Fresh Truck

[Functional Artist]

My little 'ol flatbed is wearin' out.
She has been a really good truck
…& everything is still functioning normally
...but, @ ~320,000 mi. it's time to look for something a little fresh 'er.

Lookin' around
...& wow things have went up tremendously
(I bought my last truck (~5 yrs. ago) for ~$5,000)

Now, most everything is $10,000+

I've been lookin' locally, on "Truck Trader" & Craigslist.

I finally found a potential candidate, on Craigslist
https://philadelphia.craigslist.org/ctd/d/lebanon-2003-gmc-isuzu-turbo-diesel-box/6813847048.html
...but, it's ~400 miles away in Lebanon, Pennsylvania.

Yup, road trip

Me & the wife are gonna go & check 'er out this weekend.

Here are the details in the ad:
2003 GMC Isuzu W4500
4 Cylinder Isuzu Turbo Diesel
Automatic Transmission
Runs and Drives Good
172,000 Miles
14,500 GVW
White Exterior
Morgan 16ft Box with Side Door and Step Ladder
Box in good condition has no damage
Roll up door slides smoothly
Cargo Lighting
Step Bumper
Good set of tires
Large side Mirrors
AM/FM Radio with Tape Deck
Power Windows and Locks

 

[Kartorbust]

I'm not sure which Isuzu diesel engine that is (they have many 4 cylinder diesels), but I do know they are quite reliable. Usually diesels are rated with a B rating, which is x amount of engines needing to be rebuilt or replaced at x amount of miles. These engines are B10 at around 375,000 to 400,000 miles (10% failure by then). I do not recall the oil capacity on these, but I believe it to be around 10 quarts of 15w40 or 5w40. They have comparable specs to the Cummins B-series (4BT/3.9L). I wouldn't shy away from it, but you could end up limiting yourself on where you can drive it, with a vehicle rating of 14,000lbs, depending on local laws, etc.

Trucks have gone up in price, even small trucks. Until gas and diesel shoot to over $3 per gallon, they will still be quite expensive.

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

I like those little cab over trucks, they ride nice and are comfortable.

 

[Functional Artist]

I'd like to spit some Beechnut in that dudes eye!
...lyin' SOB
...457 miles & the truck won't start/ don't run.

The A-hole wouldn't even come out to talk to me
...he sent his ~15 yr old, son out.

Jr. comes out & says:
"Sorry, we haven't been able to get it to start"
"He didn't call you?"

I said:
"What do you mean?, I called last Monday to confirm this was a good running truck & all ready to go
...I called Thursday to confirm that I had the trip planned
...I even called Friday afternoon to confirm that we were on the way"

He says:
Um, sorry

WTF

Back to the drawin' board

 

[Functional Artist]

I'm not sure which Isuzu diesel engine that is (they have many 4 cylinder diesels), but I do know they are quite reliable. Usually diesels are rated with a B rating, which is x amount of engines needing to be rebuilt or replaced at x amount of miles. These engines are B10 at around 375,000 to 400,000 miles (10% failure by then). I do not recall the oil capacity on these, but I believe it to be around 10 quarts of 15w40 or 5w40. They have comparable specs to the Cummins B-series (4BT/3.9L). I wouldn't shy away from it, but you could end up limiting yourself on where you can drive it, with a vehicle rating of 14,000lbs, depending on local laws, etc.

Trucks have gone up in price, even small trucks. Until gas and diesel shoot to over $3 per gallon, they will still be quite expensive.

I've had (3) of these Isuzu's in the last (10) years.

Yes, these are Bad Azz trucks.

I've had good luck with the 1999 - 2004 Isuzu's (GMC branded = same truck)

Usually when they hit ~300,000mi. I use it as an indicator to start lookin' for something fresh'er

They have what's referred to as a HE style (4) cyl. diesel with a 12qt. oil capacity.

I use them for towing cars which is exempt from most weight limit laws. (here in Ohio anyways)

 

[Kartorbust]

Sucks you wasted your time and the guy didnt even have the balls to talk to ya. Battery dead or worse?

 

[Panhead5496]

Jr. comes out & says:
"Sorry, we haven't been able to get it to start"
"He didn't call you?"

I would have gone and found him! That's terrible. Is it a business or private seller? I'd leave him a 1-star rating if it's a business.

 

[landuse]

That just sucks man!! I would have banged on that dudes door till he came outside

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

That generation of NPR was assembled in Janesville WI I believe. Good folks up there.

 

[Functional Artist]

Looky what I found, A low mileage southern truck ~$7,500.00
https://knoxville.craigslist.org/cto/d/corryton-isuzu-npr-hd-18ft-box-truck/6829676649.html

Here is the description

"2002 Isuzu NPR HD 18ft box truck its got a roll up door with 14ft pull out ramp 200hp 4cylinder diesel. Runs & drives good has new tires on front will need back tires soon only has 123800 miles"

Notice, even the seat is in great condition (ya don't see that a lot on a 17 year old truck)

I've talked to the private owner (NOT a "hole in the wall" wannabe business) several times over the last week.

It's supposed to run good & no problems. He just wanted to note that the rear tires had less than 50% tread left.

When I asked why are you selling it?

He said that he used it for a moving business but, could not find good help & ended up closing the business.

Well, Knowville, Tennessee is ~450 miles from Toledo, Ohio
so,
Yup, another road trip

 

[Kartorbust]

The picture of the dual tires is not the greatest to see tread depth. Before you go buy it, stop at an auto store and buy a tread depth gauge. They cost about $6. It'll vary state by state, but 4/32" is when commercial truck tires need to be replaced. Judging by the picture, it looked to be 2/32 and 3/32. They could have 4 or 5/32, but the picture is terrible. But they do look original to the truck, so that is a good indication they should be replaced. If the last 4 digits of the tire DOT number is 6 years or older, its time to replace them, regardless if there isn't any dry rot.

Everything before the last 4 digits is the tire plant code. If its say 4304, they were made during the 43 week of 2004. Oldest they can be at this point before needing to replace them is 1114, that's exactly 5 years ago this week.

 

[Panhead5496]

Nice!

What does a "southern truck" matter?

I guess it will open the door for you...it will for the woman too, but only to get a look when she goes through LOL

 

[Functional Artist]

Nice!

What does a "southern truck" matter?

I guess it will open the door for you...it will for the woman too, but only to get a look when she goes through LOL

It's the accent
...that southern draw (I guess ya call it)

Real answer: Rock Salt

Up north here (in the snow belt) we get lots of snow
…& to help deal with the associated ice & slick roads many cities & states use rock salt
(tons & tons of Rock Salt every winter) to chemically melt the ice

This salty solution then coats our vehicles (especially the bottom sides)
...& corrodes the crap out of them

It gets into every nook & cranny
…& kinda acts like an oxidizer amplifier
...almost like metal cancer

Example:

First pic is of the underside of the drivers side floorboard of my current truck

Second pic is of the same area of the southern truck

Big difference

 

[Functional Artist]

Mission Accomplished!

I got a fresh truck.
...now I gots ta do some disassembly (weather permitting) it's still early March.

* Picked up another toy along the way.
...just what I need another (project) toy

Couldn't pass 'er up
...potential diamond in the rough?

There was no pics, the ad simply said:

"Go kart $150.00
Got the go kart a few years ago put a new engine on it,new belt
Lost faith in it so it just set out side need gone asap ill take 150 cash and its your it would be a great ride for little kids on a farm"

 

[Ebrownie]

That kart is a sweet find for the price. That’s a lot of truck for a little kart!

The picture of the dual tires is not the greatest to see tread depth. Before you go buy it, stop at an auto store and buy a tread depth gauge. They cost about $6. It'll vary state by state, but 4/32" is when commercial truck tires need to be replaced.

When I drove a 3 axle grain truck for a wheat farmer last summer, I had 2 tires on my truck that were so worn, they had all sorts of wire sticking out of the metal ply. They didn’t look the prettiest, but they held air like a champ! There isn’t much DOT enforcement in rural Washington

 

[landuse]

Congrats on the truck and kart!! They both look good

 

[Kartorbust]

Mission Accomplished!

I got a fresh truck.
...now I gots ta do some disassembly (weather permitting) it's still early March.

* Picked up another toy along the way.
...just what I need another (project) toy

Couldn't pass 'er up
...potential diamond in the rough?

There was no pics, the ad simply said:

"Go kart $150.00
Got the go kart a few years ago put a new engine on it,new belt
Lost faith in it so it just set out side need gone asap ill take 150 cash and its your it would be a great ride for little kids on a farm"

Congrats on the truck. Hope it'll last you a good long time!

That kart is a sweet find for the price. That’s a lot of truck for a little kart!



When I drove a 3 axle grain truck for a wheat farmer last summer, I had 2 tires on my truck that were so worn, they had all sorts of wire sticking out of the metal ply. They didn’t look the prettiest, but they held air like a champ! There isn’t much DOT enforcement in rural Washington

I suppose it depends on location. Rural Minnesota, mainly along state boarders, DOT are sticklers. Of course when I was last there back in 2017, that summer DOT and Troopers were looking for narcotics and were pulling everyone with a trailer or box truck over for inspection. My boss was stopped for a couple hours with the landscape trailer for them to dig through it...they found nothing (ooh shocker).

 

[Functional Artist]

The Art of the Deal

Thanks fellas

Did some negotiating & got even better deals.

A couple of well placed, Ohh's, I didn't know about that
...or Oww that's a little rougher than I thought, make a BIG difference.

On the truck:
One time or another, when the cab was tipped, something flew into the instrument cluster & cracked the lens.
(all of the gauges work, just the lens is cracked)
…& there are a few cigarette burn holes in the otherwise nice seats.

So, I got 'em down to $5,000.00 CASH

As for the go kart:
The tank is full of rust, the tires are crackin' a bit (maybe still usable), seats are shot etc. (kinda rough)

So, once I point these things out, $100.00 CASH

 

[Kartorbust]

You saved yourself a good chunk of change on that truck. Have enough for an oil change, tires, and full tank of diesel, with money still left over.

 

[Functional Artist]

We finally got some decent weather

Power washing took most of them green/gold stripes off
...but, there was tons of glue residue

I tried some paint thinner on a rag
...but, it didn't seem to affect it much

Was gonna get a couple bottles of Goo-Gone
...but, I remembered Sid sayin' that he used Acetone for many cleaning jobs.

Yup, Worked Great! Thanks Sid!
(& it was a lot easier on my hands, than paint thinner too)

It softened/dissolved that stuff easily
...but, man, was it messy

Came out pretty good

Next, a little buffin' & some wax