[Paverman]

We've run Izuzu cabovers (WT4500 & WT5500), Ford F-450 & Chevy medium duty trucks with dump beds however, the dump beds get busted up pretty quick with hauling Cr6 & 57 stone (they seem to be designed for mulch & topsoil mostly) but the heavier duty trucks seem to expensive so I 've been thinking of only running 1 ton pickups (good if we are short a ton of stone or a strap of pavers) and having everything else delivered/hauled off by others.
I was wondering how you other hardscape installers deal with delivery of materials and removal of debris form the job site, your equipment/someone else doin it for you/a combination and what is your ideal "truck" setup?

Nick

[Rex Mann]

We are using heavier pickups. We just acquired a F450 pickup. Most of the jobs we do average around 5,000 square feet. And, we have all the material delivered. However, on occasion we have to go and pickup a couple pallets at a time. This is why we are moving toward the heavier pickups.

Peace,

Rex

ArizonaPavers.Com

[Paul]

If your looking at just a hardscape truck and going to have ALL material delivered, then look at a enclosed box truck with a short overhang. The short over hang will allow you to use a trailer for heavy equipment and the enclosed box will hold all the supplies and small equipment. You can get one with a side lift gate that lets you lower your tampers and heavy tools. It has better head room than most trailers, more storage space, shelving and a drawing board can be added so the crew can have a place to go over plans inside.

[Bill Schwab]

Our trucks are roll off types, so we can drop a box on the ground and put the truck back to work making more money. 45-5500 series Chevys, and a recent purchase of a 6500 series with a 3' wide tunnel box. All that crews tools fit in there. For our operation it is the best by far for what we do. We will be phasing out the 4500-5500 series and equipping with the 6500's as time passes, they are the ideal trucks for what we do. Even with a 208" wheel base, the 6500 turns almost as tight as a cab over, way tighter than any F series Ford pick up we had, and will even out turn the 3500 series pregnant cab pick ups we have.

Fuel wise, we are dancing upon 14MPG, and it has the Duramax power with all wheel disc brakes. Cost wise, we hit 55K.

[Mac]

there is a local guy who runs a number of crews out of 3/4 ton pickups and has a larger 65 or 7500 truck deliver the materials as needed. It seems to work and likely keeps his costs down.

[cutntrim]

Most around here seem to run 1-ton C&C trucks with dump boxes, but get their stone and pavers delivered. Screening, sand, mulch, soil, or sod is usually all that I see them carry.

I've got two 3/4 ton p/u's and can haul some stuff in my 12,000# dump trailer, but get larger stuff delivered.

[jwholden]

Holy MPG Batman, my 4700 with a DT360 gets about 9 mpg. At 2.89 a gallon for diesel I think you just justified me getting a new truck.

[albert]

we run a isuzu npr with transverse tool box ,most always get the pavers or wall materials delivered, their is a new asphalt plant nearby so we pickup basematerial and sand on our truck it's convient that way , they will also take old conrete and asphalt for no charge being we are purchasing the other materials from them ,saves us alot of money and time. diesel hear in jersey is $2.35 this week and the ISUZU is very good on fuel