Trying to find that perfect truck, "Commercial" question
sunflwrgirl said
11:00 AM Oct 19, 2012
So we are searching for that perfect truck and happen to notice some good trucks we find are "commercial". My question is, are commercial trucks a wise choice or should we skip over them?
-- Edited by sunflwrgirl on Friday 19th of October 2012 11:26:50 AM
thebearII said
08:58 PM Oct 19, 2012
Sunflower Girl,
On an F350 if the write up indicates commercial it usually means the truck is configured to provide service for commercial applications. That can mean it will have no upgrades (cloth or vinyl seats, rubber floor mats)
It may have a commercial utility body.... doors and compartments for tools and parts and/or lumber racks. When you go to a dealer these trucks are usually white, no fancy wheels and will have utility beds or flat beds instead of a pickup bed.
The suspension may be stiff to carry heavy loads (overload springs). The gearing in the rearend and transmission may be changed to provide better pulling power which can negatively affect fuel mileage.
These are trucks that carpenters, welders, delivery, service folks will buy as a work truck.
If you want comfort and good fuel mileage you need to look at F350s that have the upgrades carpets, leather seats, wheel, tire and suspension packages.
Find an F350 with extra towing capacity beyond the weight of your Grand Junction and all of the gear you'll carry with the Laredo or King Ranch package for comfortable ride.
Bill and Linda said
11:22 PM Oct 19, 2012
sunflwrgirl wrote:
So we are searching for that perfect truck and happen to notice some good trucks we find are "commercial". My question is, are commercial trucks a wise choice or should we skip over them?
-- Edited by sunflwrgirl on Friday 19th of October 2012 11:26:50 AM
Actually, in many cases “commercial” is more of an insurance company definition – assuming you are not referring to “work trucks,” which are simply trucks without any amenities in so many words or have been modifed for specific types of service - like having a PTO for a dump bed installed. Same basic specs, just not as nice interiors, etc.
Some insurance companies define “commercial trucks,” in the case of pickups, as any truck that is a technically a Class IV (4) truck.Those are what some refer to as full medium duty trucks.For example, a Ford F-450 is a class IV medium duty truck where an F-350 or Chevy 3500HD is not.(At least up untill 2012.)
Here’s the deal: if a truck is classified as “commercial” sometimes the insurance rates go up – way up.So just getting a “commercial” truck, if you don’t need one, can increase insurance costs.(I said can – like always, it depends)
The 2012 Ford and Chevy 3500HD / F-350 trucks just miss the class IV designation by marketing specification.That is they purposefully kept the GVWR (just the truck) below 14,000lbs.By doing that they are not “commercial” as defined by some insurance companies.But for most trailers, not all, they are more than enough truck.
I say all this for “perspective” assuming the use of the word “commercial” as I outlined it above.
BTW, IMO, there is no perfect truck.Everything is a compromise in some form or another – you give up to get and visa versa.
Bill
sunflwrgirl said
11:42 PM Oct 19, 2012
True I do agree there is no perfect truck.. Only that we are trying to find "our perfect" truck. ;p The one that will do as we need with our own lil compromises as you say.. ;)
Some of the "commercial" trucks I am finding are even the Lariat version as well. That is why I am curious, but not truly understanding what it means "commercial. I think I understand it much better now, especially since you say that just being labeled "comercial" can make our rates on insurance go up.. That is huge to us and not something worth even doing..
Thanks to both of you for the help. Gonna leave the "Commercial" trucks alone :)
Terry and Jo said
12:01 AM Oct 20, 2012
It may depend upon the insurance company. We are insured with Oklahoma Farm Bureau and when we bought our F450, they had to do some checking. Most of the time, farm trucks don't fall into that category. Our F450 is NOT on a commercial rate, but it is a higher rate because of size. It avoids being commercial because we don't use it in that fashion.
That said, the F350 wouldn't be the same as ours. Just look for an F350 with the Tow Package.
Terry
sunflwrgirl said
12:11 AM Oct 20, 2012
Terry, are you thinking that if we just make sure our F350 has the "Tow package" then I can get my 4.30LS like i had mention to you before? That would really sum things up on us so much more in our search. We actually had even started looking for an F450 since the 350 was getting so complicated. Have found allot of beautiful lariat versions in the 08 F450's in our price range as well.. Just that I also came across the Commercial ones as well. Some even having great mileage on them. That's why I had to ask if it would be wise to look into them..
All I know is, I will be so happy when we have that "perfect" truck to go with our "perfect" coach and we are living in it with all the stress and worries of purchasing behind us.. lol then we can worry about something else ;D
Terry and Jo said
04:44 AM Oct 20, 2012
Even with the Tow Package, the F350 won't be at the same level as an F450. I only mentioned that in the event that you were really concerned about insurance being higher. In my case, the truck's ability is far more important than the cost of insurance, and our insurance is higher because Farm Bureau didn't have an RV class for insurance. Some other companies may have better insurance that isn't raised so much because of ours being an F450.
If you can find a good F450, you would still be good, especially if you think that you might later consider a better and heavier fifth wheel. I think that a lot of folks could be like Jo and I are. In the past we had a good camper, although it was a 26-foot travel trailer. After about two years, we traded it for a 26-foot fifth wheel. I thought that we were pretty set with a camper, although at the time we weren't considering full-timing. Once that idea came along, we took a two week vacation to Colorado and found that trying to be comfortable in that 26-footer for two weeks (instead of just one week) was not happening. The furniture began to get really uncomfortable. That is when we knew for sure that we would need a bigger trailer; one with more capability of "upgrading" or modifying.
I wouldn't worry about the commercial model trucks. As the others said, they won't be quite as comfortable for long drives, nor would they be equipped with as much optional items such as a center console, power points or extra switches. For instance, our F450 has what is called "upfitter" switches. Those are four toggle switches that are at different amp ratings that can be used for accessories such as extra lights or whatever may need a switch in the cab. (Note the four switches at the bottom of this picture.
Also, in my case with my "advancing age" and "larger than it should be" body, this little accessory is handy when I have to get into the bed of the truck for any reason.
Keep in mind that when we bought our F450, it cost less than what that one place was asking for that F350 at that one link you sent me. One may just have to do some diligent looking, and if you find a Ford dealer that really wants to work with you, have them search to see if they can also find a used F450. Sometimes they can find one that is going up for auction.
Terry
sunflwrgirl said
05:05 AM Oct 20, 2012
Thank you again.. I am still on my search and we believe we will come up with some really good. Thinking the 450 is a better answer for us.
Terry, your ride does look like a real sweet one. I have looked at a few similar ones on line. Of course they dont have your sophisticated toy like that in the back ;)
So we are searching for that perfect truck and happen to notice some good trucks we find are "commercial". My question is, are commercial trucks a wise choice or should we skip over them?
-- Edited by sunflwrgirl on Friday 19th of October 2012 11:26:50 AM
On an F350 if the write up indicates commercial it usually means the truck is configured to provide service for commercial applications. That can mean it will have no upgrades (cloth or vinyl seats, rubber floor mats)
It may have a commercial utility body.... doors and compartments for tools and parts and/or lumber racks. When you go to a dealer these trucks are usually white, no fancy wheels and will have utility beds or flat beds instead of a pickup bed.
The suspension may be stiff to carry heavy loads (overload springs). The gearing in the rearend and transmission may be changed to provide better pulling power which can negatively affect fuel mileage.
These are trucks that carpenters, welders, delivery, service folks will buy as a work truck.
If you want comfort and good fuel mileage you need to look at F350s that have the upgrades carpets, leather seats, wheel, tire and suspension packages.
Find an F350 with extra towing capacity beyond the weight of your Grand Junction and all of the gear you'll carry with the Laredo or King Ranch package for comfortable ride.
Actually, in many cases “commercial” is more of an insurance company definition – assuming you are not referring to “work trucks,” which are simply trucks without any amenities in so many words or have been modifed for specific types of service - like having a PTO for a dump bed installed. Same basic specs, just not as nice interiors, etc.
Some insurance companies define “commercial trucks,” in the case of pickups, as any truck that is a technically a Class IV (4) truck. Those are what some refer to as full medium duty trucks. For example, a Ford F-450 is a class IV medium duty truck where an F-350 or Chevy 3500HD is not. (At least up untill 2012.)
Here’s the deal: if a truck is classified as “commercial” sometimes the insurance rates go up – way up. So just getting a “commercial” truck, if you don’t need one, can increase insurance costs. (I said can – like always, it depends)
The 2012 Ford and Chevy 3500HD / F-350 trucks just miss the class IV designation by marketing specification. That is they purposefully kept the GVWR (just the truck) below 14,000lbs. By doing that they are not “commercial” as defined by some insurance companies. But for most trailers, not all, they are more than enough truck.
I say all this for “perspective” assuming the use of the word “commercial” as I outlined it above.
BTW, IMO, there is no perfect truck. Everything is a compromise in some form or another – you give up to get and visa versa.
Bill
Some of the "commercial" trucks I am finding are even the Lariat version as well. That is why I am curious, but not truly understanding what it means "commercial. I think I understand it much better now, especially since you say that just being labeled "comercial" can make our rates on insurance go up.. That is huge to us and not something worth even doing..
Thanks to both of you for the help. Gonna leave the "Commercial" trucks alone :)
It may depend upon the insurance company. We are insured with Oklahoma Farm Bureau and when we bought our F450, they had to do some checking. Most of the time, farm trucks don't fall into that category. Our F450 is NOT on a commercial rate, but it is a higher rate because of size. It avoids being commercial because we don't use it in that fashion.
That said, the F350 wouldn't be the same as ours. Just look for an F350 with the Tow Package.
Terry
All I know is, I will be so happy when we have that "perfect" truck to go with our "perfect" coach and we are living in it with all the stress and worries of purchasing behind us.. lol then we can worry about something else ;D
Even with the Tow Package, the F350 won't be at the same level as an F450. I only mentioned that in the event that you were really concerned about insurance being higher. In my case, the truck's ability is far more important than the cost of insurance, and our insurance is higher because Farm Bureau didn't have an RV class for insurance. Some other companies may have better insurance that isn't raised so much because of ours being an F450.
If you can find a good F450, you would still be good, especially if you think that you might later consider a better and heavier fifth wheel. I think that a lot of folks could be like Jo and I are. In the past we had a good camper, although it was a 26-foot travel trailer. After about two years, we traded it for a 26-foot fifth wheel. I thought that we were pretty set with a camper, although at the time we weren't considering full-timing. Once that idea came along, we took a two week vacation to Colorado and found that trying to be comfortable in that 26-footer for two weeks (instead of just one week) was not happening. The furniture began to get really uncomfortable. That is when we knew for sure that we would need a bigger trailer; one with more capability of "upgrading" or modifying.
I wouldn't worry about the commercial model trucks. As the others said, they won't be quite as comfortable for long drives, nor would they be equipped with as much optional items such as a center console, power points or extra switches. For instance, our F450 has what is called "upfitter" switches. Those are four toggle switches that are at different amp ratings that can be used for accessories such as extra lights or whatever may need a switch in the cab. (Note the four switches at the bottom of this picture.
Also, in my case with my "advancing age" and "larger than it should be" body, this little accessory is handy when I have to get into the bed of the truck for any reason.
Keep in mind that when we bought our F450, it cost less than what that one place was asking for that F350 at that one link you sent me. One may just have to do some diligent looking, and if you find a Ford dealer that really wants to work with you, have them search to see if they can also find a used F450. Sometimes they can find one that is going up for auction.
Terry
Terry, your ride does look like a real sweet one. I have looked at a few similar ones on line. Of course they dont have your sophisticated toy like that in the back ;)