Small cabover trucks

[robh2]

I am looking at the small N series Isuzu cabovers with a box for local deliveries. Do any of you have any experience with these in the last couple of years? I am most interested in the fuel mileage of the diesel and the gas version.

Thank you for your help.

Robert

 

[Jefferson3000]

Personally, I would go with a diesel. Have you considered the cube van, either Ford or GMC? If you're looking for a good local truck, to me they're more comfortable. They also seem to be better if you are doing regional highway deliveries. If you like to run at the speed limit, expect no more than 9 mpg for diesel or gas. 10.5 to 12 if you stay at 60ish. Either way, I'd get as long a box as you can (16to 18) and get the 2000 lb liftgate, as opposed to the 1500. You'll need it.

 

[2czykats]

I owned a 2005 Isuzu cabover 4500 with a 18 ft. box, and iwas diesal. No liftgate, automatic, ac,power windows. I made local deliveries of 200 to300 miles a day with 8 to10 stops. I am a big guy, 6'4"" 400 lbs and had a hell of a time getting in and out of cab but drove nice, tight turning radius but had problem hitting head on ceiling on rough roads. I did average 14mpg on highway, and 9 to 10 in the city. I end ede up tradeing in for a 2005 gmc 4500 18 ft box,diesal,auto,power everything mostly for comfort and got around 10 to 12mpg average. Both had low resale value when sol with low miles.

 

[robh2]

Thanks guys. I just cant see spending the 5-7k extra for the diesel and its 1.00 more for diesel over regular. Image is very important so I wont keep the truck longer than 100k prob anyway.

Thanks.

Robert

 

[Jefferson3000]

Thanks guys. I just cant see spending the 5-7k extra for the diesel and its 1.00 more for diesel over regular. Image is very important so I wont keep the truck longer than 100k prob anyway.

Thanks.

Robert

Ya got to think about more than diesel fuel price and engine price when you look at these things. Diesel engine will be much more durable in the long haul. Unless that gas engine has near the torque of the diesel, you're gonna blow that engine a lot faster than say a gas engine in a cargo van. It's just too much stress on it. You may not get the same mpg from a gasser anyhoo.

 

[robh2]

Jeff--Thanks for your reply. The truck will be almost empty most of the time. It will mostly be used for advertising and driving about 80 miles a day. It will carry at the most a: Display tent and some boxes of brochures and shirts etc... I will from time to time carry a few flat screens for displays.

I dont intend on keeping it longer than 100k miles since it has to always look sharp.

Thank you for your replies everyone.

Robert