While I agree that most posters are from other manufacturers, I dont see why the Crown guys are so defensive. I was not being negative towards the truck. If you read all of my thread, I did say the truck looks nice. I have been to a lot of dog and pony shows and watch how manufacturers tout the finest of their trucks. Most companies who purhase fleets see these presentations (usually demos with all the bells and whistles) and then purchase the plain jane version expecting the same performance level.
I simply pointed out some of the things I would look at if I were to look into purchasing this truck.
Now,
Can you Crown guys explain how you are going to get 3000 hours out of normal every day oil?
Oh, and one more question... Is the standard brake on the C5 the same (original) drum system Crown used that worked so well when it first came out? or is this a better version.

It completely humors me how the "majority" of posters on here obviously work for other lift truck manufacturers.....stop putting the truck down....it obviously has features on it that no others LP trucks have EVER had....figure out how to sell against it and go sell! Oh wait....I know how most of you will sell against it....."mine is cheaper than theirs"! hahaha!

Oh and by the way..."On board diagnostics.. one more "You cant work on mine cause I cant work on yours" technology." Anybody can work on it....the code book is ON EVERY TRUCK and you don't need a laptop.

Watched the video, read the propaganda, read the thread.... Looks like a lift truck. Every manufacturer has gone after the operator comfort and ergonomic design upgrades to get away from workers comp claims.. nothing new and innovative here. Fastest lifting speed, fuel efficient, etc.. only as efficient as the operator at the controls. On board diagnostics.. one more "You cant work on mine cause I cant work on yours" technology.
I see the focus on rear visibilty, what about the forward visibiity? Is the mast rolled steel or welded channel? How wide is the inner channel and where does the free lift cylinder sit? No I have not seen one in person yet.
3000 hours between oil changes? At an average speed of 6MPH that would be 18000 miles. So it has an 8 quart capacity and an oil cooler. Ambient temperature in June-August in SoFla is upper 80s on a cool day. Combine that with an engine temp running 230 to get max fuel efficiency, close up the engine compartment to keep engine heat, trans running 250(+/-), hyd running easily 250.... What oil are they running? 90 weight? There is no way standard 30 or 40 weight oil will stand up to 3000 hours. If it is running synthetic, the oil change just went up $100 or more (remember BP oil in the Gulf).
Overall the truck looks "nice" Will it hold up, only time will tell.
All the manufacturers have come out with their own "New Phenom" of the lift truck world and al have had their problems. Some have stood up and come to the table and fixed them, others close their eyes and say "we dont have any problems".
Good luck Crown C5, just another truck for me to learn how to fix.

I have yet to try one, only watched videos and looks very impressive, only time will tell. Cost is another factor how quickly can a client expect to see his roi for the additional acquisition cost?

Has anyone else heard that John Deere has decided to pull the plug on their industrial engine program. They cant or dont want to meet the CARB complience due to the high cost of engineering. Going back to the Ag business. Will this effect Crown?

I know the head purchasing guy at a local company in Detroit that just leased one of these Crown Lp trucks. I'd say it looks about like any other LP truck that any other manufacturer has to offer. Nothing too special. Not cheap but certainly not impressive. This company pays over $350 a month for a lease, I know Bell Toyota sells the comparable Toyota for less than that so I asked why they got the Crown and the response was "it's got a great John Deere Engine". Im not sure I'd be the Guinea Pig for a new lift because it has a John Deere engine, but I can say that they beat the **** out of the truck and after 4 months it seems to be working well.

Finally saw one today in detail, very impressive!

Lots of tech off of other crown forklifts. steering off of the FC series, brakes off of the FC series.

It will be interesting to see if it's robust like other crown forklifts.

hey SMG1 you sound you're not only on Dicke's payroll but his zipper too!!!

crown products *** to many parts and to high cost repair for un neccessary parts

Crown equipment is weak cheap and squeeks,Yale the best and has passed the test.

Hey Ed_v, good to hear from you, how you doing? how is Gary Foster doing, send me an e-mail at the address in my profile (just click on my name and a window will pop up and don't bother to answer all that personal stuff in a very active thread about Crown)

Hi ed

in todays market there is no real unproven products Crown will use components that have been proven in many different trucks or areas. The only new part is this is the first time Crown have produced an IC truck. But Crown
have a name that can over come this. Crown big problem will be how they market the truck

I have to tell you that these days it is very difficult to get customers to spend the extra $$$$ for anything no matter how well you present the ROI on whatever product you offer. The Linde is a premium product that has been proven worldwide. The C-5 looks like an outstanding machine extremely overbuilt, which is great, but will the customer pay the extra cost as the Linde? for an unproven product? I believe they will in the long run and after economy turns around. What's your guys opinion?

Dave, the sad thing is that many customers will not or do not track fuel costs. I have trucks at certain customer locations where they save 10K per year in fuel and last two years longer than their other brand but they still have heart failure because my truck costs 8K more. They also save about 2K per year in tires.

what is going to happen john is customers are going to look at longer term rental by taking a truck over seven or eavan ten years they will reduce their costs. Also fuel efficiency will soon play a big part if you can save 25% on fuel customers will look at this it is now all about being able to save money and keep profits up. The US market will start to follow Europe as many large global companies look to other areas of there businesses to see where savings can be made.
If a lift truck in the US cost $10 per hour to run and one in Europe cost $7.50 to run companies will look at this.With the internet and modern fleet management systems managers in Los angerles can look at the operation in Manchester to compare cost and productivity

Somehat disagree with Jamie:
1. This is Crowns first venture into ICE, solid tire forklifts which are predominately sold in North America - like 95% a few in Europe, mainly Germany, a few in Austrialia. So it seems they designed it for the market in which it will be sold. They have adressed some human factros vary nicely & a unque cooling system. Certainly time will tell on any new design.

2. Linde & it's hydrostatics have been in the US since the mid to late 70's. The concept has yet to catch on in a "big" way - the Linde is a "niche" market type machine. While the engines are taughted to go for 20,000 hours, a great majority of lift trucks acquired via a FMV lease or rental fleet finance programs - most of which are 5 years. At the end of the term the units are replaced and sold into teh second hand or used market with much less than 10,000 hours on them.

3. I believe the US lift truck market & auto industry learned a lot more from the Japanese in terms of quality & design at an "affordable" price than other area.

Just my opinion which is liek a navel everyone has one.

I think Jamie t has got it spot on right if the C-5 was hydrostatic it would be a real contender but as it is its
the basic's but different shape. With the environment and fuel efficiency take more of a role in customers minds
plus the lower cost is service then in 10 years Crown might catch on

Wow Crown have almost stepped into this millennium with the C-5. It has only taken them 10 years to catch up to the likes of Linde, Still and to a lesser degree Jungheinrich, but have still missed the mark with outdated practices. I think Crown would do well to take on board and learn from European standards. Just like the US car industry, they have not progressed passed the next level. A few new bells a whistles, but with much of the same on offer. The people in the videos should be given the offer to drive a Linde, then be re interviewed.

I forget who I gave a rash of crap to over the release of the C5 unit in this forum, its been a while. I just wanted them to know that I stand corrected. Got a chance to get a good look at one at the local factory store here in SoCal, and I must say I am very impressed. All diagnostics go thru the display, the cooling set-up, the really accessible engine compartment, and the fact that it's basically a diesel engine converted to LP. Rep said you could expect around 28000 hours out of the engines, also agree with the guy below who said his Veracitors ***. I hear you. I got around 9000 hours out of the 2.2 liter Mazda's before they needed to be rebuilt, and the mini-lever issue was actually a product improvement part from Yale that they forgot to mention to their customers. Just one mini lever sells for 1400.00$!!!! Give me a break, its not made for space travel, its just a hall effect switch!!!! I got into the wrong side of this buisness, should have sold parts!!!! Later.

i work for crown in st paul, response has been great from customers so far.

Linde is 8-10 K higher on most there trucks and they still get market share. I see this truck doing fine but taking a good year or so to make a dent in the compeition.