Reasons To Buy a Straight Truck Instead of Semi

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Reasons To Buy a Straight Truck Instead of Semi

BenP

Posted 4/7/2012 21:54 (#2325821)
Subject: Reasons To Buy a Straight Truck Instead of Semi

Central Nebraska

Central Nebraska

I'm thinking about buying a semi this summer as we could use another one during harvest. I've been looking at prices to get an idea what to expect and have also been looking at straight trucks for kicks. I like the idea of a straight truck to use it to also haul scrap, gravel, rock and maybe use as a tender truck for fertilizing/spraying. I don't understand why they're so much money, though. I could buy a pretty nice semi for what it would cost to buy a good straight truck ($30-40,000 range). So, why? I'm just curious as to why straight trucks are so much. I really like the idea of all of the different things I could do with it, but honestly, I could buy a decent truck, a grain trailer and a flatbed around here for close to the same money as a straight truck. Just kind of thinking out loud here. Don't want this to turn into a "buy a semi, idiot" thread. Just wondering why the guys that run straight trucks prefer them over semis. 730diesel

Posted 4/7/2012 22:02 (#2325836 - in reply to #2325821)
Subject: RE: Reasons To Buy a Straight Truck Instead of Semi

NE ND

Where I'm at I just bought my first semi. Father had straight trucks, he didn't like driving semis. I need more capacity. But I will always need a couple of big straight trucks as some of our small township road intersections may not accomadate a long semi, field approaches may not be easily made bigger etc. Also, I move a lot of grain around in my yard in the winter and it is not really too flat, it has some slope. Straight trucks, as long as their twinscrew rarely ever get stuck. On any 20 degree plus day with sun shining, I can piss in front of an empty semi and the damn thing is spinning or stuck....off to get a tractor to give him a tug. Both have their pluses and minuses I guess. The other killer I see for lots of guys, well at least here, is many bin sites were built years ago for small single axles and tandems. Jockeying a semi around in there is not all that fun as there is just no room. IaAngus

Posted 4/7/2012 22:08 (#2325849 - in reply to #2325821)
Subject: RE: Reasons To Buy a Straight Truck Instead of Semi

Eastern Iowa

It's a lot easier for the grain cart to keep up if the truck can drive way out in to the field or along a waterway way back on a farm where the rows don't take you any where near the gate hole. My tandem goes places I've never seen a tractor trailer go and it will hold almost 800 bu. If you buy a semi then you'll want a 1100 bu cart and then you'll want a 400 hp tractor to pull it. Thats why I like my tandem. cr39

Posted 4/7/2012 22:34 (#2325893 - in reply to #2325821)
Subject: RE: Reasons To Buy a Straight Truck Instead of Semi

hauling scrap- hard on the bed
hauling fertilizer- will rust out a steel bed
hauling gravel- hard on the bed

tender truck for water? Just get a cheap lowboy and put three 1500 gallon water tanks on it, or else a 1000 gallon pulled by a pickup

Our straight truck doesn't get used much, unless we are hauling to the bins under a mile away, but still won't keep up with the combine in good corn.

It is really handy for finishing out a field where you don't have 1/2 a semi load. crabby

Posted 4/7/2012 22:36 (#2325897 - in reply to #2325821)
Subject: RE: Reasons To Buy a Straight Truck Instead of Semi

SW Missouri

One reason straight trucks, the really good ones anyway, are so expensive is supply. So many guys in the last 10-15 years have switched to semi's so there isn't as many good 10 wheelers being put together. And you can tie up a ton of money putting one together. 10K for a bed. 5-6K for a hoist. 5K to stretch and double the frame and mount the box. Plus 20-30K for a good low to mid mileage daycab and now you see why they're so high. jalopy

Posted 4/7/2012 22:38 (#2325904 - in reply to #2325821)
Subject: RE: Reasons To Buy a Straight Truck Instead of Semi

NC IA

Why they cost so much: Build one. Start with "average semi-tractor" $15k (i'm using 15 as a bare minimum, 15k doesn't buy too cherry of a rig), double that ($30k) if you are starting with a true heavy spec truck. $20k for aluminum box & hoist & tarp (I'm not sure 20 would cover it), 5K for frame stretch and driveline job, 1-3k for PTO & wet kit for hoist, 1-2k for rear pintle hitch plate, if you ever plan on pulling anything. $15+20+5+2+1= $43000, and that is conservative. Add the 15 for heavy spec and you're bumping $60,000.

Reasons for one? The above posters touched on it; maneuverability, (small field drives, bin load/loadouts, non-hopper swing augers, etc), No CDL needed (in Iowa, at least), no heavy-use tax, cheaper liscense, can haul lots of other things that a hopper bottom can't,

I have an old Kw T-800 w 20' box that I've taken out on the harvest for 5 years, and I also pull my combine with it. I got lucky, bought it reasonable and its been one heck of a good old truck. I've been shopping for a second one for the last couple of years and finally gave up and bought a nice Brent wagon that I can pull with the pickup, tractor, or Kenworth.

Yes straight trucks are stupid expensive, but that's why, and they do have their place. Happy hunting!

Edited by jalopy 4/7/2012 22:39

hinfarm

Posted 4/7/2012 22:40 (#2325909 - in reply to #2325821)
Subject: Re: Reasons To Buy a Straight Truck Instead of Semi

Amherst WI

Amherst WI

Other than easier to get around and better in no so great traction conditons I can't see any reason to own a staright truck. The real Snickers moment is when the straight truck goes down in the middle of the season (been there done that). If a semi goes down you can always rent a tractor to pull a hopper bottom while your truck is getting fixed. farmdude

Posted 4/7/2012 22:51 (#2325934 - in reply to #2325909)
Subject: Re: Reasons To Buy a Straight Truck Instead of Semi

Semis an trailers are a dime a dozen there are thousands around. Straight trucks are a different story especially a dual tandem diesel. There is still a demand for a straight truck if its a diesel dual tandem. The few I have seen at sales that are in good to excellent shape command a premium price. At one sale I attended they had a nice tractor an trailer sell for less then a nice straight diesel truck dual tandem. A neighbor off mine has a semi but just bought a new tandem straight truck. They like the flexibility off having both. They have some tight spots that semi is just unhandy to get around.

Edited by farmdude 4/7/2012 22:53

jd9600

Posted 4/7/2012 23:02 (#2325957 - in reply to #2325934)
Subject: Re: Reasons To Buy a Straight Truck Instead of Semi

ecsd

The thing i hate about a straight truck, (the newer ones), is that they are so heavy you have to put a 4th axle on them to get a decent load on, unless you pull a pup. And by the time you stretch the truck out they are not that much easier to get around with, imo. My straight truck hasn't been used in 2 years. ahay68979

Posted 4/7/2012 23:19 (#2325990 - in reply to #2325957)
Subject: Re: Reasons To Buy a Straight Truck Instead of Semi

Saronville NE

Id love to have a good twin screw diesel straght truck to use for grain, silage, and haul my own distillers with but not for the kind of money they want, there are several fancy ones around here, main reason I here is easier to find older retired guy or something to drive a straight truck then it is to find a driver with CDL for a semi. I looked into seriously taking my 93 KW T600 semi this winter and putting a new 20ft silage box on it, a new 20ft Aulick box, heavy hoist, doubled frame, PTO kit installed with FET tax was 20k and I hadnt done a daycab kit for my semi yet, Ive got a long enuff frame with the sleeper I have to do a 20ft box without lengthing the frame. I decided to keep it as a semi and just keep my eyes open for a older decent truck without spending a fortune, Ill be patient no hurry, not going to spend 30k-50k on a straight truck.

For the guy who says you cant take you semi way out in the field, I did last fall, we drove 1/4 mile out in middle of field across cornstalks alot last fall to keep closer to the combine, never got stuck, its not the easiest on a semi granted but it isnt on straight trucks either. runningbehind

Posted 4/7/2012 23:28 (#2326007 - in reply to #2325821)
Subject: Re: Reasons To Buy a Straight Truck Instead of Semi

NC ND

I have made semi's work, have two and no straight trucks, done it this way for years. In my situation with drying grain, transferring bins, short hauls in muddy yards, I have decided that one really good straight truck is in my future. I don't care how hard of a yard you have a swing auger doesn't move in the mud worth a crap. Current quotes for a 22' aluminum (premium) box, hoist, stretch job, tag axle and wet kit is running north of $30k, box alone is $15k. beh

Posted 4/7/2012 23:32 (#2326015 - in reply to #2325821)
Subject: Re: Reasons To Buy a Straight Truck Instead of Semi

Heil Harvesting, Ulysses KS/Limon CO

We run solely strait trucks and pups. I like them but understand the reasons many don't. It takes a lot of money to rig a strait truck. We shop hard and usually put trucks together in the mid 20s that would bring 35+ at auction on any given day.

It takes so much money to rig a truck that you don't want to start with a mediocre chassis. That, and supply, means a premium price.

We sold an 04 IHC rigged with a 22' Scott, Harsh hoist, etc. Absolutely a premium truck. 150K miles. Brought $52K and they were happy to give it. Pofarmer

Posted 4/8/2012 02:07 (#2326146 - in reply to #2325821)
Subject: Re: Reasons To Buy a Straight Truck Instead of Semi

We just went through the same thing. Crazy thing is I run a semi, just don't have a hopper. We bought another straight truck a year ago. We have three bin sites a semi simply doesn't work very well on. You would have to back the semi back in a yard over a hump(yes, it's a dumb setup) and another that is just too close with buildings to get around easily. With the straight truck, I can still haul gravel,(not hard on the bed at all), but I won't haul scrap(aluminum bed, not gonna happen). We bought a light spec truck, and can haul 600 bu legal on a tandem with an 18 bed. I would like to get a pup for hauling to town, but still couldn't use it hauling to the bins. ekeller2

Posted 4/8/2012 02:47 (#2326152 - in reply to #2325821)
Subject: Re: Reasons To Buy a Straight Truck Instead of Semi

So. IL

How is a straight easier to get arround? The ones I drove, took 40 acres to get turned arround, a tractor and a 28 foot dump would turn much sharper. I can see the point about trying to drag the trailer axles if things get soft, but just park it on the road and load it(don't need the compaction anyway). proud2Bafarmer

Posted 4/8/2012 08:48 (#2326298 - in reply to #2325904)
Subject: RE: Reasons To Buy a Straight Truck Instead of Semi

Baldwin City, KS

We needed to haul more grain. I always thought a nice strait truck and pup would be the cat's meow. Could'nt touch what it would cost to put that together. We put a 96 379 Pete and 43' Wilson trailer together for 29,500. Both truck and trailer in great condition. I would expect that pete to be worth nearly twice that if it were a strait truck. We do have a 24' semi and an old GMC tandem around if things get to tight for the pete. Beans

Posted 4/8/2012 09:08 (#2326328 - in reply to #2325821)
Subject: RE: Reasons To Buy a Straight Truck Instead of Semi

N.E. North Dakota

N.E. North Dakota

I understand the advantage of straight trucks getting out of narrow crossings but when we added trucks someone told me if you stretch a semi and have $30,000 + in it and the engine blows you have to fix it. If you buy a cheap semi you scrap it and get another one. runningbehind

Posted 4/8/2012 10:06 (#2326438 - in reply to #2326328)
Subject: RE: Reasons To Buy a Straight Truck Instead of Semi

NC ND

if your truck is that cheap that a $6500 engine replacement isn't worth it, what do you do when you need brakes, tires, tranny, rearend, ect?
Or do they not get fixed because the truck isn't worth it? Not being hard on you, it is a thought to consider, but around here I can name at least three guys that use that theory and have rolling piles of crap that I hate to meet on the road. But they are cheap gotta give'm that.

If a guy has only good hard gravel lots, dumps at an elevator or has good high ag hoppers and a lightweight lowpro auger there would be alot less need for ever having a straight truck. It is cheaper for me now to get one good straight truck than change everything else. But I'm cheating, I already have the truck, so for the cost of another hopper I'm getting a dump truck and have a way to get pallets of seed without having another van type trailer around. gavogel

Posted 4/8/2012 10:37 (#2326494 - in reply to #2325821)
Subject: Re: Reasons To Buy a Straight Truck Instead of Semi

Marion,ks

Try to find a older cheap dump truck for the rough work and get you another semi for the grain hauling.You can put side boards on a 16 ft dump truck bed and haul alost as many bushels as a 20 ft grain bed,you will probaly be overweight with either one. 9520Deere

Posted 4/8/2012 10:54 (#2326511 - in reply to #2325821)
Subject: Re: Reasons To Buy a Straight Truck Instead of Semi

Alberta Canada

Alberta Canada

<p>Bought a tandem instead of a semi. Cost about the same as a decent semi tractor without a trailer. Looked real hard at a semi or tandem for a year. Finally decided that I need a hoist box in spring to fill the airdrill. Some springs you wont get in the field with anything bigger than a 3ton. Felt a tandem would get more use during the spring-fall months for spraying, hauling seed and fertilizer and cleaning bin bottoms out and hauling into town. Can haul 500bus of wheat legal here on it. If hauling all your grain into town, a semi is the route to go. I find it is cheaper to hire some one to haul than it is for me to spend all day in lineups when there is more important things to do around the farm.</p>

Edited by 9520Deere 4/8/2012 10:56

farmerkirk

Posted 4/8/2012 11:20 (#2326558 - in reply to #2326511)
Subject: Re: Reasons To Buy a Straight Truck Instead of Semi

SC Kansas

I am looking to update our straight truck. Only for staying with a straight truck is to fill the drill with wheat in the fall.

I know I could get a seed tender, but they are not big enough for wheat IMO.