You are right about the pool chassis, that's why I'm ordering to my spec's through a chevy dealer who is also a unicell dealer. I have a 3.42 in my p/up but not sure how it would perform with a load. If you have a 6.0 w/a 3.42 what kind of mileage are you averaging? The diesel thing probably won't go that way though that's all I've had through the years, I might just go with the 6.0. I don't know how it will hold up in the long run say over 200,000 miles and more. Yes they are cheaper to maintain and you can pull it out and replace it cheaper than a diesel, it's just personnel preference. The $6,000 option of diesel and Allison is a high price to pay. I can get the 6.2 with an Allison but it's a new engine out this year and I don't know anything about it.you can order the 6.0 gas motor with the 6 spd and get the 3:42 axle on the srw...don't let them tell you you can't it is available...but they will most likely want to use a "pool chassis" from Uni-cel....don't let them push you that way...if you are going to order it, for the money you will save on getting the better mile with that axle ratio and the cost of the diesel, i'd pass on the diesel...but thats just me
PS: most "pool chassis" do not have the 3:42 axle...
Why order it?
I think the chevy dealer in Perrysberg has two of what I think is a better box sitting there.
BUT how about the weight, just because there is room for three pallets, doesn't mean you can take the weight.
I am in the process of ordering a Chevy 3500 cutaway with a Aerocell box on the back. I will be able to handle 3 pallets but I'm still going to be under 10K. The CW Aerocell body has 500cu ft of loading space. I am also going to have a Power Deck installed so there will be no sliding of pallets on the floor, less damage to the truck and quicker to load and unload. You can see a picture of the box @ <Unicell.com>. I can build the unit with A/C, Power Slide, battery bank, etc.etc. for less than a new Sprinter. No waiting on parts, less cost, more loading area. And you can stand up, which to a C/V operator is a big plus.
Also for the guys that say I'm going to haul D Freight for less money, no If I take 3 pallets I will get more money or let a D unit haul it. But sometimes to get out of a bad area you have to do what you have to do.
This is not a cube. The is the CW model with single wheel. Street wide version. 3500 chevy. Gross weight 9600 pds, the same as a van. It's fiberglass van body. See it @ <Unicell.com>Is it a SRW or Dual rear wheel cutaway?You may want to watch youre emprty weight, including everything you put in it, because I have a freind who did the same setup, and ended up only being able to haul a little over 1,000# in it after it was all said and done.And michigan pulled him over on telegraph and put him on the portable scales and had a field day with him.He ended up parking it, and selling it.What are you really going to gain by having a cube? MPG will be less also.
No my van is an 05 with a 4.8 and a 3:73 with 367,325 mile right now....
I know you are in the business now, but keep in mind that 90% of you driving is at cruising speeds on the hyway.... I sold those chevy trucks for 10 yrs and If I were ordering a cutaway today, It would be a srw. 6.0. 6spd and a 3:42 axle..Id then have it drop shipped to uni-cel and have them install the CW box and have them the the factory roof out and install the front wind deflector with an open ceiling so i could stand up between the seats....but since that box in its longest form is only 12 ft, I won't be getting one....my next CV will have a 14 ft inside load floor length.....on a 9600 gvw srw chassis.....I also know where there are a few 09 10,000 gvw chassis that havs a conversion to SRW and are still tagged at 10,000 gvw....but they do not have the 6 spd....
Oh, from what I have been able to gather, the 6.0 with the 6 spd and the 3:42...mileage should be in the 18-19 range and with good driving habits (that leaves me out) upwards of 20 mpg on a reg basis....
I talked to Uni-cel and Supreme about stretching a cut-away chassis and they won't do it because of Fed Regs... the engineer at Supreme told me that there are a few box companies that will farm it out, but he wouldn't tell me who, he left that to me...Well I know where I can get the 2009/10 cut away chassis that is 10,000 gvw that will take a 14 foot box with the srw...so that will be the direction I go within the 1st half of this yr...but it will not be the 3:42....
No my van is an 05 with a 4.8 and a 3:73 with 367,325 mile right now....
I know you are in the business now, but keep in mind that 90% of you driving is at cruising speeds on the hyway.... I sold those chevy trucks for 10 yrs and If I were ordering a cutaway today, It would be a srw. 6.0. 6spd and a 3:42 axle..Id then have it drop shipped to uni-cel and have them install the CW box and have them the the factory roof out and install the front wind deflector with an open ceiling so i could stand up between the seats....but since that box in its longest form is only 12 ft, I won't be getting one....my next CV will have a 14 ft inside load floor length.....on a 9600 gvw srw chassis.....I also know where there are a few 09 10,000 gvw chassis that havs a conversion to SRW and are still tagged at 10,000 gvw....but they do not have the 6 spd....
Oh, from what I have been able to gather, the 6.0 with the 6 spd and the 3:42...mileage should be in the 18-19 range and with good driving habits (that leaves me out) upwards of 20 mpg on a reg basis....
If it is a length thing that is being regulated,I didnt know.I often see these chevy of Ford motorhome chassis with a 24-to 30' motorhome body on it, and often wonder, besides a possible weight issue, Witht the empty weight vs. the gvw,why we cant do that?