[suttonbeeman]

You will have to get a DOT number. As long as truck gvwr and trailer gvwr is under 26k you are ok without a cdl. But I think that truck is going to put you over the limit and you may need a cdl. If truck gvwr added to trailer gvwr is over 26 k you will need a class a cdl. I would think long and hard about getting a f550. It is one geat built truck but the powerjoke(I call it that because they gave me hell) is a joke. It is good until you hae a problem then its one after another. Our local ambulance quit buying them...stayed in garage too much. Plus all NEW diesels ger horriable milage. I would look at a new sterling or dodge 4500 or 5500. My old 12v cummins in my 98 has over 300K and has never been touched. I am looking for a f405 or 550 with blown engine....I want to put a 03 to 06 or 12v cummins in it. Now that would be a truck!

 

[suttonbeeman]

I disagree witht the 7.3 engine being good....It was MUCh better than the 6.0. BUt still mine spent weeks in garage and I spent 5k on and never had it right. If it was under 50 degrees you better plug it up or else you would crank for 5 minutes. Dealer cound not figure it out...got rid of it for a cummins. Was my wifes and she never cusses.....but called it the SO&. Yes my milage drops when loaded. My 12v is cranking 425 hp(you never see a ford in a truck pull....wonder why)at over 600lb foot torque. I get about 9.5 mph when I was pulling 27' tamdem gooseneck grossing 26k to 29k from KY to FL . The only problem it has given me is the tranny,,,,not big enough for the cummins, been thru two of them...but I worked them too!. IT has 305k miles and runs like new! I get 18 mPG empty. I want a 08 or newer Ford and when I do get it, it WILL have a cummins in it even if I take the powerjoke out and throw it away(wouldnt sell one of those to my worst enemy). KIt cost 2,500 to convert a junk powerjoke to a good cummins. New dodge trucks are better than the old ones....but ford is still better. I just cant figure out why ford cant build a decent engine...the dt466 is a really good engine but it is a straight 6...maybe Ford needs to look at that!

 

[suttonbeeman]

My freightliner is a fl70 with double frame, tag axle(great for hwy, great for getting stuck off road), air ride, 22ft bed w/4'sleeper, 300 hp cummins. We are tagged for 54k and have hauled 228 hives from FL to KY with forklift behind....but slows down on hills! Would ove to get a semi with 24' bed, 4' sleeper twin screw, locking axles(all 8 wheels pull)18 speed, spread axles and tag another trailer behind it. Paul has this setup, he loves it. all bee trucks shoudl have air ride. My next 350/450 3500/4500 will have air ride installed.

 

[suttonbeeman]

dbest

that would make a good one, but you will go ove the 25k quick with bees, although no cdl required....I would want a 33k weight at least.

 

[suttonbeeman]

alot of small Freightliners have air ride...youcan buy a air ride kit for ton trucks or heavier (450, 550, 4500, 5500). We do at times haul a loadof bees, sometimes following a semi....kinda hard to keep up if I'm loaded heavy! If you are in Fl you better no load overweight! I usually get checked r pulled over 3-4 times in a 4-5 month period! I think it is because it is a odd set up pulling a forklift.