What Class of Truck for Hot Shot

Hey cummins I found that ideal m2 setup i was telling you about a few days ago. I also didn't know swift had any in their fleet

 

And if you're not a fan if extended or crew cabs there's always bolt ons like I mentioned earlier.

 

As far as transmissions, with these ram trucks the Aisin 6 speed automatic is the way to go.

Our trailers weigh 7,550 lbs from the factory. We don't haul max weight, we limit ourselves to 15,000 lbs max freight weight with our 3500's, and 16,000 lbs max freight weight with our 4500, and 5500's. We do this so that we're not killing the truck, and to get the best mileage possible.

 

hi im looking for a hotshotting company around the northeast does anyone knows of one??

 

with a RAM 3500, 4500 and 5500 you are working it to its max capacity and putting a lot of strain on it vs lets say you get a Peterbilt 379 with a single rear axle you have more power, more reliability and better MPG. The 379 wont be working as hard to get the load going and it would be as stressed out as a smaller truck will be.
The new rams have a DEF system that gets horrible MPG you will get better mpg in a bigger rig. I really dont see the upside to going with a RAM..If youre not going into California then dont buy a rig that has a DPF or DEF system

Why would you want a smaller truck with a tiny sleeper?

My RAM 2500 gets 3-4 mpg towing 8500lbs thats hand calculated figures

 

To each it's own. Your Ram needs to go in for a checkup if your getting that kind of mileage. A 2500 isn't really setup to do hot shot type trucking anyway.

There's a reason hot shot/ltl guys use pickups...it's the cost of operation. This topic keeps getting brought up in the "Hot Shot" forum and I don't understand why. The vast majority of us don't run semis's and we're not trying to haul what they do either. We're a niche business. Hauling lighter loads with lighter trucks.

 

I have been a hot shotter for years I started off with a Ford F550 and it was working its butt off in every aspect thats why I jumped up to a slightly bigger truck. IIRC my F550 weighed 10,500 lbs something like this is only a few extra thousands pounds yet the benefits way out weigh the extra weight

If you read my earlier post you will see that I am NOT talking about a full blown class 8 tractor but a semi truck with only one rear axle.

Here is what I am suggesting although I would recommend it with a 60" sleeper
http://www.truckpaper.com/listingsdetail/detail.aspx?OHID=6157279

 

If that Peterbilt Works best for you, and the type of work you're doing, our hats are off to you. We wish you the best of luck.

The thing is, many of us running hotshots see a lot different results then what you're stating above. We like the Ram 3500's, 4500's, and 5500's. That Peterbilt in the link you posted has a 475 Cat engine in it, at best it's going to get 7 mpg, probably going to average more like 5, or 6 though. In my 3500 Ram I'm seeing 11 mpg loaded. Do the math on just the fuel savings alone, base it on 80,000 miles a year.

That Peterbilt is going to consume approx 13,333 gallons in 80,000 miles, and my Ram is going to only consume approx 7,273 gallons in 80,000 miles. That's means I'm bringing home approx $23,577.00 more than I would if I was running that Peterbilt.

And that's just in fuel savings. Look at the cost of maintenance, licensing, tires, etc, etc.

 

I was just using that as an example, there are different options for single screw trucks that get better mpg than 7 mpg

semi tires last a lot longer then then pick up tires,

also a ram 3500 is working to its max capacity vs a single screw semi that is not working as hard therefore its parts last longer. I have seen a lot of 3500s-5500s breaking axle studs off

 

If I behaved with my Pete pulling my 2 car enclosed, I could get close to 8, that is a tandem axle, if I would of had a single axle and a tuned 60 Series Detroit, it would of been better than that. Also consider that pulling the same trailer with my Ford F350, it only got 1 mpg better with a 6.0 liter vs. a 14.7 liter, tell me which engine was more efficient.


Everyone always talks about pulling power, well, you've got to get it stopped too, look at the size of brakes on a 3500, 4500, 5500 vs. a class 8 truck.

I'm just waiting for a 5 car open behind a dually to crash into a school bus when it can't get stopped and see what the DOT does then.