Vans with boxes

[highway star]

If the truck is over 10,000# GVWR you'll have to scale in many states, even if you're not loaded that heavy at that time.

 

[guido4475]

Why is this such a hard subject to comprehend? If the gvw of a vehicle is OVER 10,000 gvw, then it has to roll across the scales in some states and log.GVW= the empty weight of the truck without a load, and the weight of the frieght going in the truck as well, cannot exceed the GVW rating of the vehicle, often found in the door jamb of most vehicles.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Unless you are getting a consistently good rate and FSC anything under 15 mpg would be a no no to me...in to-days world it just doesn't support any less...

over the last 9 fill ups I've been averaging 24.4 mpg, low was 22.2, high 27.1

 

[greg334]

Michigan has yet to repeal the scale requirements, they require you to scale with anything over 5500 GVW, not 10k.

 

[guido4475]

Unless you are getting a consistently good rate and FSC anything under 15 mpg would be a no no to me...in to-days world it just doesn't support any less...

over the last 9 fill ups I've been averaging 24.4 mpg, low was 22.2, high 27.1

Awesome numbers to be proud of, and I bet even higher numbers can be acheived once those snow tires come off the rear also.Those numbers show what preventative maintenance and responsible driving can accomplish.

On a separate note, read this month's issue of Expedite Now magazine and read how Bert Lambert got 1.2 million out of his 2002 Ford E-350 with a 7.3 diesel in it, all due to proper maintenance.Another man with awesome numbers.

 

[guido4475]

Michigan has yet to repeal the scale requirements, they require you to scale with anything over 5500 GVW, not 10k.

So I got lucky when I went by the ones on 75,north of Detroit.But why don't they put signs up showing this? How is one supposed to know otherwise?

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Michigan has yet to repeal the scale requirements, they require you to scale with anything over 5500 GVW, not 10k.

Wisconsin and S, Dakota is 8,000 lbs as well, but they don't want to see us....only at their leisure....

 

[OntarioVanMan]

So I got lucky when I went by the ones on 75,north of Detroit.But why don't they put signs up showing this? How is one supposed to know otherwise?

It is a professional drivers responsibility to keep informed of all laws of the state they are passing thru....

 

[guido4475]

Hey Greg,

I've always had a tough time getting the exact cpm for any vehicle because the miles one may get during a particular month can vary. Ie, a $700 payment + 300 insurance on a van getting only 4000 miles/month is quite high. If that same van can get 10K miles/month it's obviously a lot lower.

Your numbers seem about right though. So figuring a box would be about $600/month less than a Spinter (payment + insurance) one would have to drive about 4285 miles/month to break even. Less than that & a box is more effective & more than that a Spinter is.

Repairs & preventative maintenance I've got to believe would be more on a Sprinter. I'm not sure how much though. So that would raise the break even miles up a bit.

You noted some other factors in there too. These are personal decisions. More width vs more weight, etc. I've had such terrible luck w/ my Sprinter awhile back that I'm leary of getting another one. A lot of people I worked with hated thiers also.

At the same time I see others on here who like theirs just fine. So maybe they've worked out a lot of the bugs. I've seen Ryder Sprinter rentals on the road. They're white & maybe that would be a good avenue to look at.

The perfect vehicle IMO, at least for me, was the one David Hall posted on about a year ago. If I'm not mistaken he got 15MPG on that. I've seen more & more of those types of vehicles on the road recently. I just haven't seen any that are under 10K GVW for sale. My hope is that when I'm ready to buy one there will be. If not, it'll be a box/sprinter decision.

Okay, my stupid question of the day::::: What would the amount of miles traveled in a month have to do with the price of the truck's insurance for that month? My monthly ins payment is dictated by the total amount of insurance, divided by the amount of months that it covers.Is the fluctuating insurance monthly payment some kind of scam? Is this insurance purchased through the carrier?

 

[Turtle]

"What would the amount of miles traveled in a month have to do with the price of the truck's insurance for that month?"

In an Emily Litella Moment, it doesn't. He's talking about the CPM fluctuating with the miles. So the insurance cost per mile is what's fluctuating here, not the actual monthly cost of the insurance.

 

[Dakota]

Maybe I do it differently, but I have two separate figures
my fixed cost(truck lease, insurance,other fixed monthly fees) divided by number of days in the month
and my moving cost/CPM (per mile lease charge,Diesel) which is bassed on the miles per month

 

[Jack_Berry]

So I got lucky when I went by the ones on 75,north of Detroit.But why don't they put signs up showing this? How is one supposed to know otherwise?

never stopped. never been chased.

 

[Jack_Berry]

Dallas Smith Corp - Low Floor Buses, Vans, Trucks, Chassis Cabs, Trailers, and Components


there is always this option.

well just called them and they start at class 4 so this is no good.

 

[MSinger]

Do a search on Ebay for GMC cube and there will be multiple listings for former Penske trucks come up at very reasonable prices.

 

[MSinger]

Greg, I can get 6 45X48's in mine with no problem. Mine sounds identical to yours only mine is a 2002 with 5.7l. I do NOT have a sleeper so the whole box can be used for cargo. I just throw down an air mattress if I am out overnight but I am usually out and back due to my FD schedule.