why no dodge wreckers???

[A Johnson]

Outfit in Portland that does recovery work uses Dodge. He must have half dozen or more recovery rigs and when they come into the shop the older ones look like a camel from the frame being bent. I must admit they are still working at 700K plus on the odometer. They aren't a regular wrecker though, and I think they are all SRW. Must have that sneaker lift rjrepo spoke of.



A Johnson

 

[NIsaacs]

Like others have suggested, I think the main reason is Dodge trucks are too small. Since the trend is to have a roll back type body, the Dodge 3500 Dually will be over GVWR, empty! My brother has a 1995 F-450, with a 19 foot Aluminum roll back body and the wheel lift option. His empty tare weight is 12,500 lbs. Based on the factory GVWR of 14,500 lbs, he only has a payload capacity of 2,000 lbs. The newer 450-550 Fords have higher GVWR's than his, but they are over weight most of the time too. Since wreckers in most states are licensed by the State Police, the factory GVWR must not mean much ! If we all stay within their spec's we wouldn't get any work done The trend now seems to be medium duty trucks for wreckers, a good move.





"IF IT AIN'T CUMMINS POWERED, IT AIN'T A TRUCK"





"NICK"

 

[MChildress]

SEE 03 AND 04'S WRECKERS ALL OVER HOUSTON.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

There a towing company in Bozeman, MT that has several DC wreckers.

Dodge does not make a plain truck, ford does. The Fords up here come with rubber floors, AM/FM stereo and cloth seats... . plain jane pickups.

Oh yes they do. It is the ST model. Which happens to be the best option.





















imho

 

[n5ifi]

Like I've said before, If Ford had a Cummins I would be driving a Ford. All the guys I work with Hot Shotting have had very good luck with the Cummins engine. Most say that the engine was still running fine at 300,000 miles or so when they got rid of them. These trucks are worked extremely hard. (Harder than any wrecker) Most will add that the truck was falling apart around the motor. (Louisiana roads mostly) My normal everyday load is 17,000 lbs. Thats about 32,500 lbs gross. (truck,trailer and load) Believe me when I tell you I get loads everyday because the Fords can't handle them. I actually hooked up and pulled a load that was suppose to be 17,000 lbs but I was having trouble stopping it. Found the closest truck stop and weighed it. 43,600lbs Gross. Folks that a 28,100lb load. I pulled it 250 miles. (that is a tandem axle class8 load in my company) (very ******) The Dodge is a mule for sure but the Fords are good trucks too. They just can't hang with the Cummins engine. I don't get any mileage with my Dodge. I'm blaming it on the flatbed. It will pull anything though.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Could it be that the claimed failure of dodge bodies/suspension is DIRECTLY related to the fact that they ARE worked harder because they can handle what the other brands can't?



Is it remotely possible or likely that a Ford or GM in the same service (if they were capable!) - would exhibit the same tendencies?



What shape would a Ford or GM body/suspension be in in a few years towing 17,000 lbs daily?

 

[n5ifi]

Very possible Gary, I agree. I neglected to say that mine is modified to handle the extra load. I'm disappointed with the fuel mileage on my truck though. My truck and trailer empty weigh 15,500lbs gross and I get about 12. 5mpg. I was hoping for more. I think my flatbed is hurting me. The truck seemed to drop about 2 mpg when I installed it.

73 de n5ifi (hehehe only u and a few others will know the meaning huh)

 

[Will24]

Just a few



Will

kb3gof

 

[powerstrokethis]

Ford's frames can handle the weight of the new boxes. Dodge has a few of them out here but they're mostly 450's