Landscape managers look for products that give crews self- sufficiency and higher productivity

By ROBERT E. REAVES

e talked with a cross section of Ram Sport 1500 landscape and Wlawn contractors, property managers and manu- facturers, and found there are definite vehicle buying trends in the industry: • Most contractors stay loyal to a specific brand of . • They prefer to purchase vehicles whenever possible. • Preferences include auto- get matic transmission and gasoline engines, especially in snow-belt areas; but diesel engines for medium-duty . • They prefer products that your deter theft and equipment dam- age. • Image is important. Trucks, trailers and are moving advertisements. • They are using more work cargo trailers and medium-duty trucks with box vans, such as the Super Lawn Truck. • Contractors use the Inter- net on a regular basis to obtain product information. International done Before you decide to buy a truck or accessory, learn what other contractors are saying around the country. Then check out the latest innovations in trucks and accessories.

54 LANDS C! A P l MANAGEMENT April 1999 So many vehicles, so many solutions!

Ford's field third door, crew cab and chassis Current generation Sierra does trucks • New features of the F-Se- cab design. New Short Box crew ranges in GVWs of 8,600 lbs. • 1998 Dodge Ram Quad ries include: more powerful cab has a much smaller turning through 15,000 lbs. A new cab has an extended-cab, full- 5.4-liter, V-8 engine; standard radius and shorter overall length shortbox crew cab version of size pickup with four doors fourth door on F-Series Super- than the Long Box. Optional the 3500 Series Sierra gives (available throughout the en- Cabs; full rear-passenger com- "Big Dooley" rear wheels help greater maneuverability. tire Ram lineup). partment; and separate plat- give the crew cab a GVWR of • Sonoma compact pickup • Next-generation 24-valve form construction for models up to 10,000 lbs. offers of wide choice of body Cummins turbo is over 8,500 lbs. • Rear-wheel-drive Astro styles, , pickup more powerful and fuel effi- • Super Duty F-Series cargo tows up to 5,500 lbs. boxes, suspensions and power- cient than the popular engine it trucks — F-250, F-350, F-450 • Express cargo vans can be trains. replaced. and F-550 — come in 44 used as a service vehicle or as • Savana cargo van and • Rams with five-speed model configurations, 21 of the platform for a conversion Special cutaways range ffom manual transmissions have hp which are new and 15 unique van and comes with two 135-in. to 155-in. wheelbases, increased to 235, plus increased to the industry. Two new com- wheelbases (135- and 155-in.). with GVWs up to 9,500 lbs. torque. Automatics also have mercial trucks in weight classes Three heavy-duty G3500 cut- • GMC and are greater hp and torque, with 6 and 7 (Super Duty F-650 and away models offer the only manufacturers to offer better fuel economy. F-750) offer three cabs and lengths up to 177 in. both diesel and gasoline en- • Choice of power trains three diesel engines. • Venture cargo van is gines in the medium-duty cate- includes the 3.9-liter V-6, 5.2- • The Explorer Sport Trac available in a four-door ex- gory. Other featured trucks in- liter V-8 , 5.9L V-8 and the will debut next year; a combi- tended wheelbase model. clude the T-Series tilt cab 8.0-liter V-10, with 300 hp nation models in Classes 5-7 and a re- and 450 lb.-ft. of torque. (SUV) and cargo bed. The GMC's full line vised line of W-Series tilt cabs, • Dakota compact pickup cargo bed can remain open or • All-new Sierra comes in aimed at the lighter Class 3-4 continues as a popular contrac- can be closed with a lockable, 1500 Series and 2500 Series market. tor choice as the only pickup foldable, hard tonneau cover. models up to 8,600 lbs. VRW. cont. on page 56 • The addition of a four- door SuperCab to the Ranger line makes it one of only two compact pickups to offer a four- door model (Mazda is the other). • Econoline vans, E-150, E- 250, E-350 Super Duty and E- 450 Super Duty designations are easily personalized.

Chevrolet's lineup • Silverado is available in regular and extended cab 1500- and 2500-Series models, with a new four-wheel disc brake sys- tem with ABS. • The C/K pickup in regular and extended cab models have a Sierra 3500 HDf with both carrying and pulling capacity, is the workhorse of many landscape firms. cont. from page 55 • 4700 Lo-Profile or 4700 LPX probably have the best fit with a V-8 engine. Its 6,700-lb. with the lawn care industry, maximum towing capacity and with a chassis as low as 24 2,000-lb. maximum payload inches off the ground for less exceeds all other compact pick- fatigue from lifting. The 4700 ups on the market, rivaling LPX handles narrow alleys and some full-size pickups. tight loading areas with ease.

International's diesels Medium-duty • Navistar's International • was the highest trucks may be the most durable ranked cab-over medium-duty diesel truck on the market, truck in the J.D. Power and As- when you look at the Truck sociates 1997 Medium-Duty Blue Book. International 4000 Truck Customer Satisfaction Series trucks are said to be con- Study. NPR-HD diesel and gas Isuzu medium-duty, cab-over trucks got a high rating. sistently worth more at resale, models are new. one reason why many contrac- • N-Series trucks have low Series trucks come prewired scape industry needs: UD1200 tors purchase International design, a range of for CB radio, portable com- is rated at 12,000 lbs.; UD1400 trucks and get 300,000 or GVW ratings and four wheel- puter and cellular phone. at 14,250 lbs.; and the UD1800 many more miles per truck. base choices, to accommodate • Scheduled maintenance CS at 17,995 lbs. All three ac- • Maintenance costs may 20-ft. bodies. With a 109-in. on the NPR gas truck gives an commodate various van bodies, also be lower, because routine wheelbase, the turning radius is extra 1,500 miles between ser- flat beds, insulated bodies, tow- maintenance has been engi- 33.5 feet. vice stops compared to the ing bodies, landscaping bodies neered down to a minimum. • The panoramic wind- Ford E-350. and utility bodies. Model DT466E and 530E shield gives good visibility, with • Trucks have a turning ra- diesel engines run a full 12,000 drop-design side windows to UD Trucks dius ranging from 17.4 to 25.9 miles between oil changes. help eliminate blind spots. • Three light-duty UD feet, large windshields for good Middle passenger seat folds trucks from Diesel visibility and tilt cab for easy • Nissan trucks offer body choices. down as a workstation and N- America meet a variety of land- maintance. • Medium-duty trucks range up to 32,900 lbs. GVWR.

Mitsubishi 's haulers • Model FG has four-wheel drive; bodies up to 14-ft. long; payloads to 12,000 lb. GVWR; and choice of two wheelbases (109.4 in. and 133.1 in.), mak- ing it well suited for landscape contracting. • "The FG can face the challenges of some of the most demanding terrain," said Robert E. McDowell, MFTA senior vice president of opera cont. on page 58 Accessories Galore cont. from page 56 Our readers come in lengths from 8 to 24 ft. We can't list all the vehicle tions. "And, a wide variety of Pickup accessories keep tools and tell us what and trailer accessories available equipment safely stored, accessible specialized bodies — dump, today, but here's a sampling: and organized. Call 800/458-2226. utility, tool carrier, stake body works for www. reading body, com and dry vans — can be fitted to Green Industry Innovators' the chassis, making the truck Mulch Mule is the ultimate Oxlite Manufacturing manu- them mulching machine. With the pull of factures loading ramps for trucks adaptable to virtually any land- a hydraulic lever, you can fill a and trailers. Its #49 aluminum ramp scape need." Medium-duty trucks fit wheelbarrow in less than 10 sec- has 800-lb. loading capacity and is the bill onds, or you can swing open the designed to load rear-engine lawn back door and unload the 15-yard mowers on trucks with high tail- Toyota pickups Todd Pugh, president of • The new Tundra full-size Todd's Enviroscapes Inc., sports a 4.7-liter Louisville, OH, likes Ford and engine offering the first double- International trucks: overhead-cam, 32-valve V-8 of- "Ourl 2-truck fleet is a mix fered in the segment. It will de- of Ford and International. All liver approximately 245 hp and of our one-ton through Super 315 lbs.-ft. of torque. The V-8 Duty pickups are Fords, and all hauls a maximum payload of of our medium-duty trucks are nearly one ton and pulls a maxi- International. We like Interna- mum towing capacity of 7,200 tional because they have a Mulch Mule is easy to unload gates and long wheelbases. Special lbs. sharp turning radius and the arch prevents drag on equipment • Tundra capacity box in less than two min- with low ground clearance. The utes. It's powered by a 11-hp Honda Oxlite #98C loads four-wheeled will be pow- motor and can be pulled by a 3/4- machinery into small to mid-size ered by either ton pickup. Call 330/875-0769. short bed trucks. The ramp only V-8 or V-6 en- weighs 21 lbs. per runner, with gines, including Highland Group Industries 1,000-lb. loading capacity. Call makes ramp kits and ramp mats; 800/256-2408. www.oxlite.com two- or four- towing and trailering products — wheel-drive, TruckCraffs line of pickup such as straps, tie downs; truck two-door regu- hardware (like truck anchor points), truck dump bodies and combina- lar cab with an cargo bars and truck accessories (in- tion service/dump bodies includes This cargo trailer also acts as a heavy-duty tempered aluminum eight-ft. bed or four-door access moving advertisement. truck flats for the landscape con- cab with a six-and-a-half-ft. tractor. Available sizes range from 81 in. wide by 8 ft. long for pickups, bed. The access cab has large parts are the same price or less to 96-in. wide by 18-ft. long for double doors and a expansive than Ford trucks." cab-chassis. Call 717/375-2900. entry. Looks at: • Tacoma compact • Automatic transmission cont. on page 60 pickup's cargo bed has a dou- — "So anyone can drive the ble-wall design to truck." Highland ramp offers kits, mats. minimize damage to • Cost studies — "We do terior floor guards and custom the exterior skin and is cost studies on each truck, molded splash guards in several col- fitted with four inner looking at mileage and time. ors). Call 908/362-5396. tie-down points. It can We found the largest Interna- www. ramparts, com tow up to 5,000 lbs. tional trucks cost us less per Reading Body Works is the (V-6) or and 3.500 mile to operate than the larger place to go for stake and platform lbs. (V-4). Ford trucks." bodies for trucks. Steel or pressure- cont. on page 60 treated Southern pine stake bodies Maxi offers six dump trailers. cont. from page 58 well as a full line of coated and cont. from page 58 Vehicle age range: "Our old- Maxi-Products' six new dump lockable racks and mounts to fit est truck is a 1978 and newest trailer models have platform sizes open landscape trailers and trucks. • Used trucks — "We buy 1993. ranging from 5 by 8 ft. to 8 by 16 Call 800/621-6919. most of our trucks used, pri- ft., with GVWRs from 3,000 to 20,000 lbs. All models come stan- Innovative Industries' new marily because we only put Dodge meets needs at Vil- dard with 10-gauge floors, sealed Stowramp is a 100% self-con- about 10,000 to 20,000 miles lanova tained, heavy duty ramp with a beam lights, hand-held remote con- per year on our vehicles." Kevin O'Donnell, superin- trols and deep cycle marine batter- 1,000 lb. capacity. There is no need ies. It converts any standard size to remove a truck's tailgate unit — • Customizing: "Our tendent of grounds for Vil- pickup into a dump truck. Call it bridges the tailgate so there is no trucks and trailers have a white lanova University, Villanova, 800/833-3740. cab with a green bed, plus our PA, says his motor pool fleet

Martin Industries' NuWay Util- logo and phone number on the has about 150 vehicles to han- ity Trailer Division offers three 85% saddle boxes. All have a Reese dle services like snow removal, preassembled Kit-N-Caboodle trailer hitch, saddle box, tool box for tree care, small moving opera- models. The kits allow do-it-yourself general tools, plus any equip- tions, set up and trash removal. contractors to save money with a partially assembled kit, yet have a ment associated with a specific Brand loyal: "All of our ve- usable trailer with only two hours job. We recently purchased a hicles are Dodge, including set-up time. Many accessories are 24-ft. enclosed cargo trailer to utility vans, full-size pickup also available. Call 800/647-2558. www. Martinlndustries. com be used by the maintenance trucks and Dakotas. Since we crew." repair our own vehicles, one Klipping King Inc. offers debris brand gives us better efficiency hauling trailers in several models from small to large. The Klipping Jr. Large campus, tight budget in stocking parts and training is a debris hauling trailer. The mid- Innovative Industries' new ramp Jackie Toburen, grounds our mechanics." size model hauls debris and equip- manager, Kansas State Univer- Looks for: ment for a variety of grounds main- tenance uses. Call 800/279-3904. weight on it, reducing the risk of sity, Manhattan, KS, mixes • Standardized storage — lost loads or injuries. Call 800/374- trucks and utility vehicles. 'We would like to secure land- GNC Industries' 100-gallon, 1134. 'We maintain approxi- scape equipment directly onto fiberglass spray rig designed for mately 350 acres of the 650- the bed, as well as racks and lawn care has a Briggs 5-hp IC Plus Wells Cargo's high-quality engine (with oil guard), Hannay cargo trailers range from six-ft. acre Kansas State University tie-downs designed specifically hose reel, 300-ft. 1/2-in. 560 PSI mini-wagons to 36-ft. models. All campus, with a tight vehicle for that model." hose, Mag 1 spray gun, 8 GPM @ trailers have a three-year warranty. budget. We have nine trucks, • Standard skid —'We including Ford and Chevy, as could put landscape implements well as 17 utility vehicles. Most into the trucks (such as spray of our equipment is on the rigs, portable dumpers) that older side." could be changed out easily." Looks at: • Accessories — "Most im- • Trailer hitch — "Probably portant are salt spreaders, spray our most important feature be- rigs and liners for our truck cause we do a lot of hauling." beds that make it easier to • Dump beds — "Makes move mulch. We have bed lin- limb removal much easier." ers in all of our trucks." • Crew cab — "You can Wells Cargo trailers up to 36 ft. 600 psi piston pump — all with a haul more people, but we Specialization works one-year warranty. Call 800/462- would not want all the trucks Jody O'Donnell, president 2005. Frame construction is exceptional. Many different accessories, interior to be crew cabs." of Landscape Management Landscape organizer racks from and exterior options are available. • Accessories — 'Tool boxes Inc., Carrollton, TX, is a big Green Touch Industries, Ine in- Call 800/348-7553. are very important — especially Ford fan. clude Ultimate Racks (to fit the body on our irrigation vehicles." cont. on page 62 styles of most utility vehicles), as cont. on page 62 cont. from page 60 patible with any full-size pickup. It is South East Easy Rider's new lightweight and may be installed Pickup Hauler is a 317-cu. ft. square quickly. Side door gives easy access mesh enclosure for pickup beds to pump and filter. Call 800/874- with an easy loading ramp and the 0253. ability to lock up equipment. Instal- lation is easy, using four bolts and a Jungle Jim's Accessory Prod- mounting bar that remains out of ucts' Gear Caddy to meet the stor- the way when not in use. Call age needs of the landscape care in- 800/535-2121. dustry, with trimmer, blower and www.southeast-easyrider. com tool racks. These racks ensure a

Holt Specialty Equipment's trailer- Ford offers a full line of trucks. mounted hoists (in contained, and that should bumper-hitch and cont. from page 60 gooseneck style) and mean greater productivity for truck mounted hoists roll our crews." completely off the trailer "We have 150 pieces of • Aircraft-grade paint — or truck and may be left rolling stock, including 75 "We use an aircraft-grade paint at any location, giving the convenience of mul- trucks. The only brand we that holds up a lot better than tiple containers at vari- allow is Ford. About 99% of other automotive paint." ous job sites. The hy- these are diesel, because of draulic lift and winch is powered by a gasoline their durability, ease of service Truck rating system engine or PTO unit of the truck. Call Jungle Jim keeps tools in place. and power." Dean Snodgrass, vice presi- 800/643-8713. Looks for: dent of Dennis' Seven Dees holtequipment. com snug fit to prevent rattling during • Diesel irrigation vans — Landscaping, Portland, OR, transport — as well as quick locking Intromark Inc. manufactures to deter theft. Call 888/844-JIMS. "We use 14-ft. Ford E-350 says his firm has about 75 the Gater, a tailgate replacement diesel cargo vans. Interiors are trucks — all Fords. system that acts as an extension for C & S Turf Care Equipment customized with bins and pipe "We use Ford's F-450 longer loads and a restraint for Inc. has custom-designed spray rig smaller cargo loads. It is adjustable, truck bodies and spray accessories, racks, as well as a ramp to load through 800 Series (diesel). For stores conveniently and can lock in including electric and gasoline skid and unload a trencher. It's vir- irrigation, we use trailers. We an upright position. Call 800/851- sprayers. A fiberglass pickup unit tually a rolling irrigation store." are making crew cabs a bigger 6030. combines a 350-gallon tank, three • Landscape construction compartments, dual pumps and part of our business." S-N-G Equipment's Contain- hose reels in a compact design. flatbeds — "These are all Ford Looks for: O-Shell is a one-piece mold contain- Westheffer's 450-gallon flatbed F-700 2-1/2 ton flatbeds, some • Load capacity — "It is al- ment polyethylene spray unit corn- cont. on page 64 with dump beds and remov- ways a concern, as well as able sides for loading." horsepower, hauling capacity • Landscape maintenance and serviceability. My mechan- flatbeds — "We use a one-ton ics select the engine that they flatbed with a 12-ft. bed and a work on. I will special order my big dovetail ramp that is the trucks based on their recom- width of the bed, used to ser- mendations. vice the smaller properties. An- "Right now I am retiring other vehicle is a F-250 Super some older vehicles and am try- Cab that pulls a 20-ft. trailer." ing to put together an F-450 • New idea — "The experi- Series crew cab with a short mental vehicle this spring is a box dump. I want to carry 14-ft. enclosed box van with a medium-size loads, transport dovetail ramp — the Super people and pull a 10-ft. trailer."

Lawn Truck. Everything is self- cont. on page 64 S-N-G's molded container. cont. from page 62 loading and unloading. They are cont. from page 58 can also carry five or more peo- unit, custom van unit or custom de- easily removed in two to three min- ple when I do training." signs meet larger needs. Low Profile utes, freeing the truck for other • Rating system — "We Tree & Shrub/Lawn Care unit fits uses, and can be used to haul keep our trucks approximately Can't do without it nicely on the back of an Isuzu NPR. cargo. Call 800/220-0419. Call 800/872-7050. www. truckbuddyinc. com eight years and, each year, we Bob Rocchio, Town & give a point scale to the condi- Country Landscaping Com- Gempler's 1999 Master Cata- Graham Lawn Equipment's tion of the truck and weigh it pany, Johnston, RI, sticks with ready-to-use spray rig units include log of accessories highlights the the GLE 300-gallon model, with a MX50 tire changer — a small tire against the cost of purchasing a one brand. Tuflex 30-gallon fiberglass tank and tool that makes changing small tires new vehicle." "All of our trucks are Ford • Cargo trailers — "For irri- — three F-350 dump trucks, gation and job-site shacks, we two F-250 pickups and three use cargo trailers. We can keep LN-8000s (35,000 GVW). tools on site, acting as a ware- They are a mix of diesel and house." gas. Ford F-350s are the basic • Theft deterrent — maintenance truck, which we "We've gone to a rack system use to haul trailers." that holds small hand tools. It's Looks for: theft proof and very organized. • The right fit — "It's im- Now, everything is cabled and portant to match the vehicle padlocked to prevent theft." with its purpose. We like to Graham Lawn spray rig unit. quick and easy — ratchet tie keep the same brand of truck downs, Husky truck floor liners, ve- Gasoline engines are best to make maintenance more metal skid mounting on pickups. hicle desks, first aid kits, safety Rick Kier, president of Pro simple." For medium-duty trucks, try the GLE items, water coolers and more. Call Scapes Inc., Syracuse, NY, • Organizers — "We'd like HX 600 +100 spray unit, for trucks 800/382-8473. www.gemplers.com with a GVW of 14,000 plus. Call prefers gasoline engines for to see rear organizers, espe- 800/543-2810. Westheffer Co., Inc. manufac- smaller trucks. cially for commercial trucks." tures an impressive line of custom- "All of our small trucks have • Regular updates — "We Trimmertrap Inc. offers a line designed spray units for pickup and of racks for protection from theft flat-bed trucks. The covered Com- gas engines, and larger trucks want to keep our fleet updated. and damage, including racks for mander Body series can serve as a have diesel because they hold We keep our small trucks four moving billboard for your business. trimmers, backpack blowers, a com- up better." to five years, larger trucks six to bination rack for blowers, hedge Call 800/362-3110. trimmers and chain saws — as well Looks for: seven years." • Bench seats — "For a • Likes leasing — "We do crew truck, you need a bench some leasing on some of our seat so you can put three peo- equipment. Our accountant ple in it." helps us determine whether it • Capacity — "We want to is better to lease or buy. At the be able to haul at least 10 yards end of the lease, we sometimes of mulch on the larger trucks. purchase the equipment." We've found that pto hydraulic systems hold up longer than Recycles used trucks electric hydraulic systems." Dave Peabody, president of Trimmertrap racks protect tools. Robert E. Reaves is with Irricom, • Work/personal vehicle — Peabody Landscape, Colum- a public relations and communi- "It's a Chevy Tahoe, which I , OH, customizes used as portable hand tool and accessory use both for work and personal Isuzu trucks. hand tool racks. Call 800/279-8727. cations firm in Austin, TX. He holds a master's degree in horti- use. If I need to take a client "We're converting our one- Truck Buddy and Mobility's culture from Oklahoma State somewhere to view a property, ton Chevy and Ford mainte- family of durable, fiberglass pickup University. the Tahoe is a clean vehicle. 1 cont. on page 66 truck containers have pushbutton • One type of customized truck cont. from page 58 for Peabody Landscapes. nance trucks to 18,000 GVW lawn mowers (powered by an Isuzus. The Isuzus have a cab- electric pump). Purchasing over style with 18-ft. cargo used Isuzu diesels with around boxes that will be removed 120,000 miles and customizing from the truck and converted is more efficient. We are able to covered trailers with dual to set up two trucks and trailers for mowing crews. They for the price of one new Isuzu. also have dual tanks which can It doesn't make sense to buy be valved shut to function as new if you can find well-main- one tank for truck fuel and the tained used vehicles and cus- No one manufacturer. "We turer. We think International is other for off-road fuel for the tomize them to fit your needs." are not tied to one manufac- the best vehicle for medium- duty trucks. For supervisory ve- hides, we prefer 3/4-ton Lawn trucks organize daily operations Chevy trucks and for sales ve- hicles, Ford Rangers with ex- For many years, Bonaire, year warranty on all tended cabs." GA-based contractor Tony Bass other products and thought there had to be a bet- workmanship. Cost is Clean really counts ter way to organize his land- approximately Tynes Stringfellow, presi- scape maintenance vehicles $44,000. dent of Jubilee Landscape, Inc., and make major reductions in According to Bass, Fairhope, AL, is partial to Ford. the waste of time and money. president of Super "We have 48 vehicles, most He also wanted to eliminate Lawn Trucks, his sys- of which are Ford-250 Super theft of his equipment. tem allows contrac- Cab diesels with automatic He customized a truck that tors to: transmissions. We like diesels would meet his goals and put • Stop wasting because they run with less • Organize tools so you it into actual use in his busi- labor, loading and unloading downtime and are also less ex- know exactly what you have on ness, where it saved him 484.5 equipment daily. pensive to maintain. I like Ford the truck. man-hours a year per crew of because they've been real good • Reduce warehousing non-productive labor. Now service trucks. My personal ve- needs by maintaining an inven- Bass is offering his system to hicle is a GMC pickup, and I tory on the truck. the entire landscape industry. really like it. Other Ford vehi- • Add simple irrigation re- The Super Lawn Truck sys- cles include several F-800 two- pair jobs to your lawn mainte- tem consists of a 1999 Isuzu ton dump bodies, F-600 series. nance crews. NPR Diesel truck; 16-ft. box Many manufacturers don't • Improve your marketing van; hydro ramp; fuel station think about the contractor efforts by having two 7x16-ft. system; hand and power tool when they build trucks." rolling billboards. storage system; irrigation parts Customization: "We pull • Redirect wasted labor and inventory system; under- everything on a utility trailer. hours into productive work body tool storage system; • Reduce fuel stops to once Our landscape trailers have re- hours. media and marketing package; per week. tractable tarps, which we use For more information, con- and custom paint job — all • Secure tools from thieves, to haul plants, pavers, bricks tact Super Lawn Trucks at with a three-year unlimited accidental loss and bad and other job materials." LM 912/923-0027 or on the web at mileage warranty and a one- weather. www.superlawntruck.com.