Pre-purchase - CV713 Hook truck to Dump truck conversion

[OmegaRed88]

First post, apologies if I'm in the wrong section.

I'm purchasing my first dump truck and looking for opinions.  The truck I'm considering is a former roll off dumpster hook truck.  Only a couple hundred miles ago it was converted into a dump truck.  I know to stay away from road tractor conversions with air bags but unsure what to be looking out for in this case.  It seems to be a heavy build and I can't find a reason why the conversion should concern me but I FEEL like it should.  On the plus side, it doesn't have a lifetime of being shock loaded with concrete and boulders.  Also the dump components are brand new.  So are there any good reasons to steer clear here?

 

2006 GRANITE CV713 quad-axle

225k miles

14,071 hours

Mack E7-400

T310M/MLR 10 speed

4.42 gears

Camelback suspension

front axle - 24,000

drops - 13,000

rear - 46,0000

 

 

[JoeH]

Is that right on the steer axle? 24,000 lbs? Pictures please; how is the frame? That'll be the biggest concern is Rust Jacking. Also, I'd look for any hairline cracks in the frame behind the cab, where the vertical part of the frame rails bends to start the flange.

[OmegaRed88]

Yeah the 24k steer axle raised an eyebrow with me as well.  The seller didn’t have the axle specs but phoned Mack and that’s what they told him, allegedly.  I’m not able to get eyes on the as it’s 1700 miles away.  Won’t see till if/when I buy it.  
 

Would Mack be able to confirm with a VIN?

[JoeH]

That's a tough call, I personally wouldn't buy something without putting eyes on it, or having someone I know third party putting eyes on it. Where is the truck? Maybe you'll get lucky and someone on here lives nearby.

Garbage trucks tend to be spec'd heavy, beefier trucks will hold up better and require less maintenance than an underspec'd truck.

[OmegaRed88]

Truck is in Tennessee, Nashville area.  I'd fly out first and inspect it myself before buying of course.  Just didn't want to book a trip out there if there was something I was missing. 

I'll be sure to check the frame like you mentioned.  It's double framed also, forgot to mention that. 

[JoeH]

there's some rusty frame pictures in this thread from a few years ago. Gives you an idea of what the rust can do.  It pries the flanges apart until they crack horizontally, junking the frame.  Twice now we've rehabbed trucks by pulling one side out at a time, separating, sand blasting and painting, reinstalling, then doing the other side. Its labor intensive and time consuming, but the end result is about as "like new" as you can get without dropping $20k for new rails.

 

 

[JoeH]

Note that the rust cancer used to be part of the frame, so the worse it is the more material thickness you've lost from the frame.

[OmegaRed88]

yikes that’s bad.

 

here’s some photos of the prospect

 

[OmegaRed88]

[terry]

Fifth photo down looks like a little bit of rust starting between frame rails ,check that real good, and look to see if outer rail has been welded along corners.    terry 

[mowerman]

Personally, I have faith in it. Good luck bud…. Bob

[JoeH]

Looks very clean, a minor amount of rust jacking just starting, but a lot of life left in that frame. Only thing I don't like is that they welded the lift axle to the frame in a few spots. Don't think that'll cause you any problems, but welding on frame rails is something you're not supposed to do...

[JoeH]

Second thing I don't like:

It looks like the frame has cracked where the base of the hydraulic ram rests on the frame.  This would be a major red flag, truck needs a frame if it's actually cracked there. This is a high stress area, I don't think I'd be welding that spot back up.

[JoeH]

You posted two pictures of that part of the frame. I see the crack in one but not the other. It could be just how the light reflects off it, but it could be a crack as well.

[OmegaRed88]

Thanks for all the input so far everyone.  Not sure I'm seeing the crack by the base of the ram but will be sure to look that part over really well.

 

What's the best practice for mitigating the rust jacking toward the rear of the frame?  Or is the ball already rolling on that and it's just a time bomb at this point without a full strip down?

[OmegaRed88]

Also, learned from the Carfax it had a "severe collision" with another vehicle in 2009 resulting in it being disabled.  Spent most of it's life in Pennsylvania, property of Waste Managment

[JoeH]

Note the horizontal line. Could be light reflection, could be a crack.

[JoeH]

Apart from that one spot by the hoist cylinder I think that is a great looking truck, frame and all.

2006 will be an AI-400 motor, which has a restrictive exhaust manifold and turbo, and an extra little bump on the exhaust lobes of the camshaft. These things are the extent of the emissions system on it, and they can all be replaced with components that predate the ASET AI/AC emissions systems. There's a thread on here somewhere on it with part numbers.  The AI has the bump on the cam to open exhaust valves a bit on the intake stroke so the truck can breath it's own vomit. (Exhaust). Computer won't know the difference if you replace these bits, and the thread on here indicated a noticeable difference in power.

[JoeH]

I walked away from a 2003 granite cv713 a few years ago that had a great frame, except for a small 4 inch horizontal crack in the frame just behind the cab.  $40k truck that needed new inner and outer frame rails because of that dumb crack. Rails can run $10k per side or more, plus the install labor.

[OmegaRed88]

Ok I see what you're looking at now.  I'm going to verify if this is a crack or not before I fly out there.  Thanks a bunch.

 

Shoulda just posted the listing in the first place but here it is...

 

2006 Mack CV713

 

I know it's probably overpriced but this market doesn't offer a much better deal in this price range.