Will 3rd time be a charm? Dump truck buy.

It's happening!

All ducks in a row:

Audio book on CD's? check
Motel booked? check
Pre-buy inspection scheduled? check
U-Haul reserved to tow car behind truck? check

Wish me luck!

I'll post some pics once I get back.

 

Good luck!

 

A buddy has an 88 Chevy dump and I absolutely love that truck.

 

Thanks guys.

I'll try to get some pics if I can find my camera. (I refuse to own a smartphone).

 

Hope it works out and is what you've been looking for.

 

We are hopeful too, thanks! Not exactly what I've been looking for but has most of the features I wanted.

Dually
12 foot long bed plus wide enough (at 8 feet wide this is no problem)
Stake bed
PTO dump
Right side tool box (we need that or a clear right side)
Manual shift
Bench seat
Decent shape
Something we can afford

It's a diesel but at least pre-2007. I didn't want a diesel but finding a gas powered truck big enough was a real challenge. At least this is non-turbo and no electronics (7.3 L IDI). Color will match the Tundra which will be nice.

 

You don't think you're going to be miserable driving a NA diesel?

 

Why would I be miserable? Approaching the point of no return here.....

 

I've been told they're so under powered that only masochists enjoy driving them.

 

You think I've driven you guys crazy....you should see the threads on a heavy truck forum I joined.

I think I have looked at 1000 dump truck ads? Called about a dozen people, test drove two (so far). Hopefully this one will be it. I'm actually staying in a motel tomorrow night so I will be well-rested for the inspection, test drive, and dickering.

Well the camera is most likely out. It's an older model and I can't find a cord that will fit it to charge it.

Just about ready to go.....need to wash up some clothes and take a shower.

I've heard the IDI is slow. Just have see how it'll work for me.

I've been told Banks or Wells are the go-to IDI turbos to add on and I may do that later on.

 

You got that right!

Plan is to drive it over to a heavy truck shop (which I've already spoken with twice about it) and get the frame inspected. Looking for cracks, bends, damaged joints, suspension issues. Also get the engine checked out for whatever common problems IDI's have.

Truck is "down south" so shouldn't be very rusty (major problem here in WV).

Seller is OK with this and it'll be the "test drive." I did the same thing when I bought the Tundra: drove it to a shop for computer check and frame inspection.

Bed time! I'll get back to this thread maybe Monday night but more likely Wednesday or Thursday. I'll have internet access in the hotel lobby but that's it.

Thanks for the well wishes and meme.....I appreciate it.

 

Guys, I just got back in a couple of hours ago.

This was, I think, the most PERFECT trip I've ever been on. I could not imagine a better trip as everything went so perfectly. Literally everyone I came in contact with was openly friendly and professional. I got amazing directions from a guy at a rest stop, a guy at a red light gave me more directions which I wrote down and were spot on, the people at the hotel and heavy truck shop, the two mechanics in WV I called and got about 15 to 30 minutes extra advice from, the people I met there and on the way home.....just a perfect trip.

I had something happen on the trip home.....the believers on this site will understand...the Holy Spirit came on me during the drive and the feeling of happiness and peace were so great I burst into tears and just let it move through me. This has happened a few times in my life, I can't predict when it will happen, and certainly had no clue it would come on. I assume this is what the Rapture or Heaven will feel like. Had the car crashed and me died, I would have been totally fine with that. I called my wife and told her about it and I called a best friend. They both had prayed for me for the trip and his family had prayed for me and even his entire church. Anyway.....the trip was just about as wonderful a trip as I could ask for. Even this moment I feel so good about it all.

I did not buy the dump truck.

It was not honestly described in the ad.

It seems (at least many) people have trouble being both honest and forthcoming when it comes to making an ad.

The truck has a lot going for it, but what is not going for it makes it unsafe, unreliable, and illegal to drive. I drove it, watched the seller drive it, and had a heavy truck shop give it a more thorough inspection than I knew to ask for. I called mechanics back in WV who gave me more warnings and a realistic top bid price.

It has a couple of serious flaws, most of which I would overlook (although those would drive down my top offer) but the main thing is, the tranny requires a rebuild. Clutch is indeed new and I could tell that driving it, but the synchronizers are gone. Owner himself, and he would be a master at "floating" gears, and he (of course) drove it the best he could as I came so far with cash on my person, and he was grinding gears most shifts! Where I would notice a grind and not shift (into that gear) he would force it each time. WHAT THE FLIP???? Probably not the best for the gears.....

I was quoted $3500 for a tranny rebuild. NO.

There are other problems, not the least of which was a MISSING PARKING BRAKE PEDAL AND BRACKET.

The was an (illegal) line brake, but even that was unhooked.

SMH.......apparently the parts were on the truck and a local shop has the pedal and bracket but WHAT???

I told him my offer would stand. He's in a bit of a bind, apparently his yard is full of equipment and the county threatened a fine if they don't move some of it. Assuming he has any gears left maybe we can do something but I won't raise my offer.

There were no hard feelings. They even offered to pay half on the inspection. I got home and emailed them my home address for them to send a check. They don't have to and I told them so, but I could use the money. Up to them though. I won't be upset if they don't.

I feel fine. The trip was amazing, the Holy Spirit paid a visit, I met some amazing people, even made a new friend (a story in itself!). Such things matter to me a great deal. (Honestly I still feel so good about the Holy Spirit dropping in I'm totally fine if I keel over dead right this moment ).

When God feels were are ready, He'll put us on a truck. Maybe He doesn't want us to have one. That's OK. Whatever He wants.

At least I have the cash on hand to pay for the Tundra's stealership repairs!

Thanks for all the well-wishing. It was fun (when the shifter worked) driving it.

I am considering an automatic tranny....rather have a manual but.......

The search continues!

 

Did you miss the part where I loved the trip?

It's tiring---the constant lies of omission, outright lies, etc. I had no idea "finding a dump truck" would be so hard. Of course my requirements make it harder but still.

We will have to wait. It's time to get to work and there is no more time to do anything but work. I had a client call the other day, just now checked my voicemail. She wants those "hedges" trimmed. The hedges that are 15 foot tall trees! I had hoped to throw all of that into a dump truck and make one trip to the landfill. Instead we'll load it into the trailer and unload it at the landfill by hand, however many loads that is.

Maybe we'll have to get a dump trailer. It won't fit a leaf vacuum under it but it would make hauling off small trees a lot easier when it comes to dumping.

Any trailer buy will have to wait until the Tundra is actually on the road. I'm hoping for next week on that.

Thanks for the encouragement.

 

What an excellent day you had and thank you so much for sharing!

I absolutely love those little glimpses, feelings, nudges, from the Holy Spirit. The most comforting, joyous feelings I have ever have.

 

I appreciate that, thank you.

I almost didn't include it as I figured most would think it crazy, but to not include it would be a disservice to the lost and an insult to the Master.

 

Today's job would be nice with a dump truck made into a chip truck. Found another candidate that might work, even with the huge Tundra stealership bill.