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What about Isuzu?

LDB

LDB

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
I'm reading and web surfing while waiting for the next FEMA activity. Looking at an Isuzu ad and website their trucks have a 24mo/unlimited basic warranty and 36mo/unlimited engine warranty. They offer a 33k gvw with a 7.8L at 300/860 hp/tq and either Allison automatic or 9/10 spd Eatons. According to their propoganda 86% of all of their trucks ever registerd in the U.S. are still on the road and that's at least 19 years worth of truck sales. I don't think I've ever seen one set up for expediting but it might make an excellent C/D unit.

Leo Bricker, owner trucks 3034, 4958
OOIDA 677319
73's K5LDB
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator 1+ Years of Service
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R

RichM

Veteran Expediter
Charter Member
I think they have something going on with GM. I remember seeing them some time ago,are they still cabovers?
 
LDB

LDB

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
They have the cabovers but they also have a standard cab model available.

Leo Bricker, owner trucks 3034, 4958
OOIDA 677319
73's K5LDB
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator 1+ Years of Service
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Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
 
T

targuard86

Expert Expediter
I've got a pic. of a Hino cabover FCC C unit with a sleeper I tried to post but keep getting an error. Not a pretty truck but does the job. I saw it sitting near the TA in Duncan, SC.

I've got an Isuzu we use for local p/d and airfreight and my drivers love it. Good ride, very good for city type work and at 130,000 miles we've had no major trouble out of it.
 
redytrk

redytrk

Veteran Expediter
Charter Member
The Isuza H series looks a lot like a GMC. I guess GM is still their partner.

That 3 yr Unlimited milage warenty is sure appealing. My first "c" was a UD by nissan. The japanese sure build a durable engine. It had a 2 yr unlimited warenty. The big drawback was(and I am afraid also true for Isuza)lack of service locations.

A search of dealers shows none within 500 miles of my home Ft.Wayne In.
 
T

targuard86

Expert Expediter
I checked on getting a sleeper put on our Isuzu and it was going to be about 10K for a basic unit. They said they could do it but I don't see how with all the "stuff" that comes out of the engine compartment onto the back of the cab. They put everything you need to check on the rear of the cab so you don't have to raise the cab to check the fluids.
 
LDB

LDB

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
Putting in the zip for home there is a dealer in Houston which would be very convenient. The other two H series dealers that come up are Smyrna, GA and Albuquerque, NM. That makes their roadside assistance program all the more valuable. They send a truck to you that either fixes it or tows you to the nearest authorized warranty facility.

Leo Bricker, owner trucks 3034, 4958
OOIDA 677319
73's K5LDB
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator 1+ Years of Service
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Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
 
davekc

davekc

Senior Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
Izuzu and UD were ugly trucks but were quite durable. Even more so than some of the trucks out there now. Certainly not fast, but they do provide a good bang for the buck.
Here is a Hino picture with a sleeper.
Sorry alittle tilted but you get the idea.





Davekc
owner
21 years
PantherII
EO moderator
 
LDB

LDB

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
As far as looks go it's pretty nice looking set up. I wonder who did the sleeper? I'm just afraid it's too underpowered unless it's only a C unit. The Isuzu has a much more powerful engine.

Leo Bricker, owner trucks 3034, 4958
OOIDA 677319
73's K5LDB
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator 1+ Years of Service
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Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
 
G

guest

Guest
As far as all that stuff coming out the back of the cab, maybe you could just build the sleeper around it and you could do a lot of your pre-trip inspection without even getting out of bed.:7
 
davekc

davekc

Senior Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
As far as looks go it's pretty nice looking set up. I wonder who did the sleeper? I'm just afraid it's too underpowered unless it's only a C unit. The Isuzu has a much more powerful engine

The sleeper in those pictures in Alumi-bunk. They say the sleeper can come from anywhere.
The one at the EO Expo had a Bentz sleeper.







Davekc
owner
21 years
PantherII
EO moderator
 
B

bigguy1001

Expert Expediter
OK, since you are already talking Japanese trucks. Hino has a service network in the US already established. 22,000 locations. And yes, it does look good with the hat on doesn't it?
 
T

targuard86

Expert Expediter
The hino I saw and have a picture of but can't post is a cabover. I aggree the pictures posted here are a nice looking truck but this cabover with a sleeper attatched and a small window into the cab to make it legal was NOT a pretty truck.......but effective! You actually got into the sleeper from a small step ladded welded to the outside passenger side of the sleeper.
 
LDB

LDB

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
I suspect it's more a case of Top Kick being how you say the Japanese in English since the big 3 are known for rebadging a Japanese product with an American name and selling it as their own.

Why not the Hino? We're back to the 260/585 max hp/tq of the Hino vs. the 300/860 max hp/tq of the Isuzu. I know there are a lot of units out running with a 250hp Cummins or other engine but I'd bet money those engines are making at least 20% more torque than 585. The Hino engine is going to be pushed a lot closer to 100% a lot more often than a truck with 300/860 like the Isuzu or Sterling.

I'm not suggesting a guy needs to go out and get the ISX that's 600/2250 hp/tq because that's crazy for our work. I'm just personally not comfortable running something with no more power than the Hino. Obviously from the photos above someone found it the right thing for themselves. I'd like to hear their honest thoughts on it after 20-30k miles to see how they like it and if they feel it's adequately powered.

Leo Bricker, owner trucks 3034, 4958
OOIDA 677319
73's K5LDB
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator 1+ Years of Service
-----
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
 
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