Dump Truck Advice

Big Chris

Lately I've been thinking about buying a used single axle dump truck. Need something bigger and stronger to haul my backhoe around. Around here I see mostly Internationals and Fords. I looked at a 1993 L9000 S/A dump 35,600GVW L10 @260 hp 7 speed trans 99,000 miles. Ex county truck, dump body was ok, cab looked good. Price seemed right. What should someone look for when buying a used dump? What should you stay away from? Obvious signs of wear/abuse etc. Would that L10 do a good job towing about 21-22k. I don't want a gutless truck Any advice would help

Thanks

Chris

cdub

260 HP is pretty weak. 7 speed won't be much help either. It would do the job but you wouldn't win any races. I have an L9000 tandem with a 350 Cat and 10 speed. It does a good job but is pushing the limits of gutless.

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tgeb

As you know, the biggest problem with single axle trucks is they are usually underpowered when it comes to towing.

That L-10 is a good engine and if you want it can usually be "turned up" to about 300 HP.

Now then the 7 speed could be an issue, I have a 7 speed in my dump and it is geared pretty high, which makes some starts a little tough, and backing a trailer can be a challenge cause I nearly have to stall the engine if I need to go real slow in reverse.

Now my truck also has a high ratio rear, so the one you are looking at could be completely different.

I have a friend that owns a truck with an L-10 with a 10 speed and he has more than double those miles on it and still going strong.

What kind of $$ are you looking at?

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SpecOne

Chris

One of the things you want to be sure about is the tranny and clutch. If it's possible take it for a test drive. Some municipal and county machines are well maintained, some aren't. Just depends on their budget. Also you didn't say whether it was air or hyd. disc brakes. Either one needs to checked. If air, the ability of the system to hold pressure, if hyd, the wear of the disks and any leaks in the hyd. lines. Not real familiar with the L10, isn't that the gas engine. Not real fond of gas in this type of application and this weight class. I would rather see diesel. Would be another reason for a test drive. would be real nice if the seller would let you load it down close the working weight and see how it performs. He shouldn't have a problem if everything is in working order.

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Big Chris

I didn't get to look at it for very long so I'll have to stop and look at it again to check it out better. I'm curious about the gearing. I asssume it has a central hydrulics system on it as it still has the plow frame up front. Good tires. I'll have to make arrangements to take it for a ride and see how it dumps and runs down the road. Seller is asking $7500.

Big Chris

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind.

It has air brakes.

The L10 is a 10 liter Cummins Diesel.

It shouldn't be an issue the seller has quite a bit of equipment at the same place and a huge pile of slag that we could load it with.

Big Chris

I've been looking for a single axlw dump that is relatively inexpensive and has 475 CAT power but that seems rare

Want to feel weak try towing with a 87 International 1600 bucket truck with the Allison 545 and IH444 non turbo Crested some hills today at a whopping 10mph. Pedel nailed to the floor losing speed and rpm

It is a good truck for what it was made for just towing heavy isn't it.

LNG24

I had an F-750 Single Axle w/10' 8cy Dump running a Cat 250hp Diesel with a 7 speed. Of course it had air to the rear. I not only towed my NH LB-75b backhoe with ease, but I also pulled my friends Kobelco SK165? Well it was a 30k lb excavator.

Nope, I did not win any speed races up hill for sure, but it transported that machine a NH dozer and back hoe with no problems.

I'll admit, backing up was not happening if I had to back up hill. Any other time it was fine.

Attached Images

 

LNG24

by the way: Got busted shortly after this pic for being over width by 3"

Big Chris

That is a good looking setup. I know 260hp isn't a lot but I see lots of Internationals running around pulling equipment with DT466's and most of them are rated quite a bit less than that.

Thanks for the input everybody, please keep it coming!

cdub

Gutless is rather a subjective term. For pulling a backhoe around short hauls it should be great. I think maintaining highway speed might be a problem, but for $7500 I wouldn't have been able to buy it fast enough. 100,000 miles is nothing on a truck like that. If the 7 speed is a problem you could have it changed for 3 or 4K and you would still be in good shape on your investment.

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LNG24

I know even with the 7spds, you have to have the right rear!

Seriously, though: I have seen too many Highway Trucks (over the road trucks) modified for Dump Truck use. Problems usually are that they are set too low to the ground so you can't go off road and the rears are different.

Other than towing that Excavator, which I could pull down the highway at 55-65, I once (only once though) Put 8 yds of 3/4" washed gravel in the dump while hauling the backhoe AND threw a 500 gallon Cement Drywell under the front bucket of the backhoe. THAT WAS LOADED and she still hauled a$$

cdub

Would it steer?

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Big Chris

Sounds like that truck with the L10 would do fine for what I need it for.

tgeb

Nice looking rig.

Why did you get an over-width ticket?
Dozer blade hanging over?
I always angle the blade so it is within the trailer width, on the rare occasion I pull a dozer.

Big Chris, I think the L-10 would work well for you, and for the money you have on purchase price, (7.5K is pretty cheap) you could always get it turned up to higher HP. I don't think it would cost too much.

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Big Chris

Thanks for all the advise.

Is "turning up" the L10 similiar to the 12v 5.9 Cummins in older Dodge pickups. Make some adjustments to the injecter pump and/or change injectors???

LNG24

We rented that machine for a season and for what ever reason, it was a huge blade. Even at full angle, it was over 8'6". I ended up having to put the machine on the trailer On an Angle AND angle the blade and then I had it just at 8'6". Kind of sucked, but we only had it for a season.

tgeb

I believe that would be the process.

If you can get the engine numbers, you can contact Cummins,
https://qsol2.cummins.com/info/index.html
and they can tell you whether or not this particular engine can be adjusted or not. And to what output, probably give you an idea of the cost as well.

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keithra

I don't think 260 HP is real low for a single axle. It will pull a trailer with backhoe on it no problem. I have a Pete dump with 375 HP and a 9 speed i can load truck to 55,500. and pull backhoe and trailer. Its a fast truck but i like it that way. I'm running 1450 rpm at 60 mph and every 100 rpm above that 5 mph more. I use it off road a lot.

k9cop

Hey don't sweat the L-10. Most of your single axle trucks have motors to pull what will fit in a single axle truck. I have owned many dump trucks and I have built three from road tractors. My first built truck was an 87 International single axle with an L-10 at 295hp and an eaton fuller 9 speed. The truck had about 600,000 miles when I bought it from a food distibution company and installed a bed. I loved the L-10. It made great power and as with all Cummins diesels they make great low end torque and are affordable if you have to work on them. Horsepower ratings on diesels are not always a good way to determine pulling capabillities anyway. I had a Ford Aeromax with a big cam cummins rated at 315 and my friend purchased a brand new International with a 300 horse DT466. My old cummins motor would pull the DT motor in half. Even though the horse power was close the torque was not even in the same ball park. Speaking from expierence do not I repeat do not buy a truck that is not equipped with air brakes. It should be against the law to sell any dump truck that does not have these. I almost died several times in my 94 Ford F800 with hydraulic brakes. Also air brakes are much easier to work on and cheaper. They also will allow the truck to stop when you press on the pedal. The L-10 is a good candidate for a Jake brake as the old cummins motors with jakes work so good. A jake installed will cost between $1000 and $1500. Good luck. Oh by the way I wasn't throwing off on DT466 engines. They are great and there is a crapload of them out there working everyday. A very affordable good fuel mileage motor that is plentiful as well as dependable.