Truck to buy for hotshot? F-350 or Freightliner M2?

**RickG** · 07.13.2012

Originally Posted by WitchingHour

There are plenty of ways to turn a quad cab pickup into a DOT legal sleeper, as well. It can be anything from refurbishing the back of a quad cab to adding a disconnected sleeper behind the cab, or even going all-out and doing this:

Although if I were going to that extent, I probably would opt for a Class 7/8 truck instead.

There is NO way to make the back seat of a quad cab into a legal DOT sleeper . They are too narrow. Those bubble window conversions for extra width ? They didn't meet requirements for height above the mattress.
Doesn't matter now. You can log off duty in a nonmoving CMV. Just never log sleeper in a 1 ton.
I know several hotshotters that went from a 1 ton to an M2 or FL70.
They all wished they had made the move sooner.

**SHO-TYME** · 07.13.2012

I'd look for a single axle tractor instead of either choice, much cheaper and can sometimes have a bigger engine it it. I saw a few nice Frieghtliners the other day with Detroits and sleepers for under $20K. Don't jump into something and pay a ton of money, because if it doesn't work out, someone else is gonna get a deal when you're broke and fire sale everything.

**Spraggy0558** · 07.15.2012

Like you my friend I'm considering 'Hot Shotting' and I'm wondering which 1 ton p-up to purchase as I don't want the costs involved with a semi!! I visited my local dodge dealer yesterday and discovered the Ram 3500 Megacab has enough room in the back to sleep in (two at a squeeze), comes with a 6.7 cummins, oversize brakes and can be twinned with 3 different trannies to suit your needs. Yep it ain't cheap (With all the xtras I'm considering approx 56000) but they are offering either 0% finance over 36 months, discounts and cash-back at the mo. Find more at http://www.ramtrucks.com/en/2012/ram_2500_3500/models/

Next I'm off to speak to Ford about their F350 range and then a quick trip to GMC as they've just released the following statement of being best in class again at hauling the heaviest load at http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2011/08...res-again.html

Hope this helps my friend and if you find any hidden gems out there please give me a shout!!

**RickG** · 07.15.2012

Originally Posted by Spraggy0558

Like you my friend I'm considering 'Hot Shotting' and I'm wondering which 1 ton p-up to purchase as I don't want the costs involved with a semi!! I visited my local dodge dealer yesterday and discovered the Ram 3500 Megacab has enough room in the back to sleep in (two at a squeeze), comes with a 6.7 cummins, oversize brakes and can be twinned with 3 different trannies to suit your needs. Yep it ain't cheap (With all the xtras I'm considering approx 56000) but they are offering either 0% finance over 36 months, discounts and cash-back at the mo. Find more at http://www.ramtrucks.com/en/2012/ram_2500_3500/models/

Next I'm off to speak to Ford about their F350 range and then a quick trip to GMC as they've just released the following statement of being best in class again at hauling the heaviest load at http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2011/08...res-again.html

Hope this helps my friend and if you find any hidden gems out there please give me a shout!!

I wonder if anybody here has bought a new 1 ton in the past year to get into hotshotting and is still here to talk about it . It's a tough market . Most newbies don't last 6 months.
A 1 ton will get pulled behind the scales more than 5 times as a FL70 or M2 . Too many 1 ton haulers get caught without logbooks , medical cards , truck DOT inspections , etc. so they are checked more often .

**sdaniel** · 07.15.2012

My brother started on his first trip with his f350 12 days ago. Didn't make it 45 miles before he got pulled over. Bye Bye perfect csa record!

**GATATransport** · 07.16.2012

This is all good advice guys. I really appreciate it. Seems like we are finding a few M2's used at reasonable prices. However, we are still wondering if that would be the way to go. Sho-Tyme, what model of Freightliner were you talking about?

**CandDTransport** · 07.17.2012

Originally Posted by RickG

There is NO way to make the back seat of a quad cab into a legal DOT sleeper . They are too narrow. Those bubble window conversions for extra width ? They didn't meet requirements for height above the mattress.
Doesn't matter now. You can log off duty in a nonmoving CMV. Just never log sleeper in a 1 ton.
I know several hotshotters that went from a 1 ton to an M2 or FL70.
They all wished they had made the move sooner.

Originally Posted by RickG

I wonder if anybody here has bought a new 1 ton in the past year to get into hotshotting and is still here to talk about it . It's a tough market . Most newbies don't last 6 months.
A 1 ton will get pulled behind the scales more than 5 times as a FL70 or M2 . Too many 1 ton haulers get caught without logbooks , medical cards , truck DOT inspections , etc. so they are checked more often .

Still here, and it has been a year in August. Have a GMC 3500 dually flatbed with a 35' Gooseneck. Can make it doing hotshots, but really is tough on a 1 ton truck, and may have to replace the truck at 125,000 to 150,000 miles. Haven't had any problems with DOT about sleeper, but I removed the rear seat and created a welded frame to fit in the back seat bolts to create a good size area to sleep. It is low profile too. You could take out the passenger seat also and make an even larger area. We were pulled for a full inspection last Thursday in Mississippi. The DOT guy at first said we didn't have a legal sleeper, then when the rear doors were opened and showed him what we had done...he said, "oh, well that certainly will work". Still think the Freightliner Business Class M2 106 with a hauler body is the way I will be going.

**RickG** · 07.17.2012

Originally Posted by CandDTransport

Still here, and it has been a year in August. Have a GMC 3500 dually flatbed with a 35' Gooseneck. Can make it doing hotshots, but really is tough on a 1 ton truck, and may have to replace the truck at 125,000 to 150,000 miles. Haven't had any problems with DOT about sleeper, but I removed the rear seat and created a welded frame to fit in the back seat bolts to create a good size area to sleep. It is low profile too. You could take out the passenger seat also and make an even larger area. We were pulled for a full inspection last Thursday in Mississippi. The DOT guy at first said we didn't have a legal sleeper, then when the rear doors were opened and showed him what we had done...he said, "oh, well that certainly will work". Still think the Freightliner Business Class M2 106 with a hauler body is the way I will be going.

It might work but it's still not a legal sleeper . Never log sleeper berth . Logging off duty is o.k. . Most people won't earn enough to pay a truck off in 300,000 miles , never mind 150,000 . That's where a lot of them get into trouble .

**sdaniel** · 07.17.2012

For price of a new pickup, you can buy 2 good used class 8 . Get a single axle to save fuel and highway use tax. Can get a condo sleeper with 500k left on engine, then rebuild. For 25 to 30 k. Be a #### nice teuck to boot.