. Usually had a bucket or 2 of rr spikes, some milk cartons full of hubs, and some bundles of lathes on top, and all the instruments in the back seat. 36 gal fuel tank. Also usually had some farming supplies like chains, ratchet straps, various hitches in it. Reason I weighed it was the DOT had a set of scales set up at the end of the bridge and were weighing suspected overweight vehicles.?ÿ
It was a 2010 that had a box that covered the full bed and was about a foot tall. ?ÿI had one of those thick 3/4? rubber horse stall mats on top of it to keep things from sliding around. Usually had a bucket or 2 of rr spikes, some milk cartons full of hubs, and some bundles of lathes on top, and all the instruments in the back seat. 36 gal fuel tank. Also usually had some farming supplies like chains, ratchet straps, various hitches in it. Reason I weighed it was the DOT had a set of scales set up at the end of the bridge and were weighing suspected overweight vehicles.?ÿ
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That's scary. I've actually been listening to several bridge and building collapse documentaries lately.
Here's the back of my truck...halfways organized at the time. I need a better setup on top to keep stuff in place, the old carpeting helps but it keeps shifting around over time. I need to rebuild the whole thing anyway as it's collapsing slowly. Winter takes its toll with all the wet snow blowing in or falling off items that go back in the truck.
I've got my Dutch Hill tripod, prism pole & bipod, 25' Hixon, toolbox, shovel, 3' grade stakes, clothes, junk, AND my Focus 35 robot in there. Once in a while I'll drag my Dewalt rotary hammer drill along for the ride, but that about covers it. I've HAD the big trucks, but I don't need 'em, and this is a heck of a lot cheaper to run.
When my truck is in the shop I can do this...but I kind of sucks.
I like how you called it the inside lane, which is obviously correct.?ÿ The left lane being nearer the center of the layout.
I remember years ago this idiot DJ on the radio complaining about how it's the outside lane and why some idiots don't get it.?ÿ And then this engineer called in, and she told him about highway layouts.?ÿ Of course, he discounted that, and still went off on how stupid anyone who doesn't call it the outside lane is.
On the topic of mileage.?ÿ Overloading, and for that matter even coming close to the load limit, usually results in reduced fuel economy.?ÿ The manufactures pair engines with the intended payload.?ÿ Years ago I bought a 3.0l v6 Ranger figuring it would have better economy.?ÿ Boy was I wrong, my 5.4 l F150 (office/backup rig) got considerably better mileage with the same load.?ÿ With a regular payload, the Ranger had plenty of power and got considerably better mileage.
This is often true but not always. The 3.0 Ranger was always known for being reliable but underpowered and not fuel efficient.?ÿ
My 4.8 is very underpowered vs the 6.0 I drove for a week.... even though I had half the load in the borrowed truck, it still got like 6 mpg less at cruising speed.?ÿ
Far above there was mention of a 3-ton bridge.?ÿ This is the lowest rating possible.?ÿ However, the true working limit is more than double that number.
Say you have a vehicle that weighs precisely three tons.?ÿ It is fine.?ÿ But, you meet another vehicle on that bridge that weighs precisely three tons.?ÿ He is fine, as well.?ÿ That makes a total of six tons on the bridge.?ÿ In addition to dead weight there is dynamic loading based on many things.?ÿ Bumps, potholes, etc. creates an up and down dynamic load regardless of the dead weight involved and is increased as the vehicle speed increases.?ÿ Two vehicles each having two axles will have four times when an axle on one vehicle is crossing over an identical cross beam at the same time as an axle on the other axle vehicle.?ÿ That is when the loading is maximum on the weakest link.?ÿ Most 3-ton bridges are rather short but can still have a total of four or more vehicles on the bridge at the same time.?ÿ Therefore a slowly moving single vehicle can cross that 3-ton bridge with a weight far exceeding three tons.
as they should. but not everyone starts out that way with a company paid for truck where every mile on the vehicle is work related. I was more or less speaking for those considering going it solo & trying to offer some advice as there are much more affordable options to survey out of than 3/4 & 1 ton trucks if you don't have to have one. even 1/2 tons can be affordable given the right configuration
@350rocketmike for some reason I keep thinking of Denzel Washington's Monte Carlo from Training Day with that car posted above (sorry to derail the thread)
Thirty years ago there were plenty of surveyors working out of a small pickup with a shell over the bed.?ÿ Not me.?ÿ I could put everything in the trunk or backseat of my 1983 Impala for 90 percent of my jobs.?ÿ I would switch to a farm pickup with 4WD when we had to go off-roading.?ÿ Did a lot of walking in those days but billed for every minute of it.
Thirty years ago got a call from a client that turned out to be our largest client. He said don't show up without your ATV's cause he was tired of watching surveyors walking around his property. By then I was almost 10 years into 4 wheeler use. Before that some ill fated use of 6 wheelers. Working out of Broncos was SOP before real useful 4 wheelers showed up about 1983-84. But, I've always mostly been out in the big country, lot surveys and such don't require that kinda gear. I imagine in dense populated areas, my truck set-up would look silly on a job.
