Does anyone run an FL60 for towing?
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Topic: Does anyone run an FL60 for towing?
Posted By: lockheedt33
Subject: Does anyone run an FL60 for towing?
Date Posted: 19 May 2019 at 8:01am
Just looking for some experienced opinions. Was looking at newer diesel pickups and the prices are rediculous. I came across a freight liner FL60 with 190,000 miles 5.9 Cummins with an Eaton 5 speed in it. 1 owner since new in 96. Used by a burial vault company for deliveries max load was under 4000lbs of vaults on each deliver so not anywhere near heavily loaded. Thinking about getting it to tow a 24’ horse/stock trailer for my draft horses. I could buy the truck and have it setup for gooseneck hauling for around 7k. Seems like a lot better deal than a 1 ton. Any thoughts good or bad?
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1941 AC B
1948 AC C
1951 AC CA
1954 AC WD45
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Replies:
Posted By: DMiller
Date Posted: 19 May 2019 at 8:11am
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Would likely outlast anything newer.
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Posted By: DMiller
Date Posted: 19 May 2019 at 8:36am
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Will expand a little, does this one have hydraulic or air brakes? If is the lighter package with hydraulic could be a nuisance as many sub components of those hydraulic systems are becoming obsolete. If air and most likely is will out last any machine otherwise can be bought. The 5.9 may be a little weak HP wise but with the heavier differential and lower gearing to make up for tire height the engine and five speed should deliver quite well.
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Posted By: Dakota Dave
Date Posted: 19 May 2019 at 8:37am
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Sounds like a great idea to me. Many years ago I drove a C60 that had been shortened and a pickup box with custom dually flares added to it. It was a great hauler. It rode rough without the trailer but it it still had the full spring pack. We have FL 120s at work and they drive nice and are comfortable.
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Posted By: JoeM(GA)
Date Posted: 19 May 2019 at 8:58am
They were tough little trucks, are you going to be able to keep it under 26,000 lbs with your setup?
I keep toying with the idea of taking a 24/26’ box straight truck and putting a 16’ box and building a toterhome.
It would outlast my tractor show days and the hotel savings would cover a lot of the fuel bill.
You’d have a solid heavy chassis, huge brakes, strong tires, everything a new one ton is loosing more of every year!
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Allis Express North Georgia
41 WC,48 UC Cane,7-G's,
Ford 345C TLB
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Posted By: DMiller
Date Posted: 19 May 2019 at 9:45am
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Register RV and not have to deal with DOT.
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Posted By: DougG
Date Posted: 19 May 2019 at 9:49am
Posted By: lockheedt33
Date Posted: 19 May 2019 at 10:51am
Right now it’s a cab chassis because they pulled the flatbed and vault beam off to use for something else. It’s giver is 25.5 so under cdl limit. I could either shorten the frame some and just put a hauler bed on it or meet it the length it is and ad a sleeper between the cab and bed. Either plate it as a farm or as an RV just have to decide which way to go.
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1941 AC B
1948 AC C
1951 AC CA
1954 AC WD45
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Posted By: Thad in AR.
Date Posted: 19 May 2019 at 5:58pm
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A few weeks ago I went by the sale barn on sale day. I was surprised at how many big trucks were hooked to goose neck stock trailers and how few new 3/4 and one tons.
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Posted By: DougG
Date Posted: 19 May 2019 at 7:44pm
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They are a lot cheaper and more reliable than todays new pickups
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Posted By: shameless dude
Date Posted: 19 May 2019 at 11:03pm
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have a few friends that have them, they have never given them any problems so far. don't shorten it up or you'll hate the ride, it'll shake you to death. the price is right, they go for a lot more than that around here. I've been looking for a 4-door one for pulling my fifth wheel, but the prices have been way to high yet. they are nice trucks!
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Posted By: JohnCO
Date Posted: 20 May 2019 at 12:22am
I have a '96 FL70 with a 300 horse Cat 3126, 9 speed, air brakes, air suspension, extended cab. I bought it in Michigan with a 5' sleeper and 22' box. It was Long! We took the sleeper and box off and shortened it. Put a hook lift setup on it so I can haul various containers or a flat bed for machinery. Put a receiver hitch on it so I can pull a trailer. Paid about 10 grand for the truck in 2010, the hook lift cost more then the truck. Has 800,000 on the truck but less then 300,000 on the Re man engine. Had the engine computer give trouble, had it reprogrammed, discovered it was set for a gen set instead of a truck. Runs much better now and gets about 7 MPG. Rides better then the '95 Dodge dully it replaced, not as good mileage, but I can sleep in the extended cab.
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"If at first you don't succeed, get a bigger hammer"
Allis Express participant
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Posted By: Ken(MI)
Date Posted: 20 May 2019 at 8:26pm
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I had a 95 Ford F800 with a hydraulic beavertail flatbed that I built for hauling tractors, it had a 5.9 Cummins with a Eaton 6 speed, 225HP, great truck, down side was it had hydraulic brakes, but I never had any problems with them. The 5 speed you mention concerns me, I often wished for 7 or 9, the 6 speed was OK, but hill country made me want a couple more gears in there. 12 MPG loaded or empty, and top speed of about 68 MPH. I had a buddy with an International of about the same vintage, converted Ryder truck to a toterhome, 466 power with a 5 speed, he pulled a tandem dual gooseneck with about the same load I would put on the Ford, 12 MPG, but hills on the Interstate saw him in 3rd or 4th gear with the hazards on. Unhook the trailer and the thing topped out at about 85. The moral of the story is check the gearing, not just the gearbox, but more importantly the rearend, especially if you only have a 5 speed to work with. The good thing about the 5.9 Cummins is the ability to up the power significantly with off the shelf components, the DT 466, not so much, without big money.
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Posted By: JohnCO
Date Posted: 20 May 2019 at 9:53pm
A two speed axle helps a lot. (My FL70 doesn't have one).
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"If at first you don't succeed, get a bigger hammer"
Allis Express participant
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