Do we really need a 3/4 or 1 ton truck?

oz in SC V2.0 · #1 10/30/12, 06:13 PM

We recently sold our old Dodge 2500 diesel and we are now in the market for a replacement.
We have only been looking at 3/4 or 1 ton trucks but I am wondering if we could just get a 1/2 ton.

We have a 16 foot livestock trailer that we occasionally use,we will be getting hay and such,and the usual farm chores.

Our price range is $5000 and below,which means most have high miles and are old,neither of which really matters too much to us as long as it is reliable.

In fact I personally want something older.

**fordson major** · #2 10/30/12, 06:21 PM

here 1 tons are cheaper, easier to fix, need fixing less often and carry a lot more than a 1/2 ton . not as easy ridding though!

oz in SC V2.0 · #3 10/30/12, 06:26 PM

My Dodge was pretty rough riding,4x4,lift kit and bigger wheels and tires.
So that isn't a big deal.
Seems slim pickings around here for anything heavier than a 1/2 ton.

I would like a four door,but that limits what we can buy.

Bearfootfarm · #4 10/30/12, 08:12 PM

Figure up the heaviest weight you need to pull and find a truck to match.
1/2 ton works for most people

nathan104 · #5 10/30/12, 09:18 PM

If you only pull a 16' livestock trailer ever so often, there isnt any reason to get anything over a half ton. If you have a tractor of decent size you pull, Id go up to a 3/4 ton. If you have a large gooseneck you load dowwn with round bales of hay to haul and a large tractor to pull, consider the 1 ton.

Unless you do veery heavy hauling , theres no reason you would need more than a 3/4 ton.

||Downhome|| · #6 10/30/12, 11:28 PM

my 3/4 (3 and 1/2 ton camper special) a 85' bought years ago as third owner but replaced several engines thus far,
easy enough and cheaper then a new truck.

Other wise just getting to tires and such.

Olders better. no electronic stuff needed.

Mines bare minimum of stuff.

Start great,runs great and simple!

houndlover · #7 10/30/12, 11:45 PM

Do you have future plans? I wouldn't trade my 1 ton dually crew cab for any smaller truck. It's overkill for a lot of jobs, sure, but it's just right for the big jobs. It's not my everyday driver, so it's okay that it's huge and a gas hog. It only gets once a week or so.

flewism · #8 10/31/12, 12:16 AM

I wouldn't trade my 3/4 ton for a half ton. A 3/4 ton will last much longer than a 1/2 ton doing the same jobs day in and day out. My 3/4 ton has become more valuable as our other vehicles have shrunk over the years.

**fordson major** · #9 10/31/12, 04:44 AM

have not noted any fuel savings with a half ton, there was a dodge half ton that we had when we bought the ford, they had about the same appetite. the 1/2 ton carried a quarter of the load the ford would though. (off road, no scales)

oz in SC V2.0 · #10 10/31/12, 05:50 AM

Okay,in the past I have carried enough T-posts to make my 2500 Dodge a little light in the front end before(great deal on used posts,had to take them all as it was a drive to get there),that would have been impossible in a 1500.

I was just thinking maybe we could get away with a 1500,it would certainly expand the market of eligible vehicles.

Really wanting a crew cab 4x4 gas engine truck,but that REALLY limits the number of likely vehicles,especially with our budget.

Thanks all.

sandsuncritters · #11 10/31/12, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flewism

I wouldn't trade my 3/4 ton for a half ton. A 3/4 ton will last much longer than a 1/2 ton doing the same jobs day in and day out. My 3/4 ton has become more valuable as our other vehicles have shrunk over the years.

~~~~~THIS~~~~~

Better over-trucked than under-trucked! You'll pay more for repairs and replacements on a too-small truck than if you just bought the one that could do it all in the first place. More folks are discovering that 4-door trucks increase the truck's flexibility in all kinds of weather, especially if it has a gooseneck hitch and no cap.

I adore my Silverado and plan on keeping it till I die. My kids and grandkids then get to draw straws for it

In His Love
Mich

fordy · #12 10/31/12, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oz in SC V2.0

Okay,in the past I have carried enough T-posts to make my 2500 Dodge a little light in the front end before(great deal on used posts,had to take them all as it was a drive to get there),that would have been impossible in a 1500.

I was just thinking maybe we could get away with a 1500,it would certainly expand the market of eligible vehicles.

Really wanting a crew cab 4x4 gas engine truck,but that REALLY limits the number of likely vehicles,especially with our budget.

Thanks all.

..................Your biggest mistake was buying a 'Lifted' 3/4 ton diesel which someone wasted a lot of money on and screwed UP the ride at the same time , now , you're assuming all 3/4 T's ride the same "rough" way and so you have decided not to consider another 3/4 ton !
..................I'd be looking at older 3/4 ton models with gas engines or even a 1 ton with a steel flatbed which are just about the Handiest haulers around . , fordy

oz in SC V2.0 · #13 10/31/12, 07:14 AM

Fordy, it was an old Dodge,of course it rode like a truck.

Dodge always were the rougher riding of the three truck makers,Chevrolet being the most car like.

The reason we were possibly considering a 1/2 ton was mainly they are more plentiful around here than 3/4 or 1 ton trucks,not due to ride or anything else.

It never bothered me that my truck rode like a truck,it is supposed to.

Pheasant283 · #14 10/31/12, 07:15 AM

As others have noted a 3/4 will out last a 1/2 ton when it comes to the tranny and susspension ect. as they were made to haul / tow more than a 1/2 ton. I have a 3/4 ton GMC 6.0 L, & will not trade down to a 1/2 ton, gas mileage is not that huge of a difference from the 3/4 to the 1/2. At least not enough to justify me getting a 1/2 ton. Good Luck with your vehicle search.

sandsuncritters · #15 10/31/12, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pheasant283

As others have noted a 3/4 will out last a 1/2 ton when it comes to the tranny and susspension ect. as they were made to haul / tow more than a 1/2 ton. I have a 3/4 ton GMC 6.0 L, & will not trade down to a 1/2 ton, gas mileage is not that huge of a difference from the 3/4 to the 1/2. At least not enough to justify me getting a 1/2 ton. Good Luck with your vehicle search.

The only 1/2 ton trucks in our family are what we like to call the "school bus and light shopping haulers". Seriously. Pheasant, we have several GMC 6.0 like yours and they do most of the general heavy hauling and towing around here. Awesomely flexible general work vehicles.

The Silverado Diesel crew cab rounds out the fleet.

We have hauled mobile homes, heavy farm equipment, containers - and pulled utility trucks from ditches with it. My 4-horse trailer has full living quarters (gotta have my potty LOL) so when horses and accessories along with humans and their gear hit the road for the mountains I know I have the power to handle any challenge. And it runs on alternative fuels as well, so if/when shtf I have a vehicle with options

Oz, seriously, for long term use I strongly suggest 3/4 ton and if you can, consider diesel. That way you'll never be under-powered and your options will be pretty much unlimited. Crew cab is just the frosting on the cake

In His Love
Mich

sandsuncritters · #16 10/31/12, 09:54 AM

Sorry about those icons. I got a little carried away and now my iPad is not cooperating on the edit feature. Love my diesel crewcab!

In His Love
Mich

oz in SC V2.0 · #17 10/31/12, 09:56 AM

The last truck we had was diesel,after spending $1800 on injection pump/lift pump about two years ago, $2300 on transmission rebuild six months ago,and then having the injection pump/lift pump fail again(would have been another $1800 or so),it was time to call it quits on diesels.

To me,a diesels big benefits were longevity and fuel consumption.

Problem with that is,modern gas engines are getting almost as good longevity and diesel now costs almost $4/gallon.

The downsides to diesels are fuel cost and repair costs.

You can buy a rebuilt engine for the cost of the injection pump on my truck.

simi-steading · #18 10/31/12, 09:56 AM

You really need to figure out how much of a load you'll be hauling first..

I'm just guessing here... a 16 foot trailer.. what, close to 2000lbs? How many cattle in it? How much does a cow weight?

We'll just round them off to 1000lbs each for a nice round number.. I hate math...

How many cattle in 16 feet? it's a light day... 6 cattle... so you have 6000lbs of cattle, in a 1 ton trailer.. .

So you're sitting at around 8000 lbs... Most 1/2 ton trucks with a class III hitch are rated at 7500 lbs, so you're over your limit.

If you do get a 1/2 ton truck, and do plan to tow a lot, I wouldn't consider one that didn't have a tranny cooler, and a class III hitch at a minimum.. .I'd be looking for a truck that had a factory installed tow package. Some of them have an additional towing selection on the transmission.

EDIT: I wasn't thinking this could be a 5th wheel trailer. If I remember right, with a 5th wheel ,you can pull about 8500 lbs with one, so long as you have electric breaks on the trailer. It also depends on what your truck weighs empty, and what the maximum loaded weight is.

farminghandyman · #19 10/31/12, 10:00 AM

I would suggest a 3/4 for trailer pulling, One ton is good to, but not really necessary, for the most part, if a large goose neck trailer yes the one ton may be good, but many a rancher and farmer just use 3/4 ton pickup around here, but the normal 1/2 ton is not a good choice for trailers,
if not for the trailer a 1/2 ton would most likely do what you need, may need a few more trips,

sandsuncritters · #20 10/31/12, 10:10 AM

Well, first, it was a Dodge

. And now you're eddimacated not to repeat that mistake!

The GMC 2500 6.0L would perform well for your general purposes. If there was an occasion where you needed more truck, perhaps a neighbor or church member could help you out?

Just a suggestion. Trying to help find a solution.

In His Love
Mich