Cabovers - 21"/32" - hydo/gear - Tbar/pistol

[GBCO]

First I would like to thank everyone before hand for answering any of my questions. Having lurked in this forum for several months (and learned a lot) I now have a few questions for the pros.

1. cabover question

Scaper-S2k, this question is for you, but feel free to answer them all if you like. What would be the best way to make the cabover that you have be able to load and unload equipment easily, but still keep the dump capability with the tarp cover? Could you envision a fold-down dovetail ramp system that would work with the dump? Having two ramps instead of a solid ramp would allow the material to exit the bed. Would this work?.



2. 21" and 32" mower?

Do you really need a 21" on the truck if you have a 32". I know it all depends on the size of the yards, but how many of you could replace your 21" with a 32" wb for residential and commercial work?

3. 32" Hydro or 32" Gear drive"?

It seems to me that having a hydro on a 32" is not needed. Once again this is assuming you are using the 32" in place of the 21".

4. T-bar or Pistol grip?

If you were going to buy a gear drive 32" wb would you buy the t-bar or pistol grip mower?
If I went with the hyro I don't have a choice (exmark) of t-bar or pistol grip.

Thanks again

[GrassMaster]

Welcome to the Lawn Service Forum Community, GBCO!

[Scaper-S2k]

You can get the landscape beds that dump, with a dovetail that is hinged on the side. So you simply unlatch one side, fold it over and dump. I have only seen this at one manufacturer though.

That truck you see in the picture actually has a 2 ramp setup that is "tricked out" . I had them make a compartment inside the bed on the right sidewall that holds two 8' aluminum ramps that latch onto the back! It works great for walkbehinds.

That is a big truck. It would work much better on a smaller cabover that wasn't up so high off the ground like that big boy is. (hard to tell by the picture) I would also only get 2' sides as well.



Having said all of that, there IS a company out there making a landscape body with a dovetail that hindges STRAIGHT UP while it is dumping. Looks like a 'V' when it is at full dump height.

I will try and find the maker of it. Probably a bit pricey.


T-bar is the way to go versus pistol grips.

We have 36" mowers, but also use 21" mowers as well.

Hydro over belt drive if you can. If you must get belt drive, the Toro is the best way to go, especially when you go with the T-bar setup.

Good luck. Don't let me forget to find that bed manufacturer.

[GBCO]

Scaper, Thanks for the info. Who made the body in that picture for you? The Alumno name on the side of the body sounds like a Mexican manufacturer.

[Jack D.]

Please share with the class how one can efficiently load & unload mowers, front & side from a cabover.

[Scaper-S2k]

GBCO, the company that made the bed on that truck, and my aluminum landscape body is out of Florida.


Jack, the inside dimensions of the landscape body are 8' wide and 18' long. I have no need for side loading. See, I can pull directly into someones driveway and unload just fine. I can turn a hydro mower in a circle on the bed and drive it right off. Thank you for your concern Jack, but I don't need a side loading gate.

Oh, did I mention you can also pull a Bobcat up on the bed as well? And still have almost 4000 pounds of payload leftover? Jack D, don't do that with your Mazdas. Or put about 10 yards of mulch on the bed.

They make great maintenance trucks for many reasons.

[Jack D.]

That did not really answer my question Mr. Skaper.

Let us see the gate lift mechanism. Let us see you unload a large WB from behind your Z w/out moving the Z.

We are talking Mowing Contractor applications, not multi-purpose prostitute.

[Scaper-S2k]

There are 2' springs attached to both sides of the ALUMINUM gate(hint: light already). Lifting it can easily be done by your Mom with one hand.


We use mostly 44" and 36" mowers. The 36" mowers go on the right, the 44" mowers go on the left. The picture I posted has a 44" ZTR on it. Hmmmmm, are you ready for this? You can get the 36" off without moving any mower! Because they fit side by side. If they need the 36", they back it past the ZTR. If not, they take the ZTR. Boy, that's tough!

Remember Jack, 8' INSIDE dimensions. Go do some math.

Look at the picture closer and you will see it.

I can fit 6 walk behinds on the bed of the truck if needed, and still have room for push mowers. And still pull into a driveway and back out on a busy street.

Not to mention that they turn in a 35' circle.



Thank You for your concern Jack.

P.S. If a side ramp is what it takes to make your day, you simply ask the builder to put one on! Just like any trailer. Duh? Wow, that was tough!

[Jack D.]

Your hostility stems from what is known in the business as Cabover Inneficiency Syndrome.

The vehicle would benefit from a few subtle modifications to tranform it more from novelty to substance.

Regardless, I run 44" beside 36" & can still unload a 21" or 32" from the front plus I am able to unhitch and go trolling for women while the crews mow.

[GBCO]

Scaper, If you could post or e-mail me the company in Florida that made the bodies for you I would appreciate it. I'm looking at a few cabovers in Florida right now and it would be great to get the bed put on soon after my purchase. I'm just trying to be efficient.

[Scaper-S2k]

Jack D, I have no "hostility" at all. It appears you are the one that has some type of "Inneficiency Syndrome".


GBCO, you can buy a cabover anywhere and they will 'drop ship' the thing where ever the body is being installed for free. Then you simply go there and pick it up when it's done.

I am not sure where that company moved to. They were down towards the middle of Florida, but from my understanding, they have moved further north, but still in Florida. I will see what I can find.

The aluminum was only $300 more than I saw the steel beds selling for. And it has more options. Mine is over 5 years old and still looks brand new! The picture I posted was actually taken last summer.

The steel rusts of course. The aluminum will last for so many years longer.

The box up front opens on both sides and you can put a back pack blower on each side, and your bush trimmers in the middle. The top of the box opens up and you can lay trimmers in it! (I prefer to put the trimmers on the racks outside). It also has boxes welded inside that hold trimmer line, earmuffs, blades, and even 2cyl oil bottles. Then on the back of the box it has a place to hang more blowers or back pack sprayers.....it locks as well! THEN, it has tool racks on each side to hold shovels and such!!!!!

All that is out of the way of the mowers!!!


It was hands down the best vehicle decision I have ever made.

[GBCO]

Scaper, I found this site in FL. and was wondering if this could be the company.

http://www.kyzeraluminum.com/

[Scaper-S2k]

It's not the same company, but I'm sure they can set you up with something close. Their pricing may be different.

The cabover you posted in the back is a large 26k GVW and the dumper looks like it is built strong. But the one in the front could use some extra bracing under it. Of course, that one is on a 14500 GVW truck which can only handle about 8500 pounds in the bed. The bracing isn't as beefed up as the the companies that built mine. I have a picture of the underside here somewhere.


One thing I can say is that the aluminum is great, but when it's empty, you don't have much weight over the rear tires. If you plan on putting it on a larger 18000 GVW cabover, it can be bumpy when empty. Those trucks drive their best with at at least 2500 pounds over the rears (which is the weight of a steel bed. They drive even better when loaded with about 7000 pounds. Mine will hold 12k as payload......nice!


If you plan on hauling large rock or stuff like that, I would go with the steel bed (but only on the DUMPER) I have an Isuzu with a steel bed for dropping bolders and logs in it over those 4' sides.

That dumper I posted is larger than it looks. It stands about 7.5' tall, maybe 8'.