Welding rigs -- Details

[welderdan]

Would make an exhaust brake pay for itself in no time, huh?

i think it would

[hurricunning]

Still trying to justify that one to myself. An exhaust brake is close to $2000 CDN installed. That would buy a few sets of pads and rotors eh? Also it does lead to increased wear and tear on the turbo and valvetrain no?

[Eric Carroll]

i just ordered an exhaust brake,its attached to a 06 gmc 5500.

[DDA52]

Dunno. Most do include some beefier parts that are needed. Not sure about the turbo. I do know on the big trucks, it isn't an issue. Same turbo, e-brake or not.

My new Dodge dually that is on the way will have a Jacobs E-brake. That is supposedly the only one that will protect the warranty. No turbo parts with it, but it may have some bigger valve springs. Not 100% yet. May have to wait until it gets here to be sure.

[pipeline Dan]

I just saw a Ford 550 I was sitting beside it at a set of lights. It just seem
so big and clumsy looking. Although its not a Dodge I don't now if I'd buy
one even if Dodge made one. It just doesn't seem like it would make a good welding truck. Im sure that you can haul alot of stuff with it but as a welder
how many tools do you need It just seems that it should have
a deck on it hauling fruits and vegs. Im not trying to be an ass,which you Ford boys already think, I am just not sold on the idea. Although I live in
Alberta I've only seen one (3 ton) as a welder out of 7 years of welding.
So now they have a 550 in a few years will there be a 750 then a 800
well you might save yourself money and just buy a tractor trailer then
you can haul fruits and vegs. in the slow times New welders are getting
smaller and more compact so whats the attraction of a bigger truck This is my take on it, was just wondering what other guys
felt and like I said I am not trying be an ass just food for thought

[pipeline Dan]

Dan, you can get the F550 in about the same physical size as a 1 ton dually cab and chasis, literally. Are you sure you weren't looking at a F650?

Maybe, but I thought it said 550. I'am not nock'en anybody that has one I
just not sure why you need a bigger truck seeing as size of welders are getting alot lighter. When I bought my pipepro 3 or 4 years ago it was a
light welder. Now its kind of a pig, weight wise But on the other hand I
guess when you look at that f... head that had a Honda pick-up I told you
about anything is possible

[b-footn]

Maybe, but I thought it said 550. I'am not nock'en anybody that has one I
just not sure why you need a bigger truck seeing as size of welders are getting alot lighter. When I bought my pipepro 3 or 4 years ago it was a
light welder. Now its kind of a pig, weight wise But on the other hand I
guess when you look at that f... head that had a Honda pick-up I told you
about anything is possible

I've had a pipepro for almost 4 years now. I was having a code issue, HELP 1, and the factory finally sent me a replacement, a demo model, $0.00 swap-out. All that I carry on the truck is a welder, bottles, rods, cutting equipment, and a small selection of tools, jackstands. I gross at 10,450 last time I scaled it. If I buy a new truck, it will be an F-450.

[Pile Buck]

I just saw a Ford 550 I was sitting beside it at a set of lights. It just seem
so big and clumsy looking. Although its not a Dodge I don't now if I'd buy
one even if Dodge made one. It just doesn't seem like it would make a good welding truck. Im sure that you can haul alot of stuff with it but as a welder
how many tools do you need It just seems that it should have
a deck on it hauling fruits and vegs. Im not trying to be an ass,which you Ford boys already think, I am just not sold on the idea. Although I live in
Alberta I've only seen one (3 ton) as a welder out of 7 years of welding.
So now they have a 550 in a few years will there be a 750 then a 800
well you might save yourself money and just buy a tractor trailer then
you can haul fruits and vegs. in the slow times New welders are getting
smaller and more compact so whats the attraction of a bigger truck This is my take on it, was just wondering what other guys
felt and like I said I am not trying be an ass just food for thought

Dan in a small way I think your comparing apples to oranges. After knowing JT for 2-years (on these boards) and bfootn for just a little longer, (and have met) these guys and most likely yourself are what I call hard-core pipe liners. I remember JT commenting one time about his truck that a pipe liner doesn’t want a big / long bed, reasoning being when they cut the roads / access for the pipe lines there is just not much room. That statement right there rang a bell with me. When I was a kid my dad was a pipeline-welding inspector for the San Francisco water department. I remember going to work with him in the summers. What little I know about pipeline work, I would have to agree 100 %.

Now on the other hand you have the guys like J-hall, calweld and some other that I would group into the heavy equipment mechanics, who need the big trucks because they have to carry just about every tool under the sun, where as JT, bfootn, have said time and time again they only carry the essentials for welding. I have a F-550 with the longest wheel base they offer, might make an all right mechanics truck, but maybe on the light side, but for a hard-core pipe liner, I don’t think so. The turning radius on my truck is horrible.

But like coalsmoke says you can get a 550 rough fully the same size as a 1-ton dully.

Just my take on what I’ve seen and learned on these boards. Hope I didn’t leave anybody out, or mis-quote anybody

[J hall]

My 550weighs 14,500lbs and I don't carry more than what I think I need.

[Pile Buck]

My 550weighs 14,500lbs and I don't carry more than what I think I need.

What wheel base do you have Jeff?