Truck advice [RE-wrenches]

[Chris Worcester]

Hi Daryl,

Nice ride, but is it available in 4 wheel drive? 

We have a Ford 02 F350 Extended Cab with the covered 9' utility bed 4 x 4,
7.3 diesel. We burn B20 in the winter, here in Truckee, & up to B90 in the
summer. I really like the covered bed for keeping out the snow and wondering
eyes. The top slides open & the rear bar on the lumber rack opens so we can
stand in it to load batteries, etc.. Typically we get 14 +/- mpg; the truck
sits at 10000 lbs. without a load on it. 

Has anyone put in the aftermarket computer chip to get better
performance/economy?

Sincerely,

Chris Worcester 
NABCEP Certified PV Installer TM 
USA Distributor of Proven Wind Turbines
Toll Free: 877-682-4503
Fax: 530-582-4603
www.solarwindworks.com
chris at solarwindworks.com
"Proven Energy Solutions"
-----Original Message-----
From: Daryl DeJoy [mailto:penobscotsolar at midmaine.com] 
Sent: Saturday, January 20, 2007 9:09 AM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: Re: Truck advice [RE-wrenches]


Hi Allen,
   We have a Mitsubishi cab-over 4 cylinder diesel (13,500 gvw) that is a
rolling workshop. Plenty of head room, storage, bench and cabinets,
etc. We currently have a 12 foot bed but I am looking for a 14 foot bed
for the next truck. It seems like you can never have enough room.
   The truck runs very reliably and we get 15 mpg around town with it. It
also has a 1 ton lift gate that doubles as a step when we're not moving
batteries. I would stay away from turbo models, as well as Isuzu made
similar trucks. They do not have the reliability of Mitsubishi's. I
have 270,000 miles on this one and it doesn't even burn oil. One friend
had one that was still going at 500,000 mls!!!
Daryl
Penobscot Solar Design
NABCEP Certified installer

>
> Wrenches,
> One of our planned capital expenses for 2007 will be a new(er) truck. We
> are
> small, with only two trucks, so this will replace the oldest. I'm writing
> for suggestions.
>
> Both of our current trucks are one-ton conventional Chevys with utility
> boxes (in place of beds) and overhead racks for conduit. Both have been
> set
> up in similar arrangements, developed over many years, of wire spool racks
> and bins and boxes for fittings and small parts. As such, unless there's
> an
> approach that is so super-outrageously-wonderful that we should start
> over,
> we'll keep the same basic service-body approach so part locations remain
> familiar.
>
> What would your next truck look like if you had $25,000 to invest? (This
> would probably start with a late-model used something.) What if you chose
> to
> spend ~$40,000 and could choose something new? Make, model, engine...
>
> We're tired of ten mpg on gas, but unsure about the time investment for
> veggie-diesel (one +E owner drives a veggie-Rabbit, and I am nearly done
> converting my old diesel Mercedes, so we're not ignorant about doing this)
> on a commercial truck.
>
> Both trucks weigh 8,000-10,000 pounds ready to work, so a small truck
> isn't
> an option.
>
> Isuzu or GM diesel? New Freightliner/Mercedes? Dually pickup with bed
> conversion? 4WD would be nice but not essential, as the newer existing
> truck
> is 4WD, and most of our business growth is grid-tied, not remote.
>
> I have the job of recommending what we get, and I'd like to hear what
> works
> well for you. Thank you for any good advice.
>
> Allan at Positive Energy
>
>
> - - - -
> To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com
>
> Archive of previous messages:
> http://lists.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/read
>
> List rules & how to change your email address:
> www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquette.php
>
> Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/
>
> Hosted by Home Power magazine
>
> Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
>
>
>


- - - -
To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com

Archive of previous messages: http://lists.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/read

List rules & how to change your email address:
www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquette.php

Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/

Hosted by Home Power magazine

Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com


- - - -
To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com

Archive of previous messages: http://lists.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/read

List rules & how to change your email address: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquette.php

Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/

Hosted by Home Power magazine

Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
--^----------------------------------------------------------------
This email was sent to: michael.welch at homepower.com

EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bz8Qcs.bz9JC9.bWljaGFl
Or send an email to: RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com

For Topica's complete suite of email marketing solutions visit:
http://www.topica.com/?p=TEXFOOTER
--^----------------------------------------------------------------