Roll off truck questions

If this is your range, unless its a hobby or are a diesel mechanic and can afford to re do the cab, stop right now and reconsider your plan. The first has a fresh coat of hide the age paint and plastic rock guards. But the interior shows its hard life. The second #### no. Tri axles are for heavy duty and it was definitely used. Not to mention bud wheels. No thanks. Nothing in that range should be used as a business launch platform.

My opinion of course..

 

The mix of 700k 32k hours the 3rd axle and a almost 30 year old chassis would make me run, however, if you know what your looking at and you crawl through it and mechanically, electrically and physically (welds supports mounts rust free and look strong) and verify the claimed upkeep/repairs were done... see i still can't say id buy it. I don't care about "old iron" dont like macks to begin with, just screams costly upkeep to me.... if you add up all the "work" done, it was jacked when he got it, he rebuilt it to flip it. I also dont bet on truck flipers... will he guarantee any of the work? Dunno.. just don't like it.

But please do not make a choice based solely on my opinion. I also won't buy a ford,.....

 

Believe it or not sterlings aren't bad. Most have Mercedes engines. Ford owned the brand near the end iirc. The max force issues were year specific. Macks are just not comfortable imo. A engine swapped truck is not a bad idea but trusting who did it, and ensuring there isn't a ton of half assed wiring ect..

 

Not a great pic but it looks like a inside/outside rail truck. The width of the dumpster rails can vary depending on region. Outside would ride on the rollers attached to the outside of the rail, and inside would skid up the steel on the inside of the lip. Some areas are strictly one type. Mid west for instance expect in a few specialized areas is exclusively outside rail or deadlift. You wouldn't normally see that type of truck here.
As to advantage? That one could haul 2 types of boxes making your purchasing options greater, but if your region doesn't use one or the other it may be pointless

 

Correct. The width of the rails on the dumpsters can be different. Sometimes its based on what type of can, self contained, packer/receiver, ect.. sometimes its the regional norm that dictates it. You could call whoever in your area makes them and ask what the normal width is of the ones they sell. If they are a bigger manufacturer chances are they make the normal type for your area.