[Will Pacala]

I just saw a large roll-off container with a pintel-hook on the end today! It was hauling a backhoe. It's still possible but with the container loaded I don't think you can tow that much due to overloading risks.

[Bill Schwab]

The tial end of soem roll offs is connected to a hydraulic ram. You can extend it for lifting the box, then retract it when you drive. And, you can have your boxes made any length, height and width you need.

Another thing you can do is run a loop off the bottom of the rails about 18" in from the end. As the bed goes up, the tailer hitch loop lifts off the ground.

There is yet another thing about these trucks...The containers are so large you can load the Cat, all the hand tools and goodies and drive to the job with no trailer at all. When you get there, drop the box and go grab an empty for the next job.

Also, any trailer you pull behind a flat bed or dump should have a minimum of 5' from the tip of the ball to the front of the trailer. You can get by with a 4' distance, but, you can kink it and damage your trailer with the corner of the truck body.

[Will Pacala]

A little late but while on e-bay I found these pics. They show the hook-lift in action. I'm not sure by the looks of these pics that a trailer can be hooked up.

[Will Pacala]

Heres another one.

[Nac]

I see that his tread is a bit old but what the heck. I have a Frieghtliner FL70 with a hook lift it is 33,000 GVW and i can still haul tag along here is a pic.

[scl]

Now that's an awesome setup!!!! I am green with envy.

[Gardenhaus]

Hey Nac...

Went to your website, great looking website and clean work sites.....that's what we're talking about!

[Nac]

Thanks for the comment on the website I designed it my self well it was a template that I modified. I have good laborers they cant stand still as soon as they finish doing something they go right into clean up mode. Here is a nother pic of the truck.

[jwholden]

I have been doing some thinking lately about a hook lift or roll off truck. My thought beeing that it would be cheaper to drop off a couple guys with a dingo and a hook lift full of soil than have a second truck tooling around town.

My 'ideal' combination would be a 25,999 truck with a hook lift or roll off on the back with a 14' Rugby fold down side body for every day use but some higher sided dumpsters for debris removal or a 'mulch hauler'.

I think it would be neat to get a 2' back pack tool box on the truck as well, but I'm not sure that would stretch the length of the truck too long or be a pita.

Some hook lift questions:

What is the difference between a hook lift and a roll off?

How much additional space do you need for the lifting mechanism? If I want to put a 14' body on the truck do I need an extra 2' behind the cab for the lifting mechanism? I am concerned about a body that is so long it would interfere with hauling a trailer or not dump well because of too much overhang. Further, I don't want the wheelbase of the truck to make it a pain to maneuver.

Would a 2' back pack tool box make the truck so long so it wouldn't balance well with weight? Could it be problematic regarding the view to hook the container?

This truck is a way out for me (years), but as I seek out efficiency it is creeping into my mind.

[Pelican]

JW, from what I can tell, a hook lift is just that, the body is lifted on and off with a hydraulic steel hook.


A roll off is allowed to roll off the truck frame, and then is winched on with a cable, usually with big hydraulic cylinders and pulleys.

[Bill Schwab]

Our trucks are roll off style dumps. Several reasons for that. First being because of the geometry on the boxes, a roll off will lift more with less power. Second a rolloff does not require as much room to load as a hook lift. Third a roll off is more salable when it comes time to sell, because every disposal company under the sun runs roll off trucks. A roll off chassis cost less, ALOT LESS, where a roll off body will run $10,000.00, I was getting qoutes on hook lifts at $19-27K.

Lastly, the box cost was alot less, we paid $2,500.00 each if we bought lots of 4.

Now, on the plus side of a hook lift, you don't have to get out to place the hook, where the old roll off cable you will need to do that.

The truck we are having built right now is a 6500 Chevy, with a 7.8 liter Duramax and a 9 speed Allison tranny. It is 208" wheelbase, single rear axle, Aluminum wheels, air, and some yuppie stuff.
The winch is over speced (40,000 lbs) for a reason. If we do get into a situation where the box is over loaded and we can't pick it up, we get to unload it from the ground. It is much easier to open the back door and let the tail end slide off, then close the door and pick it up.

Cost wise, you pay a tad more than a new diesel pick up truck for all the froo frooisms and basically get 6 times the truck.

[HRLand]

Bill

What's the payload on that 6500?

[Bill Schwab]

It is a 25,600GVW truck, but when you look at the differences in the 33,000 GVW version, there are none. This has the 80K frame, the 15K front axle, 25K rear end, same power, same drive.

Empty weight is 13,880

They tweek the way the run the ratings to get under that magic 26K mark, which does not effect us anyway. As soon as you drop 3 crums in the box, or hook a trailer, you need a CDL anyhow.

[PSUscaper]

I've seen a lot of hooks around lately, and once thought about it. the problem is, I really don't know if it is going to be all that great of a thing to have.

I understand the versatility, but have to say that a regular dump and trailer is pretty versatile to begin with.

Also, with the dingo, I would seriously consider a dump trailer over a hook lift on a truck.....you can load the trailer, dump it, and the thing is.......a brand new heavy duty 14k dump trailer costs a lot less than a hook does......and it can be left at a job just like a container.

My other concern is with a lighter truck, like a single axle, what can you really pick up with it. Sure, construction debris and mulch is light, but start putting dirt in in and how much can you put in a container before the front of the truck is off the ground trying to lift it. My friend had a smaller sized tandem with a hook on it and it would start lifting off the front wheels with just 10 yards in the box.....so what can you really lift up with it on a single axle????

I think they are neat ideas, but just can't convince myself to think it really is worth having.

Also....does anyone know about insurance rates on hooks.....I've heard a rumor that a hook is considered a roll-off, and therefore, you get classified as a garbage hauler, and insurance rates are much steeper for a roll-off/hook opposed to a straight dump. Is there any truth to this???

[HRLand]

I have a switch n go roll off now. I thought it would be more useful than it is but I still like it. Hopefully I'll get more use out of it this winter when we start doing some demo work for a builder that does alot of remodeling. My biggest disapointment with the the truck is the chassis itself. I bought a used Mitsu with the new roll off system and it just seems underpowered. That's why I asked about the Chevy. I'm thinking about buying a cab & chassis to swap the roll off onto.