Has the affordable rollback become a unicorn? In my area, a 40 year old gas powered, barely running, no brakes, hydraulic leaking rollback based on a 1 ton pickup is 5k! WTAF?!
Has the affordable rollback become a unicorn? In my area, a 40 year old gas powered, barely running, no brakes, hydraulic leaking rollback based on a 1 ton pickup is 5k! WTAF?!
What are you hunting for? Buddy's dad runs a wrecker service (though he focuses on the "heavy" end of things) and it seems like he and other wrecker guys buy and sell rigs among themselves. I could put the word to him on what you're after, see if he knows of a reasonable deal out there.
In reply to Docwemple :
You're competing with buyers who will use the vehicle as a money making venture.
Yeah, they're expensive. They can also be hard to insure as a private vehicle.
In reply to Spearfishin :
Just something that makes grabbing projects easier. Kinda nutty, I know. That's why I'm looking for cheap. Plus I'm moving in the near future and it's going to be fun moving 20 cars
In reply to APEowner :
Never heard that. Wouldn't it be insured the same as a pickup, especially if it's based on a 1 ton chassis
I have a buddy who bought one just as you decribe: E36 M3ty, rusty, leaking hydraulics, based on a 1 ton Chevy square body, actually has a 350 SBC which is probably massively underpowered for the thing. I think he paid $4k. He brought it home, disassembled part of the cab to do rust repair, and now it's a large table that does not move. In the driveway. Not the best choice.
A roll-back with a winch would probably be better for occasional project hauling. Less to go wrong from lack of use or maintenance.
That said, any running truck in decent condition is not selling for Challenge money these days. Even a $10K truck is likely to be a bit of a project.
If you setup an LLC that has a name that sounds like a bank, you can probably call a repo truck and get new project cars while only paying the repo fee.
In reply to Ian F (Forum Supporter) :
That is true. I'm restoring my 93 f250 super cab long bed 7.3 because there is money in that pit. An IDI with 150k miles is a baby.
Part of it, for me, is the option of towing a trailercand having a car on the back, or being able to grab a shed or what have you. And so many local services are questionable with regards to quality, reliability and price.
I have a friend who owns a one man garage, he was looking for a ramp truck or a trailer so he could move customer cars, finally decided that it was worth the money to buy an old roll back. Found this one that had less than 100K on it, 6.5 Diesel, never looks to have been run hard. Paid ~$20k for it and said it was worth every penny. He said it makes money without even trying. He doesn't even put his shop name on the side or do collision towing, break downs and special moves.
Docwemple said:In reply to APEowner :
Never heard that. Wouldn't it be insured the same as a pickup, especially if it's based on a 1 ton chassis
Insurance can vary from state to state but in some locations insurance companies run the VIN, see that it's a rollback, insist that it's a commercial vehicle and refuse to insure it.
In reply to APEowner :
Wow. Nice. SMDH
APEowner said:Docwemple said:In reply to APEowner :
Never heard that. Wouldn't it be insured the same as a pickup, especially if it's based on a 1 ton chassis
Insurance can vary from state to state but in some locations insurance companies run the VIN, see that it's a rollback, insist that it's a commercial vehicle and refuse to insure it.
This is correct so contact your insurance agent.
I have an E450 shuttle bus with this problem. We used it for family trips and to tow to the track. The vin lists it as an E450 cut a way which insurance considers a commercial vehicle and they would only insure it as a commercial vehicle. Insurance was costing me $1300 per year which worked out to around $100 per use.
here you go. buy both and have the coolest one around for sub 10k
(for those that dont like clicking links)
there's this, for cheap
but honestly this is the one I would want (its been for sale for months so you could probably negotiate)
APEowner said:Docwemple said:In reply to APEowner :
Never heard that. Wouldn't it be insured the same as a pickup, especially if it's based on a 1 ton chassis
Insurance can vary from state to state but in some locations insurance companies run the VIN, see that it's a rollback, insist that it's a commercial vehicle and refuse to insure it.
Truth. I had a co-worker buy one (and we work in the insurance business) and did not realize it would require commercial insurance, even if only used for private transport. Yet, you can buy a huge trailer that hauls three cars and it's just a trailer.
I'm not sure about ramp trucks. It may be the whole designed-for-towing aspect of the rollback that dumps it into commercial. Seems a lot of guys have old ramp trucks for their race cars and I haven't heard any problem with insuring those.
Ian F (Forum Supporter) said:A roll-back with a winch would probably be better for occasional project hauling. Less to go wrong from lack of use or maintenance.
That said, any running truck in decent condition is not selling for Challenge money these days. Even a $10K truck is likely to be a bit of a project.
Actually, what I meant to type was "ramp-back". And I'd consider a receiver type winch so when not in use it can be securely stored out of the weather.
In reply to Ian F (Forum Supporter) :
Are you thinking ramp because of mechanical simplicity? How about a flat bed. It'd need long ramps, but they are certainly cheaper to buy and more plentiful
Yes. A ramp truck and yes, for the simplicity.
Modern:
Vintage (and shorty version):
or classic:
Docwemple said:Has the affordable rollback become a unicorn? In my area, a 40 year old gas powered, barely running, no brakes, hydraulic leaking rollback based on a 1 ton pickup is 5k! WTAF?!
They were $8-12 back when a beater car could be had for $500. Since those cars are asking $5K now, the roll back you are describing would be the equivalent of them paying you to take it away!
And the only way to not pay commercial insurance on it, is to know how to lie and cheat the system.
Even my FL50 RV Toter required commercial insurance (don't get me started on THAT fiasco)
But yea, anyone I've know that looked for a fixable roll back, either regretted the one they bought, or went home with their tail between their legs, Over the sticker shock.
In reply to Docwemple :
Is building one an option?
British based video series. If so, I'd recommend starting with a firetruck. They sell for very little since so specialized but pull the rear "firetruck stuff" down to the frame and build up from there.
In reply to John Welsh :
I actually saw a firetruck rollback. 60s ford crew cab. Was cheap and sold almost immediately
In reply to 03Panther :
5 years ago, 8 to 12 would buy a ready to go full size international with a 466, 19 to 21 foot jerr dan that was maybe 10 years old and had 150k. Now that same truck is nearly 30k and beat up
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