Ricky Beals

That was a long trip. Looked at a RD688 but it was trashed. The 690 was very clean under it. Nothing was leaking but one wheel seal. I liked the set up and how tight the cab was. Of course I’m coming from a ch613. What little I drove it was fine but it wasn’t loaded. The guy said his cash price was 37,000.00 so he wasn’t wanting to deal. I definitely appreciate everybody’s help especially JoJo. He has answered a lot of my private messages. So let’s hope a decent 688 or 690 comes along. I sold my ch613 yesterday but I’m in no hurry to purchase a problem. Thanks also for making me feel welcome on this board. You guys are ok in my book. Ricky

Looked at the truck and it was a nice truck. The test drive didn’t go as planned. The truck would start loping and die. Pull over and wait a few minutes and it would start and we limped back down highway, truck would die and then it would take longer to start. Finally made it back and the mechanic on site drove it around the parking lot and I saw a long stream of blue smoke come out exhaust when he let off gas. Only saw it once and truck had no blow by. The owner was an odd guy to work with. He wanted me to put 5,000 down and he would then know I was interested and fix the truck. I’m like no fix the truck and we can negotiate but he acted like I was not being reasonable. I then thanked him and left. Kind of a weird don’t y’all think.

Thanks guys for the response. I initially was going to look at a 2001 rd688. Truck has 1.2 million miles with 30,000 hrs. Motor has been rebuilt in last three years. Guy who is selling it knows it’s two previous owners. Said it was maintenance since new. I think he is dropping money into it and made the decision to sell. This truck is about a three hour drive from me. I then saw the low hour 690s for sale in close proximity. Looking at both today. i live in a small town and trips to haul are about 50 mile round trip. I also plan on using truck off road to build a pond and build roads on property.

Well I’m headed up tomorrow to look at the old gal. Hope she is in as good of shape as photos show. I’m in no hurry to buy. Looking at 8,000.00 to add steer axle and 5,000.00 for non steer. That’s a 20,000lb axle. 13,000 was a little cheaper. I’m just not thinking the dealership going come off price 10,000. What would y’all set your bottom dollar at.

Thanks 67Rmodel. My truck will spend a lot of time dumping gravel. Those places are always going be a little rough. For now this is mostly helping myself improve some land that has been neglected for years. I got to move a lot of dirt from one place to another. Dig a pond and fix some roads. I definitely get what your saying and understand that if I’m going to start earning money with a dump truck it needs a third axle. I’m kinda in that stage of life I need to make a little money to pay a few bills but mainly I just want to enjoy what I’m doing. Hopefully this all comes together. Heck I may drive the 7speed and hate it. I’m driving the 9speed Maxitorque now so hopefully it want be to much of a change. i practically memorized your post on how to shift a 7 speed so I’m looking forward to going and looking at this truck.

Ok if we look at MACKS post we can carry 62,000 but we subtract the weight of the truck. Let’s say it’s 27,000 so that leave us 35,000. Seems like Arkansas law only allows 34,000 on a tandem so I can carry 17 tons (34,000). When I load my dump I start in the front by dog box and work back to bed with a big scoop from excavator. I then pile it up in middle To the middle breaks the plain of my 2x12’s. I have no idea how much is on the truck. Based on a dump truck hauling gravel how do they measure each axle to see if I overloaded one. Anybody?

Here is a quick summary of Arkansas dump truck law. Quick Summary / Synopsis for Dump Trucks Arkansas has adopted the FBF state-wide, but they also allow old grandfathered state law limits, which are as follows: Limit on any single axle is 18,000 lbs. Limit on any tandem axles (less than 96" apart) is 32,000 lbs. Gross weight limit is 73,280 lbs. can someone explain to me what this means with that truck? What does a pusher add to the equation. Told you guys I was a newbie

I appreciate your advice. Yes sir when you buy thru a truck dealer your going have to pay extra. Now that dealer probably paid that for the truck. this has been a very informative thread for me. I again want to thank each one of you for your comments.

I had no idea you can get miles from the ecm. I have a scan tool that reads codes for cars but I’m sure the big trucks have a different plug in. This truck is also in a very populated area so maybe I can find someone like JoJo to help me.

What rears you think is in it.? Of course I’m just not use to that style dump bed. I guess that bed just has higher sides where the ones I’m used to has a 2x12 on top of sides. Personally I never have used the pusher axle I have but I’m not hauling very far either. I understand It allows you to carry more weight.

Man you guys don’t miss much. I definitely understand you guys have learned by experience. Nice to see how you guys see things I don’t, but when you guys point them out I see them onyx610 thanks for the add

Thank you for your very detailed response. I really appreciate your time. He wants 38,000.00. I figure you could offer him 35,000 cash and get it. The door rails are a good way to check for wear. Could you discuss how you look for overheating with head gasket please. also I’m not familiar with that style dump bed. We mostly haul gravel and small stone where I’m from. How would that bed work with those items. Hiw much weight can you haul in that dump bed? Rough guess

Sorry Mark T I don’t understand how to copy the ad but it’s a dump truck. Or it has a dump truck bed on it.

I understand now. Education is not free and I really had no idea how important front suspension is. I’m really thinking about selling that converted truck and buying something like we are talking about. It’s topics like this that helps us newbies. The problem with this truck is verified mileage. Having 200,000 miles is a lot different than 1.2 million. Thanks guys for response

I have gotten where I only use the clutch in that 9 speed to take off. It took a while but I got the hang of it. So it seems that 7 speed going to be a lot pickier than 9 speed.

With hours to miles it looks like this could be original miles. Of course no way to verify. 13,773 hours to 197,770 miles. That’s about 14 miles per hour so what ever it was used for it wasn’t in a hurry

I don’t mind slow either jojo. I get passed all the time in my Toyota Tacoma. I’m just not in any hurry. Where I’m from we have quite a few curves so going over 50 loaded is going be average. is this a big difference from that 9 speed T3901 I’m using now. Since I have never driven a 6 speed where is the difference. If that’s a fair question

This is just a post for information. Saw an ad for a low miles 2000 rd690s with a seven speed. What little information I can find, not many people like the seven speed for a dump truck. Where these trucks mostly day cab trucks that were converted to dump trucks. Shows double frame, em7 300 horsepower. looks like a nice set up all except the seven speed. Just gaining knowledge so appreciate the information

Some of these 90’s model rd688 are showing 200,000 to 300,000 miles on odometer. You would think they have rolled over. At what point is the mileage to great of a risk. Say a 1.2 million mile Mack rd688 that has had motor rebuilt. At what point does it become cost prohibitive with the transmission and rearends

Where do you see the springs worn into one another. I can’t see what you see.

What do you guys replace your bushings with? Have you guys upgraded your springs? If so what with or do you still run three leaf that came on truck.

Thank you guys for your response. I appreciate the time and information you guys have given me. Again I really appreciate your time and patience. is this something a guy with some mechanical skills perform? I’m talking replacing the springs and bushings and pins. I have replaced a few leaf spring packs on Toyota tacomas but Never have owned a big truck or been around them much. Bought some land and needed to build some roads and move a lot of gravel. So bought this truck and a excavator and just started doing it. The biggest tools I have are 1/2” drive and a Milwaukee 1/2 impact.

Onyx610 I just don’t see where to wedge a block of wood at to turn steer tire into it. Like I said never seen it done so having to visualize it. The brake can in the way on top and nothing to wedge on the bottom

Sorry guys but my son is down wiring up my shop. It’s gotten real cold here. I took this photo of the drivers rear spring bushings. something is definitely loose because when I turn and truck shifts weight to say passenger side I hear and feel a loud clunk. I feel it in my feet. Same when weight gets shifted to drivers side.

Here are my springs. Only band on the set.